NSF REU at K-State: Interactions of Matter, Light and Learning
The K-State REU program offers summer fellowships to do world-class research in our friendly physics department in the scenic Flinthills. We are funded by the National Science Foundation.
Condensed Matter (CM) or Soft Matter Physics
Dr. Matthew Berg and Osku Kemppinen: Digital holographic imaging of particles
Email: matt.berg@phys.ksu.edu and okemppin@phys.ksu.edu
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| Matt Berg | Osku Kemppinen |
This project involves imaging small micrometer-sized particles with digital holography. A particle's hologram is the interference pattern produced from the superposition of light scattered from a particle with the light illuminating the particle. By evaluating a Fourier transform of a hologram, whether measured or simulated, a silhouette-like image of the particle is produced. This project will investigate the possibility of using the silhouette image and Huygens' Principle to regenerate the particle's light scattering pattern.
Dr. Christopher Sorensen: Suspensions as Solutions: Solubility of Nanoparticles
Email: sor@phys.ksu.edu
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| Chris Sorensen |
We have developed chemical methods to make nanoparticles with very uniform size. We have discovered that because of this size uniformity suspensions of these nanoparticles can act like solutions with thermally reversible, temperature dependent solubility. We have published one study [1] for 5 nm gold nanoparticles to determine their solubility as a function of their ligand shell and the solvent. We have extended these studies to the temperature dependence and data obtained by previous REU students has led to another paper published [2]. We need to continue this work to determine the effects of the ligand shell and particle size on the solubility temperature dependence. With analysis, these data will lead to a measure of the interparticle potential. This is a good project for someone who has interests in both physics and chemistry.
References (Bold type indicates REU student):
1. "Solubility of Gold Nanoparticles as a Function of Ligand Shell and Alkane Solvent", B. C. Lohman, J. A. Powell, S. Cingarapu, C. B. Aakeroy, A. Chakrabarti, K. J. Klabunde, B. M. Law, and C. M. Sorensen, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 14, 6502- 6506 (2012).
2. "Temperature Dependent Solubility of Gold Nanoparticle Suspension/Solutions", J. A. Powell, R. M. Schweiters, K. W. Bayliff, E. N. Herman, N. J. Hotvedt, J. R. Changstrom, A. Chakrabarti and C. M. Sorensen*, RSC Advances 6, 70638–70643 (2016) DOI: 10.1039/C6RA15822F.