Upgrade of a Picosecond UV-vis-NIR Pump-Probe Transient Absorption Spectrometer

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Rochester will upgrade a picosecond UV-vis-NIR pump-probe transient absorption spectrometer. This equipment will enhance research in the following areas: 1) quantum amplified isomerization; 2) mechanistic investigations of group 14 cation radical reactions; 3) nature and decay dynamics of photogenerated interchain species in conjugated polymers; 4) decay kinetics of ion radical pairs to determine return electron transfer rate constants; 5) studies of charge transfer processes in platinum diimine complexes; and 6) carbon nanotube electronics and interface vibrational dynamics. A picosecond laser provides ultrafast pulses of coherent visible or infrared light, which enables researchers to obtain important information about fast occurring chemical reactions. Its use may enable breakthroughs in our understanding of the properties of reactive and nonreactive molecules. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas including polymer chemistry.