Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Materials Science and Engineering Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Materials Science and Engineering
Ab Initio Investigation On The Surface Chemistry Of Functionalized Titania Membranes, Evan Hyde
Ab Initio Investigation On The Surface Chemistry Of Functionalized Titania Membranes, Evan Hyde
Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering
Titania (titanium dioxide) is a metal oxide which has recently been investigated as a photocatalyst, most commonly for use in hydrolysis, which absorbs mostly in the UV range. However, the range of absorption can be shifted to fall within the visible light range either by doping or by functionalizing the surface with atomic or molecular adsorbates. Over the course of this research, a series of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are performed to ascertain the effects of these different methods on the photocatalytic performance of titania. While the effects of nitrogen doping and oxygen vacancies are well known, more recent …
Ab Initio Studies Of Proton Transport In Proton Exchange Membranes, Jeffrey Keith Clark
Ab Initio Studies Of Proton Transport In Proton Exchange Membranes, Jeffrey Keith Clark
Doctoral Dissertations
A molecular-level understanding of the factors that contribute to transport properties of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for fuel cell applications is needed to aid in the development of superior membrane materials. Ab initio electronic structure calculations were undertaken on various PEM ionomer fragments to explore the effects of local hydration, side chain connectivity, protogenic group separation, and specific side chain chemistry on proton dissociation and transfer at low hydration. Cooperative interactions between both intra- and inter-molecular acidic groups and hydrogen bond connectivity were found to enhance proton dissociation at very low degrees of hydration. The energetics associated with proton transfer …