Engineering Commons^™

The Effect Of Aluminium Oxide And Cerium Oxide As Dispersoids In Chitosan-Lithium Acetate Complexes, Hoi Mien Leow

Student Works (2000-2009)

In this study, chitosan with 85% deacetylation was used with Ni(OAc)₂·2H₂O as doping salt and Al₂O₃, or CeO₂ as dispersoid. They were mixed in certain weight percentages and dissolved in 100ml of 0.5% acetic acid solution. These solutions were poured into petri dishes and left at room temperature for film formation. Infrared Spectroscopy has shown that there is interaction between chitosan and LiOAc with and without dispersoid. The peaks are shifted. broadened. split and differs in intensity. The electrical conductivity of all samples was calculated using the bulk resistance value obtained from the complex admittance plot. The highest electrical conductivity …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Lithiated Mixed Metal Oxides For Lithium Ion Rechargeable Batteries, Seng Gee Tan

Student Works (2000-2009)

Lilhiated mixed metal oxides for lithium ion rechargeable batteries were prepared by the sol gel technique. Samples consisting of lithium acetate, nickel nitrate, cobalt nitrate, manganese acetate and aluminium fluoride were characterised using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIRS). Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays (EDAX) w1d Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). Thermal characterization shows that the acetates, nitrates and fluorides of precursors material deform at temperature between 50° to 100°C and the products begin to form at a temperature between 264°C to 271°C. FTIR studies show that the materials must be heated for a longer time …

Sulphide Based Materials As Potential Anodes In Lithium Ion Cells, Azlin Sanusi

Student Works (2000-2009)

Sulphides based compounds PbS and SnS have been studied as possible anode material in lithium ion cell. PbS was prepared by the chemical bath deposition technique and SnS by the double decomposition method. Both samples were characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction technique and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). The room temperature electrical conductivity of PbS is 2.6 x 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and SnS is 5.3 x 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ while at 90°C the electrical conductivity of PbS is 3.3 x 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and SnS is 2.90 x 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ Cyclic voltammetry determined the potential anode ability …

Dynamics Of Pancake Vortices In A Finite Stack Of Superconducting Copper Oxide Layers, Mariam Mustafa Ahmad Al Marzoqi

Theses

The high temperature superconductors are very promising materials in a wide range of applications, starting from the electricity power supply. They play a lifesaving function through imaging systems. Even major internet and communication advances depend on these materials.

Superconductivity in these materials occurs particularly in the copper-oxide planes. However, since these materials are type-II superconductors, magnetic fields can penetrate these materials in quantized amounts of flux called vortices without destroying completely superconductivity, but producing some resistance, due to vortex motion. In order to overcome the resistance problem, vortices must be pinned to prevent their motion and hence eliminate the resistance. …

Localized Corrosion Behaviour Of Molybdenum Bearing And Stabilized Stainless Steels In Saline Media, Hany Mohamed Sabry Ahmed

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Hybridization Of Dna By Sequential Immobilization Of Oligonucleotides At The Air-Water Interface, Murali Sastry, Vidya Ramakrishnan, Mrunalini Pattarkine, Anand Gole, K. N. Ganesh

Faculty Works

The hybridization of DNA by sequential electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding immobilization of single-stranded complementary oligonucleotides at the air-water interface with cationic Langmuir monolayers is demonstrated. The complexation of the single-stranded DNA molecules with octadecylamine (ODA) Langmuir monolayers was followed in time by monitoring the pressure-area isotherms. A large (and slow) expansion of the ODA monolayer was observed during each stage of complexation in the following sequence: primary single-stranded DNA followed by complementary single-stranded DNA followed by the intercalator, ethidium bromide. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of the ODA-DNA complex were formed on different substrates and characterized using quartz-crystal microgravimetry (QCM), Fourier transform infrared …

Electrochemical Hydrogen Storage Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes, Xue Qin, Xue-Ping Gao, Feng Wu, Hong Liu, Ying Lan, Hua-Tang Yuan, De-Ying Song, Pan-Wen Shen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) electrode have been investigated in this paper. The high discharge capacity of 200 mAh·g^-1 was measured for the CNTs Ni electrode at a discharge density of 200 mAh·g^-1 . CNTs-Ni electrode, the high electrochemical activity and the long cycle life were observed. The electrochemical mechanism of hydrogen adsorption and oxidation at the CNTs Ni electrode was studied by cyclic voltammertry method.

A Study Of Monitoring Corrosion Of Metal Via An Optic Waveguide Sensing Method, Xue-Ming Li, Wei-Ming Chen, Shang-Lian Huang, Na Zhang, Zong-Qing Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

An optical wave guide sensing method was proposed for monitoring corrosion of metal in outdoors steel structures. Replacing the cladding of wave-guide with metal film in a particular location, the method takes the metal film as the corrosion sensitive film. The experiment of waveguide sensor was carried out on a 721 colorimetric vessel, with which the soution is held in itself and the light is propagated in its sidewall. A Fe-C alloy film was electroplated onto the inner sied of vessel to form the corrosion sensitive film. The structure of the Fe-C alloy film was studied by XRD, EDX and …

A Study Of The Adsorption Behaviors On The Surface Of Gold Electrode By In-Situ Electrochemical Raman Spectroscopy, Xia-Qin Wu, Xiao-Wei Cao, Zhe-Su Wang, Xiao-Yun Meng, Zong-Rang Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The results of in-situ measurements with Raman spectroelectrochemical thchnique on bare gold electrode and adenine modified gold electrode were reported. The adsorption behaviors of adenine and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and their interactions with gold electrode were analyed. The mechanism of promoted electron transfer process of SOD in the presence of adenine at gold electrode surface is discussed.

Study On Electrodeposition Of Ingaas Thin Film, Yu-Chun Li, Xi-Lian Wang, Jing-Ke Han, Ai-Zhen Han, Yuan-Kai Gao, Zhi-Wei Yang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The principle and the experimental method of the electrodeposition are discribed in detail in this paper. InGaAs thin film was prepared by using optimized electrodeposited conditions. The radiative wave length of the film was between 1.3～1.5 μm, the composition of the film was analyzed by energy spectrometer and the transmission spectrum of the film was measured by spectrophotometer and monochromator. The V-I chractristic of the conductive type and the topography of the In_xGa_1-xAs film were also studied.

Effect Of High Concentration Lithium Bromide Solution On Electrochemical Behavior Of Low Alloy Steel At High Temperature, Jian-Wei Guo, Cheng-Hao Liang

Journal of Electrochemistry

By electrochemical measurements and weight loss experiments, the effect of MoO₄^2- on low alloy steel's electrochemical behaviors was investigated at high temperature in 55%LiBr+0.07 mol/L LiOH solution. The results showed that MoO₄^2-, as an anodic inhibitor, formed passive film rapidly and impeded both anodic and cathodic procedures. Moreover, Na₂MoO₄ prevented corrosion effectively in 55%LiBr+0.07 mol/L LiOH solution when its concentration is more than 200 mg/L. The pitting potential increased accompanying to the arising of Na₂MoO₄ concentration. Some elements of alloy strengthened resistance to corrosion, shch as chromium and nickel, …

The Development Of Carbon Monoxide Tolerant Catalysts For Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Zhong-Jun Hou, Hong-Mei Yu, Bao-Lian Yi, Ming Han

Journal of Electrochemistry

High over-potential of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) anode caused by carbon monnoxide poisoning when reformate or methanol is used as fuel is main obstacle to the high performance of PEMFCs. Using carbon monoxide tolerant catalysts is the most hopeful way to solve the CO problem. The CO poisoning problem is reviewed briefly in this paper, and the development of CO tolerant catalysts is introduced in details, including electrocatalysts activity, preparation method and mechanism of tolerance to CO.Mo and W can improve catalysts' CO tolerance. Multi-component catalysts are expected to be more tolerant to CO.

