Jon Camden

UTK chemistry

Scientific investigation often proceeds very painstakingly. Sometimes discovery even comes at the rate of a single molecule at a time.

Only through exacting, fundamental laboratory research can we expect to improve high-performance materials suitable for all types of advanced applications, from advanced catalysis and portable power to high-efficiency solar cells.

Jon Camden’s JDRD team is involved in one essential part of the basic science required—the study of phenomena observed at the common boundary, or interface, between adjoining materials. The team uses Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), a powerful optical tool, to probe the chemistries of nanoparticles occurring at interfacial surfaces.

In order to use SERS for this purpose, though, Camden must first develop and fabricate material substrates with ultrahigh sensitivity, such that the interfacial structures can be targeted and probed, a single molecule at a time, to reveal geometries and dynamics.

SERS spectra provide detailed information describing the vibrating molecular structure and the orientation of chemicals adsorbed onto or located very near a nanostructured surface, ultimately arriving at something like a “movie” of what is going on at the molecular level.

From what is gained in basic understanding, a single molecule at a time, can come many joint proposals for future funding for applications as varied as studies of surface chemistries (related to energy) and ultrasensitive sensing (related to homeland security).

JDRD Project: Rationally designed nanofabricated SERS substrates for ultra-sensitive detection: probing surface chemistry in mesoporous carbon electrodes;
LDRD Project: Understanding interfacial electrochemical phenomena in advanced energy storage capacitors using spectroscopy and modeling, Kevin Shuford.

While single molecule SERS (SMSERS) is not yet developed enough to be used routinely, this project combines Camden’s considerable experience and skill in both nanofabrication and electron microscopy to enhance SERS measurements of the vibrational spectra emanating from the molecular structures. The results will reveal molecular bonds and their arrangements at the level of a single molecule.

The complementary LDRD team of Kevin Shuford and Robert Shaw uses modeling and fluorescence spectroscopy to study the interfacial electrochemical phenomena in advanced energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors.