Physics Commons^™

Variable Pathlength Cavity Spectroscopy Development Of An Automated Prototype, Ryan Schmeling

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

VARIABLE PATHLENGTH CAVITY SPECTROSCOPY

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED PROTOTYPE

by

Ryan Andrew Schmeling

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016

Under the Supervision of Professor Joseph H. Aldstadt III

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with matter to probe the chemical and physical properties of atoms and molecules. The primary types of analytical spectroscopy are absorption, emission, and scattering methods. Absorption spectroscopy can quantitatively determine the chemical concentration of a given species in a sample by the relationship described by Beer’s Law. Upon inspection of Beer’s Law, it becomes apparent that for a given analyte concentration, …

Probing Bonding And Dynamics At Heterogeneous Adsorbate/Graphene Interfaces, Eric Charles Mattson

Theses and Dissertations

Graphene-based materials are becoming an astoundingly promising choice for many relevant technological and environmental applications. Deriving graphene from the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) is becoming a popular and inexpensive route toward the synthesis of these materials. While the desired product from GO reduction is pristine graphene, defects and residual oxygen functional groups inherited from the parent GO render reduced graphene oxide (RGO) distinct from graphene. In this work, the structure and bonding for GO and RGO is investigated to the end of a working understanding of the composition and properties of these materials. In situ selected area electron diffraction …

Structure And Chemistry Of Model Catalysts In Ultrahigh Vacuum, Joshua D. Walker

Theses and Dissertations

The study of catalysis is a key area of focus not only in the industrial sector but also in the nature and biological systems. The market for catalysis is a multi-billion dollar industry. Many of the materials and products we use on a daily basis are formed through a catalytic process. The quest to understanding and improving catalytic mechanisms is ongoing. Many model catalysts use transition metals as a support for chemical reactions to take place due to their selectivity and activity. Palladium, gold, and copper metals are studied in this work and show the ability to be catalytically reactive. …