Current Research in the Johnson Lab

    The shared proton bond between molecules with lone pairs of electrons like ethers, amines and alcohols is a central soft bonding motif at the core of proton transport.  We are studying the nature of this bond using infrared "nanomatrix" spectroscopy, and have extended this work to understand the speciation of the excess proton in water.  The way in which water networks act cooperatively to accommodate charged species is another area of interest, especially when the molecular fabric of water is compromised in the act of hydration.  This has been explored in detail in the case of the halide and hydroxide ions, where a water molecules is, in fact, pried apart by the strong anionic H-bond.  Atmospheric chemistry is becoming an increasing focus, with recent work directed at understanding the surprisingly important contribution of high energy peroxy isomers of simple species like NO and SO₂.  A long standing interest has been the capture of reaction intermediates in ion-molecule reactions such as the classic Sn2 reaction and triggering these to react in a quantum state resolved fashion.  To find out more about specific areas of research in the Johnson Lab, please select one of the following links:

In the Johnson Lab, infrared light (provided by powerful laser systems) is used to probe structures of molecular clusters.