Description of Research
Prof. Noftle is interested in the synthesis and characterization of new materials which have applications in electronics, optics and medicine. These substances have the potential to be utilized as charge storage media, light-emitting diodes, metal uptake and release agents, trace metal ion sensors, and drug delivery agents. One project is concerned with the preparation and properties of new thiophene compounds which form electrically conducting polymers potentially useful in photovoltaics; parts of this research are in collaboration with the WFU Center for Nanomaterials and Molecular Materials. A second project involves the synthesis of thiophene imides capable of metal uptake and release. Another project involves the synthesis of small molecules having electrical properties and a study of their behavior as thin films in collaboration with Prof. Oana Jurchescu (WFU Physics Dept.). A multitude of techniques are used in our research including infrared, NMR, fluorescence and UV-vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, x-ray crystallography, microscopy and electrochemistry. Students may become involved in all or any parts of this research.
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