Research Project with Profs. Oliver Tschauner (Physics) and Adam Simon (Geosciences)

In this project we will collect Raman spectra of metal-chloride complexes (e.g., platinum-chloride) in aqueous solution. The Raman effect is based on a transfer of energy between light and vibrations of chemical compounds on atomic scale; i.e., the chemical bonds of the compound in the solution cause a shift in the energy of light as it passes through the sample. This energy transfer can be measured by a spectrometer as a change of colour of light backscattered from the material. The energy difference between the incoming primary light and the Raman-scattered light corresponds to the energy of the vibration of the bond. Raman spectra of platinum-chloride-hydrate complexes in aqueous solution will allow us to determine chemical speciation as a function of the concentration of the chemical species in the solution. Calibrating this relationship will allow us to determine concentrations of chemical species in solutions as part of a larger project wherein we are measuring solubilities of metals in the hydrothermal diamond-anvil high pressure apparatus to understand metal mobility at high pressure and temperature.

This project involves training in optical spectroscopy, in particular operation of a Raman spectrometer, some interesting chemistry, establishing calibration curves, working with lasers and also an introduction to the use of hydrothermal diamond anvil cells.

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