Heterogeneous nanostructures such as coaxial nanotubes, nanowires and nanorods have been of growing interest due to their potential for high energy-conversion efficiencies and charge/discharge rates in solar cell, energy storage and fuel cell applications. Their superior properties at nanoscale as well as their high surface area, fast charge transport along large interfacial contact areas, and short charge diffusion lengths have made them attractive components for next generation high efficiency energy-conversion devices. The primary focus of this work was to understand the doping mechanism of TiO2 nanotube exclusively with strontium as an alkaline earth metal to shine light on the relation between the observed enhancement in photocatalytic properties of doped TiO2 nanotubes and its structural and electronic characteristics. The mechanism of Sr incorporation into the TiO2 nanotube structure with the hypothesis of possibility of phase segregation has been explored in low concentrations as a dopant and in very high concentrations by processing of SrTiO3 nanotube arrays. Detailed experimental examination of the bulk and surface of the Sr-doped nanotubes has been performed to understand the effect of dopant on electronic structure and optical properties of the TiO2 nanotubes. Moreover, in order to minimize the polarizations associated with the ionic/electronic charge transport in the electrolyte and anode of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), a new platform is developed using vertically oriented metal oxide nanotube arrays. This novel platform, which is made of coaxial oxide nanotubes on silicon substrates, has the potential to simultaneously lower the operating temperature and production cost leading to significant enhancement in the performance of micro-SOFCs.

Electron scattering by a single or multiple impurities affects the quantizaton of conductance of a semiconductor nanochannel. The theoretical model of electron transport in a hardwall nanostructure with an impurity requires an analysis of the electronic transverse energy levels, eigenfunctions and hopping integrals resulting from cross channel or transverse confinement. Theoretical equations for the electronic transverse energy levels, wavefunctions and hopping integrals in the case of a repulsive, finite strength rectangular barrier arbitrarily positioned in the nanochannel are presented. The effects of size, strength and location of the impurity are discussed.In order to find the electronic transverse energy levels, wavefunctions and hopping integrals, two FORTRAN computer programs were developed. The first, called Program Data Input, writes the computational parameters to a data file. The second, Program Single Impurity, uses this data file in performing the calculations of the electronic transverse energy levels, eigenfunctions and hopping integrals. / Department of Physics and Astronomy

Porous constructs of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) are under investigation as a substrate for tissue engineering of cartilage for repair of osteochondral defects. Previous studies have shown that CPP has the required features to satisfy these requirements. However, its degradation rate is lower than desired. This study investigated the effect of doping with MgCO3, MgCl2, K2CO3 or KCl at a molar ratio of M/Ca = 0.02 on sintering and in vitro degradation behavior of CPP. Doping with magnesium or potassium improved the tensile and compressive strengths of CPP at similar porosities. After 15 days of aging in phosphate buffer saline, the rate of tensile strength loss was faster for the doped CPP groups than undoped CPP. The chemical degradation rate of Mg-doped CPP groups was the fastest among CPP groups. The chemical degradation rate of K-doped CPP groups was slower than undoped CPP.

Porous constructs of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) are under investigation as a substrate for tissue engineering of cartilage for repair of osteochondral defects. Previous studies have shown that CPP has the required features to satisfy these requirements. However, its degradation rate is lower than desired. This study investigated the effect of doping with MgCO3, MgCl2, K2CO3 or KCl at a molar ratio of M/Ca = 0.02 on sintering and in vitro degradation behavior of CPP. Doping with magnesium or potassium improved the tensile and compressive strengths of CPP at similar porosities. After 15 days of aging in phosphate buffer saline, the rate of tensile strength loss was faster for the doped CPP groups than undoped CPP. The chemical degradation rate of Mg-doped CPP groups was the fastest among CPP groups. The chemical degradation rate of K-doped CPP groups was slower than undoped CPP.

