Energized Metals Radiate Color for Graduate

Many chemists work with bland-colored compounds, but graduate student Vince Catalano, 25, in the UC Davis chemistry department, creates rainbows of luminescent compounds using precious metals. Conducted in the laboratory of chemistry professor Alan Balch, Catalano's doctoral work recently earned him one of 14 National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellowships in chemistry awarded in 1991. He will use the fellowship to further his studies in the chemistry department at the California Institute of Technology beginning this fall. Catalano uses synthetic inorganic chemistry techniques to coax certain metals, such as iridium, gold and platinum, to bond to one another. Sophisticated instruments measure the structure and physical properties of the new compounds, but one unique aspect can be seen by the naked eye. Under an ultraviolet light, these compounds glow yellow, orange, red and hot pink. "Because it's unusual, it's important," Catalano says. His work may eventually apply to photovoltaic cells, which turn light into electricity, and to excited-state photochemistry, which produces unconventional reactions and products.

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Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu