University of Richmond Chemistry Professor Awarded Two Grants for Study of Organic Silicon Compounds

July 9, 2003

Samuel A. Abrash, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Richmond, has been awarded two grants for his photochemistry research project on organic silicon compounds.

The Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society has awarded Abrash a $50,000 grant for three years, and the Research Corporation has awarded him a $40,000 grant for two years. The university will provide $26,000 in additional funds.

The funding will enable Abrash to buy equipment to synthesize and study molecules for the project and to involve students in the research. The grants pay for three students to work on the project during the first two summers and one for the last summer.

Abrash and his students will create organic silicon compounds and expose them to light to bring them to a little explored state called a triplet state. They then will explore how the chemistry in that state is unique.

Abrash's work may enable the computer and electronic industries to make better and more efficient silicon chips.