As atuais condições ambientais tem direcionado o foco de muitas pesquisas para o reaproveitamento de resíduos agroindustriais na obtenção de novos materiais. Entre estes resíduos, destacam-se as fibras naturais, como o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar, principalmente por apresentarem características importantes para as aplicações industriais: de origem renovável, biodegradável e de baixo custo. A celulose extraída de fibras vegetais revela-se como uma alternativa promissora para a produção de materiais híbridos orgânico-inorgânicos com propriedades multifuncionais e amplas aplicações. Este trabalho busca primeiramente à obtenção de híbridos celulose/óxido de alumínio hidratado a partir do tratamento e modificação da celulose extraída do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar e sua posterior aplicação na produção de membranas. As fibras de celulose foram tratadas com clorito de sódio em meio ácido e com a mistura de ácidos nítrico e acético, com objetivo de verificar a influência do tratamento químico da celulose nas propriedades térmicas dos híbridos formados. O Al2O3.nH2O foi preparado pelo método da precipitação convencional partindo-se do alumínio metálico. As celuloses tratadas e o Al2O3.nH2O foram caracterizados por DRX, FTIR, TG, DSC e MEV. O tratamento químico das fibras de celulose não interferiu na estabilidade térmica e no processo de combustão das celuloses. Os híbridos foram produzidos nas proporções de 5, 10, 15 e 20% de óxido hidratado e caracterizados por DRX, TG, DSC, Calorimetria de Combustão e MEV/EDS. Os resultados obtidos mostraram uma boa interação entre as fibras de celulose e o óxido de alumínio hidratado. As análises de calorimetria de combustão e de DSC em ar sintético permitiram observar que o Al2O3.nH2O agiu como um agente retardante de chamas. A proporção definida para a produção de membranas foi 95Cel/05Al2O3.nH2O. Membranas de celuloses puras e dos híbridos 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O e 95CelB/05Al2O3.nH2O foram produzidas nos sistemas solventes de NaOH/ureia e NaOH/tioureia e caracterizadas por DRX, TG, DSC e MEV/EDS. A dissolução das fibras de celulose nos sistemas solventes promoveram a conversão da celulose tipo I (nativa) em celulose tipo II (regenerada). As membranas preparadas com os híbridos 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O e 95CelB/05Al2O3.nH2O em NaOH/ureia e 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O em NaOH/tioureia apresentaram maior estabilidade térmica e resistência à combustão que as membranas de celulose. / The current environmental conditions has directed the focus of much research for the reuse of industrial residues in obtaining new materials. Among these residues, there are the natural fibers such as sugarcane bagasse, mainly because of the important features for industrial applications: source renewable, biodegradable and low cost. Cellulose extracted from plant fibers revealed as a promising alternative for the production of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with multifunctional properties and broad applications. This paper seeks primarily to obtain hybrids cellulose/hydrous aluminum oxide from the treatment and modification of cellulose extracted from crushed sugarcane and its subsequent application in the production of membranes. Cellulose fibers were treated with sodium chlorite in acid and a mixture of nitric and acetic acids, in order to verify the influence of the chemical treatment of cellulose in the thermal properties of hybrids formed. The Al2O3.nH2O was prepared by the conventional precipitation method starting from metallic aluminum. The treated pulps and Al2O3.nH2O were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TG, DSC and SEM. The chemical treatment of cellulose fibers did not affect the thermal stability of the combustion process celluloses. Hybrids were produced in proportions of 5, 10, 15 and 20% hydrated oxide and characterized by XRD, TG, DSC Calorimetry Combustion and SEM / EDS. The results showed a good interaction between the cellulose fibers and hydrated aluminum oxide. Analyses of combustion calorimetry and DSC in synthetic air propose that the Al2O3.nH2O acted as a flame retardant agent. The set ratio for the production of membranes was 95Cel/05Al2O3.nH2O. Pure cellulose membranes and hybrid 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O 95CelB/05Al2O3.nH2O and solvent systems were produced in NaOH/urea and NaOH/thiourea and characterized by XRD, TG, DSC and SEM/EDS. The dissolution of cellulose fibers in solvent systems promoted conversion of cellulose I type (native) type II cellulose (regenerated).The membranes prepared from the hybrids 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O and 95CelB/05Al2O3.nH2O in NaOH/urea 95CelA/05Al2O3.nH2O in NaOH/thiourea showed higher thermal stability and resistance to combustion the membranes.

