Research Summary
Theories of chemical reactions
Profile
Assistant: Margarita Davis
Research in the Marcus group involves analyses and theories of a wide range of phenomena in chemical kinetics and in related processes. Its primary focus is on formulating theories to explain new and sometimes unexpected experimental results, as well as improving the understanding of earlier work, and exploring the relation between phenomena in different fields. Recent examples are
- A theoretical model of elastically coupled reactions for single molecule imaging and rotor manipulation experiments on F1-ATPase.
- Temperature-dependent phonon modes of the organometallic lead iodide CH3NH3Pbl3 thin film for the terahertz frequency (0.5-3 THz) and temperature (20-300 K) ranges and comparison of experimental and theoretical mobilities.
- The striking on-water catalysis of organic reactions in emulsions, related also to catalysis on hydroxylated metal oxides.
- The fluorescent intermittency in single molecule studies of semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots), and the role of biexcitons in the latter.
- Development of the theory for electron and hole injection from dyes into semiconductors, related to a photovoltaic solar cell.
- The mass-independent isotopic fractionation in the formation of ozone and other stratospheric gases, as well as a detailed dynamical and statistical theory analysis of ozone formation from the recombination of O and O2 in the stratosphere and in the laboratory.