Chemistry Commons^™

Uptake And Fate Of Silver And Zinc Engineered Nanoparticles In Maize Under Single And Binary Dosing Soil Ecosystems, Lei Xu, Qingbo Yang, Xingmao Ma, Honglan Shi, John Yang, Hu Yang, Samira Mahdi, Ying Wang, Young Shin Jun

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent agricultural applications of engineered metallic nanoparticles (ENPs) have raised concerns about their uptake and fate in plants. To understand this critical issue, this study investigated the fate and uptake of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) ENPs in maize (Zea mays L.) after single or binary ENP exposure in soil. Results indicated that both Zn and Ag elemental concentrations in roots increased with increasing ENP dosage. Ag NPs in the tissues were detected, but not Zn NPs. Ag NP concentration was 3 times higher in the roots than in the shoots at low Ag NP dosing, while Ag NP …

Techno-Enviro-Economic Analysis Of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Production From Carbon Dioxide In Cement Industry Flue Gas And Calcium Hydroxide, Natalia Debora Panggabean, Widodo Wahyu Purwanto

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

CCUS is a technological solution to reduce emissions from the cement industry, which is the second largest CO2-intensive industry. This study aims to analyze technical, economic, and environmental performance of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) synthesis in cement industry flue gas. The process simulation includes the CO2 capture system from cement plant, CO2 captured used as feedstock for PCC synthesis process through its reaction with calcium hydroxide. The simulation was carried out using ASPEN Plus software. Technical analysis was performed to determine the CO2 capture efficiency and PCC synthesis efficiency. Economic analysis was conducted to calculate CO2 capture cost and production …

Feasibility Analysis Of Thermal Oxidizer To Determine Remaining Life Using Fitness- For-Service Level 3 Method, Yudhi Yudistirawan, Donanta Dhaneswara, Wahyuaji Narottama Putra, Gama Widyaputra, Dewi Kurnia Suci, Agung Putra Mahardhika

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

An aged thermal oxidizer (TOX) in the oil and gas industry necessitates a comprehensive evaluation to ensure its continued safe operation. This study presents a Remaining Life Assessment (RLA) and a Fitness for Service (FFS) evaluation for the four main components of the TOX, in accordance with API 510, API 579/ASME FFS-1, and ASME BPVC Section VIII Div-1 standards. The investigation includes the determination of maximum stress and maximum temperature required to assess the operational viability of the reactor. The four components are radiant, convection, transition, and stack sections—were modeled using the finite element method (FEM). Following the geometric modeling, …

Assessing Passenger Electric Vehicle Growth Strategies And Their Impacts On Electricity Demand Load And Co2 Emissions In Aceh Province To Achieve Net Zero Emission Target By 2060, Taufik Hidayat, Widodo Wahyu Purwanto

Journal of Materials Exploration and Findings

The electrification of the transport sector is a crucial pathway for achieving Indonesia’s Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target by 2060. This study assesses the potential impact of passenger electric vehicle (EV) penetration on electricity demand and CO2 emissions in Aceh Province through a scenario-based modelling approach. Two policy-aligned scenarios are assessed: a low-penetration (LP) scenario and a high-penetration (HP) scenario. Using the Gompertz model and the ASIF framework, total CO2 emissions were projected from 2020 to 2060. Results show that although higher EV penetration reduces direct emissions from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, total CO2 emissions increase more significantly under …

Understanding The Binding Of Nickel(Ii) Bromide To A Zirconium Metal-Organic Cage For Heterogeneous Catalysis, Luci Green

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Heterogeneous catalysts offer inherent advantages in improving the sustainability of industrial chemical processes. Their high ease of separation and recyclability has the potential to reduce the cost, waste, and energy consumption of processes that currently rely on homogeneous catalysts. Metal–organic cages (MOCs) are an attractive material for heterogeneous catalysis due to their discrete and highly tunable structures, which can be functionalized by binding these complexes with catalytically active metals. The specific objective of this study is to provide preliminary insight into the binding of nickel(II) bromide (NiBr₂) to zirconium MOCs, which was done by studying the binding of …

