This research is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of spectroscopy. This research involves an examination of fluorescence detection of laser photofragmentation products as an analytical measurement tool. Such an approach should be useful for molecules which are normally not fluorescent. Specific areas of study include 1) fragmentation fluorescence spectrometry (FFS) of volatile metal chelates, 2) pulsed supersonic expansion for high analytical selectivity in laser photolysis-FFS (LP-FFS) via photofragmentation, 3) evaluation of the "remote sensing" capabilities of LP-FFS, 4) LP-FFS of relatively large nonvolatile molecules, 5) the utility of matrix isolation for increased sensitivity in LP-FFS measurements, and 6) FFS as a gas chromatographic detector. This research examines the utility of analytical measurements using laser fragmentation of non-fluorescent molecules followed by fluorescence detection of the fragments. Such an approach allows the fluorescence detection of molecules which are normally not fluorescent.
