James T. Spencer Ph.D.
Dr. Spencer’s current research interests include: Inorganic chemistry; organometallic chemistry; materials chemistry; solid state science; and cluster chemistry. Dr. Spencer's Research:The study of polyhedra, many-faced solids, has long intrigued and fascinated scientists and philosophers. Plato first described a series of five "pure" polyhedral bodies from which Archimedes later elegantly derived 13 semi-regular polyhedra. The field of cluster chemistry, however, most closely ties together the abstract study of pure polyhedra with the physical and chemical world. In particular, cluster chemistry may be thought of as the practical bridge between small molecule behavior, with more localized bonding, and that of extended solid arrays, with extensively delocalized electronic structures. One aspect of our work focuses upon the development of new solid state boron-based materials as thin films, nanoparticles, and nanotubes. These materials display an enormous range of physical and chemical properties that have direct application to many areas. We have recently discovered several new chemical pathways for the formation of thin films of metal borides, along with the first-reported pathways for the fabrication of boron-based nanotubes and nanorod structures. These unique structures, for instance, are readily prepared, are remarkably uniform, and display very large aspect ratios. In the second area of our work, we are exploring the chemistry of main group polyhedral clusters. The field spans the boundaries of traditional areas of inorganic, organometallic, and materials chemistry. Specifically, our research has focused upon the study of polyhedral based as new nonlinear optical compounds, the photochemical reactions of clusters, and the use of cluster and rigid molecules as molecular building blocks in the directed formation of nanoscale architectures. Main group and organometallic clusters have presented considerable challenges to synthetic, structural, materials and theoretical chemists since their discovery nearly ninety years ago. The quest for a detailed understanding of the bonding and structural relationships of these species has led to an understanding of some of the fundamental chemistry of molecular polyhedra in general. Numerous critical applications of cluster-based compounds are being discovered with profound applications to medicine, materials science and industrial processes. The field is, however, far from maturity and many patterns of reactivity and structural relationships are just beginning to take form. EducationB.A., 1978, State University of New York at Potsdam; Ph.D., 1984, Iowa State University of Science and Technology; Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 1984-1986, University of VirginiaBooksContributor to the Handbook of Nanoscience, Engineering, and Technology, Second Edition (CRC Press) 2007. |
By this ResearcherRelated ContentChemistry and Physics of Carbon, Volume 30Written by distinguished researchers in carbon, the long-running Chemistry and Physics of Carbon series provides a comprehensive and critical overview of carbon in terms of molecular structure, intermolecular relationships, bulk and surface properties, and their behavior in an amazing variety of current and emerging applications, ranging from nanotechnology to environmental remediation. Volume 30 not only retains the high-quality content and reputation of previous volumes, but also complements them with reliable and timely coverage of the latest advances in the field. The first chapters analyze progressive approaches to controlling more precisely the structure, morphology, and surface properties of novel activated carbons. They cover methods using activating agents such as alkaline hydroxides as well as endo- and exotemplates made from zeolites, silica, and colloidal crystals. The third chapter examines techniques for characterizing carbon surface chemistry, including electrochemical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic methods. The fourth and final chapter compares the virtues of exfoliated graphite, carbonized fir fibers, carbon fiber felt, and charcoals in solving oil spill problems, a matter of increasing environmental concern. Emphasizing key experimental results, practical aspects, and cutting-edge applications in every chapter, Volume 30 is a vital resource for those developing new technologies such as drug delivery, adsorbents for oil/chemical spills, materials processing, high-performance nanocarbons, and energy storage and conversion devices, including lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Compound Semiconductors 2004: Compound Semiconductors for Quantum Science and NanostructuresCompound Semiconductors 2004 was the 31st Symposium in this distinguished international series, held at Hoam Convention Center of Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea from September 12 to September 16, 2004. It attracted over 180 submissions from leading scientists in academic and industrial research institutions, and remains a major forum for the compound semiconductor research community since the first one held in 1966 at Edinburgh, UK under the name of 'International Symposium on Gallium Arsenide and related Compounds'. These proceedings provide an international perspective on the latest research and an overview of recent, important developments in III-V compounds, II-VI compounds and IV-IV compounds. In the total of 106 papers, notable progress was reported in the development of zinc oxide and spintronics. Steady advances were seen in traditional topics such as III-V based electronic and optoelectronic devices, growth and processing, and characterization. Novel research trends were observed in quantum structures, such as quantum wires and dots, which are promising for future developments in nanotechnology. As the primary forum for research into these materials and their device applications the book is an essential reference for researchers working on compound semiconductors in semiconductor physics, device physics, materials science, chemistry and electronic and electrical engineering. Heath, James R.James R. Heath is an American chemist and a professor at the Department of Chemistry, Caltech.
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