UMass Boston

Michelle Foster

Department:
Chemistry
Title:
Assoc Professor U of M
Location:
ISC Floor 03
Phone:
617.287.6096

Areas of Expertise

Physical Chemistry: Surface Science

Degrees

PhD, Chemical Physics, University of Texas at Austin

Professional Publications & Contributions

Additional Information

Lab Location: ISC-3620

The Foster group does surface chemistry and experimental physical chemistry. We use optical spectroscopies, such as diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and scanning probe microscopies, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), and combination techniques, such as a Raman microscope spectrometer, to study chemical reactions and processes happening at complex interfaces. The group has four areas of focus.

  1. Green chemistry, including: (a) adsorption studies on metal oxide nanoparticles to help explain heterogeneous catalytic processes, and (b) mechanistic studies on solid acid catalysts
  2. Materials science, including: (a) nanomechanical properties of novel core-shell nano/micro-spherical particles, and (b) physical properties of novel liquid-metal systems
  3. Alternative energy processes, including: (a) adsorption processes in dye-sensitized solar cells, and (b) modification and optimization of activated carbon 
  4. Biological chemistry, including: (a) investigation of the morphology of amyloid fibrils, and (b) visualization of other biological macromolecules

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