Studies of Monolayer Protected Metal Clusters and of Electron Transfer Active Molecular Melts

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This renewal project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, aims to synthesize and characterize the chemical and electrochemical behavior of monolayer-protected nanoscopic metal clusters and of novel, mixed valent solid and semi-solid molecular melt phases. Professor Murray and his students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will use a wide range of experimental methods in this work including nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared red, thermal, fluorescence, and mass spectroscopy together with electrochemical techniques and conductivity measurements. These new interfacial materials with nanoscopic dimensions hold technological promise in electrocatalysis, molecular devices, and electrochromic materials. Novel thin-film materials incorporating nanoscopic gold clusters and involving electroactive molecular melts prepared from polyether oligomers that exhibit polymer-like solid and semi-solid properties will be studied. Professor Murray and his students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will pursue studies of these materials using a wide range of experimental techniques while considering the applicability of these materials in the fields of electrocatalysis, electrochromic devices, and novel chemical reagents. This work blends fundamental work in chemistry while keeping clear goals to develop materials with technological relevance and societal value.