Scott L. Anderson
Office: 1224 Henry Eyring Building (HEB) North wing
Department of Chemistry, University of Utah,
315 S. 1400 E. RM Dock, Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0850 How
to Find the Henry Eyring Building
Phone : (801) 585 - 7289 FAX: (801)581-8433 Group: (801) 581-6644
E-Mail : 
Education/Awards
B. A. Rice
University, 1977
Ph.
D. University of California at Berkeley, 1981
Postdoctoral,
Stanford University, 1981-83
Alfred
P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellow,1988-1990
Camille
and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar, 1989-1994
Japan
Society for the Promotion of Science Fellow, 1989-1990
Professeur Invité, Université Paris-Sud,
1990, 1991
Visiting
Scientist, Fakultät für
Physik der Universität Freiburg, 1990
Invitation
Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2002
NSF Creativity Award,
2004-2006
Fellow,
American Physical Society
U of
Utah Distinguished and Creative Research Award, 2007
Fellow,
American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science, 2011
Distinguished
Professor, U. of Utah, 2011
Research Interests – Physical and Analytical Chemistry
Anderson group research is generally focused on understanding the factors that
control chemical reactions, with systems ranging from small molecules in the
gas phase to nanoparticles on well-characterized
surfaces, to catalyst and fuel nanoparticles
suspended in liquid fuels. The buttons/links below connect to brief
descriptions of each research project. There are also links to several software
and hardware projects that may be of interest.
Size-Selected Model Supported Catalysts:
We use size- and energy-selected metal cluster ion deposition on
well-characterized oxide surfaces to prepare model catalysts, which are then
studied using a variety of in situ
techniques. The electronic
structure of the samples is probed by a combination of XPS, UPS, and INS. Low energy ion scattering is used to
probe the cluster morphology, and how it is modified by reactant adsorption,
heating, etc. Chemical properties
are probed by a variety of mass spectrometric methods. We are in the process of adding
facilities for in situ
electrochemical measurements as well.
The goals are to understand the relationships between cluster size,
support interactions, electronic properties, and catalytic activity.
For a number of advanced
propulsion systems, it is critical to achieve rapid and efficient combustion of
high energy density liquid hydrocarbon fuels. The combustion kinetics of complex
hydrocarbons are generally not very well understood, and we are studying the
initial steps in the pyrolysis and oxidation
mechanisms of a synthetic jet fuel, JP-10, using a combination of flow tube/photoionization mass spectrometry, and ab initio molecular dynamics.
In addition, we are interested in catalytic schemes to enhance ignition
and combustion of these fuels, using nanoparticulate
catalysts that are soluble/suspendible
in the liquid fuels. For such
catalysts it is important to understand the fate of the capping ligands that are used to impart solubility, and how these ligands affect activity.
State-Selective Ion Chemistry
Goals: Probe detailed dynamics for
reaction of simple polyatomics (up to ca. 20 atoms).
Also, determine circumstances where it is possible to control reactions by
varying reactant state/initial conditions. The unique feature of our
experiments is the ability to select the initial vibrational
state of the reactants, including being able to put energy in different modes
of vibration, which often have very different effects.
Experimental Tools: Laser multiphoton
excitation to prepare vibrationally and rotationally
state-selected reactant ions. Guided beam methods to determine reactions
dynamics (energy dependence, product energy and angular distributions).
Theory: Ab Initio calculations
to probe potential surfaces, transition states, etc. Direct dynamics
calculations (like the trajectory at right) to help understand the origins of
the experimentally observed dynamics and vibrational
effects.
Nanoparticle
fuel additives:
We are exploring methods to produce nanoparticles
with controlled surface chemistry, for use as additives to fuels ranging from
hydrocarbon jet fuels to rocket propellants. The goals are to enhance combustion rates
(catalytic surface modifications) and to add energy density (boron or aluminum
cores) while maintaining high solubility in the fuel, and passivating
the particles against premature air-oxidation during storage and handling. Particles are generated by high energy
milling, and characterized by a combination of XPS, SEM, STEM, EDX, EELS, DLS,
and combustion studies. The methods
may also be relevant to preparation of bio-compatible boron nanoparticles
for use in boron neutral capture therapy.
Links to (other)
Useful Stuff
