Justin is working in a branch of Chemistry called “Intercalation Chemistry”. In Intercalation Chemistry, chemists try to place different “guest” compounds in between the stacked layers of a host molecule, similar to inserting a piece of cardboard between two layers of paper, to make new compounds for specific applications. For his summer research, Justin investigated two different guest compounds that are being studied to see whether new compounds could be produced to make more environmentally secure batteries.
A molecule known as Vanadyl Phosphate (VOPO4) is a typical layered molecule that can accept guest chemicals between its layers. The two guest compounds that Justin worked on were Poly(ethylene oxide) or PEO, and Poly[oligo(ethylene glycol)oxylate], or POEGO, and his work involved creating the intercalated compounds, and then examining them using different methods, including Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). These methods allowed him to see whether the compounds were inserted correctly into the host molecule, and also to begin to look at their chemical properties.
Student Research