Elise Herzog
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Kevin Kubarych
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Chemistry / LSA
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 4 (1:40pm – 2:30pm)
Authors: Elise Herzog, Vivian Crum, Joe Meadows, Kevin Kubarych
Abstract
One of the central goals of chemistry is learning how to alter and control chemical reactivity. One novel approach is to use optical cavities to shift vibrational energy levels to modify reaction rates and equilibrium constants. Vibrational strong coupling (VSC) can be achieved by coupling molecular vibrations with an optical cavity mode to produce new light-matter states, called polaritons.1. There is considerable recent research, but also questions about reproducibility. The properties of a chemical reaction of phenyl isocyanate and cyclohexanol in tetrahydrofuran may be altered when placed in a Fabry-Pérot cavity. The course of this reaction is visible in the NCO, CO, and CH stretch bands, and by examining these bands over time, we can determine how the concentrations of the products and reactants change. The main question is whether or not tuning the cavity mode frequency alters the chemical reaction. Using these time-dependent concentrations, we can calculate the order of the reaction and determine its rate constant. Should the rate constant depend on the frequency of the cavity mode, we will have evidence that the cavity affects the chemical reaction. Establishing, through reproducibility, cavity-controlled chemistry will provide novel synthetic tools for chemists. If the results indicate that this reaction can be changed using IR spectroscopy, further research could be done to determine other systems which may have a similar effect. 1. Ahn W, Herrera F, Simpkins B. Modification of Urethane Addition Reaction via Vibrational Strong Coupling. ChemRxiv. Cambridge: Cambridge Open Engage; 2022