Dendrimer Nanogels With Built-In Free Radical Scavenging Enable Efficient Topical Delivery Of A Hydrophilic Antioxidant To Restore Lens Redox Balance For Cataract Treatment, Lin Qi, Huari Kou, Anna Chernatynskaya, Da Huang, Vimalin Jeyalatha Mani, Humeyra Karacal, Nuran Ercal, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cataract is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide and are primarily caused by oxidative stress that damages and aggregates lens proteins, leading to lens opacification. However, the eye's anatomical barriers limit the penetration and bioavailability of antioxidant therapies. To address this challenge, a dendrimer-based nanogel with a built-in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capability developed by us was employed to deliver the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to the lens. NAC was loaded into a generation-5 PEGylated poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G5-PEG-TK, termed the GPT) nanogel. The resulting NAC-GPT was characterized for its ROS-scavenging activity, bioavailability, and corneal permeability. The efficacy of NAC-GPT was …

Biocrude From Organic Waste And Its Conversion To Hard Carbon: Experimental And Modeling Study, Isamu Umeda

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This study establishes a technical and theoretical foundation for the efficient conversion of organic waste into biocrude and high-value carbon materials, aiming to facilitate the industrialization of hydrothermal and solvothermal liquefaction. The dissertation research is structured as follows:

Chapter 2 developed a novel chemical kinetic model for the HTL of corn stover based on elemental balances (C, H, N, and O). By incorporating temperature, residence time, solid loading as an independent variable, the model successfully predicted product yields and properties, revealing that there was non-pseudo-first-order reaction pathways in the conversion of water soluble organics in aqueous phase (AP) to hydrochar. …

Axial Sulfur-Coordination Engineering Boosting Fe–N–C Catalysts For High-Performance Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Lin Lin, Xiu-Xuan Hou, Zhe-Chen Fan, Yi-Xuan Yin, Wei-Yi Zhao, Kai Wei, Yu-Die Zhou, Li-Na Hou, Ying Wang, Hao Wan, Jun-Jie Ge

Journal of Electrochemistry

Fe-N-C catalysts have long suffered from kinetically sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to excessive adsorption strength toward oxygen intermediates and low site utilization. Heteroatom doping effectively accelerates ORR reaction kinetics through electronic structure modulation of metal sites for optimal intermediate adsorption, while chemical vapor deposition (CVD) enhances the turnover frequency (TOF) of active sites. Herein, we developed an FeSNC catalyst featuring abundant FeS₁N₄ sites via a dual-precursor CVD strategy. Experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that S incorporation disrupts the symmetric coordination of active sites, which optimizes OH* adsorption energies from 0.212 eV to 1.194 eV. Moreover, …

Entropy Of Metal/Solution Interfaces: Thermodynamic Framework, Theoretical Models, And Roles Of Interfacial Water, Zeng-Ming Zhang, Zi-Xi Liang, Jun Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Entropy is a basic thermodynamic property of the electrical double layer (EDL) at metal/solution interfaces, yet, its definition, measurement, and theoretical treatment are dispersed in the literature, and, in some cases, ambiguous. In this paper, we revisit the thermodynamic theory of EDL, from which two variants of entropy, excess entropy and formation entropy, are obtained and compared. In terms of the formation entropy, two calculation routes are validated in the context of a primitive EDL model, namely, the Gouy-Chapman (GC) model. After clarifying the concepts and calculation routes, we investigate interfacial water effects on the EDL entropy, using a refined …

Physical And Chemical Study Of Interaction In The Urea–Valine System For The Creation Of Modified Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizers, Suvonkul Erkhanovich Nurmonov, Saydullo Khamidovich Azimov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This study reports the results of a comprehensive physicochemical investigation of the urea–L-valine binary system, conducted to validate its potential as a modified base for liquid nitrogen fertilizers.

By utilizing the methods of isomolar series, visual-polythermal analysis, X-ray phase (XRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), synchronous thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), and FT-IR spectroscopy, it was determined that the interaction between components in both aqueous solutions and the solid phase results in the formation of molecular associates stabilized by hydrogen bonds, without the formation of new stoichiometric compounds.

