BALDWIN Research Summary: This is an Engineering Equipment Grant. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer will be used for research on a broad range of topics by a user group from the departments of Chemistry, Physics, and Chemical Engineering. Examples of the specific projects where the instrumentation will be used are as follows. The interactions which exist at metal/electrolyte and metal/polymer interfaces will be probed using the FTIR in the grazing angle specular reflectance mode. A second program will employ the instrument for examination of adsorbed species on catalyst surfaces. Two additional projects will take advantage of the ability of this instrument to incorporate photoacoustic FTIR for identification and analysis of polymer/pigment crosslinking mechanisms and for the characterization of coal and coal liquefaction residues for purposes of reactivity correlation utilization. The instrument will also find application in a research project where the nature of the structure of amorphous silicon-based semiconductor alloys is being investigated, as well as in a number of projects where only routine chemical analysis of complex mixtures and pure compounds is required. The concept for utilization of the instrument is centered around a flexible, multi-user campus research resource rather than an instrument dedicated to any one single project or program. Novelty/Innovation: Each of the individual research programs described in the proposal has its own novelty and innovative features. As examples of this, the study of polymer/pigment interactions with FTIR permits examination of these mechanisms
