Inorganic Chemistry Commons^™

The Chemistry Of Red Lipstick: The Impact Red Lipstick Has On Society, Lilliana Weldeslassie

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Cosmetic chemistry is deeply embedded in everyday life, shaping the products people use from morning to night. Among these, red lipstick stands out as a formulation that blends complex chemistry with a cultural meaning. This thesis examines the scientific foundations of red lipstick through its chemical composition, pigment structure, toxicological history, analytical methods, and evolving sustainability practices. Historically, red lipsticks relied on high-risk ingredients such as lead, mercury, and other toxic metals, reflecting an era before chemical safety and regulatory oversight were incorporated.²¹ Modern formulations have established safer synthetic dyes, natural waxes, plant-based oils, and stabilizers created to optimize …

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 …

Corannulene: Optimized Synthesis And Four-Fold Reduction, Guy Rozenman

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Corannulene is a bowl-shaped π-conjugated fragment of the ball-shaped C₆₀-fullerene that undergoes stepwise multielectron reduction and can accept four electrons to form the aromatic tetraanion, C₂₀H₁₀⁴⁻. Prior literature has established this charge state in donor-solvated alkali-metal assemblies: early solution studies identified the formation of the tetraanion under lithium reduction in THF, and later X-ray diffraction crystallography demonstrated a triple-decker lithium sandwich in which two corannulene tetraanion decks encapsulate five Li⁺ ions. The central objective of this thesis is to determine whether the corannulene tetraanion can instead be isolated as a bulk solvent-free alkali-metal salt containing only corannulene and …

Raw Data For Violations Of Coordination: Exploring Metastable Diborides For Energy Storage, Michael Yeung

Chemistry Department Faculty Scholarship

The ideal aeronautical solid-state fuel should possess a high density (more thrust per Newton’s Third Law), high gravimetric heat of combustion (more energy for less weight), and a high volumetric heat of combustion (more room for mission-critical items). In this work, manganese diboride (MnB2) demonstrates a high density of 5.3 g/cm3, a high gravimetric heat of combustion of 38.30 kJ/g, and the highest volumetric heat of combustion of any known fuel of 202.99 kJ /cm3. When compared to the currently used fuel in Space Shuttle rocket boosters and the Space Launch System, aluminum metal, MnB2 represents a 100% increase in …

Raw Data For Tailoring High Entropy Borides For Hydrogenation: The Influence Of Crystal Morphology And The Exploration Of Catalytic Pathways, Michael Yeung, Ting Wang

Chemistry Department Faculty Scholarship

The high entropy boride (HEB) Al0.2Nb0.2Pt0.2Ta0.2Ti0.2B2, with its unique crystal structure and high coordination (platinum coordinated to 12 borons), has been shown in our previous work to exhibit exceptional catalytic properties, especially in sulfur-rich environments, where traditional platinum catalysts would succumb to sulfur-poisoning. In this work, we investigate the mechanism of the HEB catalyst, first by comparing the synthesis by flux growth, as previously reported, to an arc melted preparation. It is evident that the aluminum flux growth synthesis encourages the growth of single crystals, with clear and defined crystal facets, whereas the arc melted sample results in poorly defined …

Raw Data For High Entropy Stabilized Platinum Diborides For Poison-Resistant Catalysis, Michael Yeung, Ting Wang

Chemistry Department Faculty Scholarship

Raw data for the publication High-Entropy-Stabilized Platinum Diborides for Poison-Resistant Catalysis including Powder X-ray Diffraction and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance data.

Abstract for publication:

Alloying and solid-solution formation is a powerful technique that enhances and adds properties through elemental mixing, but unfortunately, some elements simply cannot mix as their chemical nature prevents a thermodynamically stable structure. For example, the inherent nobility of platinum group metals does not favor bond formation and precludes their incorporation into higher (boron-rich) metal borides. Here, we demonstrate that when using five or more constituents, the higher mixing entropy will overcome these chemical limitations and form a …

Chemical Reduction Of Curved Molecular Nanographenes: Metal Intercalation And Core Transformation, Yikun Zhu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The promising lithium storage capacity and fast charge transport rate make graphene a great candidate for energy storage applications. However, the harsh synthetic conditions lead to uneven size distribution and poor solubility, posing limitations on further applications and modifications of graphene and its derivatives. Molecular nanographenes, as graphene cutouts, possess outstanding chemical and physical properties stemming from their parent graphene but also demonstrate such unique features as controllable synthetic conditions, defined molecular structures, uniform size, and relatively good solubility. The improved solubility enables the use of solution chemistry methods for design modifications of molecular nanographenes and for systematical investigation of …

Molecular-Level Design Of Heterometallic Precursors For Rechargeable Battery Cathode Materials, Yuxuan Zhang

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The synthetic methods for rechargeable battery cathodes are rapidly evolving along with the continuous advancement of the materials themselves. Utilizing precursors for the synthesis of Li- and Na-ion cathode materials are known to ensure a phase-pure product with isotropic element distribution, thereby further enhancing the electrochemical properties of the cathode material. As more cathode materials with complex compositions continue to emerge, the strategies for designing the corresponding precursors are also getting diversified. One of the most promising directions is the employment of single-source precursors (SSPs), defined as molecules that contain all necessary elements in the proper ratio and decomposable under …

First Homoleptic Rare Rarth Metal Complexes With Doubly-Reduced Dibenzocyclooctatetraene, James C. Mahoney

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A set of novel complexes of rare earth elements, M(III) = Y, La, Gd, Tb, and Dy, with the doubly-reduced dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene (DBCOT) anion has been synthesized and crystallographically characterized for the first time. Preparation of new complexes has been accomplished through the ligand-metathesis reaction of M(III) triiodides with K2(DBCOT) in THF at ambient conditions. Subsequent crystallization via slow solvent evaporation afforded single crystals of good quality. X-ray diffraction technique confirmed that all complexes are isomorphous and conform to the [M(DBCOT)(THF)4][M(DBCOT)2] composition. In their crystal structures, the monoanionic double-decker sandwiches, [M(DBCOT)2], weakly interact with the cationic counterparts, [M(DBCOT)(THF)4]+. In both parts, …

Mixed-Valent Heterometallic Molecular Precursors : Expansion Into 4d Transition Metals, Jesse Caleb Carozza

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Hydrogen fuel can provide an ideal carbon-free energy carrier wherever water is available, be that on Earth or throughout the solar system. The use of water electrolysis to split water molecules into contaminant-free hydrogen gas, suitable for use in fuel cells, and oxygen gas allows also for storage of excess electrical energy during periods of high production and low demand, and an easy path to release that stored energy when demand is high and active supply is low. However, liberating hydrogen from water is an energy-intensive process, and effective electrocatalysts that reduce the amount of energy wasted by the reaction …

Synthesis And Adsorption Experiments With Metal-Organic Frameworks For High School And Undergraduate Laboratory Settings, Kate Holley

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Seven experiments are described and outlined here that introduce high school and undergraduate students to metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their applications. The experiments were designed to be completed with basic laboratory equipment and supplies and without the use of expensive characterization instruments, simulating typical high school chemistry laboratory conditions. Students synthesized two well-known MOFs, HKUST-1 and aluminum fumarate, using simple, safe, and rapid methods (fast enough to be performed within the time constrains of a typical high school class). Students then use their synthesized MOFs to explore their inherent sorption properties. In one set of experiments, the synthesized MOFs are …

Chemical Reduction Of Polycyclic Aromatic Ligands With Heavy Group 2 Metals, Andrew Robert Uresk

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The chemistry of the alkaline earth metals has received a renewed interest in the last decades. The lighter Group 2 metal, magnesium, has gathered the most attention, as it is a key component of Grignard reagents, while the heavier metals have been less studied. The early alkaline earth metals are known to exhibit some similarity with both the alkali and lanthanide metals in π-complexation reactions with planar aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, the products of heavier Group 2 elements such as strontium and barium were found to be more difficult to synthesize and isolate, thus requiring the development of new synthetic …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Mpims : Metallopolymers Of Intrinsic Microporosity, Kelly Walter

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are class of polymers known for high surface areas arising from their contorted and rigid backbone structures. While high surface area compounds are applicable in many fields, simultaneous solubility and conductivity in PIMs is still lacking. In general, the monomeric units that form the backbone, necessary to yield inefficient polymer strand packing and contortion, also break conjugation in the along the polymer backbone and therefore limit conductivity. It has been previously noted that extended conjugation and the addition of metal atoms (along the backbone) increases conductivity. We therefore sought to use a strategy whereby the …

A Family Of Cyclooctatetraenyl Lanthanide(Iii) Chloridebridged Dimers : Synthesis, Characterization, And Magnetic Properties, Joshua Sky Greenough

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Historically, the 10π-aromatic ligand, cyclooctatetraene (COT), has played a pivotal role

Exploring Heterometallic Beta-Diketonates For The Low Temperature Synthesis Of Energy-Related Oxide And Fluoride Materials, Matthew Christopher Barry

