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Steady-state and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of the azide [(N.sub.3.sup.-]) anion is used to characterize aqueous mixtures both with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM]-[B[F.sub.4]]) and with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The small anion vibrational spectra and dynamics have shown that the differences between molecular and ionic liquids are less than those between either of the neat solvents and the corresponding mixture with water.

A study was conducted on the photoreactivity of the excited solvated electron with surfactant headgroups in reverse micelles (RMs) through photodetachment of ferrocyanide (Fe[(CN).sub.6][.sup.4.sup.-]) in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) RMs. The findings suggested that diffusion coefficient of the solvated electron does not appear to be significantly affected by RM confinement.

Raman spectroscopy is shown to be a very valuable means of characterizing in-situ chemical processes of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) materials in high temperature environments. Experiments demonstrate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to follow reversible oxidation/reduction kinetics of Ni/NiO as well as the rate of carbon disappearance when graphite, formed in-situ, is exposed to a weakly oxidizing atmosphere.

Vibrational energy relaxation measurements were performed on a series of cyanoferrates in cationic, anionic, and nonionic reverse micelles. The results obtained were compared to dynamics in bulk aqueous solution and are interpreted in terms of the location of the cyanoferrate probes within the reverse micelle cavity.

Steady-state second harmonic generation (SHG) studies are carried out for oxazine dyes at the air/water interface. The dyes readily aggregate in the bulk and the combined evidence from various types of SHG measurements indicate that the SHG arises from dimers.