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Wayne E. Jones -
Director Graduate Studies in Chemistry - General Chair, ACS Northeast Regional Meeting 2006
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CONTACT
INFORMATION: Department of Chemistry State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton, NY 13902 e-mail: wjones@binghamton.edu Phone: 607 777 2421 fax: 607 777 4478 |
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PROFESSIONAL
BACKGROUND |
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| RESEARCH INTERESTS | ||
One targeted area of interest involves application of electronic and photonic polymers to specific devices such as sensors. We have prepared a series of fluorescent polymer chemosensor materials. This project takes advantage of electronic communication along conjugated polymer molecular wires to provide enhanced detection of nanomolar quantities of transition metals in solution. Initially supported by the National Institutes of Health, we are preparing more reversible and water sensitive versions of this exciting new class of materials. Of particular interest is the non-linear quenching response in these polymers, which make them significantly more sensitive than monomeric sensors. We have developed a unique mathematical model that incorporates both static quenching and dynamic energy transfer. Fitting of the fluorescence quenching data allows distinction between Dexter and Forster energy transfer mechanisms. The synthetic strategy allows for variations in the receptor, receptor loading, and polymer backbone conjugation. Recent work has involved design of more selective receptors based on hemi-labile ligands. This also involves detailed photophysical investigations of a series of transition metal complexes based on this flexible Lewis basic ligand. We have also developed a new class of conjugated polymers that "turn-on" their fluorescence in the presence of specific analytes. The second area of emphasis involves the design of conducting molecular wires which continues to be a fascinating target of chemistry, physics, and materials science and represents the third area under the molecular wire theme. We have been applying a non-mechanical electrostatic polymer processing procedure to prepare nanofibrous materials with diameters of < 100 nm. Nanofibers prepared to date include conducting polymers, polymer blends, and layered composite materials of metals, metal oxides, and conducting polymers. In addition to providing a basis for the study electronic effects on a nanometer scale, these materials are also being investigated as sensor materials. Recently, we have demonstrated the use of the Tubes by Fiber Templates (TUFT) approach to create nanotubes of metals, graphitic carbon, conducting polymers, and metal oxides. Characterization by SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR show uniform tubes with 50-1000 nm inner diameter and wall diameters of 30 - 300 nm. With the support of grants from SRC and NIST, we have also been looking at the thermal conductivity of these materials in addition to the electrical conductivity. This experimental work is designed to provide direct evidence for enhancements in these properties that have been predicted by modeling studies on nanomaterials recently published by groups at the California Institute of Technology and Columbia. In recent work, we have demonstrated that self-assembled monolayer thin films terminated with transition metal complexes can be used as a reactive surface to initiate conducting polymer thin films by in-situ deposition. This method results in conducting polymers with conductivities that are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than previously reported from this technique. |
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| TEACHING INTERESTS | ||
Dr. Jones' teaching interests are based on the philosophy that a curriculum must provide students with relevant, active learning environments, which foster the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. These skills are crucial both for the scientific researcher when solving chemical problems and for the general population that is increasingly faced with choices on technology, the environment, and the natural world. In chemistry, this can be achieved by combining high quality research with interactive classroom discussions of contemporary scientific problems and theories. As Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching, Dr. Jones' teaching interests concentrate on the effective use and evaluation of technology in the classroom. These teaching interests involve long term curriculum development in chemistry including; more expanded use of technology in introductory chemical education, use of interactive multi-media materials for self-directed learning, and the design of new advanced undergraduate laboratories based on the guided inquiry approach. As PI or Co-PI on several grants from NSF, he has worked with different teams of faculty and graduate students have implemented new advanced laboratories in Inorganic and Materials chemistry, introduced scanning probe microscopies including AFM and STM into the undergraduate curriculum, and created learning activities to introduce nanotechnology to an interdisciplinary group of courses in chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Web based curricula for enhanced learning in both traditional and distance education courses is an additional area of interest. With a combination of support from Houghton Mifflin Inc., Cubic Science Inc., and the SUNY Office of Educational Technology, Dr. Jones and Dr. Dix have created an internet learning environment for general chemistry. This project is currently in use on campuses across the country in combination with two best selling chemistry texts. He has also developed several graduate level courses for chemistry distance education distributed through the SUNY Learning Network including Electrochemical Methods and Techniques for Studying Solids.Curriculum Vitae | ||
| RECENT PUBLICATION 2008 | ||
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© Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton,
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 updated, December 2004 |
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