Jeanne E. Pemberton
The interfacial regions between phases are sites of critical importance in many relevant processes and technologies. The catalysis of chemical reactions by metals, the corrosion of metals, the pollution of groundwater by toxic chemicals released from soil surfaces, the organization of surfactants at liquid-liquid interfaces important in phase-transfer catalysis, and the conversion of chlorofluorocarbons to reactive chlorine species which destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere are all examples of important chemical processes which occur at surfaces or within interfaces. Despite decades of intense study, our understanding of the chemistry of these and similar interfacial and surface processes at the molecular level is still only modestly developed. Thus, the development of adequate tools with which to study surface and interfacial chemistry and elucidation of the molecular details of such complex chemistry represent two of the most exciting frontiers of modern measurement science.
Our research seeks to develop an understanding of such chemistry in several technologically important areas including organic semiconductor-based photonics devices such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), surface wetting and lubrication, organized assemblies including self-assembled layers and surfactant systems, and environmental systems. Methodologies employed for these efforts include surface vibrational spectroscopies, electrochemistry, surface electron spectroscopies, work function measurements, ellipsometry, fluorescence microscopy,electron microscopy, the scanning probe microscopies (AFM and STM), Langmuir trough methods. These methods are supplemented by more conventional chemical measurement tools (e.g. mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy) as needed for complete characterization of relevant solution and interfacial systems.