Acquisition of a Nanosecond Laser Flash Photolysis Spectrometer to Enhance Understanding of Photochemistry and Reaction Kinetics in Undergraduate Research/Curriculum

The acquisition and installation of the nanosecond flash photolysis spectrometer have been completed. The instrument is used to enhance both research and teaching at Spelman College. This acquisition includes: (1) LP980 laser flash photolysis instrument (EdinburghInstruments), (2) Nd:YAG laser, (3) cuvette holder (-40 110 C), and (4) laser table. The laser system generates 532, 355, and 266 nm wavelengths. The current setup also includes: (1) an iCCD (intensified charge-coupled device) camera, 180-850 nm, (2) Hamamatsu R928photomultiplier (200-870 nm), and (3) A Si-photodiode detector (200-1100 nm). Training to use the instrument was completed in the Fall 2015. The instrument has been used to support research on transient absorption studies of nitroaromatic compounds. The system facilitatedthe study of laser induced transient absorption and emission decay photochemistry. Currently, the instrument is used to study the interaction of light with nitroaromatic compounds with a focus on 1-nitropyrene and 1,4-dinitrobenzene. The preliminary data was generated using 1-nitropyrene. The results were consistent with published data. The development of new classroom teaching module based on the 1-nitropyrene results is currently in progress. The module will be integrated into the physical chemistry laboratory course in the 2016 2017 academic year.