The concentration and temperature limits of the system's stability were defined, revealing a reduction …

Triphenylmethane-Derived Levelers For High-Speed Redistribution Layer Copper Electroplating Of Tailored Surface Morphologies, Zi-Hao Song, Wei-Bin Wang, Xiao-Hui Liu, Xiao-Min Han, Yi Zhou, Rui Huang, Yan-Xia Jiang, Zhe Li, Xiao-Wei Liu, Mei-Ling Xiao, Hong-Gang Liao, Wei-Lin Xu, Rong Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

Redistribution Layer (RDL), composed of layered dielectrics and electroplated copper materials, is a basic structure to rearrange numerous I/O pads on the chip surface in wafer-level advanced packaging. As the key chemicals in electrolyte baths, electroplating additives have undergone continuous development to meet the industrial needs for high-speed and fine-line/fine-pitch applications. Meanwhile, the intricate relationships between additive chemical structures and electroplated copper properties are yet to be well understood. In this work, a pair of triphenylmethane-based dye molecules, i.e., gentian violet (GV) and methyl green (MG), was comparatively investigated as levelers for high-speed RDL copper electroplating. Compared to GV, significantly …

Current Research Progress On Electrode Materials For All-Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries, Wen-Qi Wang, Jie Jin, Li-Min Wang, Xin-Yue Liu, Tao Cheng, Yong Hou, Han Xue, Zhi-Yu Wang, Bo Liu, Jia-Bao Liu, Xu-Bin Lu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The redox active species in all-vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) reside in the electrolyte, while the heterogeneous reactions occur on the electrode surface; the electrode is therefore the decisive platform for dynamic adsorption, electron transfer, and ion conversion, especially for the VO²⁺/VO₂⁺ and V²⁺/V³⁺ couples. One of the major challenges for VRFBs is the slow charge transfer in VO²⁺/VO₂⁺ and V²⁺/V³⁺ reactions, mainly caused by poor catalytic performance of electrodes and weak adhesion of catalysts to electrodes. This review focuses on the key challenges and recent …

An Electrochemiluminescence-Based Arsenic (Iii) Sensor Using Luminol On Screen-Printed Gold Electrodes, Harmesa Harmesa, Isnaini Rahmawati, Andrea Fiorani, Yasuaki Einaga, Eny Kusrini, A’An Johan Wahyudi, Asep Saefumillah, Tribidasari A Ivandini

Journal of Electrochemistry

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol has been studied on a screen-printed gold electrode for a simple and sensitive detection of arsenic ions (As(III)). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was applied as the proposed technique to study luminol’s electrochemical behavior and to evaluate the arsenic’s effect in the ECL system, while hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) served as a co-reactant to enhance luminol’s light emission under alkaline conditions. To achieve optimal electrode performance, key parameters including pH, scan rate, and the concentrations of H₂O₂ and luminol were carefully optimized. The presence of As(III) induced a quenching effect on the …

Control Of Pore Nucleation And Rearrangement Kinetics During Aluminium Anodizing In Phosphoric Acid Electrolyte, Ilya V. Roslyakov, Nikita A. Shirin, Dmitry M. Tsymbarenko, Sergei N. Pavlov, Sergey E. Kushnir, Nikolay V. Lyskov, Kirill S. Napolskii

Journal of Electrochemistry

Anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) porous films with an interpore distance of several hundred nanometers are of great interest due to their unique interaction with visible and near-infrared light, and high thermal stability up to 1500 °C. These porous films are prepared by aluminium anodizing at high voltages in weak acids, leading to a slow kinetics of initial stages of porous structure formation. Here, we propose an approach to accelerate AAO formation in electrolytes based on weak acids such as phosphoric acid. Aluminium foils, pre-patterned using first anodizing under different conditions and subsequent selective dissolution of a sacrificial AAO layer, were …

Hybrid Data-Driven Cement-Stabilized Soil Design: An Integration Of Machine Learning, Multi-Objective Optimization, And Life Cycle Assessment, Chikezie Chimere Onyekwena, Yunli Li, Ikenna J. Okeke, Ubani Obinna Uzodimma, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo, Wenping Wu

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Soil stabilization is crucial in geotechnical engineering, yet conventional methods are often time-consuming, resource-intensive, and environmentally unsustainable. Despite growing interest in Machine Learning (ML) and optimization tools for mix design, few studies integrate these methods with decision-making techniques and environmental assessment to support practical implementation. This study proposes a hybrid data-driven framework for predicting strength, optimizing mix compositions, and evaluating environmental impacts via life cycle assessment of cement-stabilized soft soils. Six ML models were evaluated, and the top-performing eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model was further improved using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The optimized XGB-GWO model, integrated with a polynomial …

Performance And Mechanistic Insights Into Cement Systems Modified With Wastewater-Recovered Struvite, Ugochukwu Ewuzie, Rupack R. Halder, Abdulkareem O. Yusuf, Abiodun A. Saka, Godwin I. Ogbuehi, Titus C. Egbosiuba, Damilola A. Daramola, Monday Uchenna Okoronkwo

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Struvite, the stable hydration product and primary strength phase in magnesium ammonium phosphate cement (MAPC), derived from wastewater treatment, has recently been utilized as a sustainable additive to Portland cement (PC). However, its impacts on cement hydration kinetics, pore refinement, rheology, and the mechanisms underlying these processes have not been comprehensively studied. This study developed Portland cement-struvite (PCS) systems by replacing PC with 3–20 % struvite (ST wt.%: PCS3–PCS20) and evaluated these processes using isothermal calorimetry, 3D micro-computed tomography (μXCT), time-dependent rheometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the Krstulović-Dabić (K-D) model. The FTIR/XRD confirmed the coexistence …

Carbon Supported Octahedral Ptni Nanoparticles (Oct-Ptni/C) As A Cathode Catalyst For Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (Pemfcs) With Improved Activity And Durability, Zi-Wei Feng, Hai-Zhong Chen, Xiao Duan, Ling Tang, Yun-Kun Zhao, Long Huang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are considered as a promising renewable power source. However, the massive commercial application of PEMFCs has been greatly hindered by their high expense and less-satisfied performance mainly due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics even on state-of-the-art Pt catalyst. Octahedral PtNi nanoparticles (oct-PtNi NPs) with excellent ORR activity in a half-cell have been widely studied, while their performance in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has much less reported. Herein, we investigated the MEA performance using the carbon supported oct-PtNi NPs (oct-PtNi/C) as the cathode catalyst. Under the mild acid washing condition, the surface …

Development Status And Existing Problems Of Ion-Solvation Membranes For Electrolysis Of Water, Zheng-Yuan Zhou, Yu-Tao Sun, Zheng-Bang Liu, Chuan-Zheng Wang, Yong-Nan Zhou, Xi Luo, Tian-Chi Zhou, Jin-Li Qiao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Ion-solvaing membranes (ISMs) have received extensive attention in recent years as a key component in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. This article provides an overview of structural composition, performance advantages, research progress, ion conduction mechanism and existing issues of ISMs, primarily classifying them according to the matrix structure. A detailed analysis of performance enhancement methods, key performance indicators of ISMs and performance influencing factors is also presented. The article contributes to further optimizing the design and application of ion-solvation membranes, providing theoretical support for the development of fields such as hydrogen production through electrolysis of water and electrochemical energy …

The Ntp Anode For Aqueous Sodium Ion Batteries: Recent Advances And Future Perspectives, Ming-Li Wang, Xue-Ying Su, Zheng-Xiang Shan, Shu-Zhe Yang, Heng-Rui Guo, Hao Luo, Dong-Liang Chao

Journal of Electrochemistry

Aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs) have attracted great attention in aqueous batteries due to their merit of high safety. However, the constrained work potential and insufficient chemical stability of anode materials in aqueous electrolytes hinder the large-scale application of ASIBs. Sodium titanium phosphate, NaTi₂(PO₄)₃ (NTP), is considered one of the most promising anode materials for ASIBs due to its excellent electrochemical performance and tunable structure. Recently, great achievements have been made in the development of NTP, however, a comprehensive review of existing studies is still lacking. This article firstly introduces the basic properties of NTP and …