Studies Of Adsorption And Oxidation Of Ethanol On Nm-Pt/Gc Electrode——I. Cyclic Voltammograms And In-Situ Ftir Spectroscopy In Alkaline Media, Guo-Lian Chen, Shi-Gang Sun, Sheng-Pei Chen, Zhi-You Zhou

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electro-oxidation of ethanol on nm-Pt/GC electrode in alkaline solutions containing 0.02 mol·L^-1 NaOH+0.1 mol·L^-1 CH₃CH₂OH was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy. The experimental results demonstrated that the main product of ethanol oxidation is CH₃COO^-, only very small amount of CH ³CHO has been determined simultaneously. In contrast with the dual path reaction mechanism for the oxidation of ethanol in acid media, the oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media didn't pass through the dissociative adsorption, and no adsorbed species could be determined even using a …

Investigation Of A Complex Lithium Cobalt Nickel Oxide As Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Materials Prepared By A New Citrate Sol-Gel Method, Jing-Li Han, Qing-Guo Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The synthesis and electrochemical characteristics of lithium cobalt nickel oxide as cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries were investigated. It was clarified from these investigations that lithium cobalt nickel oxide has been produced from basic cobalt carbonate,basic nickel carbonate, lithium carbonate, and citrate. LiNi_0.8Co _0.2O₂ prepared under the stream of oxygen gas showed a higher cycling capacity of (～190 mAh·g^-1).

Template Synthesis Of Nano-Structured Electrode Materials And Its Electrochemical Performance, Jian Zhao, Quan-Yong Gao, Yong Yang, Zu-Geng Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

In this letter, various nano structured materials such as spinel LiMn₂O₄ nanotubes/nanowires and carbon nanotubes have been prepared by using porous alumina template. The prepared template and materials have been characterized by AFM and TEM techniques. It is shown that size of the nanotubes can be conveniently controlled by using template method. Some preliminary results of cyclic voltammetry about nano structured LiMn₂O₄ are also reported.

The Study Of Pretreatment For The Determination Of The Conventional Anion In Sea Water By Ic——The Method Of Electrolysing Argentine Electrode, Lei Guo, Wei Yang, Rong-Zong Hu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The method of pretreatment to determine trace amounts of Br^-, NO₃^- and SO₄^2- in sea water by ion chromatography was proposed, by which the electrolysing argentine electrode was used to minimize the disturbance of Cl^-. The results indicate that the method is simple, convenient, quick and efficient with recovery rates over 95 percent.

The Memory Effect Of Mh-Ni Battery, De-Ming Xie, Jian-Ming Wang, Jian-Qing Zhang, Chu-Nan Cao

Journal of Electrochemistry

The memory effect of MH-Ni battery was investigated. The depth of discharge, discharge rate and cycle number influence the memory effect greatly. A few completely full charge/discharge cycles could eliminate it. The existence of the memory effect had nothing to do with zinc element. During the course of life cycling at low DOD (degree of discharge), the smaller the discharge current was, the lower was the maximum charge voltage. In addition, discharge voltage and discharge capacity drop fast at the beginning, gradually leveled off at about a value. If the discharge current was increased, the discharge capacity was obviously less …

Electrochemical Polymerization Of Biphenyl And P-Terphenyl In Organic Solvent, Sheng-Yun Cui

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electro-oxidation of ethanol on nm-Pt/GC electrode in alkaline solutions containing 0.02 mol·L^-1 NaOH+0.1 mol·L^-1 CH₃CH₂OH was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and in-situ FTIR spectroscopy. The experimental results demonstrated that the main product of ethanol oxidation is CH₃COO^-, only very small amount of CH ³CHO has been determined simultaneously. In contrast with the dual path reaction mechanism for the oxidation of ethanol in acid media, the oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media didn't pass through the dissociative adsorption, and no adsorbed species could be determined even using a …

