STUDENTS!! Come do research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology!

Contact Professor KW Hipps @ 335-3033 or hipps@wsu.edu

191 or 499 Project. Synthesis and purification of metallorganics. These materials are similar in structure to Vitamin B and hemoglobin. Our end interest is in using these as components in single molecular electronic devices. The student will begin by learning purification techniques and basic spectroscopic (IR, UV-VIS) characterization. Students may grow into playing an important role in either the physical or synthetic aspects of the problem through Chem 499 and 495.

499 or 495 Project. Take pictures of molecules! The idea of supramolecular synthons, now well established for crystal design, is being developed in the two dimensional (surface) world by my research group. This research encompasses the design, creation, and analysis of self-ordering 2-D structures. These nanometer scale structures are a critical component for nanotechnology. You will learn scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) -- an exciting techniques that allows one to take pictures of single molecules. In this project, the student will learn the basics of STM at the solution-solid interface. Ideally, a student would begin by first doing a 499 project and then move on to 495. The student should be prepared to take minimum of 2 credits (6 hours of lab work /week). Undergraduates really can do this -- even if they are NOT chemistry majors. Look at the beautiful image of coronene surrounded by 12 heptanoic acid molecules that was taken by a sophomore chemistry student this summer ==>

499 or 495 Project. Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) studies of molecular films. In this project the student will work with films of the order of one molecule thick under UHV (<10^-12 atmospheres!). The student will learn a number of basic techniques that are in high demand in the rapidly growing Nanotechnology Industry. These include basic vacuum technology, scanning probe microscopy, and electron spectroscopy. The student will learn to measure electron transport at the level of functional groups. This opens huge horizons both for improved understanding of fundamental molecular properties and for the design of molecular scale electronic devices. The primary prerequisite for this project is an excitement about science or engineering, the ability to think logically and creatively, willingness to repeat experiments in order to get excellent results, and an aptitude for working with mechanical or electronic machines. You must take minimum of 2 credits (6 hours of lab work/week). You too may have your data on the cover of an international journal, just as these students did!