Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Characterization Of The Corrosion And Oxide Film Properties Of Alloy 600 And Alloy 800, Melissa Faichuk

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The passive film properties of Alloy 600 and Alloy 800, both of which are used as steam generator tubing in CANDU reactors, have been studied using techniques such as polarization scans, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron and Auger spectroscopies. The composition of the oxides formed in a 0.1 M Na₂S₂O₃ solution have been characterized over a wide range of potentials from the pre-passive, through the passive to the transpassive regions. These changes have been correlated to the electrochemical behaviour. A second set of experiments was performed to determine the effectiveness of the surface mechanical …

Development Of Biodegradable And Stimuli-Responsive Macromolescules And Their Assemblies, Ali Nazemi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Polymersomes are potentially multifunctional soft materials constructed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in aqueous medium. While much research has focused on controlling the assembly and encapsulation properties of polymersomes, their surface functionalization has been relatively unexplored. This is important because it plays a critical role in determining their properties such as toxicity and biodistribution behavior. The work described in this thesis involves the development of a biocompatible and biodegradable polymersome systems based on poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polycaprolactone (PEO-PCL) block copolymers with azide surface groups as a novel scaffold for various biomedical applications. The surface functionalization of these polymersomes …

Investigating The Effects Of Radiation On Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquids, Susan Howett

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis presents work on the understanding of the effects of ionizing radiation on phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs). The capability of ILs to dissolve a wide range of molecules, and the potential of ILs to be highly resilient in energy-intensive environments makes them particularly promising media for the separation and sequestration of metal ion contaminants from radioactive waste effluents in nuclear fuel cycles. For this application, a water/IL system will be exposed to a continuous stream of ionizing radiation. The radiation environment will strongly influence the chemical state of the water phase in the system and the chemical parameters affecting …

Solid State Nmr Spectroscopic Studies Of Metal-Organic Frameworks, Peng He

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of novel porous materials with a wide range of chemical applications. Structural characterization is important because understanding the relationship between the properties of these industrially relevant materials and their structures allows one to develop new applications and improve current performance. In this thesis ¹⁷O solid state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy is used to differentiate chemically and, under favorite circumstances, crystallographically nonequivalent oxygens and to follow the phase transitions in MOF-based materials. Several cost-effective approaches were used to prepare ¹⁷O-labelled MOFs. The metal centers of MOFs, including ^47/49Ti, ⁶⁷Zn, ⁹¹Zr, ^{115 …}

In Situ High-Pressure Studies Of Ammonia Borane Derivatives By Vibrational Spectroscopy, Zhihao Yu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Hydrogen has been regarded as a promising candidate to replace the conventional fossil fuel, and thus attracted enormous research efforts. However, hydrogen storage remains to be a big challenge to its practical applications. Consequently, the investigation of suitable hydrogen storage materials has become a highly active research field. Here we reported the first high pressure studies of three promising hydrogen storage materials, N(CH₃)₃BH₃, NH(CH₃)₂BH₃ and NaNH₂BH₃ by Raman and IR spectroscopy.

First, N(CH₃)₃BH₃ was studied at room temperature and pressures up …

Novel Thiophene Supported N,N'-Chelating Ligands And Their Main Group Compounds, Jacquelyn T. Price

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Main group chemistry has advanced from studying fundamental curiosities, including low oxidation state, low-valent, p-block elements to tailoring these unique, reactive species for specific functional applications. This thesis examines the structure, bonding and reactivity of select group 13, 14 and 15 elements supported by N,N'-chelating ligands decorated with either thiophene, benzo[1,2-b:5,6-b']dithiophene or bis(2,5-dimethylthienyl)ethene substituents and allowing for subsequent reactivity and photophysical properties to be determined.

The synthesis of a new diamino ligand containing a thiophene ring in the backbone was used to support a 7-membered phosphenium cation. The 1:1 stoichiometric reaction between the amine:chlorophosphine was dependant on the substitution …

Carbon Nitride And Conjugated Polymer Composite Materials, Josh Byers

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The semiconductor and photovoltaic properties of carbon nitride (CNx) thin films prepared using a reactive magnetron sputtering technique were investigated both individually and as composites with the organic conjugated polymers polybithiophene (PBT) and poly(3-hextlthiophene) (P3HT). At low nitrogen content, the film structure was dominated by graphitic sp² percolation networks, whereas at higher nitrogen contents CNx films started to demonstrate semiconductor properties, as evidenced by the occurrence of photoconductivity and the development of a space charge region. When CNx was deposited onto a PBT substrate, it was found to function as an acceptor material improving the photocurrent generation both in …

Carboxylic Acid Functionalized Butyl Rubber: From Synthesis To Applications, Matthew John Mceachran

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Butyl Rubber (RB) is a copolymer of isobutylene (IB) with small percentages of isoprene (IP). Typically these IP units serve as sites for the covalent cross-linking of the rubber, but they can also serve as sites to further functionalize RB. These modifications can expand the potential applications of RB. This thesis describes the synthesis of carboxylic acid functionalized RB and some properties and applications of these materials.

A Study Of Gamma Radiation Induced Carbon Steel Corrosion, Kevin Daub

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis presents work on the development of a mechanistic understanding of the effect of ionizing radiation on the aqueous corrosion kinetics of carbon steel. Exposed to ionizing radiation, water decomposes into a range of oxidizing (O₂, •OH, HO₂•, H₂O₂) to reducing (•e_aq^–, •O₂^–, •H) species. The production of the redox active species by radiolysis can have a significant effect on the corrosion behaviour of a metal. Of particular interest is the effect of radiolysis on corrosion when the solution environment, such as temperature, pH, and …