Intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) with high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity are attractive for several applications spanning the fields of energy, defense, and transportation. Electrochemically processed polythiophene (PTh) films are a class of ICPs that have been demonstrated recently to possess electrical conductivities as high as 1,300 S/cm and be stronger than common types of processed aluminum foils. While these results are promising, the electrical conductivity of PTh is still low compared to metals and the effects of important process conditions such as electrode resistance, distance between working and counter electrodes, and thiophene concentration on the structure and physical properties of electrochemically processed PTh films must be investigated in detail. In this work, electrode resistance and inter-electrode distance were demonstrated to be inversely proportional to the charge efficiency for PTh film growth. A critical concentration of thiophene that produced films with the highest conductivity was also revealed. Anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodeclybenzene sulfonate (SDBS) were used, with and without a proton scavenger, in the Lewis acid boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) electrolyte, which allows polymerization of thiophene at low oxidation potentials, to enhance the ordering and conjugation length of PTh through stabilization of the radical cation of thiophene via the dodecyl chain of the anionic surfactants. X-ray diffraction spectra revealed enhanced order and packing when surfactant was used during the processing of PTh films, and measured electrical conductivities were increased by as much as 300% because of the surfactant-mediated structural improvements. Necking behavior observed in tensile test of PTh films with anionic surfactant additives also suggests chain alignment and increased chain length.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-136). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-136). Also available on the Internet.

Conducting metallopolymers possess attractive electronic properties for use in sensors, photoelectronic devices, catalysts, and other applications. Modification of the conducting polymer backbone, through chemical or electrochemical methods, enables control of catalytic, electronic, and optical properties of the metal via inductive modulation of the electron density. Understanding in detail the relationship between the metal and polymer backbone could lead to more effective metallopolymer materials. We hope to study this relationship by probing the band gaps, excited state energy levels, catalytic activity, and sensor function in four metallopolymer systems. Devices with sub-stochiometric ratios of Cu2ZnSnS4 NPs (CZTS: (Cu2Sn)1-xZn1/xS)(0≥x≥0.75)) grown in Cu(II) conducting metallopolymers were produced to study band gap tuning in hybrid materials. The valence and conductance bands of CZTS (x = 0.60) aligned with the HOMO/LUMO of the Cu(II) metallopolymer. Changing the alignment facilitated charge transfer in the hybrid material, leading to photovoltaic materials with efficiencies of ~0.1%. Chemoresistive ionophore sensors were developed by incorporating selective binding groups, such as thiourea, into conducting polymer backbones. Thiourea monomers and polymers showed high selectivity for Pb(II) ions over many competitive ions. XPS experiments demonstrated that reversible chelation of Pb(II) ions could be achieved through a simple uptake/rinse process. The conductivity of the thiourea polymer increased fifty-fold, from 7.75×10−2 S/cm2 to 3.5 S/cm2, after Pb(II) exposure. Sensitivity measurements indicated the sensors have limits of detection near 10−10 M. Highly conjugated ligands were synthesized to explore effective sensitization of visible and near-IR emitting lanthanides. (3,4-ethylenedioxy)thiophene was appended to dipyridophenazine and dipyridoquinoxaline to introduce a group that could be easily electropolymerized. These bi-functional ligands emitted from π-π* and an inter-ligand charge transfer excited states, and therefore, two distinct triplet states were observed. These separate energy pathways allowed for efficient sensitization of both visible (Tb(III), Eu(III), Dy(III)) and near-IR emitting (Nd(III), Yb(III), Er(III)) ions. Finally, we explored the oxidation of a rhodium-containing conducting metallopolymer and the subsequent effect on the activity of the metal center. Oxidation of the backbone led to ancillary ligand attenuation, allowing for control of the catalytically active species in the conducting metallopolymer. Rh(I,III) monomer and metallopolymer catalytic studies showed potential for new heterogenous/homogeneous hybrid catalysts. / text

