These lead naturally to studies of energy transfer between molecules, the mechanism of solid state reactions and the design of novel materials. Because of their variety and tunability, organic systems are focussed upon and have extended to the formation of entirely new two dimensional crystals. Specific research projects have dealt recently with solid state polymerizations, the formation of new Langmuir-Blodgett films, design of organic conductors, model potential calculations of two dimensional crystals, and phase transitions of one and two dimensional crystals. Brillouin and Raman scattering techniques include emission, absorption, attenuated total reflection and specular reflection spectra in the infrared, visible, and near ultraviolet. Piezomodulation spectroscopy, has proven to be a powerful new tool for study of solids.
Further research involves atomic force and electron microscopy.
Experiments are often run near 4K. Instrumental design is a major activity and development of computer hardware is common. Modelling calculations are performed using a Silicon Graphics and DEC 2000 workstations.