Preparation and Characterization of Templated Sol-Gel Derived Materials

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA

Investigators

Abstract

Professor Maryanne Collinson of Kansas State University is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program for research focused on templated sol-gel materials for sensor applications. The plan is to design and synthesize mesoporous and macroporous thin films, to characterize their properties at the molecular scale, and to understand the factors that influence material response and selectivity. Macroporous silicate films and organic/inorganic hybrid films involving organosilicon precursors will be studied, as well as molecular templated silicate films. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence will be optimized for analytical applications using ruthenium organometallics as a reagent. Deliberately engineered inorganic or hybrid films are key elements of nanotechnology research with possible industrial applications.