Acquisition of Moessbaur Spectroscopy System

Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg PA

Investigators

Abstract

This Major Research Instrumentation RUI grant supports acquisition of a Mossbauer spectroscopy system that will be used to further understanding of the structures and interactions that take place between tin-iron probe molecules and different liquid crystal polymer systems. Mossbauer spectroscopy will be applied to investigate the chemistry and structure of heterobimetallic polynuclear compounds containing iron and tin. These iron-tin compounds will be used as probe molecules to study the glassy phase of several liquid crystalline polymeric materials. This investigation will be carried out by undergraduate students involved in research projects directed by the chemistry and physics faculty at Bloomsburg University and Fayette campus of the Pennsylvania State University respectively. The equipment provides the capability to systematically investigate liquid crystal polymer systems by introducing both orientational and translational order by using the heterobimetallic and heterotrimetallic compounds. The equipment enhances the undergraduate research programs at two institutions by giving the students the ability to have hands-on experience with updated equipment. It will also be used as part of an undergraduate instrumentation course giving students the opportunity to learn the techniques of spectroscopy.