Physical Chemistry
FACULTY
Matthew C. Asplund
PROFESSOR
Dr. Asplund uses short-pulsed lasers, infrared spectroscopy, and time-resolved techniques to probe chemical species. Dr. Asplund's experiments aim to answer critical questions in chemistry, including those related to ligand attachment, bi-metallic systems, organometallic catalytic bond breaking, and laser surface patterning.
David V. Dearden
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Dr. Dearden, head of the Dearden Research Group, uses a Fourier transform mass spectrometer (FTMS) to accurately weigh and identify molecules in minute quantities. By levitating the samples in a strong magnetic field, the FTMS can give the precise sizes and shapes of these nano-sized samples.
Jeremy A. Johnson
PROFESSOR
In the Johnson Spectroscopy Laboratory, members focus on achieving selectivity in spectroscopy in order to learn about the various non-optical properties of materials. The lab hopes to refine the use of ultrafast spectroscopy, using a single laser shot to study the dynamics of a sample.
James E. Patterson
PROFESSOR
Dr. Patterson looks into the unique phenomena that occur on the interfaces of two materials, including adhesion, friction, lubrication, chromatographic separations, catalysis and many biological processes. Dr. Patterson's group uses a non-linear spectroscopy technique known as vibrationally resonant sum-frequency generation (VR-SFG) to probe molecules at interfaces without receiving interfering signal from molecules in the bulk.
Eric T. Sevy
PROFESSOR
Dr. Sevy's research group studies the dynamics of chemical reactions of highly energetic molecules. Highly excited molecules are important, due to their reactivity; however, they are extremely difficult to study as a result of their complexity. Dr. Sevy's research allows scientists to understand these chemically significant events in a quantum-state-resolved fashion with detail that was, until recently, only dreamed of.
Brian F. Woodfield
AREA CHAIR
Dr. Woodfield uses custom-made, specific-heat-measuring instruments to study superconducting, magnetic, nanocrystalline, and other technological materials. These techniques elucidate aspects of solid-state physics and chemical thermodynamics, the stability of materials composed of nanoscale particles, and the synthesis of nanoparticles.