The aluminum oxide growth rate for aluminum protected with 2.4 nm of aluminum fluoride has been determined. We show that a 2.4 nm aluminum fluoride layer does not prevent aluminum from oxidation but does significantly retard the oxide growth – decreasing the oxide layer thickness from 1 nm in less than an hour to 0.9 nm over 116 hours. Additionally, the optical constants for aluminum oxide growing under an aluminum fluoride barrier layer have been determined – showing an increase in absorption at high energies for Al2O3 forming at room temperature as compared to highly ordered Al2O3 formed at high temperatures.

Generally, the electronic stability of aluminum clusters is associated with either closed electronic shells of delocalized electrons, or aluminum in the +3 state. To explore alternative routes for electronic stability in aluminum oxide clusters, theoretical methods were used to examine the geometric and electronic structure of AlnOm (2≤n≤7; 1≤m≤10) clusters. Two types of electronically stable clusters with large HOMO-LUMO gaps were identified the first being Al2nO3m clusters with a +3 oxidation state on the aluminum, and the second being planar clusters such as Al4O4, Al5O3, Al6O4, and Al6O5. The structures of the planar clusters have external Al atoms bound to a single O atom. Their electronic stability can be explained by the multiple valence Al sites with the internal Al atoms having an oxidation state of +3, while the external Al atoms have an oxidation state of +1. The formation of AlnOm+ clusters with high concentrations of oxygen were found experimentally. To determine the stability of such clusters theoretical methods were used to examine the geometric and electronic structure of these clusters (2≤n≤7; 1≤m≤10). The structures were found to be below average in terms stability, implying formation in a low collision environment.

A computational model is developed to study the effects of alumina layer formation on an ablative surface when exposed to high temperature particle laden gas flow. The solidification dynamics i.e., the solid and liquid alumina layer growth rate, and the heat transferred to the ablative surface are investigated. A one-dimensional model is developed taking into consideration the thermal loading, particle loading and the temperature dependence of the thermo-physical properties of alumina. A fully implicit finite volume method is used to solve the coupled set of non-linear heat conduction equations. The solidification interface is tracked using the Lagrangian interpolation technique. The particle mass flux was found to be the major factor affecting the solid layer growth rate. The gas heat flux also has a major effect on the solid growth rate and the heat transferred to the ablative surface, but only for lower particle mass fluxes. On other hand the particle temperature has a linear effect on the solidification dynamics and the heat transferred to the ablative surface for all particle mass fluxes. The heat transferred to the ablative surface is reduced by approximately 39% to 88%, depending on the mass fluxes, due to the formation of the alumina layer. / Graduation date: 2003

Lithium-ion batteries are most commonly employed as power sources for portable electronic devices. Limited capacity, high cost, and safety problems associated with the commercially used graphite anode materials are hampering the use of lithium-ion batteries in larger-scale applications such as the electric vehicle. Nanocomposite alloys have shown promise as new anode materials because of their better safety due to higher operating potential, increased energy density, low cost, and straightforward synthesis as compared to graphite. The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate and understand the electrochemical properties of several types of nanocomposite alloys and to assess their viability as replacement anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Tin and antimony are two elements that are active toward lithium. Accordingly, this dissertation is focused on tin-based and antimony-based nanocomposite alloy materials. Tin and antimony each have larger theoretical capacities than commercially available anodes, but the capacity fades dramatically in the first few cycles when metallic tin or antimony is used as the anode in a lithium-ion battery. This capacity fade is largely due to the agglomeration of particles in the anode material and the formation of a barrier layer between the surface of the anode and the electrolyte. In order to suppress agglomeration, the active anode material can be constrained by an inactive matrix of material that makes up the nanocomposite. By controlling the surface of the particles in the nanocomposite via methods such as the addition of additives to the electrolyte, the detrimental effects of the solid-electrolyte interphase layer (SEI) can be minimized, and the capacity of the material can be maintained. Moreover, the nanocomposite alloys described in this dissertation can be used above the voltage where lithium plating occurs, thereby enhancing the safety of lithium-ion batteries. The alloy anodes in this study are synthesized by high-energy mechanical milling and furnace heating. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electrochemical performances are assessed at various temperatures, potential ranges, and charge rates. The lithiation/delithiation reaction mechanisms for these nanocomposite materials are explored with ex-situ X-ray diffraction. Specifically, three different nanocomposite alloy anode materials have been developed: Mo3Sb7-C, Cu2Sb-Al2O3-C, and Cu6Sn5-TiC-C. Mo3Sb7-C has high gravimetric capacity and involves a reaction mechanism whereby crystalline Mo3Sb7 disappears and is reformed during each cycle. Cu2Sb-Al2O3-C with small particles (2 - 10 nm) of Cu2Sb dispersed in the Al2O3-C matrix is made by a single-step ball milling process. It exhibits long cycle life (+ 500 cycles), and the reversibility of the reaction of Cu2Sb-Al2O3-C with lithium is improved when longer milling times are used for synthesis. The reaction mechanism for Cu2Sb-Al2O3-C appears to be dependent upon the size of the crystalline Cu2Sb particles. The coulombic efficiency of Cu2Sb-Al2O3-C is improved through the addition of 2 % vinylethylene carbonate to the electrolyte. With a high tap density of 2.2 g/cm3, Cu6Sn5-TiC-C exhibits high volumetric capacity. The reversibility of the reaction of Cu6Sn5-TiC-C with lithium is improved when the material is cycled above 0.2 V vs. Li/Li+. / text