Iron-Involved Orr Electrocatalysts Under The Lens Of In-Situ/Operando Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Sumbal Farid, Jun-Hu Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Exploring cost-effective and efficient catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) poses a significant challenge, especially in the pursuit of alternatives to precious metals like platinum. Significant advancements have driven electrochemists to develop efficient ORR catalysts using abundant materials, particularly iron (Fe)-based, known for their exceptional performance in ORR. While the crucial function of Fe in boosting ORR catalytic activity is recognized, the connection between material attributes and catalytic performance remains enigmatic. Understanding the dynamic processes involved in oxygen electrocatalysis is paramount for designing precious-metals-free ORR electrocatalysts. Mössbauer spectroscopy stands out as a powerful technique for deciphering the structural characteristics of …

Applications For The Quasi-Atomic Orbital And Constrained Density Functional Theory Methods On Catalytic Reactions, Alvaro David Loaiza Orduz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Selective activation of C–O, C–H, and C–C bonds underpins biomass upgrading, alkane functionalization, and CO₂ conversion. Despite their importance, the electronic factors governing catalytic performance remain incompletely understood, and many industrial processes still rely on empirical trends or material-specific observations. This dissertation addresses this gap by applying density functional theory (DFT), thermodynamic decomposition, and electronic-structure analysis to identify unifying principles of reactivity across transition-metal phosphides, vanadate oxides, copper-based electrocatalysts, and mixed IrO₂–RuO₂ layers. This work examines how charge transfer, orbital localization, and ligand-induced perturbations control reaction pathways in diverse catalytic systems. C–O bond scission in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) and methanol was …

Effect Of Ionic Strength On Gelation Time And Strength Of Amps-Based Polymer Gels, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi, Xuyang Tian, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman, Yin Zhang, Mingzhen Wei

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polymer gel treatment has been widely applied for improving sweep efficiency and controlling excessive water and gas production. Their performance depends on gelation time and final gel strength. In most studies, brine salinity is used to describe the effect of formation water on gel behavior. However, changing salinity also changes ionic strength and ion composition at the same time. Because of this coupling, it is difficult to identify the mechanisms controlling gelation, which has led to inconsistent trends in the literature. Increasing salinity has been reported to either slow or accelerate gelation and to weaken or strengthen gels depending on …

Evaluation Of A Novel Re-Crosslinkable Preformed Particle Gel For Conformance Control In Ultra-High Temperature Reservoirs, Yanbo Liu, Tao Song, Caleb Kwasi Darko, Thomas P. Schuman, Mingzhen Wei, Baojun Bai

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preferential fluid flow remains a major challenge in subsurface energy production and gas storage operations, resulting in excessive water production in mature oil fields, reduced heat extraction in geothermal reservoirs, and low sweep and storage efficiency in CO₂-EOR projects. Polymer gels are widely used to mitigate high-permeability channels; however, conventional systems exhibit limited plugging efficiency and short lifetimes in ultra-high-temperature reservoirs due to poor thermal stability. This study presents a novel ultra-high-temperature-resistant preformed particle gel (UHT-PPG) developed for conformance control in reservoirs with temperatures of 150–275 °C and severe super-K or channeling problems. The material was evaluated in …

Evaluation Of Chromium-Crosslinked Amps-Hpam Copolymer Gels: Effects Of Key Parameters On Gelation Time And Strength, Maryam Sharifi Paroushi, Baojun Bai, Thomas P. Schuman, Yin Zhang, Mingzhen Wei

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Controlling CO₂ channeling in heterogeneous reservoirs remains a major challenge for both enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and secure geological storage. AMPS-HPAM copolymers exhibit high-temperature resistance and brine tolerance compared with conventional HPAM gels, making them well suited for the harsh environments associated with CO₂ injection. Chromium-based crosslinkers (CrAc and CrCl₃) were investigated because sulfonic acid groups in AMPS can coordinate with trivalent chromium ions, enabling dual ionic crosslinking and the formation of a robust gel network. While organic crosslinked AMPS-HPAM gels have been widely studied, the behavior of chromium-crosslinked AMPS-containing systems, particularly their gelation kinetics under …

