Using simple preparations to model desired surface chemistries and morphologies, I plan to use APR FTIR spectroscopy to investigate the growth of thin film water on modified metal oxide surfaces and other insulator surfaces. My goals are to provide information on the mechanisms of initial water molecule absorption, subsequent growth of thin film water and how the molecular properties of the film affect the surface chemistry of these materials.
Biomimetic Nanoparticle Functionalization and Applications
Novel and innovative nanomaterials such as bimetallic complexes and biologically functionalized metal NPs for specific protein or antibody targets are of national widespread interest. I plan to explore a variety of bimetallic and biologically functionalized metal NPs for biomedical applications. My goals are to synthesize, functionalize and characterize these complexes using different spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy.
