Luke HanleyProfessorAnalytical Chemistry

Born 1961; BS, University of Toronto, 1983; PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1988; NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pittsburgh, 1988-1990; Assistant Professor, UIC, 1990-1996; Associate Professor, UIC, 1996-2001; National Science Foundation Young Investigator, 1994-1999; UIC Teaching Recognition Award, 1997; UIC Junior Scholar, 1995-1998; AdjunctAssociate Professor of Bioengineering, UIC, 1998-2001; Guest Associate, Argonne National Laboratories, 1996-1997; Visiting Professor, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, 1998; AdjunctProfessor of Bioengineering, UIC, 2001.

Our research lay at the interface of surface science, mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry, and bioengineering. We apply advanced vacuum-based methods to synthesize and characterize the chemical structure and morphology of organic surfaces. We also develop novel methods to analyze organic surfaces, with a particular focus on mass spectrometry. These strategies are applied to several distinct projects, summaries of which are given below. Regularly updated, detailed information on these projects can be found at our homepage:

  • Growing New Materials from Polyatomic Ions. Polyatomic ions deposited onto surfaces in vacuum are used as molecular building blocks for the growth of nanostructured organic thin films from the atomic level upwards. Polyatomic ion film growth is both highly controllable and readily understood via modeling with computational methods. Polyatomic ions allow control of the film thickness and morphology on the subnanometer scale by variation of the ion size, kinetic energy, and ion-surface reactivity. Surface polymerization by ion-assisted deposition (SPIAD) combines polyatomic ions and evaporated neutrals to produce films of conducting polymers with novel chemical and electronic structures. Polythiophene and polyphenyl films are among those produced by SPIAD, which are being examined for application in a variety of electronic and energy conversion devices. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron, UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence, mass, Raman, infrared, and other spectroscopies are used to probe the structures of these films.
  • Fundamental Studies on the Role of Polyatomic Ions in Surface Mass Spectrometry. The analysis of organic molecules on solid surfaces is a particularly difficult problem in surface science. This work examines the use of polyatomic projectiles - such as SF5+ and C60+ - for organic surface analysis in secondary ion mass spectrometry. We compare how atomic versus polyatomic ions differ in their ability to remove material from and modify a surface during a ballistic impact.
  • Laser Desorption Photoionization Mass Spectrometry. Another method we use for organic surface analysis is laser desorption photoionization mass spectrometry, a project in which we collaborate with Drs. Jerry Moore, Michael Pellin, and coworkers at Argonne National Laboratory. We have found that chemical derivatization can be used to lower the ionization potential of an analyte, thereby permitting its single photon ionization (SPI) using 7.87 eV photons of the molecular fluorine laser. This strategy promises to broaden the application of SPI to analyses of a wide range of species in both surface and film analysis.
  • Mass Spectrometric Studies of Dental Composites. Our portion of this project uses various mass spectrometric techniques to study the organic-inorganic composites used as dental fillers. The goal of this project is to elucidate mechanisms of stress-induced fracture in these composites. This project is a collaboration with Prof. James Drummond of UIC Dentistry.

Office telephone: 312-996-0945

Laboratory telephone: 312-996-8811 and 312-996-8649

Fax: 312-996-0431

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Caption for figure: Surface polymerization by ion-assisted deposition (SPIAD) for polythiophene and polyphenyl film growth in vacuum. These films are being examined for use as conducting polymers in various applications.