Program Overview

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University of Waterloo Chemistry Program

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

Program Overview

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo offers a comprehensive program in chemistry, with a focus on research and academic excellence.

Research Areas

• Atomic and molecular clusters
• Surface reactivity and catalytic activity
• Cluster finite size effects
• Electronic, magnetic, optical, and chemical properties
• Nanodevices

Course Descriptions

CHEM 400: Atomic and Molecular Clusters

• Prerequisite: CHEM 254 and CHEM 356
• Reference text: Atomic and Molecular Clusters , R. L. Johnston, Taylor & Francis, New York, NY (2002).
• No text book will be required. Notes that are prepared by the instructor will be distributed.

Atomic and molecular clusters constitute intermediates between molecules, with clearly defined quantum states, and condensed matter where these states form bands or continua. As such, the study of clusters can be viewed as a means of unravelling the evolution of bulk properties from those of the constituent atoms/molecules. Interestingly, owing to the high ratio of surface atoms to bulk atoms, there are many analogies between the chemistry and physics of clusters and of solid surfaces. For this reason, clusters have traditionally been regarded as test cases for the study of surface reactivity and catalytic activity. More recently, however, attention has shifted towards cluster finite size effects, which lead to electronic, magnetic, optical, and chemical properties that are quite different from those of molecules or condensed matter. Now, the use of clusters as components in nanodevices is also attracting a great deal of attention. This course will describe the experimental generation, detection and interrogation of clusters, as well as the theoretical approaches that have been developed to aid in our understanding of their physical properties.

Affiliations

• Institute for Quantum Computing
• Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology

Department Information

Department of Chemistry
C2 280
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1

University Information

University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1

Acknowledgement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.