Mr. George Carpenter
Director, Office of
  Sponsored Programs
615-329-8531
615-329-8711 (fax)
e-mail: gcarpent@
  dubois.fisk.edu
 

Environmental Research and Training

Fisk University’s representative environmental projects include:

	Crystal growth of wide bandgap semiconductors and their applications The general objective of this project is to research fundamental crystal growth, namely the effects of growth conditions on the quality of the crystals.
	Metal colloids and semiconductor quantum dots: linear and nonlinear optical properties The purpose of this research is to develop ion implantation for synthesizing novel materials (quantum dots, metal colloids) for application in all optical switching devices, up-conversion, and the synthesis of novel refractory materials.
	Metal and semiconductor nano-crystals This project is funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and emphasizes the development of porous glass as a host material for synthesizing clusters.
	Friction force studies of energetic clusters adsorbed on conducting and insulating surfaces The principal focus of the research is to develop scanning probe microscopy to determine the force required to translate energetic clusters adsorbed on a variety of surfaces.
	Explosive vapor preconcentrator studies and explosive vapor characterization This research involves a broad range of tasks: (1) development of an explosive preconcentrator device for adsorbing and detecting explosive vapors, (2) characterization of the adsorbate geometry, and (3) determination of the hearts of adsor ption of the energetic molecules adsorbed on different surfaces.
	Free electron laser investigations of energy transfer and spectral hole burning in matrix-isolated molecules and biopolymers This project involves the study of the fundamental processes involved in vibrational energy relaxation.

Research Facilities

The university's Department of Physics was awarded NASA funding in 1992 for the establishment of the Center for Photonic Materials and Devices. The center's projects have a clear experimental and applied character:

	Solution crystal growth: nucleation and characterization
	Growth and characterization of II-VI compound single crystals
	Spectroscopic studies of glasses for nonlinear optical applications
	Surface characterization using electron and ion-beam spectroscopies
	Research and development of heavy metal halide crystals

The university's Crystal Growth Laboratory, equipped with synthesis, purification and crystal growth system, is suitable for the processing of heavy metal iodide compounds. A Kurt Lesker sputtering system has been added to be used in the vacuum deposition of thin films.

Major Equipment

	Bomem DA3.02 fourier transform infrared spectrometer (diffuse reflectance; photoacoustic, attenuated total reflectance; and specular reflectance)
	Bomen fourier transform infrared Raman spectrometer
	Bruker 113 interfaced to the Stanford Free-Electron Laser
	Hitachi 3201 UV-Vis-NIR Spectrometer 5° specular reflectance, integrating sphere
	Continuum ps NdYAG with 2, 3, and 4 harmonics 1064, 532, 355, 266 nm
	Rudolph 43603 Ellipsometer modified for multiple wavelength measurements
	Digital Nanoscope III with constant force, tapping force, and lateral force capabilities (liquid cell)
	Digital scanning tunneling microscope

Faculty Profiles

D. O. Henderson, Chemical Physics (Ph.D., Texas Tech University).
Research interests: Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of materials that are dielectrically and quantum confined.

R. Mu, Physics (Ph.D., Southern Illinois University).
Research interests: Thermodynamics of confined materials and porous media.

Y. S. Tung, Materials Science (Ph.D., Rutgers University).
Research interests: Spectroscopy of thin films and quantum dots.

A. Ueda, Physics (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University).
Research interests: Modeling of confined materials and surface plasmon resonance of metal particles.

J. G. Zhu, Materials Science (Ph.D., Cornell University).
Research interests: Ion implantation, Rutherford backscattering, and TEM of nanophase material.

For more information about tasking Fisk University
for technical support, contact:
Cathy S. Fore
LMES HBCU/MEI Involvement Program Coordinator
Phone: 423-576-6838
e-mail: forecs@ornl.gov

Prepared by Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-84OR21400

   April 1997