Our research interests lie in exploring molecular excited state geometry changes and structure/function relationships in photoactive coordination complexes and hybrid materials using several steady state and time-resolved vibrational and X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods. Along these lines, there are two major themes of research in my lab:
Fundamental structural dynamics studies of electron transfer complexes: In this research area, our goal is to elucidate the molecular excited state structural changes associated with photoinduced electron transfer in solar energy relevant complexes using resonance Raman and femtosecond vibrational coherence spectroscopy methods.
Structure/Function relationships in porous hybrid materials and other host-guest systems: This research area involves using spectroscopic methods to interrogate host-guest interactions on the molecular level. Materials under investigation include metal organic frameworks with applications in catalysis and gas separation and storage. The spectroscopic tools used in this work included Raman, resonance Raman and synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, new metal organic frameworks imparted with photoactive functionality are being designed and synthesized.
