Vighter Iberi Paper Accepted in NanoLetters
Vighter Iberi, a third year graduate student in Dr. Camden’s group, published a paper on plasmon imaging in NanoLetters.
In the paper, the researchers obtained spatial maps of the localized surface plasmon modes of high-aspect-ratio silver nanorods using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and correlated to optical data and classical electrodynamics calculations from the exact same particles, thus demonstrating EELS mapping to be an invaluable technique for elucidating complex and overlapping plasmon modes.
Since nanostructures continue to be fabricated with ever reducing size and increasing complexity, Camden suggested that studies such as this could “ultimately provide a unified picture of optical and electron beam excited plasmons demonstrating that plasmon maps derived from EELS excitation have direct relevance for the plethora of processes relying on optical excitation of plasmons.” Camden also feels that the correlated measurements described in Vighter’s paper will”deepen our understanding of structures used for surface enhanced spectroscopies, sensor devices, sub-diffraction limit wave-guiding, and energy harvesting.”
The Camden group, formed in 2008, is working to develop new applications of plasmonic nanostructures and to understand fundamental features of the molecule-plasmon couplings underlying these applications. This published study fits into the whole group’s project because “a thorough understanding of SERS enhancement factors largely depends on the plasmonic properties of these nanostructures currently being investigated.” said Vigther.
Vighter O. Iberi (JR) is originally from Nigeria and earned his Bachelor Degree of Science from the Campbellsville University in 2008 prior to joining Camden group in 2009. His current research area involves the study of surface plasmons in metallic nanostructures and their application to Single Molecule Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SMSERS).
Out of 63 journals in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Nano Letters is #2 in Impact Factor: 12.219*; #2 in citations, with 61,066 total cites.
*Based on the 2010 Journal Citation Reports®
Dr. Michael Best recently accepted an invitation to join the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal “
Charles Feigerle, professor of physical chemistry, has been named the new Head of University of Tennessee’s Department of Chemistry, effective July 1.
Frank Vogt, associate professor of analytical chemistry, was appointed in July 2011 as the Associate Head on a renewable 3-year term.
“I arrived in Zurich, Switzerland on Sunday July 24,2011 to gray skies and a temperature of about 59 degrees Fahrenheit…” – 
Sheng Dai, joint faculty of the Department of Chemsitry and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been named UT-Battelle corporate fellow in recognition of his outstanding contributions to their scientific and technical fields.
It’s again the time of year when the army of undergraduates join the workforce or pursue a higher degree at various graduate schools. When being asked about what you would do after graduation, many answered “travel”, “take some time off” or “enjoy myself”. The answer is different for chemistry undergraduate student Katherine Sharp. “I will Teach for America!” Katherine said proudly.
Dr. John Larese, Professor of the Chemistry Department, was invited to give a talk at a symposium entitled “Surfaces and Nanomaterials for Catalysis through In-situ and Ex-situ Studies” for the Materials Research Society (MRS) 2011 Spring meeting held between April 25 and 29 in San Francisco.
Dr. Al Hazari (right) was recently invited to present lectures, demonstrations and workshops at the 2nd Kuwaiti CHEMTEA Meeting sponsored by the Kuwait Chemical Society in celebration of the 2011 International Year of Chemistry.