xix, 190 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The electrical properties of conducting polymer-based devices are investigated in order to better understand charge transport through conducting polymers and charge transfer at conducting polymer interfaces with metals and inorganic semiconductors. Experiments on two specific systems are reported: (1) an anionically functionalized conducting polymer between metal electrodes and (2) nanostructured doped conducting polymer-semiconductor interfaces. Temperature dependent impedance measurements are reported on an anionically functionalized polyacetylene sandwiched between two gold electrodes (Au|P A |Au). These measurements provide key quantities regarding the ionic carriers in this system, such as the characteristic frequency for electrode polarization, ionic DC conductivity, activation energy, effective ion concentration, and hopping frequency. Impedance measurements are also reported on samples where excess electronic carriers had been introduced with a DC bias and at temperatures sufficiently low so as to freeze out the ionic carriers. In addition to providing information about the dielectric relaxation of electronic carriers such as the characteristic frequency for electrode polarization and activation energy, these low-temperature impedance measurements also support the ionic dielectric relaxation assignments. Temperature-dependent potential step experiments, in combination with the dielectric measurements probing ionic carriers, demonstrate the direct connection between the redistribution of ions and an enhancement in carrier injection in the Au|P A |Au system. Further potential step experiments followed by relaxation through either a short- or open-circuit configuration demonstrate that the electric field distribution is closely related to the amount of injected electronic carriers. The electric field distribution changes from being mostly determined by ionic carriers to being jointly determined by both ionic and injected electronic carriers when the density of injected electronic carriers is higher than that of the effective ionic carriers. To investigate charge depletion and transport at length scales less than the depletion width of a semiconductor interface, nanoscale metal-InP contacts with low barrier height were embedded within conducting polymer-InP contacts with high barrier height. Electrical measurements on these hybrid interfaces indicate that charge transport across the nanoscale metal contacts is affected by the neighboring high barrier region when the size of the metal contacts is less than the depletion width of the conducting polymer-InP background. / Adviser: Mark Lonergan

The purposes of this study were (1) to develop and evaluate a self-instructional program designed to assist choral conducting students in improving their ability to detect rhythmic errors during rehearsal, (2) to analyze the data acquired from a pre-test, a mid-test, and a post-test given in connection with the evaluation of the program, and (3) to determine the relationship of initial error detection ability, and gains in error detection ability, and each of several variables representing prior conditions which might be expected to affect an individuals error detection ability.

This thesis examines the conductor's preparation process of learning and interpreting the score before standing in front of an ensemble. The research is based on studies of historical and modern conducting handbooks supplemented by interviews with professional conductors. A selection of the preparation methodologies presented in the litterature and the qualitative study are tested and examined in the preparation process of two concerts. Finally the selected methodologies are compared and judged on two key factors; efficiency and the quality of the final artistic result. The results of the study are presented both as a list of conditions that can ensure an effective preparation process with a high quality of the final artistic result and as a concrete methodology that can be applied and adapted by any conductor in his or her own preparation process. / <p>Som dokumentation af eksamensarbejdets kunstnerlige del vedhæftes:</p><p><strong>Videoindspilning af koncert 22. maj med Östgöta Blåsarsymfoniker</strong></p><p>B. Crusell: Ouverture fra "Den lilla slavinnan"</p><p>V. Persichetti: Serenade no. 1 for Ten Wind Instruments</p><p>G. Mahler – IV. sats fra Symfoni nr. 4 (arr. Gustav Aske Sønksen, 2021) </p><p><strong>Lydindspilning af koncert 28. maj med Ludvig Dahlström (bratsch) og KMH-studenter</strong></p><p>P. Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher </p>

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Master of Music / Department of Music / Frank C. Tracz / This document was submitted to the Graduate School of Kansas State University as a partial requirement for the Master’s in Music Degree. This document includes the historical, theoretical, performance, and rehearsal consideration of the works performed in the corresponding graduate recital. These works are Antonin Dvořák’s Serenade in D Minor, Op. 44 and Vincent Persichetti’s Symphony Number Six for Band. The analysis format for this report is based on the Blocker/Miles Unit Study technique found in the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series, as well as the Tracz concept of macro-micro score analysis. The performances of the Kansas State University Symphony Band and a chamber ensemble which consisted of faculty and Symphony Band members served as the basis for the technical, musical, and stylistic evaluations and analysis.