Here we report on the continued development of Raman spectroscopy in the undergraduate physical chemistry curriculum for teaching and research. In the physical chemistry laboratory the goal is to introduce students to Raman spectroscopy while providing context with coupled guided readings of papers using related techniques. Three one week experiments using Raman spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in the physical chemistry laboratory will be described. In the first experiment, students make colloids for SERS, and learn to acquire and interpret Raman spectra of simple molecules, such as oligonucleotides with and without SERS. In the second experiment, students use SERS to explore Raman spectra of dyes. In the third experiment, students conduct a temperature dependent study to analyze conformation of substituted ethanes. Student research projects allow further exploration of different SERS substrates and optimization of detection methodology. Student research projects also include the application of SERS to the detection of organic colorants of historical importance used in textiles. The presentation will include strategies for managing groups of students in a lab with a single spectrometer setup.

Applications of Raman spectroscopy to study dyes and molecular conformations

2019 Spring National Meeting

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