Joseph Quattrucci % | Worcester State University

Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry; Minor in Physics,
University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, 1995
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 2008

My research focuses on the energetics and dynamics of gas/surface interactions. Of particular focus at this time is the interaction of hydrogen with carbon nanotubes. It is theorized that a ”spillover” mechanism is involved in the process of hydrogen bond breaking. This mechanism relies on a metal catalytic support over which the hydrogen bond breaks. In this work we investigate a nickel atom, as the catalytic site, adsorbed to a graphene surface. The Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP) is used to theoretically investigate the preferred binding site of the nickel atom and study the energetics involved with hydrogens interaction with the carbon/metal surface. Quantum and classical dynamic calculations are used to gain a better understanding of the dynamics behind this process. This work provides insight into the carbon nanotube system and allows for further studies including the hydrogen molecule to be considered.

Quattrucci, J. G., “A Problem-based Approach to Teaching Advanced Chemistry Laboratories “, Journal of Chemical Education, 95, 259, (2018)
Swaminathan, S. R., Merrill, Glynn, S., and Quattrucci, J. G., “Electron-Spin Amplitudes in the Exchange Quenching of Ortho Positronium “, Physical Review A, 86, 032504, (2012)
Quattrucci, J. G. and Jackson, B., “Quasi-classical Study of Eley-Rideal and Hot Atom Reactions of H Atoms with Cl adsorbed on a Au(111) Surface”, J. Chem. Phys., 122, 074705, (2005)
Quattrucci J. G., Jackson B., and Lemoine D., “Eley-Redeal reactions of H Atoms with Cl Adsorbed on Au(111): Quantum and Quasi-classical Studied”, J. Chem. Phys., 118, 2357, (2003)
Lemoine D., Quattrucci J. G., and Jackson B., “Effcient Eley-Rideal reactions of H atoms with single Cl adsorbates on Au(111)”, Phys. Rev. Lett., 89, 268302, (2002)
Fermann J., Kakareka J. P., Klooster W. T , Mullin J. L., Quattrucci J., Ricci J. S., Tracy H. J., Vining W. J., and Wallace S., “Electrochemical and photophysical properties of a series of group-14 metalloles”, lnorg. Chem., 38, 2464, (1999)