I
am currently working for Dr. Zhan Chen in the Chemistry department,
where we us a nonlinear optical technique call Sum Frequency Generation
(SFG) to study polymer surfaces. SFG provides us similar data
to Infrared spectroscopy, but the nonlinear process confines it
to the surface of the sample. This enables us to determine what
chemical groups are actually at the polymer surface. The real
power of SFG though is that we can even determine what chemical
groups are at the polymer surface in a aqueous environment. (SFG
is one of th every few
surface techniques where no Ultra High Vacuum is needed.) This
is especially important in determining the bio-compatibility of
polymers used for medical implants.
As
an interesting side note, our research can be applied directly
to space
mission to Mars. Dust devils on Mars are much more frequent and
intense and therefore form a significant risk to space missions.