Professor Greg M. Swain of Michigan State University is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to study the physical, chemical, electrical, optical and electrochemical properties of optically transparent diamond and diamond-like carbon thin-film electrodes and explore their application in UV/Vis and IR transmission spectroelectrochemical measurements. The electrochemical properties of the electrodes will be tailored through control of their deposition conditions, and characterized by conductivity-probe atomic force microscopy, scanning electrochemical microscopy, and other surface characterization techniques. Transmission spectroelectrochemical methods in the UV/Vis and IR will be used to investigate the electrode reaction mechanism of redox-active neuropharmacological agents, and low frequency IR spectroelectrochemical method will be used for the study of redox-linked metal-ligand modes in metalloproteins and enzymes. Graduate and undergraduate students will be trained in analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, materials science, optical spectroscopy, and spectroelectrochemistry. Students from underrepresented minorities will be involved in this research through the local NOBCChE chapter.
