H. Floyd Davis

Professor

260B ST Olin
hfd1@cornell.edu
607/255-0014

Education

Postdoc, University of Southern California
PhD, University of California, Berkeley
BSc, University of Waterloo, Canada

Departments and programs

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Academic interests

Analytical
Physical

Keywords

Experimental studies of bimolecular chemical reaction dynamics, catalysis, combustion and atmospheric chemistry

Overview

The Davis group uses laser and molecular beam methods to study the dynamics of elementary bimolecular and photochemical reactions. Reactions of interest involve organic and atmospheric free radicals, as well as transition metal atoms and simple transition metal complexes.

Research Focus

We experimentally study the dynamics of chemical reactions relevant to catalysis, combustion, and atmospheric chemistry. Our research employs photolytic and pyrolytic techniques to generate molecular beams containing neutral transition metal atoms, complexes, free radicals, and aerosol particles. Reactions are initiated by crossing such beams with a second molecular beam under single collision conditions. The angular and velocity distributions of the reaction products from single bimolecular collisions are measured to learn about: 1) the branching ratios for competing reactions; 2) the reaction mechanism(s); and 3) the disposal of excess energy into the products' degrees of freedom.

Publications

Site-Specific Carbon-Carbon Bond Fission in Photoexcited Propyl Radicals Leads to Isomer-Selective Carbene and Radical Products, S. Datta and H. Floyd Davis; J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 12, 11926 (2021).
Dimethylcarbene vs. Direct Propene Formation in Dimethylketene Photodissociation, S. Datta and H.F. Davis, J. Phys. Chem. A 125, 6940 (2021).
Direct Observation of Ethylidene (CH3CH), the Elusive High-Energy Isomer of Ethylene. S. Datta and H.F. Davis, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 11, 10476-10481 (2020).
Subpicosecond HI Elimination in the 266 nm Photodissociation of Branched Iodoalkanes. M.A. Todt, S. Datta, A. Rose, K. Leung, and H. F. Davis, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 22, 27338-27347 (2020).
Collision Complex Lifetimes in the Reaction C₆H₅ + O₂ → C₆H₅O + O, D. R. Albert and H. Floyd Davis; J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 1, 1107 (2010).
Improved piezoelectric actuators for use in high-speed pulsed valves, D.L. Proctor, D.R. Albert and H. Floyd Davis, Rev. Sci.Instrum. 81, 023106 (2010).
Vibrational vs. Translational Energy in Promoting a Prototype Metal-Hydrocarbon Insertion Reaction, D. L. Proctor and H. F. Davis, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. Am. 105, 12673 (2008).
C-C vs. C-H Bond Activation of Alkynes by Early Second-Row Transition Metal Atoms, R.Z. Hinrichs, J. J. Schroden, and H.F. Davis, J. Phys. Chem. A. 112, 3010 (2008).