CURRENT RESEARCH
Our present research studies investigate the electronic interactions of substituted naphthalene compounds that have been deposited as thin layers on an inert surface in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. The properties and the behaviors of organic surfaces molecules are important in understanding catalysis. Furthermore, the interactions of different kinds of molecular surfaces have relevance in the development of future electronic devices such as organic light emitting diodes.
Three separate manuscripts dealing with this work were prepared by the end of the summer. Two are in the hands of referees and one, titled “Formation of Naphthalene-Dichloronaphthalene Exciplexes on Al2O3 (0001)”, is scheduled to be publication in the Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research later this year.
AREA OF RESEARCH:
Dr. Martin's research interests are in the general area of molecular spectroscopy. Most recently, he and his PLNU students have worked with Dr. Allan Nishimura at Westmont College on collaborative projects in two broad areas.
The first area of research involves the spectroscopic study of energy transfer in thin organic films deposited on an Al2O3 surface. These studies are conducted under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions and in a temperature range from 100 K to 900 K.
The second area of research involves experiments that fall under the general heading of Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance (ODMR) techniques. In these experiments, optical signals are collected from a sample immersed in a liquid helium bath (~ 1.4 K) and excited with both UV and microwave radiation. Such studies detect subtle changes in the triplet state of excited aromatic compounds. These signals indicate changes in the local molecular environment.
These research efforts seek a better understanding of the dynamics of energy transfer within solid substances. Such processes are involved in catalysis, photosynthesis, and similar important phenomena.
Click to view Dr. Martin's publications (1970 - present)
|