I. Single-Molecule Detection (SMD) using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers. The development to this new approach to SMD was published in Analytical Chemistry2001, 73, 3674, followed by two new reports and recently the first report of overtone and combinations in SMD was also published in Analytical Chemistry 2003, 75, 1918-1923). In this work the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique has been used to obtain the surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectra of single dye molecules in the matrix of a fatty acid. Mixed monolayers of the dye material have been fabricated on silver islands substrates with a concentration of the probed molecule of one molecule per micron square. Supported by an NSERC research grant.
II. Nanostructures for Surface-Enhanced Spectroscopy. Surface enhanced-vibrational spectroscopy, surface enhanced fluorescence and nanostructure fabrication with appropriate optical properties to produce enhanced optical fields. Supported by an NSERC research grant.
III. With the support of General Motors of Canada we are starting a program on hydrogen storage materials. In this work we shall systematically explore the nature of chemical bonding in a series of hydrides using real-time temperature programmed vibrational spectroscopy in a wide range of temperature. We also examine the complex chemical hydrides using high level ab initio theoretical calculations. One of the main goals of this research work is to optimize the hydride composition to improve the kinetics of hydrogen sorption in ABH4 compounds, where A is alkaline or mixed alkaline elements and B is an sp elements such as B, Al or Ga. Supported by a CRD NSERC grant.
