This project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of mechanistic electrochemistry. During the tenure of this three-year continuing grant, Professor Bard and his students will pursue fundamental investigations of electrode reaction mechanisms, broadly defined. Four specific electrochemical research thrusts will be pursued, namely (1) electrochemical studies of bioconjugation, especially the interactions of small molecules with DNA; (2) studies of the electrochemical and surface properties of fullerene-modified electrodes; (3) applications of the scanning electrochemical microscope to the study of fast heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions at ultramicroelectrodes; and (4) studies of electrochemical reactions in novel oxidation-stable solvents. %%% This research builds upon results obtained under Dr. Bard's previous NSF grant, CHE-8901450. In addition to providing fundamental new insights into mechanisms of heterogeneous electron transfer processes, this research is of particular relevance to the development of biosensors and to understanding the electrochemical properties of new materials and reactive chemical systems.
