Inorganic Chemistry Commons^™

Rare Earth Production And Characterization Studies, Jake Anson Stewart

Doctoral Dissertations

The rare earths include elements Sc, Y, and La through Lu are important in many modern technologies. With the exception of Sc and Ce the rare earths are all have similar chemical behaviors with the preferred oxidation state in aqueous solution being +3. Currently, industrial purification of the rare earths is completed by counter current solvent extraction (CCSX). In most CCSX separations, Y extracts with Ho making their separation difficult. However, in a few systems Y exhibits an itinerant behavior. Carboxylic acids of varying sizes and substitutions were investigated in a study of Y itinerant behavior. It was found when …

Designing Novel 1,2,3- And 1,2,4-Triazoles For Coordination Complexes And Frameworks, Brianna Celiese Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations

Triazoles are a versatile ligand that forms a variety of compounds and extended materials within the field of coordination chemistry. The reaction of triazoles with metals leads to the synthesis of homoleptic complexes, coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These triazole compounds and materials have been employed for a variety of applications in chemistry ranging from nanomaterials to anion recognition.

The synthesis of tris(1,2,3-triazolyl)borate completed and complemented the initial research began by Trofimenko in 1966. This ligand was used in metal reactions and found to form both homoleptic complexes and coordination polymers. The connectivity of the tris(1,2,3-triazolyl)borate varied dependent on …

Advances In High-Throughput Analysis: Automated Radiochemical Separations And Nanopillar Based Separations And Field Enhanced Spectroscopy, Jennifer Jeanne Charlton

Doctoral Dissertations

Often the need to analyze a large number of samples coincide with critical time consternates. At such times, the implementation of high-throughput technologies is paramount. In this work we explore some viable pathways for high-throughput analysis and develop advancements in novel forms of detection of materials that are vital in the environmental, biological as well as national security arenas. Through the use of new protocols with high sensitivity and specificity as well as simplified chemical processing and sample preparation we aim to allow for improved throughput, fieldable detection, and rapid data acquisition of extensive sample sets. The methods developed in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Support-Modified Nanoparticle-Based Catalysts And Mixed Oxide Catalysts For Low Temperature Co Oxidation, Andrew Justin Binder

Doctoral Dissertations

Heterogeneous catalysts are responsible for billions of dollars of industrial output and have a profound, if often understated, effect on our everyday lives. New catalyst technologies and methods to enhance existing catalysts are essential to meeting consumer demands and overcoming environmental concerns. This dissertation focuses on the development of catalysts for low temperature carbon monoxide oxidation. CO [carbon monoxide] oxidation is often used as a probe reaction to test overall oxidation activity of a given catalyst and is an important reaction in the elimination of toxic pollutants from automotive exhaust streams. The work included here presents three new heterogeneous catalysts …

Studies Of Metalloporphyrins And Tantalum Amide Imide Compounds, Seth Carlton Hunter

Doctoral Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is on two different subjects. The first examines the magnetic and structural properties of metalloporphyrins. In these studies, neutrons were used to probe the magnetic properties of metalloporphyrins. Insight on the structural properties of metalloporphyrins was also gained by examining the intermolecular interactions in the solid state. The second subject is the synthesis and characterization of new tantalum complexes and studies of their reactions with O₂ [dioxygen]. These complexes are potential precursors to make metal oxide and metal nitride thin films.

In the first part of this dissertation, the zero-field parameters D have been …

An Investigation Of Inorganic Compound Scattering., Karl Jay Bernstein

Doctoral Dissertations

Raman and its associated forms of spectroscopy are powerful tools that have been under-utilized. Presented within are three inorganic compounds studied with some form of Raman spectroscopy: normal Raman, hyper-Raman (HR), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), surface-enhanced hyper-Raman spectroscopy (SEHRS), or resonance Raman spectroscopy (RR).

The first study involves the investigation of phosphine binding with silver metal. Phosphines find wide use in synthetic circles yet have had little study into their method of binding, unlike similar compounds comprised of sulfur. In order to understand the binding of phosphines, several tertiary phosphines, secondary phosphines and secondary phosphine oxides are examined with SERS. …

Oxygen Reduction Reaction By Copper Complex Based Electrocatalysts, Congling Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

My research focuses on catalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by a series of Cu(II) [copper with positive two valence] -1,2,4-triazole complex-based electrocatalysts at the cathode of PEMFC (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell), an efficient and environmental friendly energy conversion system compared to internal combustion engines in use today. The sluggish kinetics of ORR considerably limited the performance of PEMFCs. Understanding of ORR mechanism is important for developing affordable, active and durable ORR catalysts for such devices.

The first part of my work focused on improving the ORR performance of Cu(II)-1,2,4-triazole complex-based catalysts in an acidic environment by exploring synthesis …