UROP Project

Organic radicals: properties and dynamics in liquids and solid-liquid systems

magnetic resonance, physical chemistry, organic radicals, spin dynamics

Research Mentor: Tomas Orlando, he, him
Department, College, Affiliation: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, N/A
Contact Email: torlando@magnet.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Kiera Powers she, her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: kmp22u@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Frederic Mentink-Vigier he, him
Faculty Collaborators Email: fmentink@magnet.fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 1
Relevant Majors: chemistry, physics, engineering
Project Location: National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus - Innovation Route
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8-10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 2:30
  End Time: 3:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/99108660897

Project Description

An undergraduate project is available for students in chemistry or physics who are interested in the application of advanced magnetic resonance techniques to investigate organic radicals and their dynamics in liquids and mixed-phase materials.
Organic radicals are molecules that carry an unpaired electron and can be probed with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.
The characterization of stable radical species in liquids via EPR provides valuable information on the molecular structure as well as on the magnetic interactions of radicals with surrounding atoms and molecules. Those properties are crucial to understanding the mechanisms of chemical reactions and to designing new materials and quantum sensors.
Many investigations have been conducted at low frequencies (< 34 GHz) and magnetic fields (< 1.5 T). However, with the unique instruments at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, we will perform EPR in the range of frequencies 120-336 GHz and provide new insight into radicals properties that are currently unknown.
Furthermore, we will use radicals as probes for local interactions in heterogeneous materials, namely materials where solid and liquid phases coexist. To this aim, we are developing a set of magnetic resonance methods (both electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance) as well as quantum chemistry tools to investigate the dynamics in the close proximity of the solid-liquid interface.

Research Tasks: In the proposed undergraduate research project, students will be actively involved in the sample preparation using wet-lab techniques (including a Schlenk line) as well as a glove-box for operations in an oxygen-free environment. Students will also learn to perform continuous-wave EPR measurements and analyze data. Students will actively review the literature and present their work in a broader scientific context. The project might also include numerical simulations with quantum chemistry simulation software.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required background:
- Chemistry or physics majors, completed 1 year of study minimum.
- Wet lab experience is recommended but not required.
- No magnetic resonance experience necessary.
- We do prioritize STEM students (no premed)