Xuebin Wang
Research Scientist, Fundamental and Computational Sciences Directoratehttp://emslbios.pnl.gov/id/wang_x Updated: July 17, 2002
Matrixed Organization
Washington State University
Current Activities and Projects
Investigation of free and solvated multiply-charged anions using photoelectron spectroscopy.
Research Interests
Multiply charged anions are ubiquitous in nature, often found in solutions and solids. Many inorganic, organic, and biomolecules exist as multiply charged anions in solution. However, few multiply charged anions have been studied in the gas phase due to the difficulty of their formation and their intrinsic instability. Multiply charged anions are interesting many-body systems and are important to study from both a fundamental and practical point of view. Electrons in multiply charged anions are bound by a repulsive Coulomb barrier (analogous to that of alpha-particles in heavy nuclei). Investigation of the shape of and tunneling through this potential barrier allows us to understand the stability and lifetime of the anions. Furthermore, investigation of free multiply charged anions and their solvated species can provide microscopic information for understanding solution phase chemistry and inorganic materials involving these anions.
We have developed a new experimental technique to investigate multiply chanions in the gas phase. An electrospray ion source, in which a solution sample containing the anions is sprayed through a syringe needle under negative bias, is designed and developed to produce multiply charged anions. Ion-trap-time-of-flight mass spectrometry is used to analyze the formed anions. Size- and charge-selected photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy is used to obtain information about the stability and electronic structure of the anions and their microscopic solvation. We are investigating a wide range of anionic species, which are important in organic, inorganic, and biochemistry, as well as in solid materials and catalysis.
Past Experience
Jul. 2000 to Present: Research Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory & Washington State University
Feb. 1997 to Jun. 2000, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory & Washington State University. Postdoctoral Research Fellow with Professor Lai-Sheng Wang, W. R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.
Apr.1995 to Jan. 1997 Columbia University, New York, NY. Postdoctoral Research Associate with Professor Richard Bersohn, Chemistry Department.
Sep.1993 to Feb.1995 Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Visiting Ph.D Candidate with Professor R.D.Levine, Fritz Haber Center for Molecular Dynamics.
Education
Ph.D., Feb. 1995, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Dissertation: "Atom-molecular reaction dynamics ( in gas phase ) studied by time-resolved FTIR emission spectrometer and Quasiclassical trajectory computation."
M. S. July 1991 Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Thesis: "Establishment and application of a UV laser/Time-resolved FTIR Emission Spectrometer used for photodissociation and secondary reaction"
B. S. July 1988 Department of Chemical Physics, University of Sciences and Technology of China
Awards, Honors, & Appointments
1999 M. T. Thomas Award for Outstanding Postdoctoral Achievement, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
1992 Award for the Advancement of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
1992 President Scholarship, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1987 Hua Shen Scholarship, University of Sciences and Technology of China
1984--1988: Scholarship, University of Sciences and Technology of China