Feasibility Of Upcycling Spent Lithium-Ion Battery To Carbon Dioxide Capture Adsorbent, Chimezie Frank Onwudinjo

Master’s Theses

This study investigates the feasibility of repurposing spent lithium-ion battery (SLIB) to lithium orthosilicate (Li₄SiO₄), a high temperature carbon dioxide sorbent. Two synthesis pathways including conventional acid-leaching method (Scenario 1) and a pyrolysis-based route (Scenario 2) were explored. Additionally, techno-economic analysis (TEA) and lifecycle assessment (LCA) of the two processes were also performed. Different analytical characterization techniques were performed to understand the material properties of Li₄SiO₄ including surface area, crystallinity, morphology and thermal stability. CO₂ capture performance of the synthesized Li₄SiO₄ was tested in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) using …

Novel Methods For Environmental Fluoride Measurement, Cable Warren

Chemistry & Biochemistry Dissertations

Fluoride analysis has been an important focus of analytical analysis for many years and will continue to be so going forward. Today, fluorinated compounds, specifically per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as “forever chemicals” have captured the moment and are the subject of vast research and regulation. Under this context, I have researched new methods of fluoride separation and concentration in complex media as well as a novel method of PFAS destruction and total organic fluorine analysis for screening of PFAS in aqueous samples. Through research and work on micro-scale detection methods, an understanding of the state of the art and …

Computer-Aided Molecular Design To Identify More Environmentally Friendly Pfas, Melvin M. Keita

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of this project is to inversely design alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using Computer-Aided Molecular Design (CAMD). PFAS, also described as “forever chemicals”, have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in drinking water, food, food packaging, waste sites, and other sources. Exposure to different PFAS can lead to increased risks of some cancers, immune effects, and reproductive effects. Pulling from existing data, this project will use quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) to design PFAS alternatives that possess optimal properties to prevent adsorption into drinking water and other potential sources …

Nanostructured Cathode Catalysts For Aem Electrolysis: From Catalyst Design To Degradation And Hydrogen Dynamics, Yamini Kumaran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) presents a promising pathway toward cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production by integrating the chemical robustness of alkaline systems with the compact, zero-gap design of proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. However, the widespread implementation of AEMWE is limited by the availability of highly active and durable platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts and by an incomplete understanding of their degradation behavior under realistic operating conditions.

This dissertation focuses on the development, characterization, and mechanistic investigation of nanostructured MoNi₄–MoO₂-based electrodes for efficient and stable hydrogen generation under alkaline and membrane-integrated environments. MoNi₄–MoO₂ nanorods …

Utilizing Coal For Mesophase Pitch-Based Carbon Fiber Production: Precursors, Processes, And Progress, Christina M. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Graphitic materials possess unique properties due to the unique combination of layered crystalline structure and carbon’s low atomic weight. High performance carbon fiber is one such example, displaying exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, stiffness, and thermal and chemical resistance. These properties render high performance carbon fiber a critical structural reinforcement material in the manufacture of composites across various industries, such as for automotive and aerospace applications. However, balancing fiber performance with precursor and processing costs remains a challenge. As alternative carbonaceous feedstocks are explored, coal has gained interest for utilization in graphitic products as a relatively abundant and low-cost source of aromatic …

De Novo Protein Binding To Zinc Oxide Through Biomineralization Pathways, Jean-Mark A. Francis

Theses and Dissertations

De novo proteins are structurally distinct from proteins found in nature and thus capable of having their amino acid sequence modified to accomplish tasks such as increasing protein-nanoparticle binding without unfolding or decomposing. Zinc Oxide nanoparticles are functionally distinct from their bulk counterparts and are widely used as semiconductors in a variety of fields such as medicine and agriculture. With demand for these nanoparticles increasing, environmentally sustainable methods of Zinc Oxide nanoparticle synthesis are being investigated as an eco-friendly alternative to currently utilized but environmentally hazardous chemical and physical techniques. This research investigates the binding characteristics between Zinc Oxide nanoparticles …