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

This work focuses on a simple template assisted approach for fabricating I-III-VI semiconductor nanowire arrays. Vertically aligned nanowires of p-CIS of controllable diameter and thickness are electrodeposited, from an acidic electrolyte solution, inside porous aluminum templates using a three electrode set up with saturated calomel electrode as the reference. AAO template over ITO-glass was used as starting template for the device fabrication. The deposited CIS is annealed at different temperatures in a reducing environment (95% Ar+ 5% H2) for 30 minutes. X-ray diffraction of the nanowires showed nanocrystalline cubic phase structures with a strong orientation in the <112> direction. The effective bandgap of the deposited CIS nanowires determined using the Near Infrared (NIR) Spectrometer was found to be 1.07eV. The type of CIS electrodeposited inside the porous alumina template is determined to be p-type from the Schottky diode obtained with ITO-CIS-Au structure. Schottky diodes were characterized and analyzed at room temperature.

The objective of this thesis is to study the effects of flux deposition non uniformity on spreading of molten metal. Flux deposition non-uniformity here means as to whether the amount of flux deposited in a non-uniform or uniform pattern helps in the better wetting and spreading characteristics of the molten metal or is detrimental to the process. The material selection constraint to the study was imposed by selecting brazing of aluminum i.e., aluminum alloy melting and flow over an aluminum alloy substrate. The study was carried out by conducting a number of Hot Stage microscopy tests using aluminum silicon alloy as the filler metal and Potassium Fluoro Aluminate (Nocolok) as the flux. The flux was applied in different spatial distribution patterns to uncover the varying effects of its distribution on spreading. The uneven pattern of flux deposition indicates the influence on spreading but due to the efficient spreading of flux prior to aluminum melting and associated fuzziness of the achieved coverage distribution the effects are not always conclusive. It has been concluded that non uniform flux deposition does not necessarily mean uneven or less uniform spreading of the molten liquid metal if the spreading of the molten flux is beyond the distance of ultimate metal spreading. This is because, in spite of uneven flux deposition, the flux melts approximately at 560C-570C and spreads on the surface of the metal thereby promoting appreciable spreading and wetting of the molten liquid metal that happens at temperatures above 577C.

Vertically aligned nanowire arrays of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and CuPc-Al Schottky diodes, of controllable diameter and length were fabricated by cathodic electrodeposition of CuPc into anodized alumina (AAO) templates, followed by annealing at 300 ºC in Argon. AAO over Aluminum tape and that over ITO-glass were both used as starting templates for the device fabrication. Depending on the dimensions of the starting AAO template, diameters of CuPc nanowires ranged from 30 nm to 40 nm and the lengths ranged from 500 nm to 1 μm. The temperature dependence of the phase and the absorption spectrum of the nanowires are reported. The electrodeposited nanowires (as prepared) had the preferred crystallite orientation of the α-phase. ITO formed the ohmic contact and Schottky contacts were formed between CuPc and aluminum. Insertion of a thin layer of PEDOT:PSS between CuPc nanowires and the ITO electrode improved the contact and reduced the series resistance by an order of magnitude. Schottky diodes were characterized and analyzed at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures.