With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at John Carroll University will acquire Isothermal Titration and Differential Scanning Calorimetry Instruments. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including a) characterization of the effect of nonpolar solutes on coulombic interactions; b) organic and organoalkali structure and reactivity; c) determination of protein structure at solid/liquid interfaces and examination of sol-gel synthetic routes to alumina films; d) measurement of binding strengths of various metals to organometallic fragments; and e) analysis of surfaces of powders.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) is an extremely useful tool in modern analytical chemistry. Calorimetric analysis is used to measure the thermal energy (heat) exchange that occurs during molecular interactions and reactions. Thus DSC provides a very reliable and sensitive method for determining the thermodynamic properties of materials such as changes in heat capacity of liquid and solid samples.
