A Single Crystal X-Ray Diffractometer for Collaborative Teaching and Research at an Undergraduate Institution
Abstract
Funding for a single crystal X-ray diffractometer (XRD) with both a copper and molybdenum source, cryogenic cooling and a 2-D CCD detector is requested by the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona, CPP ) Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Physics. The instrument will support efforts in undergraduate and master research and training, student-faculty research, as well as classroom instruction and outreach. Research groups in chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, and biological) and physics will directly benefit from the new capability as crystal structure determination will be rapid, and not dependent on expensive external crystallographers. The requested XRD will support several future student-centered research projects at CPP that are synergetic with goals set forth by the Army Research Offices (ARO) or the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). With respect to ARO goals in Chemical Sciences (7) and Polymer Chemistry (7.2), projects entitled, "Tailoring Polymers via Mechanistically Guided Catalyst Design" and "Sustainable Monomers and Polymers from Lignin-derived Phenols," set to design catalysts for controlling polymer properties and sustainable methods for producing monomeric materials. The ARO areas Earth Sciences (2) and Chemical Sciences (7) in Environmental Chemistry (2.2) and Electrochemistry (7.2) are addressed through the study of " Redox-active Ligands for Electrochemical Separation of Lanthanides" for applications in nuclear fuel processing. An additional research direction is a project entitled, "Tuning the Electronic Properties of Organic Molecular Crystals via Molecular Functionalization and Crystalline Phase Variation." This project supports goals set forth by the AFOSR in Chemistry and Biological Sciences (4) and Organic Materials Chemistry (f) by searching for unusual properties and behaviors in organic materials using experimental and computational tools. Teaching applications of the XRD include incorporation in to existing coursework and labwork in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at both the under graduate (UG) and graduate (MS) levels. These courses include Elements of Physical Chemistry (UG), Organic Chemistry (UG), Elements of Biochemistry (UG), Organic Analysis (UG), Advances in Inorganic Chemistry (UG), Advances in Chemical Physics (UG), and Selected Topics in Biochemistry (UG). The Physics Department will enhance their laboratory course, Solid State Physics+ Laboratory (UG), with this research-grade XRD, since existing laboratory experiments only offer single-angle crystallography aided by bench-top instruments. The XRD will enable a new crystallography course to be taught in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Long term goals for curriculum incorporation include using the new instrument as a basis for developing a masterÕs specialization in crystallography as well as a certificate program in crystallography (both key components for use in today s industrial work force). 67.9% of the student population in the College of Science at CPP are from underrepresented groups in the sciences (including women) and we are a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Therefore, the single crystal XRD will benefit the education and training of this underrepresented segment of the population and establish a significant new characterization capability for teaching-focused institutions in the Pomona area. Our existing relationships with Pomona and Citrus Colleges as well as several Title I high school districts will give local UG/high school students and teachers opportunities to utilize state? of-the-art instrumentation that supports the newly adopted next generation science standards (NOSS).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710537
Entities
People
- Sabine Chantal Stieber
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- Office of the Secretary of Defense