In this renewal award, supported by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. John R. Lombardi of the City College of New York will conduct research studying the resonance Raman spectra of mass-selected transition metal clusters. The systems to be studied include heteronuclear metal dimers, as well as trimers and tetramers. Many of these systems are of interest as potential catalysts for industrial processes. Results from these spectroscopic studies will also be used to infer information about the bonding in these systems. The mass-selected molecules will be embedded in rare gas matrices at low temperatures or deposited onto semiconductor quantum dot arrays.
These studies will help shed light on certain catalytic systems, as well as provide benchmark experimental values with which to test computational methods dealing with heavy metal atoms. In addition, they will provide valuable research experience to students coming from groups traditionally underrepresented in chemistry.
