Special Topics in Physical Chemistry

3 units

This course is an overview of instrumentation and techniques that are found in modern chemistry laboratories. We shall cover the design of experiments, including basic electronics, signal-to-noise considerations and signal handling. We shall also discuss the applications of a wide variety of spectroscopies, imaging techniques, surface analytical techniques, mass spectrometry and NMR. This course will be of interest to students who expect to pursue chemical research involving modern physical measurements and who wish to understand the fundamental principles behind complex analytical instrumentation. In detail, topics covered will be: 1. Physical Chemistry for Spectroscopy: Electromagnetic Spectrum; Molecular Energy Levels. 2. Signal-to-Noise: Different sources e.g. Shotky, Flicker, Johnson, interference, background radiation. 3. Basic Electronics: Kirchoff's Laws, impedance, capacitance, diodes, op-amps, filters, oscilloscopes. 4. Experimental Considerations: Light sources, magnetic fields, detectors, signal handling, vacuums. 5. CW Spectroscopies: IRS, Raman, Rayleigh Scattering, flourescence, UV-Vis. 6. Lasers: types, Q-switching, laser spectroscopies. 7. Imaging: SEM, TEM, NSOm. 8. Surface techniques: AES, WPS, RAIRS, HREELS, STM, AFM. 9. Mass Spectrometry. 10. NMR.