UT Host: Dr. Tessa Calhoun

Speaker: Dr. Theodore (Ted) Goodson

Richard Barry Bernstein Collegiate Professor of Chemistry & Macromolecular Science & Engineering

University of Michigan

Title: “Optical Applications in Magic Number Metal Clusters”

Dynamics in Small Metal Clusters T. Goodson III, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan The success of synthesizing monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) in the condensed phase has allowed scientists to probe their optical properties directly. Au MPCs have become the “gold” standard in nanocluster science due to the application of very rigorous chemical and structural characterization techniques.  The use of ultrafast laser spectroscopy on MPCs in solution provides the benefit of directly studying the mechanisms of the dynamics of metal nanoclusters, and their non-linear optical properties. Based on the use of nonlinear and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques it is clear that monolayer protected metal clusters have unique physical and optical properties which are different than their larger metal particle counterparts. In this presentation the basic optical properties of metal clusters will be presented. Both linear and nonlinear optical measurements as well as steady state and time-resolved investigations of metal clusters will be presented.  Applications of these clusters utilizing nonlinear optical methods will also be discussed. 

Theodore Goodson III received his BA in liberal arts from Wabash College in 1991 and his Ph.D. from U of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1996.  He was a postdoctoral assistant at the University of Chicago and Postdoctoral fellow at Oxford University (physics).  He served on the faculty at Wayne State University from 1998 to 2004 and move to the University of Michigan where he is the Richard Barry Bernstein Professor of Chemistry.  Dr. Goodson’s research centers on the investigation of ultra-fast, nonlinear optical, and quantum optical properties in organic multi-chromophore and metal cluster systems for particular optical and electronic applications in the condensed phase.  This has included contributions to the understanding of ultra-fast exciton migration in organic dendrimers and novel molecular aggregates, correlations of ultra-fast dynamics in organic polymers with photovoltaic performance,  the nature of ultra-fast electronic processes in in small (magic number) metal clusters, ultra-fast two photon effects for the determination of DNA-drug binding modes, ultra-fast nonlinear optical detection of remote IEDs, ultra-fast processes of the aggregation process in the formation of amyloids, the interaction of organic molecules with nonclassical (entangled) light, the quantum optical response of biological macromolecules.  His research has been translated in to technology in the areas of two-photon organic materials for eye and sensor protection, large dielectric and energy storage effects in organic macromolecular materials, the remote detection of energetic (explosive) devices by nonlinear optical methods, quantum optical communications and remote chemical sensing, tissue imaging and photodynamic therapy with small metal clusters.  Dr. Goodson has published over 140 scientific publications and one book (Solar Fuels published in 2017) and has given more than 200 invited talks. Goodson has been awarded numerous awards including the Distinguished University Faculty Award, the National Science Foundation American Innovation Fellowship,  Research Young Investigator Award, The Percy Julian Award, National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, Lloyd Ferguson Young Scientist Award, Burroughs Welcome Fund Award, Senior Visiting Fellow of the Joint Institute of Laboratory Astrophysics, American Chemical Society Minority Mentorship Award, University Faculty Recognition Award, College of Science Teaching Award, and a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Ford Postdoctoral Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the AAAS and the American Chemical society.  He has been a Senior Editor for The Journal of Physical Chemistry since 2007.  He is a senior advisor for the undergraduate admissions committee for the University of Michigan (8 years) and also serves with the college and the Provost office to enhance efforts of mentoring through-out the university in particular for mentoring students of diverse backgrounds.  He has also works with the Dean’s and President’s office to enhance efforts for diversity in the STEM fields on campus.  He has served on the Committee of Institutional Cooperation, the NAS committee for research laboratory safety, and the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.