My honors project expands upon the research that I conducted over this past summer at the Army Research Lab (ARL), where I aimed to synthesize iridium-based complexes that exhibit broad-band reverse saturable absorption (RSA).

These iridium complexes at ARL consisted of a tridentate ligand attached to an iridium metal, and they yielded promising results. These promising results were intriguing and inspired me to further this research at VMI with Col. Dan Harrison. Computational modelling suggested that a cyclometallated bidentate ligand series derived from phenyl pyridine would allow us to further adjust an iridium complex’s reverse saturable absorption properties; therefore, we have targeted the synthesis of a number of these phenyl pyridines in Col. Harrison’s lab, and we have attached each of these substituted phenyl pyridines to an iridium tridentate system. We are analyzing the physical properties with electrochemical analysis and single crystal x-ray crystallography and have shared these compounds with ARL for photophysical non-linear optical performance properties.

I have a newfound appreciation for the art of chemistry, and the research has sharpened my laboratory knowledge, skills, and confidence, which certainly gives me a leg up in my pursuit of a career in medicine. As a non-commissioning cadet, getting to work with the Army Research Laboratory and further America’s fight has inspired me to pursue a medical career in the military after VMI.

In the picture below, orange light is being emitted from one of my compounds after it converted the black light energy. The equipment that I am pulling the sample from is a microwave assisted reaction system.

Knight Bowles '25

Mentor: Col. Daniel P. Harrison, Ph.D., Professor, Chemistry
Major: Biology
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia