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We
study structures and dynamics
of building blocks of organometallic networks, supramolecular architectures,
and metal nanoclusters. The long-term
outcome of our research is a quantitative understanding of how metal centers
activate organic molecules and mediate chemical reactions. The research has impact in catalysis,
materials synthesis, and environmental and biological technologies. We use laser vaporization supersonic expansions to produce
super-cold molecules, mass spectrometry to measure the mass distribution of
reaction products, laser spectroscopy to determine precise ionization
energies, metal-ligand bond energies, and electronic-vibrational and, in some
cases, rotational energy levels. We use
ab initio and conformational sampling methods to narrow the search for new
molecules and new spectra and to help interpretation of experimental
spectra. The combination of the
experimental and theoretical methods determines electronic states and
molecular structures. Current
research projects include (1)
transition metal-aromatic hydrocarbons, (2) metal-heterocycles, (3) metal-DNA/RNA bases, and
(4) metal atomic clusters, and (5) metal oxide, carbide and nitride clusters. The
most significant results from
our research activities are the successful applications of pulsed field
ionization-zero electron kinetic energy (ZEKE), mass analyzed threshold
ionization (MATI), and IR-UV resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy to metal clusters and complexes. These techniques not only offer high
spectral resolution, but also provide the ability to study molecular systems
more akin to condensed-phase inorganic and organometallic chemistry. The field is wide open, and we are well
positioned as a major player. For the
first time, we are able to do gas-phase laser electronic-vibrational
spectroscopy in a systematic way that varies the ligands or metal elements,
much as our synthetic colleagues do inorganic reactions.
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