Spectroscopy of metal-containing molecules, ions

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The research program is broadly focused on the properties and reactions of metallic species. The research proposed can be divided into three major areas: The first of these involves the study of molecules of interests by interpreting the way in which different wavelengths of light interact with them.  We will use (1) lasers to form metal atoms, and freeze these atoms with reactive molecules to isolate their reaction products, or (2) we will bombard mixtures of molecules of interest with electrons, and subsequently freeze the ion reaction and decomposition products in a solid inert gas.  We intend to study the reactions of alkenes with early transition metals, and the mechanism of the famous "keto-enol" transformation, in which ketones and aldehydes are converted to alcohols with a C=C double bond.   The second area is focused on the spectroscopy and reactivity of very small metal particles with sizes on the nanometer scale (nanoparticles) in low-temperature matrices.  We are currently developing protocols for matrix-isolation based analysis of nanoparticle reaction products, and will employ infrared light absorption as our structure characterization technique.   The third area is the trapping and characterization of the products of charged molecule and atom reactions with small molecules in a molecular beam apparatus, currently being assembled at Trent.  Ions will be formed by laser vaporization of metal targets, followed by ionization in an electric discharge, before entering a reaction zone.  The products will be characterized by a combination of matrix-isolation and mass spectrometry techniques.