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

In the Gillies, Baines, and Ragogna research groups, significant efforts are being directed towards the preparation of new polymeric materials for a diverse array of applications. Research in the Gillies group involves the development of new biomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Organic and polymer chemistry approaches will be explored to design and synthesize biomaterials with improved properties and novel biological functions. The Baines group is working on the synthesis of polysilanes and polygermanes as photoresists for the production of 2D photonic materials. The Ragogna research program involves the synthesis of new polymers that incorporate transition metals as part of the main polymer chain. As part of all of these projects, it is extremely important to characterize the new materials before they can be used for applications. The requested size exclusion chromatography system will allow us to determine the molecular weight of the molecules that we prepare. The molecular weight of these materials will be critical in determining both their biological and physical properties.