Kerry W. Hipps

Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science
Chair of Materials Science

Address

Fulmer N116
Pullman, WA 99164-4630

(509) 335-3033
email: hipps@wsu.edu
personal page: http://www.wsu.edu/~hipps

Education

Research

Professor Hipps completed his Ph.D. at WSU in 1976. He joined the faculty at WSU in 1978 following his tenure as a National Science Foundation energy-related postdoctoral fellow at The University of Michigan. He has received several honors such as being chosen a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, receiving the Washington State Teachers Association, "Teacher of the Year," Award, the WSU Distinguished Faculty Award, the Graduate and Professional Students Outstanding Advisor Award, and the Phi Lambda Upsilon local chapter Distinguished Faculty Award. His STM images have graced the covers of two recent editions of the Journal of Physical Chemistry B.

Much of the exciting physics and chemistry of modern technology occurs not in the body of materials, but rather at the interface between materials. For example, the catalytic converter in every modern automobile reduces harmful emissions by promoting reactions at the solid-gas interface. Modern electronic devices function only because of the variation in potential and composition that occurs over a few nanometers at the boundary between different solids. Thus, the study of surfaces and interfaces is of critical importance to physical science, medical science and to technological development.

In our laboratories we study the basic chemical and physical processes and structures which occur on surfaces and in interfaces. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Scanning Force Microscopy, Tunneling Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron ; UV Photoelectron, Raman, Infrared, and EPR spectroscopy are all used to probe the world on a scale of nanometers. Work in our laboratory spans the disciplines of chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and materials science.

A graduate student might undertake one of several projects. The extension of scanning tunneling microscopy-spectroscopy to cryogenic temperatures and single molecule states has high priority. In this project, we are probing the electronic states of single molecules as a function of their environment. We are also deeply involved in measuring electron transfer processes at the sub-molecular scale. How do different parts of molecules transmit electrons? Another ongoing project relates the physical structure of biological particals (virus, nucleosome, etc) to their chemical and biological activity. Thin film structure and reaction chemistry problems as they relate to sensors are of intense current interest in our group. Ongoing projects in surface redox chemistry and surface electronic state spectroscopy are also available for the student's participation. For the theoretically-inclined student, we have a number of both fundamental and computational problems that require solutions.

Typical skills learned by my students include X-ray and electron spectoscopy, vibrational spectroscopy; electron tunneling spectroscopy; spin resonance spectroscopy; optical, electron, and scanning probe microscopy; materials characterization techniques; computer programming and interfacing; thin film processing; high and ultra-high vacuum technology; and cryogenic techniques. Many students design and build, or have built, instruments required to advance their research. These individuals also acquire a good working knowledge of electronics, machining, and CAD.

Publications