Chemical Physics & Physical Chemistry
These areas of research use physics to explain, understand and predict chemical phenomena.
Using the Tools of Physics to Explore the World of Chemistry
Chemical physics is a discipline that bridges physics and chemistry, focusing on the application of physical principles to understand chemical systems at the molecular and atomic level. It investigates how matter behaves, how chemical reactions occur, and the properties of materials based on their atomic and molecular structure.
Physical chemistry seeks to understand how and why matter behaves on a microscopic level. We use a variety of theoretical and experimental techniques to understand the composition of matter, the forces that govern its interactions, and how energy changes influence chemical systems.
Current faculty research includes:
- Studying molecule interactions using laser spectroscopy
- Combining experiments with computational modeling
- Applying findings to biology and solar cell design
Research Projects
-
Prof. Nathan Hammer
The Hammer Research Group studies the physical properties of interacting molecules in environments ranging from the single molecule to the bulk using different laser-based spectroscopic methods and computational modeling. Our spectroscopic capabilities include high resolution Raman spectroscopy, the study of size-selected clusters in the gas phase, the use of single molecule techniques such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and other laser-based spectroscopies to study interacting molecular architectures. These include excited state lifetime, time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) studies, ns, ps, and fs transient absorption spectroscopy and quantum yield determinations. Such studies help answer long-standing questions involving the effects of intermolecular interactions on biologically relevant systems and also in developing devices such as solar cells that incorporate conjugated organic molecules.
Hammer Research Group
Chemical Physics Faculty
Ryan Fortenberry
- Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Nathan Hammer
- Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Sujay Ray
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Physical Chemistry Faculty
Ryan Fortenberry
- Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Nathan Hammer
- Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Vig Sundaresan
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Eden Tanner
- Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Co-Director for the Center for Nano-Bio Interactions