In this project, the TMP method was employed to produce “active sites.” These active sites are for influencing and controlling the Co₃O₄ growth. One of the aims was to investigate what effect the grafting of the molecular precursor has on the nature and distribution of active sites on the various support materials. The second aim was to investigate the effect an increase in molecular precursor loading, in various impregnation steps, has on the nature and distribution of the active sites. The third aim was to investigate the effect of the steric constraints of ligand groups, by changing the molecular precursor, on the nature and distribution of active sites. The fourth aim was to use the different aspects discussed above and apply them to investigate what effect the above-mentioned modifications have on Co₃O₄ morphology. While another aim was to investigated what effect varying the quantity of Co(NO₃)₂•6H₂O has on Co₃O₄ morphology. Lastly, we investigated what effect varying the impregnation procedure and calcination temperature have on the Co₃O₄ morphology. The effect the support has on the phase of titanium molecular precursor was investigated using molecular precursor, ⁱPrOTi[OSi(O[superscript(t)]Bu₃)]₃. The supports used were Silica 922, NanoDur, Aerosil 200, Stöber spherical silica, SBA-15, mod MCM-41 and sMCM-41. The molecular precursor ⁱPrOTi[OSi(O[superscript(t)]Bu₃)]₃ was revealed to be in the orthorhombic TiO₂ with space group P(cab), normal brookite lattice, on Silica 922 after calcination but only an isolated area displaying this morphology. Generally we do not observe any TiO₂ on the support, which indicates that we have produce site-isolated sites, suggesting the TMP method has been successful on all of the various supports. The emphasis is placed on the effect of this molecular precursor and the respective support has on the Co₃O₄ morphology in Chapter 3. In this Chapter, a unique morphology was observed on Silica 922 which showed Co₃O₄ nanorods of cubic Co₃O₄ in the space group Fd-3m. Silica 922 was used for the remainder of the thesis to investigate the effect the quantity of molecular precursor has on the nature of active sites and Co₃O₄ morphology in Chapter 4. This support was also used to investigate the effect the amount of Co(NO₃)₂•6H₂O has on Co₃O₄ morphology in Chapter 5. This support was lastly used to investigate the steric constraints of the ligand groups, Ti[OSi(O[superscript(t)]Bu)₃]₄ (TiSi4), ⁱPrOTi[OSi(O[superscript(t)]Bu)₃]₃ (TiSi3), (OtBu)₃TiOSi(O[superscript(t)]Bu)₃ (TiSi) and the least sterically constrained Ti(OⁱPr)₄ has on the loading of precursor and Co₃O₄ morphology in Chapter 6.

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The reaction between the tetrahedrane cluster RCCo3(CO)9{R = CHO (1), H (3)} and the redox-active diphosphine ligand 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-cyclopenten-1,3- dione (bpcd) leads to the replacement of two CO groups and formation of RCCo3(CO)7(bpcd) {R = CHO (2), H (4)}. Clusters 2 and 4 are thermally unstable and readily transform into the new P-C bond cleavage cluster 5. All three clusters 2, 4, and 5 have been isolated and fully characterized in solution by IR and 31P NMR spectroscopy. VT 31P NMR data indicate that the bpcd ligand in RCCo3(CO)7(bpcd) is fluxional at 187 K in THF. Clusters 2, 4, and 5 have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses.

The rechargeable lithium ion batteries (LIB) are playing increasingly important roles in powering portal commercial electronic devices. They are also the potential power sources of electric mobile vehicles. The first kind of the cathode materials, LiXCoO2, was commercialized by Sony Company in 1980s, and it is still widely used today in LIB. However, the high cost of cobalt source, its environmental unfriendliness and the safety issue of LiXCoO2 have hindered its widespread usage today. Searching for alternative cathode materials with low cost of the precursors, being environmentally benign and more stable in usage has become a hot topic in LIB research and development. In the first part of this study, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNi0.6Mn0.35Co0.05O2) is studied as the electrode. The materials are synthesized at high temperatures by solid state reaction method. The effect of synthesis temperature on the electrochemical performance is investigated, where characterizations by, for example, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), for particle size distribution, specific surface area, and charge-discharge property, are done over samples prepared at different conditions for comparison. The electrochemical tests of the rechargeable Li ion batteries using LiNi0.6Mn0.35Co0.05 cathode prepared at optimum conditions are carried out in various voltage ranges, at different discharge rates and at high temperature. In another set of experiments, the material is adopted as anode with lithium foil as the cathode, and its capacitance is tested. In the second part of this study, the iron based cathode material is investigated. Lithium iron orthosilicate with carbon coating is synthesized at 700℃ by solid state reaction, which is assisted by high energy ball milling. Characterizations are done for discharge capacities of the samples with different carbon weight ratio coatings. / published_or_final_version / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

A method of performing accurate oxygen analysis on cuprate based superconducting materials was established using electron probe micro analysis (EPMA). A range of YBa₂Cu₃O_δ ceramics with varying oxygen concentration were used to test the method. Using YBCO as a reference material, a suitable standard for oxygen analysis of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_δ (BiSCCO-2212) materials was obtained. This standard was used to perform full elemental analysis of a range of BiSCCO-2212 crystals, post annealed in pO₂'s between 10^-5-2atm. When the average Cu valence of each crystal was calculated and plotted as a function of the critical temperature (T_c) for each crystal, it was shown that BiSCCO-2212 materials conformed to the 'universal' trend illustrated by most other HTS and did not exhibit anomalous behaviour as had been previously believed. The phase assemblage and superconducting properties of BiSCCO-2212 Ag-clad multifilamental wires, prepared using the powder-in-tube (PIT) method by BICC, were studied as a function of a time/temperature profile. pO₂ of the processing atmosphere was found to be the predominant factor in determining the stoichiometry of the 2212 phase within wires. The phase assemblage is not simply a function of pO₂ as previously believed and can be controlled, in part, by the post annealing temperature. Homogenisation of the phase assemblage in BiSCCO-2212 Ag-clad wires can be achieved by prolonged heating (96hrs) at an appropriate temperature. An investigation into the 10K superconducting BiSCCO phase has shown the Sr-rich solid solution to extend towards the ideal stoichiometry of 2:2:1 (Bi:Sr:Cu) with increasing pO₂. Using a combination of high pO₂ (60atm) to achieve the appropriate Bi:Sr stoichiometry followed by post annealing in N₂ to adjust the oxygen content, it was possible to prepare single-phase ceramics of stoichiometry Bi_2.11(2)Sr_1.90(2)Cu_0.99(2)O_δ with a T_c=10.5K(5).

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Olefins have enjoyed many uses in a wide variety of industries, from car manufacturing to energy production. Energy consuming processes of catalytic dehydrogenation, turning paraffins into olefins, has been commercialised since the early 20th century, while catalytic oxydehydrogenation of paraffins to olefins is still in prototype stages. The conflict between kinetic and thermodynamic yield constraints, has delayed the commercialisation of this process. The solution to achieving the relevant process route is exploitation of the right catalyst at moderate temperatures and pressures. Co5MgAlO is studied under atmospheric pressure and 350°C temperature, to dehydrogenate propane and butane to olefins using oxygen as a reactant. Thermodynamic models showing how many reaction routes are possible under atmospheric pressure were explored. Experimental results for butane to air at ratio of 1:0.8 and 1:1.2 hydrocarbons to air gave better selectivity of 1-butene which was more than 12%. When compared with propane at similar reaction ratios the reaction favoured CO2 at selectivity of more than 95%. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering)