MRI: Acquisition of Instrumentation for Materials Chemistry at Rutgers-Newark

This award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program will enable the Chemistry Department at Rutgers University in Newark to acquire a suite of instruments for research in materials chemistry: a gel permeation chromatograph (GPC), simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering (SSDLS) instrumentation and a voltammetric analyzer. The GPC and light-scattering instrument will be used to determine molecular weights of polymers, and the voltammetric analyzer will be used to study the electrochemical properties of novel metal-containing polymers and to make critical electrochemical measurements for organic materials. Dynamic light scattering experiments allow one to determine the sizes and shapes of inorganic nanoparticles, and of self-assembled polymer superstructures, whereas the voltammetric analyzer is a critical tool when designing nanomolecular devices. These instruments are essential for materials characterization.