CAREER: Modulating the Cybotactic Region Surrounding Colloidal Liposomes and Nanoparticles

在化学系化学测量和成像项目的支持下，布法罗纽约州立大学的Luis Velarde教授正在开发光谱技术，以研究纳米颗粒在当地环境中弯曲表面的特性和过程。表征纳米颗粒的近表面区域的能力在定义表面处理和局部场如何影响颗粒的性质和功能方面变得至关重要。 这种粒子在化学传感、催化、能源和生物医学研究中有应用。此外，Velarde教授与不同背景的学生合作。 他正在开发实践实验工具包，促进跨学科的方法来构建涉及使用光，纳米材料和基本电子学的教育传感器。这项推广活动是与布法罗公立学校系统合作进行的，高中学生和教师都参与了这项活动。Velarde教授正在开发现场光谱测量方法，该方法选择性地探测悬浮胶体的界面区域。这些方法是基于相干非线性激光散射过程，利用电子和频产生技术。他和他的学生使用飞秒脉冲和超宽带多路复用方法直接获得胶体表面的耦合振动和电子光谱，具有高质量的光谱线型。新的光谱数据提供了独特的化学见解，电解质，pH值的影响，以及特定离子的存在对胶体界面结构和动力学从颗粒和溶剂的角度来看。这项研究推进了基本的科学理解，并扩大了发现调节软脂质胶体和纳米颗粒界面区域的微妙过程的能力。Velarde教授积极参与社区外展活动，与来自不同背景的学生合作，对他们进行光谱分析和复杂实验设计方面的培训。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Luis Velarde at The State University of New York at Buffalo is developing spectroscopic techniques to study properties and processes on the curved surface of a nanoparticle in the local environment. The ability to characterize the near-surface region of a nanoparticle becomes critically important in defining how surface treatments and local fields affect a particle's properties and function. Such particles find applications in chemical sensing, catalysis, energy and biomedical research. In addition, Professor Velarde works with students of diverse backgrounds. He is developing hands-on experimentation kits that promote interdisciplinary approaches to building educational sensors that involve the use of light, nanomaterials, and basic electronics. This outreach activity is done in partnership with the Buffalo Public School system where high school students and teachers are involved. Professor Velarde is developing methods for in-situ spectroscopic measurements which selectively probe the interfacial region of the suspended colloids. These methods are based on coherent nonlinear laser scattering processes that exploit electronic sum frequency generation techniques. He and his students use femtosecond pulses and ultra-broad bandwidth multiplex approaches to directly obtain coupled vibrational and electronic spectra of the colloidal surface with high quality spectral lineshapes. The new spectroscopic data provides unique chemical insights into the effects of electrolytes, pH, and the presence of specific ions on the colloid interfacial structure and dynamics from both the particle and solvent perspective. This research advances basic scientific understanding and expands the ability to discover subtle processes that modulate the interfacial region of soft lipid colloids and nanoparticles. Actively participating in community outreach, Professor Velarde works with students from diverse backgrounds to train them in spectroscopic analysis and in the design of complex experiments.