Engineering Commons^™

Tuning The Properties Of Metal-Ligand Complexes To Modify The Properties Of Supramolecular Materials, Ian Henderson

Open Access Dissertations

Supramolecular chemistry is the study of discreet molecules assembled into more complex structures though non-covalent interactions such as host-guest effects, pi-pi stacking, electrostatic effects, hydrogen bonding, and metal-ligand interactions. Using these interactions, complex hierarchical assembles can be created from relatively simple precursors.

Of the supramolecular interactions listed above, metal-ligand interactions are of particular interest due to the wide possible properties which they present. Factors such as the denticity, polarizability, steric hindrance, ligand structure, and the metal used (among others) contribute to a dramatic range in the physical properties of the metal-ligand complexes. Particularly affected by these factors are the kinetic …

Fiber Formation From The Melting Of Free-Standing Polystyrene, Ultra-Thin Films: A Technique For The Investication Of Thin Film Dynamics, Confinement Effects And Fiber-Based Sensing, Jeremy M. Rathfon

Open Access Dissertations

Free-standing ultra-thin films and micro to nanoscale fibers offer a unique geometry in which to study the dynamics of thin film stability and polymer chain dynamics. By melting these films and investigating the subsequent processes of hole formation and growth, and fiber thinning and breakup, many interesting phenomena can be explored, including the nucleation of holes, shear-thinning during hole formation, finite-extensibility of capillary thinning viscoelastic fibers, and confinement effects on entanglement of polymer chains. Free-standing films in the melt are unstable and rupture due to instabilities. The mechanism of membrane failure and hole nucleation is modeled using an energy barrier …