With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program and the Chemistry Division, Chad Leverette and colleagues Garriet Smith and Monty W. Fetterolf from University of South Carolina (Aiken) will acquire a Raman microscope for spectroscopy and imaging applications of novel materials and biological samples. The award will enhance research especially in areas of study that include (1) developing novel nanostructured surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared (SEIRA) dual spectroscopic sensors utilizing glancing angle vapor deposition (GLAD), (2) the trace detection and differentiation of radionuclides in the environment, (3) investigating and determining the defense mechanisms in diseased coral sea fans, and (4) analyzing novel inorganic materials synthesized for hydrogen storage applications.
Raman spectroscopy measures the vibrational frequencies between atoms and molecules in a sample. Identification of these frequencies provides information on the chemical composition and structure of the material. This widely used technique, employing lasers to probe the material, is non-destructive. A Raman microscope allows one to scan across a sample to provide a spatial image of the response to the laser probe. This instrument will strengthen undergraduate education by connecting USCA students with scientists in two separate departments at USCA, with scientists throughout the university system, with researchers at a national laboratory, and with local industry.
The major goals of this funded project were focused on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of chemistry, materials science, and microbiology. The primary outcomes of this project included 1) the development of novel sensors that are currently being used to detect harmful radioactive materials in the environment, 2) the determination of the chemical identity of a pigment present in diseased coral sea fans in order to better understand how coral sea fans are responding to dangerous infections, and 3) the development of a method that provides stable, short term storage and stability for air-sensitive hydrogen based materials that are being used for novel automobile applications. A tremendous impact of this project, that is significant in its educational outreach, is that all of the research performed has been done solely by undergraduate students (58% by female undergraduate students and 16% by minority undergraduate students – two underrepresented groups in the sciences). 79% of the undergraduate students involved with this project went on to careers in science (either graduate school, medical school, pharmacy school, of industry). In addition, outreach efforts allowed for 608 K-12 students to interact and use the instrument provided by this grant through a special science education enrichment day. The microscope used by these students is a state-of-the –art instrument that is the only one of its kind in this geographic region of South Carolina.
