Chemistry - Faculty

CHEM 116     Introduction to Chemistry

CHEM 120     College Chemistry I

CHEM 450 &451       Physical Chemistry I & Lab

CHEM 452 & 453      Physical Chemistry II & Lab

CHEM 516     Chemical Literature Review

Laser spectroscopy of photochemical processes in atmospheric and environmental chemistry at interfaces.

Our research lab investigates chemical processes that occur at interfaces, with a special emphasis on those occurring in the natural environment (such as the generation of toxic gases to the atmosphere) and those which can be used for environmental remediation (like removal of pollutants from wastewater). We use a variety of spectroscopic and computational tools to monitor and model how the relationship between molecular structure and chemical reactivity changes at these interfaces, where compounds in one phase can interact with those in another. We have studies that involve the production of gases from aqueous nitrate ions in the natural environment, photocatalytic degradation reactions to remove organic compounds from water supplies, and atmospheric aerosols (in collaboration with our colleagues at USDA, and in California). To monitor these systems, we use a combination of Raman, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopies, as well as thermal analysis and other analytical techniques. To model our experimental results, we use kinetics software, quantum computational chemistry, and molecular dynamics simulations, depending on the type of information we need. Students who are most successful with these projects are interested in learning a wide range of useful skills, from spectroscopic methods development and data analysis to computer simulations or materials synthesis.