This award supports a collaborative program in the organic chemistry of magnetic semiconductors between the research groups of Fernando Galembeck (Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Janos H. Fendler (Syracuse, New York). Nanosized magnetic and magnetic- semiconductor particles will be prepared by methodologies developed by the Brazilian group and will be incorporated into bilayer lipid membranes and Langmuir-Blodgett films currently in use in the U.S. group. They will be characterized by absorption spectrophotometry, scanning tunneling microscopy, and by measuring electrochemical, electro-optical, and magneto-optical properties in the U.S. scientist's laboratory. Important and complementary characterization by transmission electron microscopy, Mossbauer and ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy will be carried out in the Brazilian laboratories. The research will result in the development of novel, nanosized magnetic and magnetic-semiconductor particles which will have potentially important applications as electro-optical, magneto-optical, and magnetoelectro-optical devices. The relevance of the proposed research to high-technology applications will serve to motivate students, whose training will be an integral component of the cooperation. Brazilian students will work in Syracuse and U.S. students will do likewise in Brazil.
