Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Fast (less than one second) reactions are imperative for function in an enormous variety of chemical systems, from biology to photovoltaics (solar cells). The enzymatic reactions required for respiration rely upon millisecond or faster reactivity, as do the coordinated, large-scale motions of membrane-bound ion channels that are essential to muscle movement. Likewise, the interactions between light and matter underlie the efficiency and success (or failure) of photovoltaics. Fast, photo-initiated reactions also are gaining attention in synthetic chemistry and disease treatments. Developing detailed temporal understanding of rapid processes is an ongoing challenge that spans a great many disciplines in the physical sciences.This proposal seeks funding for equipment for monitoring transient absorption and luminescence reactions on nanosecond to second timescales. The equipment will be used to investigate electron transfer reactions within biomolecules; to develop new understanding of the dynamic movements of proteins and nucleic acids; to probe the interactions between light and new inorganic or organic materials; and to elucidate kinetic behaviour of light-initiated reactions of organic and inorganic molecules. In addition to the specialized fields of the co-applicants, this equipment will enjoy a broad user base for related work across the SFU community. The requested equipment is unique to SFU and to the region, but it also will complement existing local facilities, where ultrafast picosecond and femtosecond laser systems are available for workers interested in very fast reactions. The absorption and luminescence measurements on nanosecond to second regime are required in order to investigate a great many reactions that we currently are unable to investigate. The addition of the requested equipment to SFU will enable us to investigate and understand a wide variety of dynamic processes that are relevant to fundamental and applied sciences.