Professor James C. Weisshaar is supported by a grant from The Physical Chemistry Program to study the structures and dynamics of polyatomic gas phase ions and radicals. The aim of this research project is a better understanding of how the electronic structures of transition metal species affects their reactivity. This area of research has important implications in the development of new chemical catalysts. Weisshaar will study the gas phase chemistry of transition metal ions and neutrals containing Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, etc., and their reactions with small organic molecules in a fast flow reactor. The transition metal ions will be prepared in selected electronic states using tunable dye laser ionization. This research extends the use of powerful gas phase chemical physics tools including dye lasers, molecular beams, and time-of-flight techniques into the regime of molecular systems of considerable complexity and genuine chemical interest.
