在本页:
戴维斯研究小组
微环境基础实验室研究
专注: 分析，物理和大气化学
教授: 瑞安·戴维斯博士.D.
网站: 戴维斯研究小组
概述: 戴维斯研究小组利用化学元素, 物理, 工程, and computer science to develop advanced analytical techniques to study the unique properties of microenvironments and address science questions relevant to atmospheric chemistry, 可持续性, 气候, 人体健康和室内空气质量. 微环境在自然界和科学中无处不在. 例子包括生物细胞和大气气溶胶. Understanding the chemistry and 物理 occurring in these small, isolated compartments is essential to understanding human health and global 气候, 除此之外. 从海洋到大气再到我们的身体, these microscopic environments influence our daily lives in ways yet to be understood. Our research aims to increase our understanding of micro-environmental properties to increase our understanding of the world and how we can improve it. 在戴维斯研究小组, there will be ample opportunities for students to develop instrumental techniques (such as that shown at right), 设计和建造控制电子设备, 编写和开发软件, 完成实验, 处理数据, and present their work through presentations and publications.
目前，有几个正在进行的研究方向.
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海洋聚合物在大气中的自组装
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Marine polysaccharides are known to self-assemble into ordered aggregates, 比如聚合物凝胶, 在海面上. Recently, marine polymer gels have also been observed in cloud/fog droplets. 由于它们的密度, 紧凑的性质, self-assembled gels in atmospheric particles are speculated to change the microstructural properties and 化学 reactivity of that particle. 然而，这些观点在很大程度上仍未被探索. One initial project within my research group will study self-assembly of polymer material under the complex conditions relevant to the atmosphere, thus advancing fundamental physical chemistry knowledge and constraining important properties relevant to atmospheric science in terms of understanding air quality and 气候.
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超越烧杯:微液滴中ROS的产生
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到目前为止, bridging the gap between atmospheric models and atmospheric observations has proven difficult. This difficulty is largely due to the extreme 化学 complexity of atmospheric particles and the unique but poorly understood properties of microenvironments. 在戴维斯研究小组, there are opportunities to study how these unique microdroplet properties lead to unique chemistry that cannot be replicated through “beaker synthesis”. One example includes studying the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS),包括 hydroxyl radical production under atmospheric conditions, 如右图所示.
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室内空气质量
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我们大部分时间都呆在一栋大楼里. 然而, less is known about indoor air chemistry than the chemistry occurring in the outdoor environment. A recent research push has led to an explosion of information about indoor air quality, 但还有很多研究要做. 在戴维斯研究小组, there will be opportunities to pursue research related to indoor air quality in the workspace, studying the types of particulate generated under “blue-collar” labor conditions.
更多关于戴维斯研究小组的细节可以在 http://www.Trinity.edu/sites/davis-research-group.
Rapf实验室
复杂水环境中的光化学
类型: 物理化学
教授: 丽贝卡·拉芙博士.D.
概述: 太阳是地球最大的能源来源, 它控制着, 直接或间接, 绝大多数是物理的, 化学, 以及地球上发生的生物过程. Photo化学 processing of material drives the engine of atmospheric and 环境化学 in planetary environments, largely through the formation and subsequent reactions of radical species. The reactivity of these radicals is controlled and mediated by the surrounding environmental conditions under which they were generated. Photo化学ly-generated organic radicals are particularly interesting because they offer an abiotic pathway to make larger, 更复杂的有机分子, 这在大气化学中有应用, 生命起源以前的化学, 和天体生物学. This research is grounded in fundamental physical chemistry but is inherently interdisciplinary, 利用有机化学, 环境化学, 生物物理学, 行星科学.
The Rapf lab examines the direct aqueous photochemistry of organic molecules under conditions relevant to planetary environments,包括 the modern and ancient Earth as well as other potentially habitable worlds. We conduct detailed photo化学 experiments that allow us to examine, 从力学上看, changes in reactivity that occur as a function of reaction conditions, 包括光子通量, 大气成分, 溶液条件(e.g. pH和盐度). 使用模型化学系统, we can systematically increase the complexity of model systems to investigate the origins of emergent behavior.
同时进行光化学研究, we also explore how intermolecular interactions mediate chemistry, both through orientation and concentration at interfaces and through the formation of supramolecular assemblies. This is motivated by the repeated observations that in many cases the chemistry of single species in a bulk environment cannot be used to predict the reactivity of those species either in confined environments or in concert with other molecules. Of particular interest are recent literature reports that molecules at aqueous interfaces can undergo photochemistry that is not seen in the bulk. We explore how photochemistry is mediated by surface films composed of insoluble surfactants, such as long-tailed fatty acids like stearic and palmitic acid, 使用光化学引发剂, 比如丙酮酸.
学生将进行光化学实验, 哪些是用质谱联用分析的, 光学光谱, 表面张力测量. Students will also have opportunities for instrument development, as we build surface sensitive spectroscopic techniques to probe interfacial photochemistry directly.