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In order to circumvent the issues associated with traditional ceramic methods such as

Chemical Reduction Of Planar And Curved Polyarenes : From Group I To Group Ii Metals, Natalie Jean O'Neil

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

To further advance energy storage materials research, the structural studies of carbonaceous compounds intercalated with alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are of great interest and importance. Structure-property relationships of electrode and superconductive materials can be better understood with the gained fundamental knowledge stemming from a synergistic use of solid state and solution studies. Due to the polymeric structures and insolubility in common solvent of intercalated carbonaceous materials, studies of structures and properties must be conducted on smaller subunits. Planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can serve as models for the infinite π-carbon layers of graphite or graphene, while nonplanar PAHs …

Homo- And Heterometallic Bis(Pentafluorobenzoyl)Methanide Complexes Of Copper(Ii) And Cobalt(Ii), Janell Crowder

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

β-Diketones are well known to form metal complexes with practically every known metal and metalloid. Metal complexes of fluorinated β-diketones generally exhibit increased volatility and thermal stability compared to the non-fluorinated analogues, and thus are used extensively in various chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes for the deposition of metal, simple or mixed metal oxides, and fluorine-doped metal oxide thin films. Furthermore, the electron-withdrawing nature of the fluorinated ligand enhances the Lewis acidity of a coordinatively unsaturated metal center which facilitates additional coordination reactions. The physical and structural properties of fluorinated β-diketonate complexes are discussed in Chapter 1 …

Mixed Ligand Approach To Design Heterometallic Single-Source Precursors For Low-Temperature Preparation Of Oxide Materials, Craig Matthew Lieberman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

There is a considerable interest in the use of metal oxides for development of novel high-technological materials such as gas sensors, multiferroics, and electrocatalysts. In particular, the design of complex oxides, which incorporate more than one type of metal atom, is focused on enriching chemical and physical properties of the target materials and allowing for increased functionality. In order to replace the harsh conditions associated with traditional synthetic routes that often require high temperatures and/or pressures, new soft chemistry methods for the preparation of mixed-metal oxide materials have been developed. One of the most promising directions is the emergence of …

Developing Dimetal Paddlewheel Complexes For Catalytic Applications, Margaret E. Napier

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Although there are countless examples of rhodium-catalyzed organic reactions in the chemical literature, the field continues to develop at a steady pace, as focus shifts taking advantage of economy of resources while maintaining efficiency of the catalytic reactions. The work presented is separated into three chapters, with each describing a specific approach to the development of new materials which can provide either a direct economy of resources and reagents or can be used for heterogenization of catalytic systems.

Heterometallic Beta-Diketonates And Oxo-Diketonates As Single Source Precursors For The Synthesis Of Oxide Materials, Haitao Zhang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The focus of this investigation was to develop a simple, high-yield synthetic approach to heterometallic diketonates using the same construction principles as for their polynuclear homometallic analogs. Several low-temperature solid-state synthetic routes were suggested that appear to be general for the preparation of heterometallic diketonates incorporating a wide range of s-, p-, d-, and f-metals. Using this investigative approach, two families of bimetallic homoleptic diketonates that contain heavy main group (BiIII, PbII) and the first row divalent transition metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) have been obtained. The heterometallic molecules that are held together by strong Lewis acid-base …

Bowl-Shaped Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (Buckybowls) : Crystal Packing And Metal Binding Reactions, Alexander S. Filatov

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This work is a part of a broad program in our laboratory dedicated to the investigation of a new class of non-planar polyaromatic hydrocarbons that map onto the surfaces of fullerenes (and referred to as buckybowls). It focuses on the preparation of buckybowls, their molecular and solid state structures, and reactivity in metal binding reactions. For the first time, the structures of all available buckybowls have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction data collected in the course of this work, as well as data previously obtained in our group or reported by others (and dearchived from the Cambridge Structural Database). Forces …

Biomonitoring For Exposure To Trace Elements In Utero : Analysis Of The Human Placenta, Pamela Catherine Kruger

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The placenta forms in eutherian mammals, and is responsible for the nutrition of the developing fetus. However, maternal exposure to environmental pollutants both before and during pregnancy may result in the passage of toxins through the placental barrier and into fetal tissues. The placenta is the only organ derived from both maternal and fetal tissues, and establishes a link between the fetus and the environmental exposures of the mother. The analysis of placentae for the presence of environmental pollutants offers the possibility of exposure measurements in both the mother and the developing fetus. Specifically, trace element determination in human placentae …