Solid State NMR Studies of Transition Metal Oxides Luis J. Smith, Clark University, DMR 0748399

1. Solid State NMR Studies of Transition Metal OxidesLuis J. Smith, Clark University, DMR 0748399 • This project focuses on the utilization of advanced solid-state NMR methods to examine the local structure of metal atom environments in high surface area niobium oxide materials in order to correlate local structure changes with surface properties at the local level. As the method is element selective, the local niobium environment can be monitored. • Identification of anisotropy differences in 93Nb spectra of layered niobate KNb3O8 and its acid exchanged version for the two niobium sites present in the structure. • NMR anisotropy characteristics of niobium environments situated near the interlayer space were similar to results observed for Dion-Jacobson type layered niobate sites and may serve as an indicator for surface environments in high surface area niobates. Assignment of exterior (green line) and interior (blue line) Nb sites (green polyhedra) in KNb3O8 in the 93Nb static spectrum. Large anisotropy of exterior site is an indication of termination effects at the surface of the layer.

2. Solid State NMR Studies of Transition Metal Oxides Luis J. Smith, Clark University, DMR 0748399 • Student outreach to ALANA students and first generation college students via summer institute module on surviving undergraduate science laboratory courses designed and lead by PI. Students participated in the rapid synthesis of simple colored glasses using microwave heating methods • Student Training and Support: • Graduate students (2): • Jhashanath Adhikari • Ting Liu • Undergraduate students (2): • Melissa Loving • Hui Yang Incoming ALANA and first-generation college students select metal carbonates for glass coloring agents in the “surviving the undergraduate science laboratory” module of ACE summer institute at Clark University.