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Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Computational/Theoretical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience
Laser Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, Molecular Beams

Our research program uses lasers, electrical discharges and pulsed supersonic molecular beams to produce a variety of unusual molecules, ions, metal complexes and atomic or molecular clusters.  The extreme conditions of the "synthesis" processes employed make it possible to produce strange molecular aggregates including metal atom nanoclusters, novel organometallic complexes (metal benzene sandwiches, metal-fullerenes), metal ions "solvated" by 1-30 water molecules, proton-bound dimers, or carbocations.  These systems test fundamental concepts of chemical bonding and provide models for metal-metal or metal-ligand bonding, metal ion solvation and metal-adsorbate interactions, and additionally provide specific examples of proton-transfer or organic reaction intermediates as well as interstellar molecules.  The ions or clusters produced are detected and size-selected with a specially-designed time-of-flight mass spectrometer and studied with UV-visible or infrared laser spectroscopy.  Computational chemistry methods are employed to complement the experimental work.  The combined spectroscopy measurements and computational work provides definitive answers about molecular structure, electronic structure, bonding energetics and the reactivity of these systems.

Publications

Ricks, A. M.; Douberly, G. E.; Schleyer, P. V.; Duncan, M. A. Communications: Infrared spectroscopy of gas phase C3H3+ ions: The cyclopropenyl and propargyl cations. J Chem Phys 2010, 132, 051101. Abstract
Cheng, T. C.; Bandyopadyay, B.; Wang, Y. M.; Carter, S.; Braams, B. J.; Bowman, J. M.; Duncan, M. A. Shared-Proton Mode Lights up the Infrared Spectrum of Fluxional Cations H5+ and D5+. J Phys Chem Lett 2010, 1, 758-762. Abstract
Douberly, G. E.; Walters, R. S.; Cui, J.; Jordan, K. D.; Duncan, M. A. Infrared Spectroscopy of Small Protonated Water Clusters, H+(H2O)n (n=2-5): Isomers, Argon Tagging, and Deuteration. J Phys Chem A 2010, 114, 4570-4579. Abstract
Ricks, A. M.; Gagliardi, L.; Duncan, M. A. Infrared Spectroscopy of Extreme Coordination: The Carbonyls of U+ and UO2+. J Am Chem Soc 2010, 132, 15905-15907.
Ricks, A. M.; Douberly, G. E.; Duncan, M. A. The Infrared Spectrum of Protonated Naphthalene and Its Relevance for the Unidentified Infrared Bands. Astrophys J 2009, 702, 301-306. Abstract
Ricks, A. M.; Reed, Z. D.; Duncan, M. A. Seven-Coordinate Homoleptic Metal Carbonyls in the Gas Phase. J Am Chem Soc 2009, 131, 9176-+. Abstract
Douberly, G. E.; Ricks, A. M.; Duncan, M. A. Infrared Spectroscopy of Perdeuterated Protonated Water Clusters in the Vicinity of the Clathrate Cage. J Phys Chem A 2009, 113, 8449-8453. Abstract
Carnegie, P. D.; McCoy, A. B.; Duncan, M. A. IR Spectroscopy and Theory of Cu+(H2O)Ar2 and Cu+(D2O)Ar2 in the O-H (O-D) Stretching Region: Fundamentals and Combination Bands. J Phys Chem A 2009, 113, 4849-4854. Abstract
Ricks, A. M.; Bakker, J. M.; Douberly, G. E.; Duncan, M. A. Infrared Spectroscopy and Structures of Cobalt Carbonyl Cations, Co(CO)n+ (n=1-9). J Phys Chem A 2009, 113, 4701-4708. Abstract

Michael Duncan

Franklin and Regents Professor

B. S. Chemistry, Furman University, 1976

Ph. D. Physical Chemistry, Rice University, 1982

  • Office: 473
  • Lab: 475, 479, 483, 485
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