Our research is focused on the development of chemical methods that transcend the traditional boundaries of analytical, inorganic and environmental chemistry.

Acoustic-Wave Sensors. Our most active area of research involves the development of novel acoustic wave sensors for use in environmental analysis. We are currently using quartz resonators coated with thin polymer films to quantify the selective adsorption of water-born environmental pollutants. By studying the shear-wave acoustics of these polymers films, we have recently uncovered an entirely novel sensing mechanism which has lead to the development of a sensitive and highly reproducible field sensor for petroleum spills. Our work is continuing with efforts to speciate between different classes of petroleum components and to understand the acoustic effects that leads to this sensor's unusual response.

Inorganic Electrochemistry. Another area of research is the use of microelectrochemical techniques to study metal-based chemical systems. In this work we are seeking to answer basic questions about how structural changes occur in conjunction with electron transfer, particularly electron transfer to and from metals bound to a macrocyclic ligand. To analyze the very fast structure changes that occur with these chemical systems, we build electrodes having microscopic dimensions. We then use these electrodes with instruments that have been constructed for the techniques of high-speed cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical microscopy. With the aid of these powerful techniques, we have been able to analyze structural conversions of the macrocycle complexes that occur over only a few microseconds in time.

Electrochemical Remediation . The physicochemical properties of water change dramatically when it is heated above its normal boiling temperature while under enough pressure to maintain a liquid state. Our group has been among the first to study this ‘subcritical' medium for the purpose of electrochemically detoxifying environmentally harmful organochlorine compounds like PCBs. Development of this environmentally safe method of degradation offers several potential benefits which we are currently exploring:

• Organochlorine pollutants can be removed from soils and sediments by subcritical water extraction and then immediately detoxified.

• Detoxification of organic pollutants can be performed without the aid of environmentally harmful co-solvents or surfactants.

• The rate of detoxification can be 100-times faster than ambient temperatures.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

“Oxidatively Induced Isomerization of Square-Planar [Ni(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclo-tetradecane)](ClO4)2 ”, David T. Pierce, Thomas L. Hatfield, E. Joseph Billo, and Yao Ping. Inorganic Chemistry, 1997, 36, 2950-2955.

“Electrochemical Remediation of Metal-Bearing Wastewaters - Part II. Corrosion-Based Inhibition of Copper Removal by Iron(III)”, Thomas L. Hatfield and David T. Pierce. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 1998, 28, 397-403.

“Low Parts per Billion Determination of Sulfide by Coulometric Agentometry”, David T. Pierce, Michelle S. Applbee, Craig Lacher, and Jerry Bessie. Environmental Science and Technology, 1998, 32, 1734-1737.

“Field Screening Of Waterborne Petroleum Hydrocarbons By Thickness Shear-Mode Resonator Measurements” Michelle S. Applebee, John D. Geissler, Adam P. Schellinger, Richard J. Jaeger, David T. Pierce. Environmental Science and Technology, 2004, 38, 234-239.