Method For Making A Heavy Wax Composition, Stephen J. Miller, Gerald P. Huffman, Naresh Shah

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

The invention includes a process of making a wax composition including: a process for making a heavy wax composition including the steps of (1) contacting a waste plastics feed containing primarily polyethylene in a pyrolysis zone at sub-atmospheric pressure, whereby at least a portion of the waste plastics feed is cracked, thereby forming a pyrolysis zone effluent including 1-olefins and n-paraffins; and (2) passing the pyrolysis zone effluent to a hydrotreating zone, for contacting with a hydrotreating catalyst at catalytic conditions.

Electrical Conductivity Of Nanocrystalline Ceria And Zirconia Thin Films, Igor Kosacki, Toshio Suzuki, Vladimir Petrovsky, Harlan U. Anderson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The results of studies of the preparation, structure and electrical conductivity of ZrO₂:16% Y and CeO₂ thin films are presented. Dense films with grain size controlled in the region of 1-400 nm have been obtained on monocrystalline sapphire and polycrystalline Al₂O₃ substrates using a polymeric precursor spin coating method. The electrical conductivity of nanocrystalline thin films has been studied as a function of oxygen activity and temperature and correlated with the microstructure. Nanocrystalline specimens are characterized by enhanced electrical conductivity and different stoichiometry compared with microcrystalline material.

Surface Extrapolation Length And Director Structures In Confined Nematics, Nikolai V. Priezjev, Robert A. Pelcovits

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

We report the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the Lebwohl-Lasher model of nematic liquid crystals confined to cylindrical cavities with homeotropic anchoring. We show that the ratio of the bulk to surface couplings is not in general equal to the corresponding parameter K/W used in elastic theory (where K is the Frank elastic constant in the one-constant approximation and W is the surface anchoring strength). By measuring the temperature dependence of K/W (which is equivalent to the surface extrapolation length) we are able to reconcile the results of our simulations as well as others with the predictions of elastic …

High Strain Rate Superplasticity In Microcrystalline And Nanocrystalline Materials, S. X. Mcfadden, A. V. Sergueeva, Rajiv S. Mishra, A. K. Mukherjee

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Superplasticity has evolved to become a significant industrial forming process. The phenomenon of superplasticity is explored at high strain rates where it is economically more attractive. True tensile superplasticity has been demonstrated in nanocrystalline materials. The difference in the details of superplasticity between the nanocrystalline and microcrystalline state is emphasised.

Application Of Tree-Structured Regression For Regional Precipitation Prediction Using General Circulation Model Output, Xiangshang Li, David J. Sailor

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study presents a tree-structured regression (TSR) method to relate daily precipitation with a variety of free-atmosphere variables. Historical data were used to identify distinct weather patterns associated with differing types of precipitation events. Models were developed using 67% of the data for training and the remaining data for model validation. Seasonal models were built for each of 2 US sites: San Francisco, California, and San Antonio, Texas. The average correlation between observed and simulated daily precipitation data series is 0.75 for the training set and 0.68 for the validation set. Relative humidity was found to be the dominant variable …

Membrane-Based Sorbent For Heavy Metal Sequestration, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Leonidas G. Bachas, Lawrence Cullen, Jamie A. Hestekin, Subhas K. Sikdar

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A process is provided for making membrane-based sorbents with enhanced binding activity that are particularly useful for heavy metal sequestration. The process includes the step of selectively hydrolyzing a polyacetylated membrane in order to deacetylated a surface layer of said membrane including the pore surfaces and expose free hydroxyl groups. This is followed by the oxidizing of the hydroxyl groups to aldehyde groups. This is then followed by the attaching of a polycarboxylic acid such as a polyamino acid, polyalkenoic acid or polypeptide to the membrane through the aldehyde groups. Preferably, the hydrolyzing step is completed under alkaline conditions and …

