Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Fluorescence is an important photophysical phenomenon that can be observed for various materials, ranging from small organic molecules, inorganic complexes to synthetic polymers, biomacromolecules, and nanoparticles. Understanding of fluorescence properties is a vital and powerful approach to investigate structural, electronic, and chemical properties at the molecular level. As such, the technique of fluorescence spectroscopy has been extensively employed in scientific and engineering research. For example, certain fluorescent organic and inorganic compounds can be rationally designed to act as chemosensors and biosensors capable of recognizing and quantifying environmentally and biologically important chemical species with ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity. Fluorescent proteins can be introduced into living cells to label and track biomolecules. Various organic conjugated polymers and functionalized nanoparticles with high fluorescence efficiencies can be applied as active components in the fabrication of advanced light emitting devices (LEDs). Indeed, fluorescent materials have play a central role in modern science and technology, while the studies of these materials heavily reply on advanced techniques of fluorescence spectroscopic analyses. We plan to purchase a spectrofluorometer, which will be an essential research tool for investigating various fluorescence properties. At Memorial University, there are many research programs requiring an on-campus access to such equipment. In particular, researchers in the fields of materials chemistry, environmental engineering, and processing engineering require fluorescence spectroscopic measurements to advance their programs of research. Unfortunately, a fully functional spectrofluorometer is not available at Memorial University. Access to this important research tool will greatly benefit our research and HQP training programs. In the long term, the proposed spectrofluorometer will offer a technical platform to strengthen cutting-edge research programs, foster new research collaborations, and extensively train HQP in multiple disciplines.