Ultrafast Vibrational Relaxation of Water at a Charged Solid Interface

The extension of the surface electric field, the interfacial thickness and surface accumulation of ions at a charged silica surface were studied using IR pump-Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) probe spectroscopy. A vibrational lifetime (T1) of about 250 fs, similar to bulk H2O, was observed for the O-H stretch of H2O/silica interface when the silica surface is negatively charged.

Understanding the molecule-plasmon coupling

Controlling the optical behavior of molecules near the vicinity of noble metal nanoparticles continues to be an active research area in nanoscience. A molecular level understanding of the optical properties of such metal-molecule complexes is important for many applications such as energy harvesting, nanoscale optical circuits, and ultra-sensitive chemical and biological sensors. In this talk we will discuss our recent theoretical studies aimed at understanding the coupling between molecules and plasmons.

Carbohydrate Polymer Assembly: How Do Mycobacteria Do It?

Carbohydrate Polymer Assembly: How Do Mycobacteria Do It? Laura L. Kiessling, University of WisconsinMadison Carbohydrate polymers are the most abundant organic compounds on Earth. In higher organisms, they mediate fundamental processes, but they also can be essential for pathogen survival. For example, a lipid-linked polysaccharide containing 20-40 galactofuranose (Galf) residues is a key component of the mycobacterial cell wall. Galf residues are not found in humans; therefore, the enzymes mediating their incorporation should serve as antimicrobial targets.

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