Polymeric systems near their glass transition are known to exhibit heterogeneous dynamics that evolve both over space and time, yet many of the underlying principles of these dynamics are still poorly understood. In this thesis, experimental single molecule studies aimed at uncovering the dynamics of polystyrene near its glass transition temperature are described. In a first approach, the influence of temperature on the timescales associated with dynamic heterogeneity – also referred to as exchange times – are identified by following the dynamics of a fluorescent perylene diimide probe embedded in a high-molecular weight polystyrene host. No clear influence on the lifetime of dynamics is found in the temperature regime Tg to Tg + 10 K. In a second study, heterogeneous dynamics are investigated in the context of molecular weight and fragility. In a similar experimental approach to that of the first study, two fluorescent dyes are utilized to report on the rotational dynamics of low- to high-molecular weight polystyrene hosts. In accordance with previous reports, the stretching exponent, β, is found to be correlated with the system’s molecular weight, even on a single molecule level. However, no clear correlation with the system’s exchange time was found. In a final study, several single molecule approaches aimed at uncovering the dynamics in confined polystyrene films are described. As no evidence for previously-described mobile surface molecules has been found, this final chapter is meant to provide a basis for future single molecule studies in confined systems.

The flexible substrate was fabricated by BaTi4O9 mixed with O-Cresol Novolac Epoxy, polyether imide or surface active agents. The electrical and physical characteristic measured had been finished. The dielectric property influence of substrate was changed from percentage of BaTi4O9. The dielectric constant model was used by Jayasundere and Smith equation (J. S. eq.) and Lichtenecker equation (L. eq.) The study of crystalline grain, orientation and phase transfer temperature was used by SEM, XRD, and DSC, respectively. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent of the composite was measured using an HP4294A impedance analyzer. The TM mode calculated by resonate frequency of the composite was measured using an HP4156C network analyzer. The dielectric constant was obtained to TM mode at high frequency. The result was showed that dielectric constant at low frequency of BaTi4O9, OCN Epoxy and PEI are 57, 5.8 and 3.65, respectively. OCN Epoxy is better than PEI of electrical characteristic. However, OCN Epoxy is not flexible. For this reason, the PEI was focused on electrical property at high frequency. The BaTi4O9 exhibited a dielectric constant of 39 at frequency during 3~10 GHz. The dielectric constant was measured of 10 at frequency during 2~16 GHz with 70 wt% PEI composite. The dielectric constant is higher than FR-4 substrate to 6.4 of the composite. The low dielectric constant is obtaining to reduce stuffing.

Using low-temperature (650¢J) Ce3+:YAG doped glass (LTCeYDG) phosphor layer instead of conventional Ce:YAG doped silicone phosphor layer applied to high-power phosphor-converted white-light-emitting diodes (PC-WLEDs) is demonstrated.The glass transition temperature (Tg) of silicone is 150¢J but glass is 750¢J,it shows the glass were employed in high power LED than silicon. The uniformity of phosphor powder doped glass is an important item to discriminates between good and bad. Quantize the uniformity of glass phosphor by image processing software and Distribution Uniformity (Du). Calculate the uniformity of phosphor powder mix with glass powder which has different particle size and measurement optical properties of glass phosphor which has different uniformity. The Du of glass phosphor are 64.46%, 84.65%, 85.24% , 91.85% and the quantum efficiency are 18.49%, 28.31%, 29.73%, 28.56% ,respectively. By using Ceramic tube and low temperature glass powder sintering glass phosphor is a new fabrication. Compare with last fabrication, new fabrication reduce 100¢Jfabrication temperature from 750¢J to 650¢J, 70% material savings and high luminous efficiency. The quantum efficiency and lumen per watt were improved about 7 percentage point from 22.3% to 29.1% and 4.2 lm/W from 36.4 lm/W to 40.68 lm/W. We used the XRD to analyze the glass phosphor of last fabrication and new fabrication and the results show that the higher thermal stress destroys the structure of YAG, lower fabrication temperature used to get higher luminous efficiency.

Not available / text

The properties of polymers, thin films or bulk, are profoundly influenced by interactions at interfaces with dissimilar materials. Thin, supported, polymer films are subject to interfacial instabilities, due largely to competing intermolecular forces, that cause them to rupture and dewet the substrate. The addition of nanoparticles (such as clay sheets, metallic or semiconductor nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, etc.) to polymers can substantially affect bulk properties, such as the glass transition and viscosity, and influence the processability of the material. In this dissertation, we contribute to a fundamental understanding of the role of interfacial interactions on both the instabilities exhibited by polymer thin films and the properties displayed by polymer-nanoparticle mixtures. While conditions under which the destabilization of compositionally homogeneous thin films occurs are relatively well understood, the mechanisms of film stabilization in many two-component thin film systems are still unresolved. We demonstrate that the addition of a miscible component to an unstable film can provide an effective means of stabilization. The details of the stabilization mechanism are understood in terms of the compositional dependence of both the macroscopic wetting parameters and the effective interface potential for the system. We find that the suppression of dewetting in the system is not an equilibrium stabilization process and propose a mechanism by which the increased resistance to dewetting may occur. There is also significant interest in understanding the extraordinary property enhancement of polymers that are enabled by the addition of only small concentrations of nanoparticles. If these effects could be distilled down to a few simple rules, they could be exploited in the design of materials for specific applications. In this work, the influence of C60 nanoparticles on the bulk dynamical properties of three polymers is examined. Based on the findings from a range of measurement techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, dynamic rheology and neutron scattering, we propose that the changes in the glass transition temperature for the polymer-C₆₀ mixtures can be understood in terms of a percolation interpretation of the glass transition. The proposed mechanism is also characterized computationally. / text

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-161).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-223). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-223). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Peter F. Green. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.