Doctor of Philiosophy (PhD) / Since 1998 anti-doping policy has undergone massive change. The level of world-wide cooperation involved in establishing an international anti-doping system is unprecedented in the history of the regulation of performance enhancing substances in sport. Such cooperation and the unipartite nature of public doping discourse give the impression that anti-doping policy is clear, unproblematic and universally acceptable. However, scratching the harmonious surface of modern anti-doping approaches reveals fundamental problems and inconsistencies, the two most basic of which go to the very core of the policy. Basic issues — what constitutes doping and the reasons why we prohibit it — are still unsettled, lack clarity and give rise to many significant operational issues. For instance, the definition of ‘doping’ in doping discourse is quite different from the definition in the World Anti-Doping Code: what is thought of as ‘doping’ is very different from what is punished as ‘doping.’ Moreover, the commonly suggested anti-doping rationales do not adequately explain the present prohibition on the use of performance enhancing substances in sport. In light of this uncertainty, two questions arise: why is there so much confusion and why do we prohibit doping in sport? Desmond Manderson, in his study of the origins of illicit drug laws, has wrestled with a similar question; his conclusions are that drugs have been prohibited more for what they symbolise than their pharmacological properties. This thesis argues that, in a similar way to illicit drug policy, the symbolism of performance enhancing substances in sport has played a major role in the development of anti-doping policy. To demonstrate the influence of such symbolism, three significant time periods in anti-doping history are considered in the thesis: the 1920s, the 1960s and the 1970s. The most formative aspect of symbolism in the 1920s, when anti-doping rules were first passed, was the association between doping and illicit drug taking. The stigma attached to stereotypical images of illicit drug-users contributed to ‘doping’ being viewed as contrary to the amateur ethos and the adoption of a regulatory system modelled on illicit drug policy approaches. In the 1960s, when anti-doping policy began in earnest, illicit drug symbolism was also extremely influential. Concerns regarding drug addiction in sport fuelled fears about the health of the athlete which were prominent in doping discourse at this time. Combined with a strong belief in the power of drugs in general, illicit drug symbolism led to the expansion of the illicit drug model of regulation to include illicit drug style testing. Doping changed in the 1970s with the emergence of training drugs such as anabolic steroids. Steroids became strongly associated with ‘communist’ athletes and were viewed as extremely powerful transforming drugs. A kind of steroid hysteria was thereby created in doping discourse. Simultaneously, the continuing influence of illicit drug symbolism meant that the previously adopted illicit drug model was also applied to steroids. The conclusion of the thesis is that anti-doping policy is not fundamentally a rational system: instead it has been driven much more by emotional factors such as public opinion than rational argument. Such a basis is bound to create confusion and explains many of the problems of current anti-doping policy. The way in which symbolism has led to the regulatory decisions in anti-doping history is summarised as constituting the ‘reactive regulation model’ in the concluding section of the thesis. This pattern of regulation has produced a number of important operational difficulties in current anti-doping law, the prime example being the ‘fallacy’ of in-competition drug testing to deal with the issue of training drugs such as steroids. Finally, it is argued that in light of the reactive nature of anti-doping policy, it is unlikely that recent challenges, such as gene doping and the use of non-analytical evidence, will be treated any differently to past challenges. Anti-doping policy has always been largely driven by reactions to symbolism; there is no reason to suspect this type of approach will change.

Doctor of Philiosophy (PhD) / Since 1998 anti-doping policy has undergone massive change. The level of world-wide cooperation involved in establishing an international anti-doping system is unprecedented in the history of the regulation of performance enhancing substances in sport. Such cooperation and the unipartite nature of public doping discourse give the impression that anti-doping policy is clear, unproblematic and universally acceptable. However, scratching the harmonious surface of modern anti-doping approaches reveals fundamental problems and inconsistencies, the two most basic of which go to the very core of the policy. Basic issues — what constitutes doping and the reasons why we prohibit it — are still unsettled, lack clarity and give rise to many significant operational issues. For instance, the definition of ‘doping’ in doping discourse is quite different from the definition in the World Anti-Doping Code: what is thought of as ‘doping’ is very different from what is punished as ‘doping.’ Moreover, the commonly suggested anti-doping rationales do not adequately explain the present prohibition on the use of performance enhancing substances in sport. In light of this uncertainty, two questions arise: why is there so much confusion and why do we prohibit doping in sport? Desmond Manderson, in his study of the origins of illicit drug laws, has wrestled with a similar question; his conclusions are that drugs have been prohibited more for what they symbolise than their pharmacological properties. This thesis argues that, in a similar way to illicit drug policy, the symbolism of performance enhancing substances in sport has played a major role in the development of anti-doping policy. To demonstrate the influence of such symbolism, three significant time periods in anti-doping history are considered in the thesis: the 1920s, the 1960s and the 1970s. The most formative aspect of symbolism in the 1920s, when anti-doping rules were first passed, was the association between doping and illicit drug taking. The stigma attached to stereotypical images of illicit drug-users contributed to ‘doping’ being viewed as contrary to the amateur ethos and the adoption of a regulatory system modelled on illicit drug policy approaches. In the 1960s, when anti-doping policy began in earnest, illicit drug symbolism was also extremely influential. Concerns regarding drug addiction in sport fuelled fears about the health of the athlete which were prominent in doping discourse at this time. Combined with a strong belief in the power of drugs in general, illicit drug symbolism led to the expansion of the illicit drug model of regulation to include illicit drug style testing. Doping changed in the 1970s with the emergence of training drugs such as anabolic steroids. Steroids became strongly associated with ‘communist’ athletes and were viewed as extremely powerful transforming drugs. A kind of steroid hysteria was thereby created in doping discourse. Simultaneously, the continuing influence of illicit drug symbolism meant that the previously adopted illicit drug model was also applied to steroids. The conclusion of the thesis is that anti-doping policy is not fundamentally a rational system: instead it has been driven much more by emotional factors such as public opinion than rational argument. Such a basis is bound to create confusion and explains many of the problems of current anti-doping policy. The way in which symbolism has led to the regulatory decisions in anti-doping history is summarised as constituting the ‘reactive regulation model’ in the concluding section of the thesis. This pattern of regulation has produced a number of important operational difficulties in current anti-doping law, the prime example being the ‘fallacy’ of in-competition drug testing to deal with the issue of training drugs such as steroids. Finally, it is argued that in light of the reactive nature of anti-doping policy, it is unlikely that recent challenges, such as gene doping and the use of non-analytical evidence, will be treated any differently to past challenges. Anti-doping policy has always been largely driven by reactions to symbolism; there is no reason to suspect this type of approach will change.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 145 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 142-145).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 2000. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 2000. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio University, June, 1997. / Title from PDF t.p.