Inert Atmosphere Glovebox for Tailored Routes to Clusters

根据研究工具和仪器计划要求的支持是购买和安装惰性气氛手套盒。这样的设备是允许申请者发展金属基团簇化学研究计划的核心。在无机合成领域工作的研究生(硕士、博士)和博士后研究员接受使用该设备操作空气敏感试剂、表征方法和纳米材料设计的培训。团簇分子的合成需要使用对水和/或氧气高度敏感(甚至微量)的试剂。一种现代化的惰性气氛手套盒确保了这种合成的安全和可重复性。最终，使用这种类型的惰性气氛设备允许受训者准备具有控制其大小和形状以及电子性能的集束式“组件”。除了对基础科学的重要性外，这种对团簇结构和化学稳定性的控制也是面向应用的研究目标的关键组成部分，例如在显示技术、催化和分子电子学领域。获得这种最先进的设备将为学生和博士后研究人员提供更好的培训，使他们为进入加拿大学术界、工业和政府实验室的高科技劳动力做好准备。

The support requested under the Research Tools and Instruments program is for the purchase and installation of an inert atmosphere glovebox.  Such a piece of equipment is central to permit the development of the applicant's research program on metal-based cluster chemistry. The graduate (MSc, PhD) and undergraduate (BSc) students and post doctoral fellows working in this area of inorganic synthesis are trained in the manipulation of air sensitive reagents, characterization methods and nanomaterials design using this equipment. The synthesis of cluster molecules necessitates the use of reagents that are highly sensitive to (even traces of) water and/or oxygen. A modern, inert atmosphere glovebox ensures that such syntheses are carried out safely and in a reproducible manner.  Ultimately, using this type of inert atmosphere equipment allows the trainees to prepare cluster "assemblies" with an ability to control both their size and shape, and thus electronic properties. In addition to its importance for fundamental science, this control of cluster structure and chemical stability are key components for application oriented research targets such as in the areas of display technologies, catalysis and molecular electronics. Access to such state of the art equipment will provide enhanced training for student and post doctoral researchers so as to prepare them for entry into the high tech work force in academia, industry and government laboratories across Canada.