Spring 2003
Instructor: Professor David Adams
Department of Chemistry

Topics:

Motivation: The advent a decade or so ago and the continued development of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques such as scanning tunneling (STM), atomic force (AFM), near-field scanning optical (NSOM), and electrostatic force (EFM) microscopies/spectroscopies in some ways has provided the catalytic spark for the nanoscience and technology revolution. These techniques have given us the ability to image, manipulate, and address electrically, magnetically, and optically single atoms, molecules and nanoscale assemblies and have become our "eyes" and "fingers" into the nanometer scale world. In much the same way that nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography over the last 50 years have shaped fundamental understanding of molecular chemistry and have become indispensable analytical tools, scanning probe microscopies offer similar and maybe more promise to help elucidate details of nanochemistry and nanophysics as well as create and manipulate nanostructures. The increased reliability and dramatic advancement of SPM techniques has allowed for novel applications such as chemical nanolithography and the design of increasingly more sophisticated experiments often involving combined SPM/optical microscopy/laser spectroscopy methods to probe the structural properties and physical behavior of individual nanostructures. Scanning probe techniques are central to nanoscience research and therefore it is imperative that these instruments be intimately involved in the training and science of the next generation of young people.

Scope: It is the aim of this seminar course to familiarize the group with modern methods of single molecule and scanning probe microscopies and spectroscopies. This is a project oriented class where everyone is expected to design a realistic original research proposal. Reading assignments will be given weekly which are intended to give a survey of current state of the art research involving high spatial resolution spectroscopy and imaging methods. We will discuss the required reading at the group meetings and everyone should be prepared to talk. People can also suggest papers and discuss aspects of their evolving ideas for their project in the class.

Project: Prepare an original research proposal 5-10 pages and give a 30 minute presentation concerning the nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging of a chemical system of interest to you. The proposal can be related to your current research, giving more insight into your Ph.D. project, but it should be different enough from the main thrust of your Ph.D. science. Don't just give a rehash of your current project. Be creative. The proposal can be chemically, physically and/or theoretically oriented. It should be realistic and must involve structural and physical property information obtainable through high resolution optical, nanoscale imaging/spectroscopy, and/or scanning probe methods.