Research is an active and integral part of the Chemistry Department, and faculty encourage students to pursue meaningful projects, particularly as part of their culminating senior project. Below are a sampling of recent research projects. They cover a wide range of topics and exemplify the scope of knowledge being learned each semester.
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology
PEM Fuel Cell
Reforming novel catalyst integration and system automation
Stereoselective reactions using zeolite as nanoreactor
Chemistry of Natural Products:
Peganum harmalla
Eriodictyon californicum
Cotonester sp.
Environmental Analysis:
Heavy metal content in Puddingstone Reservoir sediment
Lead content of local contaminated soils
Environmental Technology:
Identification of byproducts formed during ozonation of natural waters
Photocatalysis and degradation of organic contaminants
Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer Excited States:
Boronamines and pyrimidine derivatives
Surface Chemistry:
Deposition of various metals on various surfaces
Study of vapor deposed metals using scanning tunneling microscopy