Presidential Young Investigator Award: Molecular Behavior in Complex Fluid Materials

Dor Ben-Amotz教授是由实验物理化学项目资助的，用于研究复杂流体材料中分子的行为。这些研究的目标是在微观层面上了解这些系统的结构和动力学。研究分为三个部分：(1)拉曼和时间分辨荧光/磷光退偏研究湍流下分子振动和转动的变化，(2)用同样的技术研究高压固液界面上的表面吸附分子，以及(3)用于非均质流体中温度、压力、粘度的原位光学测量的分子探针的开发。在这项由总统青年研究员奖支持的研究中，需要解决的关键问题是：湍流结构在分子水平上持续到什么程度？湍流对局部溶剂笼密度的分布有显著影响吗？对湍流下流体行为的了解对润滑和减阻技术具有重要意义。拉曼光谱将被用来对与高比表面积金属粉末接触的流体表面的化学变化进行指纹分析。一个长期的目标是开发复杂流体材料的催化、合成、分离和分析的新策略。

Professor Dor Ben-Amotz is supported by a grant from the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program for studies of the behavior of molecules in complex fluid materials. The goal of these studies is to gain an understanding of the structure and dynamics in these systems at the microscopic level. The research is in three parts: (1) Raman and time-resolved fluorescence/phosphorescence depolarization studies of the changes in the vibration and rotation of molecules under turbulent flow, (2) studies of surface-adsorbed molecules at solid-liquid interfaces at high pressures by the same techniques, and (3) development of molecular probes for in situ optical measurements of temperature, pressure, viscosity in inhomogeneous fluids. %%% The key questions to be adressed in the research supported by this Presidential Young Investigator Award are: To what extent do turbulent structures persist at the molecular scale? Is the distribution of local solvent cage densities significantly affected by turbulent flow? An understanding of fluid behavior under turbulent flow has important implications in lubrication and drag reduction technologies. Raman spectroscopy will be used to fingerprint chemical changes on surfaces of fluids in contact with high surface area metal powders. A long term goal is the development of new strategies for catalysis, synthesis, separation, and analysis of complex fluid materials.