Chemistry Weekly Seminar - Biplinlal Unni, PhD Candidate
Bipinlal Unni, PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry will present a seminar at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Title
Electrochemical and Time-Resolved IR Spectroscopic Studies of Electron Transfer Kinetics
Abstract
Beyond the fundamental interest of investigating long-range charge transfer, managing the charge transport through molecular films is relevant to technological systems such as molecular electronics and sensor designs. Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) have been widely used as molecular bridges in the fabrication of nano and micro electro mechanical devices (NEMS and MEMS). The transfer of electrons between a weakly electronically coupled donor-acceptor moieties via tunneling is described by Marcus theory. Well-ordered nature with the possibility of modifying the head group, SAMS are suitable model systems for investigating kinetics of heterogeneous electron transfer (ET) proceeding through outer-sphere pathways. In an attempt to study heterogeneous ET kinetics, two electroactive systems TEMPO and ferrocene were analyzed on various lengths of alkane thiol SAMs. Studying SAMs through advanced methodologies continue to provide detailed information regarding the effect of the alkyl bridge and the molecular dynamics on ET. Surface enhanced IR spectroscopy (SEIRAS) is a surface sensitive technique that is used to study the orientational changes of the SAM due to electron transfer. Time resolved SEIRAS is a very powerful technique that allows for further study of the molecular dynamics in concert with the fast ET occurring through the SAM that complement ongoing electrochemical studies.
Date: Friday, November 27, 2020
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Via Zoom video conference (link available by request to chem.dept@usask.ca)