Measuring the Time-Varying Charge on a Single Catalyst Molecule via Electrometry

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $537,483 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

With the support of the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Randall Goldsmith of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will develop a chemical measurement system capable of measuring the time-varying charge on a dynamic single organometallic molecule. The new system will be able to reveal nuances in charge and coordination environment, an unprecedented new single-molecule measurement capacity, and an exciting result that paves the way to monitoring the shifting structure of a single catalyst molecule. This research will provide new insights into catalyst mechanisms by providing a molecular movie, revealing mechanistic details leading to the discovery of future catalysts and ultimately contributing to the development of new materials, cheaper fuels, and more accessible pharmaceuticals. Graduate and undergraduate students will gain highly interdisciplinary experience by blending reaction mechanism with cutting-edge instrumentation science. Outreach activities will involve K-12 students, teachers, and the general public in observing fluorescence from plants, microplastics, and even smaller items like single molecules using a portable microscope system. This research effort will develop a radically new way to encode information into the fluorescence of a single catalyst molecule. The proposed work will use single-molecule electrometry in which arrays of patterned nanowells create shallow electrostatic traps for solution-phase molecule

Key facts

NSF award ID
2505597
Awardee
University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
SAM.gov UEI
LCLSJAGTNZQ7
PI
Randall H Goldsmith
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
NANO NON-SOLIC SCI & ENG AWD
Estimated total
$537,483
Funds obligated
$537,483
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028