| Research
Interests |
Our major interest is the
application of solid-state NMR techniques and synchrotron X-ray microtomography
for solving problems in biological materials, heterogeneous catalysis,
materials science, and hazardous waste solidification/stabilization. Thus,
our work is highly interdisciplinary, and many research collaborations
are involved.
Recently, we have developed
new techniques for 27Al NMR. Aluminum is important in a new-generation
catalysts for polypropylene. However, this co-catalyst, methylaluminoxane
(MAO), while known for over 20 years, has a complex structure that is still
unknown. Our techniques are showing promise for yielding structural information.
Recently, we have:
* Developed field-swept
NMR methods for use at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
* Collaborated with Prof.
Randall Hall's research group to interpret various NMR spectra.
* Developed a strong interaction
with Albemarle, a leading manufacturer of MAO (NSF GOALIE grant).
* Expanded 27Al NMR work
into biological applications such as the study of aluminum coordination
with beta-amyloid plaques.
Now, we are also interested
in microtomography. To us, it's just another way to look at solids. To
others, it's a fascinating "fly through" of the solid. The three-dimensional
data sets make great movies and inspire hypothesis-driven research. In
the past, data was collected at the National Synchrotron Light Source at
Brookhaven National Laboratory. We are now building our own tomography
beamline at the LSU synchrotron. We hope to have first images in Fall,
2000. |
