CAREER: Investigation of Atomic Motion in Ultrafast Reactions of Metal Complexes with Ultrafast X-ray Pulses and Remotely accessible Real-time Experiments for High School Students

我们计划利用PI实验室目前正在开发的一种新型超快x射线吸收光谱，超快选择能量x射线吸收光谱（USEXAS）来阐明光子诱导金属配合物超快反应中原子运动的机制及其与电子转移的关系。该方法使我们能够在超快时间尺度上更直接地研究非晶体材料中的原子运动。我们将研究几个典型化学系统中的原子和电子运动。这些研究的结果可以阐明这些系统中关键过渡态的结构。我们将为当地高中生建立一个实验教育项目，帮助他们在分子水平上理解化学反应。我们的目标是提高学生在最基础的水平和年轻的时候理解和欣赏物理和分析化学的能力。在这个项目中，加州大学戴维斯分校的本科生和研究生将开发联网、远程访问、实时化学实验（RARE）。PI的实验室将用于培养和准备研究生和本科生。了解化学反应过程中的原子运动对于提高我们制造新设备和新材料（如太阳能电池、分子电子元件和药物）的能力至关重要。我们计划利用PI实验室目前正在开发的一种新型超快x射线吸收光谱来阐明几个重要化学系统中原子和电子运动之间相互作用的细节。这种方法使我们能够更直接地看到快速化学反应中原子的运动。该提案的教育部分包括为当地高中生建立一个实验性教育计划，帮助他们在最基本的水平上理解化学反应，并且在年轻的时候。这些实验是通过互联网连接的，远程访问的，实时化学实验（RARE），将由加州大学戴维斯分校的本科生和研究生开发。

We plan to elucidate the mechanisms of atomic motion and its relationship with electron transfer in photon-induced ultrafast reactions of metal complexes using a new type of ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy, ultrafast selected energy x-ray absorption spectroscopy (USEXAS) that is currently being developed in the PI's laboratory. This method enables us to more directly investigate the atomic motion in non-crystalline materials on the ultrafast timescale. The atomic and electronic motion in several exemplary chemical systems will be investigated. The outcome of these investigations can shed light on the structures of the critical transition states in those systems. We will build an experimental educational program for local high school students and help them understand chemical reactions at the molecular level. Our aim is to enhance students' ability to understand and appreciate physical and analytical chemistry at the most fundamental levels and at a young age. In this program, Internet-connected, remotely accessible, real-time chemical experiments (RARE) will be developed by undergraduate and graduate students at UC Davis. PI's lab will be used to train and prepare graduate students and undergraduate students. Understanding atomic motion during chemical reactions is critical to improving our ability to make new devices and materials such as solar cells, molecular electronic components, and drugs. We plan to elucidate the details of the interplay between atomic and electron motion in several important chemical systems using a new type of ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy that is currently being developed in the PI's laboratory. This method allows us to visualize the motion of atoms during fast chemical reactions in a more directly manner. The educational component of this proposal involves the building of an experimental educational program for local high school students that will help them understand chemical reactions at the most fundamental levels and at a young age. The experiments are Internet-connected, remotely accessible, real-time chemical experiments (RARE) that will be developed by undergraduate and graduate students at UC Davis.