An Exafs Study Of Nanocrystalline Yttrium Stabilized Cubic Zirconia Films And Pure Zirconia Powders, Georgina E. Rush, Alan V. Chadwick, Igor Kosacki, Harlan U. Anderson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Detailed EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy) measurements have been collected for two nanocrystalline forms of zirconia, namely, dense films of yttria-stabilized cubic zirconia (YSZ) and tetragonal phase powders of pure ZrO2. Zr and Y K edge EXAFS spectra for the YSZ films with grain sizes of 6, 15, and 240 nm showed no major differences with the corresponding spectra of the bulk counterpart. This is clear proof that these nanocrystalline films exhibit similar levels of disorder to that of large crystals. In particular, there is no support for the view that the intergrain regions are highly disordered, and …

Cheating: Student Attitudes And Practical Approachs To Dealing With It, Trevor S. Harding

Materials Engineering

The preliminary results of educational research conducted at Kettering University is described in which students in an introductory engineering materials course (MFGE-370) were asked to complete a survey on their perceptions of cheating. The overall objective of the research was to determine those things students believed constituted cheating, the frequency to which they cheat and their attitudes about what steps could be taken to curtail cheating within a course. Practical approaches to effectively dealing with cheating are also discussed including using learning objectives for writing fair tests, promoting group work through cooperative learning teams, holding review sessions before tests and …

The Effects Of Patch Properties On The Debonding Behavior Of Patched Beam-Plates, Anette M. Karlsson

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The debonding characteristics of patched structures are investigated in this study by means of an analytical model. In particular, the effects the lay-up sequence and edge tapering of a carbon-reinforced epoxy patch, as well as the beveling of an aluminum patch, have on the initiation, stability, and extent of the debonding are considered. The results presented show that both the degree of edge-tapering and the patch properties must be carefully selected in order to optimize the patched structure. It is also shown that when designing a patched system, it is important to model the correct boundary and load conditions to …

Evaluation Of Nickel Deposition By Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, M. Holm, Thomas J. O'Keefe

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the deposition of nickel from unbuffered acid sulfate electrolytes, from which a wide range of deposit morphologies and current efficiencies are possible. The operating parameters were in the range of 40 to 60 g L-1 Ni2+, 40 to 60 °C, and the pH from 2.0 to 3.5. The resulting impedance spectra for nickel deposition at 20 mA cm-2 consisted of one or two characteristic loops whose frequency and capacitance were dependent upon the electrowinning conditions and indicative of the resultant deposit morphology. A single high frequency capacitive loop, on the order of 1 …

Effect Of Foreign Object Damage On The Fatigue Strength Of An Xd™ Γ-Tial Alloy, Trevor S. Harding, J. Wayne Jones

Materials Engineering

High cycle fatigue has become the leading cause of failure in gas turbine engine blades in recent years [1]. The majority of these failures were associated with surface damage such as foreign object damage (FOD). Therefore, the ability of a material to resist impact damage and the subsequent fatigue propagation of any cracks that may result has become a crucial design consideration. Substantial research has been conducted on the effects of simulated FOD in conventional turbine blade materials where the formation of cracks at the impact site was not a common occurrence [2, 3 and 4]. However, impacts of more …

Mushy Zone Morphology During Directional Solidification Of Pb-5.8 Wt Pct Sb Alloy, L. Yu, G. L. Ding, J. Reye, S. N. Ojha, Surendra N. Tewari

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

The Pb-5.8 wt pet Sb alloy was directionally solidified with a positive thermal gradient of 140 K cm(-1) at a growth speed ranging from 0.8 to 30 mu m s(-1), and then it was quenched to retain the mushy zone morphology. The morphology of the mushy zone along its entire length has been characterized by using a serial sectioning and three-dimensional image reconstruction technique. Variation in the cellular/dendritic shape factor, hydraulic radius of the interdendritic region, and fraction solid along the mushy zone length has been studied. A comparison with predictions from theoretical models indicates that convection remarkably reduces the …