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，纽约州立大学布法罗分校的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。表征纳米粒子近表面区域的能力对于定义表面处理和局部场如何影响粒子的性质和功能至关重要。这种粒子在化学传感、催化、能源和生物医学研究中都有应用。此外，维拉德教授与不同背景的学生一起工作。他正在开发动手实验套件，以促进跨学科的方法来建造教育传感器，包括使用光、纳米材料和基本电子技术。这项外展活动是与布法罗公立学校系统合作完成的，高中学生和教师都参与其中。Velarde教授正在开发一种原位光谱测量方法，可以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复用方法直接获得高质量光谱线形状的胶体表面的耦合振动和电子光谱。新的光谱数据从粒子和溶剂的角度为电解质、pH值和特定离子的存在对胶体界面结构和动力学的影响提供了独特的化学见解。这项研究推进了基本的科学理解，并扩展了发现调节软脂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，培训他们进行光谱分析和复杂实验的设计。

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.