Funding
Molecule-based Mesoscopic Magnetic Materials for Quantum Computing & Spintronics
Molecular magnetic materials have been of interest since they find applications in high density information storage. Modern technologies not only need to be small in size, but also more and more powerful. Molecular materials because of their size satisfy the first requirement; the fact that they display both classical and quantum properties makes them potentially useful for quantum computation. For this reason, our group has been interested in single molecule magnets (SMMs). SMMs are a class of compounds in which the magnetic properties are intrinsic to the molecules and not due to interspin interactions, as in traditional magnets. We are working at the interplay of chemistry and physics, as we both synthesize the materials, and we extensively characterize them with various physical methods and spectroscopes (X-ray crystallography, magnetometry, High Field EMR, solid state NMR, electrochemistry, fluorescence, and TGA/DSC).
Relevant recent publications:
Relevant recent publications:
Uranium Sequestration Systems / Uranium Catalysis / Nanomaterials
In seawater, Uranium exists in ppb concentrations; estimates show that if 1% was extracted, the current U reserves would see a tenfold increase. Polymeric amidoximes have dominated the literature as uranium sequesters; they were initially suggested in the 1980s and later field-tested, retrieving 1 kg of U from the Pacific Ocean. In the Lampropoulos lab we are interested in the synthesis, characterization, and field-testing of molecule based materials for the separation of uranium from water, for catalysis using the resulting uranium complexes, as well as the deposition of such materials on surfaces or incorporation in nano particles.
Relevant recent publications:
Relevant recent publications:
Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction
The group operates a state-of-the-art Single Crystal X-ray diffractometer with a Mo microfocus x-ray source, Kappa goniometer, and advanced optics, capable of low temperature as well as high pressure data collection. Structural data is collected on the instrument and the structures are solved using the newest and greatest software packages. We are interested in structural studies of solid state materials, small molecules, and polymeric networks.
Relevant recent publications:
Relevant recent publications:
High Pressure Science
Applying pressure to materials has been an intriguing idea for us, especially as magnetic molecules could potentially come closer and interact; potential applications are in molecule based electronics and spintronics. Additionally, piezoelectric materials are of particular interest for materials science applications. We are interested in the behavior of materials under pressure. At UNF we have the appropriate instrumentation to study materials under such intense pressure conditions (up to 20 GPa). The characterization techniques we have available are single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetometry under pressure, and Raman under pressure. The group also performs high-pressure experiments at the 13-BM-C beamline in the Advanced Photon Lab (APS) in the Argonne National Lab (ANL) in Illinois. Our beam time at the APS is funded by the University of Chicago, and ANL is funded by the US Department of Energy.
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High pressure data collected by Prof. Christos Lampropoulos and his students Eric Williams and Steven Stone at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) 13-BM-C beamline. The data is shown including how the gasket shading moves in and out as the data collection proceeds. |
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Sample frame of high-pressure data. Strong reflections are from the two diamonds and the weaker ones are sample reflections. This frame is from a P = 6.41 GPa data set on a molecular cluster
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Molecule-based Sensors
Photoelectrical Chemical Sensors (PECS) are a technology capable of sensing a variety of analytes, widely varying from warfare agents, heavy metals, to volatile organics, and solutions of ultra low concentrations. The photoexcitation of the sensing material or the analyte recognition compound (ARC), coincides with (energetically matches) the excitation of the analyte, which leads to sensing properties. The sensor's signal is in the form of modified photovoltages (PVs). This technology can be easily miniaturized to fit in shirt pockets, and can be used for continuous or remote sensing. Our group has been working on the development of customized ARCs, since specificity of analyte and ARC pairs is of vital importance. Molecular chemistry allowed us to change the ARCs in many different ways, which in turn changes the surface chemistry of the material; the latter could potentially lead to an ARC made specific for a certain analyte.
Relevant recent publications:
Relevant recent publications:
Coordination & Cluster Chemistry
Coordination complexes and transition metal clusters have been investigated for modeling metalloproteins, such as nitrogenase, ferritin, the water oxidizing complex in photosystem II, and others. In addition, several clusters have exhibited SMM behavior, and they have been proposed for molecular refrigerants, and molecular switches. In recent years, small clusters and coordination complexes have been used as building blocks for the construction of metal organic frameworks (MOFs), which are extended systems capable of storing gases, and performing catalysis. We have been interested in the area of coordination and cluster chemistry for a combination of these reasons, i.e. because we aspire to make hybrid materials. The latter are materials capable of displaying two or more different properties, such as magnetic and conducting, magnetic and photoswitching, magnetic and catalytic, and magnetic and gas storage properties.
Relevant recent publications:
Relevant recent publications:
Virtual Environment for Chemical Education And Experiential Learning
Science education lacks technologies targeting virtual experiential learning and informal training. Via a close collaboration with leading experts in computer science and virtual reality gurus, we are developing a platform technology for the delivery of virtual safety training, lab technique training, as well as instrument training. Such a technology will be module-based and the user will be using a Natural User Interface (NUI) to interact with the system, i.e. gestures and body language. The pedagogical value of this system stems from its wide applicability to all STEM disciplines, as well as because it can easily incorporate animations and videos, allowing the users to relate macroscopic observations to microscopic events at the molecular level, thus helping them understand.
For more information:
For more information: