Stuff finally works. I like it when that happens.

(A Dany Joumaa production)

Work at the Zheng lab has been quite intense. Having recrystallized Eu(DBM)3, we've moved on to synthesis of the second compound, Eu(h20)2(Tta)3. The details are quite gruesome and likely difficult to explain, so I will spare you of them. This will be the second data point in my trend of whether electron donating or electron withdrawing-type ligands are better for photoluminescence. Throughout the entire process, in putting together each compound, it is truly amazing to be guided by the near God-like lab technique that Dr Zheng wields. His ability to maintain a high reaction yield throughout a wide variety of steps -- while using low-tech procedures -- is pretty amazing. Instead of using a vacuum-powered filtration device, for example, Dr Zheng used a combination of pipets stuffed with cotton to filter out unneeded solid material. In doing so, we've yielded a compound that glows extremely bright red when excited by UV light. Pictures are certainly forthcoming.

As far as chemical modeling is concerned, I ran my first computation on Tuesday. Recall that the computations are going to be used to develop a theoretical explanation for whatever experimental results I get in the lab. That said, I used NWChem to model a water molecule, as per the recommendation of Dr. Corrales. Indeed, it's important that I get a grasp of calculating simple molecules like water before moving on to bigger, more complicated ones. Once I have access to the software needed to analyze the results of the computation, I should be good to go to move on to a coordinating complex!

Next week, Dr. Zheng will be in China. Therefore, most of next week will be spent working on my laptop on chemical modeling and computations.

Outside of my UA internship, exciting things have been happening. On Tuesday morning, I found out at that I will be representing Arizona University Recordings at a social media conference in Austin next Tuesday. Somewhat following the path of my comrade Gregory Spell, I'll be flying first class and spending two days in Austin. (Did I mention that the flight is being paid for by AUR? I don't get a limo/hotel though. No big glam here. No SXSW, either.)