Students and Research - SYE 2023
Annie S. Knapp - Advisor: Prof. Adam Hill
Nonlinear Spectroscopy of Heterobinuclear Units
Heterobinuclear unit light absorbers consisting of chemically dissimilar transition metals can serve as light absorbers for nanoscale artificial photosystems. TiOCo and ZrOCo units on silica nanoparticles were coupled with 2,2’-bipyridine (bipy) as a luminescent electron acceptor, with TiOCo observed as a negative control. The synthesis steps were confirmed using FT-IR and the geometries of the heterobinuclear unit-bipy diads were modeled using DFT. The particles were pressed into pellets and then placed into a home-built 3D printed gas cell. Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and time-resolved emission spectroscopy (TRES) data were collected under argon and oxygen atmospheres to measure the relaxation of the excited state. The quenching of emission in the presence of oxygen supports that the long-lived excited state of the ZrOCo-bipy system is due to a change in spin state. This change in spin state will also be investigated using Raman spectroscopy. If there is evidence of resonance Raman enhancement for scattering from bipy on ZrOCo, this will provide corroborating evidence of electron transfer to bipy.
Jenna Mack - Advisor: Dr. Matthew Skeels
Highway Department Salt Storage and its Effects on Nearby Well Water Quality
In the Northern United States, highway departments rely on road salt, often composed of sodium chloride (NaCl) to maintain road safety throughout the winter seasons. When not being spread on roads, road salts are often stored in sheds that meet minimal state regulations to protect the surrounding areas from leeching. Previous research has s noted instances that outdoor salt storage has significantly increased sodium concentrations in groundwater in close proximity to the sheds1. In this study, the groundwater levels of sodium, as well as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and chloride are going to be analytically evaluated to assess the effects of salt storage in relation to salt storage proximity in Chenango County, NY. Forty-two well water samples within two miles of 4 different storage sheds were collected and flame atomic absorption (FAAS) and emission (FAES) was used to determine the concentrations of each metal in every sample. High performance liquid ion chromatography (HPLC-IC) will be used to determine the concentration of the anions, primarily chloride, in each water sample. Statistical methods will be employed to evaluate the likelihood of groundwater contamination by salt storage. The predicted results are that higher concentrations of each element tested will be significantly higher in water samples collected closer to the storage sheds.
1Ostendorf, D. W.; Hinlein, E. S.; Rotaru, C.; DeGroot, D. J. Contamination of groundwater by outdoor highway deicing agent storage. Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) 2006, 326, 109-121.
Olivia Melvin - Advisor: Dr. Samuel Tartakoff
GC-MS Analysis and Imitation Synthesis of a Luxury Brand Fragrance
Because exact chemical compositions cannot be patented, imitations of high-end fragrances can be produced with the use of basic analytical equipment easily and legally.1,2 Through reverse engineering, companies can identify components of an expensive perfume or cologne and synthesize a product with a similar scent in order to market it as a ‘dupe’ and make a profit. However, these mimics are often not as long-lasting and can have decreased detectability in our olfactory receptors.2 Here, identification and quantification of chemical components in Black Opium Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent was approached through the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Select components from the original fragrance were combined with new chemicals of similar scent profiles to replicate Black Opium as synthesized imitation fragrances with cheaper, simpler, and more environmentally friendly lists of ingredients. Quality of these imitations was compared to the target fragrance through a series of evaluations of volatility, light sensitivity, and scent similarity.
Scott Roberts - Advisor: Dr. Nadia Marano
Teaching Chemistry
Chemistry is one of the more difficult topics for high school students. As I plan to become a. chemistry teacher after my time at SLU, this is the focus of my SYE. First, I am learning and researching effective teaching techniques. Next, I am applying this knowledge to develop and create meaningful lessons, laboratory exercises, and other classroom materials with the goal to promote student engagement, enjoyment, and understanding while incorporating the required aspects from the New York State standards. Shadowing classrooms is one way of learning I have been doing. These classroom shadowing sessions have given me a direction into what course material to cover and how best to create a student driven class. Being exposed to these environments has been beneficial in my understanding on how to conduct a class according to the students’ needs. The literature I have been researching has provided me with teaching techniques such as the use of analogies and a progressive style of teaching. I have created worksheets and laboratory exercises considering the periodic table of elements, concentration, dilution, and density. These pieces that I created were then adapted to better encompass aspects of what I have been learning such as making the lessons more student driven and capable of including diverse ways to get a point across.
Chyanne Turner - Advisor: Dr. Samantha Glazier
An investigation of fluorescent MIP-modified amino-carbon dots for selective TNT detection
In analytical studies, fluorescent detectors have shown to be useful for determining the concentrations of analytes, both in lab samples as well as in the environment. For these reasons, researchers have developed fluorescent compounds to be quenched by harmful and toxic substances such as TNT, which can then be used to determine TNT concentration. While compounds such as amino-carbon dots have already been developed that can be used to detect TNT, modifications have been performed on these compounds to make the detection of TNT selective as well, as TNT has many analogs which can also quench fluorescent compounds. Amino-carbon dots have been established to be sufficient fluorescent compounds for TNT detection and concentration determination. In recent studies, these compounds have been modified for selective TNT detection with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), which are polymers that are synthesized around a template molecule and can selectively adsorb various compounds. For our investigation, we will be replicating the synthesis of MIP-modified amino-carbon dots via a hydrothermal method and developing the MIP using TNP as a template molecule (Figure 1). Once the efficacy of this method for selective TNT detection is established, we will then explore various experimental modifications to improve the detection method, which include using alternative carbon sources such as petroleum coke for the carbon dot synthesis, as well as varying the heating time for the carbon dot synthesis.