Experimental and theoretical work in the department features rapidly developing fields such as nanomaterials and devices, biophysical chemistry, atmospheric and environmental chemistry, single molecule and single quantum dot spectroscopy, and condensed phase molecular dynamics. Prominent research topics include chemical reaction dynamics in the gas phase, in solution, in the solid-state, and at interfaces; study of the physical properties and material applications of soft condensed phases, such as liquids, glasses, polymers, and liquid crystals; the solid state chemistry of semiconductor nanoparticles, ferroelectrics, and metal surfaces; and research into novel energy sources and storage. The highly interdisciplinary nature of the research has led to extensive collaborations among chemists in the department, and with groups in physics, biology, materials science, and electrical engineering. In MIT's highly interactive environment, many physical chemistry students become closely acquainted with researchers and methods used in other disciplines.

Advances in understanding chemical problems have always gone hand-in-hand with advances in technologies to study them. A continuing strength of the Department and MIT's Harrison Spectroscopy Lab is the development and use of new spectroscopic techniques. 2D IR spectroscopy, single-molecule spectroscopy, nonlinear terahertz spectroscopy, and femtosecond x-ray scattering are among the new techniques being developed and used in condensed phase research. The nuclear and electronic dynamics of isolated molecules, molecular liquids, and crystalline solids are being revealed with multi-laser high-resolution spectroscopies and femtosecond pump-probe methods. At MIT's Francis Bitter Magnet Lab, research targets new approaches to biophysical problems using advanced solid-state NMR and EPR spectroscopy.

Moungi G. Bawendi Bawendi Research Group		Room 6-221 (617) 253-9796 mgb@mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical Nanoscience Materials
Jianshu Cao Cao Research Group		Room 2-121 (617) 253-1563 jianshu@mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical
Sylvia T. Ceyer Ceyer Research Group		Room 6-217 (617) 253-4537 stceyer@mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical Materials Nanoscience
Arup K. Chakraborty Chakraborty Research Group		Room E19-502c (617) 253-3890 arupc@mit.edu Fax: (617) 258-5766		Physical Biological
Catherine L. Drennan Drennan Research Group		Room 16-573A (617) 253-5622 cdrennan@mit.edu Fax: (617) 258-7847		Biological Inorganic Physical Environmental
Robert W. Field Field Research Group		Room 6-219 (617) 253-1489 rwfield@mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical
Robert G. Griffin Griffin Research Group		Room NW14-5113/6-229 (617) 253-5597 griffin@ccnmr.mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical Biological
Keith A. Nelson Nelson Research Group		Room 6-235 (617) 253-1423 kanelson@mit.edu Fax: (617) 253-7030		Physical Materials
Alice Ting Ting Research Group		Room 18-496 (617) 452-2021 ating at mit.edu Fax: (617) 258-8150		Biological Nanoscience Organic Physical
Troy Van Voorhis Research Group		(617) 495-8859 tvan@mit.edu Fax: (617) 384-9228		Physical