Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Also available online.

Techn. University, Diss., 2004--Berlin.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon Graduate Center, 1985.

The syntheses of tetra- and octa-substituted phthalocyanine complexes of titanium (IV) oxide vanadium (IV) oxide and tantalum (V) hydroxide and their electrochemical characterisation are presented in this work. The structures and purity of these complexes were confirmed by NMR, infrared and mass spectroscopies and elemental analysis. They show good solubility in most common solvents especially non-viscous solvents such as dichloromethane and chloroform. The cyclic voltammograms (CV) showed reversible to quasi reversible behavior for all the reduction couples and the oxidation peaks were irreversible. Spectroelectrochemistry of the complexes confirmed metal and ring redox processes for TaPc and TiPc derivatives and ring based processes only for VPc complexes. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their conjugation with the new phthalocyanines was carried out. Similarly, single walled carbon nanotubes were conjugated to selected tantalum complexes and the characterization of all the nanomaterials and their conjugates using different techniques that include TEM, XRD and AFM is also presented in this work. The photophysical and photochemical properties and photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexene properties of the newly synthesised in the presence of gold nanoparticles were investigated. The compounds were stable, well within the stability range for phthalocyanines. The singlet oxygen quantum yield values increased drastically in the presence of gold nanoparticles. The photocatalytic products obtained from the reaction were cyclohexene oxide, 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, 2-cyclohexene-1-one and 1,4-cyclohexanediol. The percentage conversion values, yields and selectivity values improved significantly in the presence of AuNPs. Singlet oxygen was determined to be the main agent involved in the photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexene. The electrocatalytic oxidation of bisphenol A and p-nitrophenol was carried out using nickel tetraamino phthalocyanine and all the newly synthesised metallophthalocyanine in the presence of gold nanoparticles and single walled carbon nanotubes. The charge transfer behaviour of AuNPs was enhanced in the presence of TaPc, TiPc and VPc complexes. The presence of single walled carbon nanotubes further improved electron transfer and minimised electrode passivation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 00285.pdf: 1290882 bytes, checksum: 5969506d48a13aafc8dd3c7558145254 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Escola Politecnica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - POLI/USP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 00285.pdf: 1290882 bytes, checksum: 5969506d48a13aafc8dd3c7558145254 (MD5) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IEA/D / Escola Politecnica, Universidade de Sao Paulo - POLI/USP

Inicialmente, é feita uma revisão bibliográfica dos principais métodos de obtenção de vanádio metálico, comparando-se os resultados obtidos com os diversos redutores empregados. Também os métodos de purificação usualmente empregados são revistos, e mostra-se a eficácia de alguns deles. A seguir, analisa-se o processo aluminotérmico de obtenção de vanádio metálico a partir de pentóxido de vanádio, compreendendo estudos termodinâmicos, cinéticos e de transporte de calor. É mostrada a influência de diversas variáveis sobre a recuperação do metal. Desenvolve-se na parte experimental o estudo sobre a aluminotermia de pentóxido de vanádio, utilizando-se para isto reatores abertos revestidos com argamassa refratária. Estuda-se a influência das variáveis de processo sobre a recuperação de vanádio, incluindo a adição de fluxantes, a granulometria dos reagentes, o tamanho da carga, a pureza dos reagentes, o uso de excesso de redutor e o modo de ignição da carga. Os resultados experimentais obtidos são apresentados e discutidos. O trabalho apresenta conclusões e sugestões para pesquisas futuras. / A literature survey on the processes of vanadium reduction was carried out having in mind the behavior of the reducing agents used. The refining methods for crude metallic vanadium were also covered in the review. The aluminothermic process for the reduction of vanadium pentoxide was particularly considered. Its thermochemistry features were studied, as well as the heat transfer and the rate phenomena concerning such a reaction system discussed. It was pointed out the effect of the processes parameters on the recovery of metallic vanadium. The experiments were designed to investigate the effects of the harge composition, the purity level of the reactants, the size of the solid particles of the reacting mixture and the ignition method on the recovery of vanadium. The aluminothermic reaction was carried out in an open reaction vessel. The experimental results are presented and discussed. The research work done has reached conclusive trends which allows the proposal for further interesting research.

Synthesis of new thio derivatised Pcs with manganese, titanium and vanadium as a central metal is reported. The complexes synthesised were characterised using spectroscopic and electrochemical means. The complexes displayed interesting spectroscopic properties with absorption of the Q band being observed in the near infrared region. These complexes have unusual colours for MPc complexes, with purple or red colour being observed in solution. Interesting electrochemical properties were observed, with rare observation of the MnIV/MnIII redox couple. There was observation of oxidation peaks for the pentylthio derivatised Pc with titanium as the central metal; this is unusual since for reported thio derivatives based on TiPc, no oxidation was observed. The vanadium based Pc showed an interesting spectrum for the first ring based reduction. The absorption spectrum obtained for the 1st reduction of the vanadium complex using spectroelectrochemistry would normally indicate a metal based process but comparing with literature it was concluded that it is a ring based reduction process. Generally all the MPc complexes formed a well ordered stable monolayer on the gold electrode. Electrocatalytic studies using L-cysteine revealed that the SAM based on manganese (III) octapentylthio phthalocyanine (AcOMnOPTPc) was the most effective since it catalyses L-cysteine at much lower oxidation potentials and it is also much more stable.

In applications where resistance to localised corrosion is required, stainless steel alloys containing molybdenum are generally used thanks to their superior resistance to localised attack in aggressive environments. For ferritic stainless steels, vanadium additions have been found to also have a beneficial effect on the resistance to localised corrosion. In this study vanadium and molybdenum were compared directly as alloying elements in 18% chromium ferritic stainless steel as far as their effect on increasing the resistance to localised corrosion is concerned. Pitting potentials in a neutral chloride solution were used as the criterion for qualifying resistance to localised corrosion and it was shown that vanadium gave similar or slightly higher pitting potentials at addition levels of up to 4% (weight percent). It was subsequently found that the mechanism by which the molybdenum and the vanadium increase the resistance to localised corrosion, are not the same. The experimental data for the molybdenum containing alloys corresponded well with other work done in this field. The positive effect of molybdenum additions on the pitting resistance of these alloys could be explained through its effect in lowering the dissolution rate in the active dissolution region by enriching on the dissolving surface. The vanadium additions to these alloys were shown not to have an effect on the active dissolution kinetics. The effect of these two alloying elements on the initiation of metastable pits were examined, but no meaningful advantage for the vanadium containing alloys over the rest could be found. It is suggested that vanadium play a role in changing the dissolution kinetics of the salt film, which forms during the growth of a metastable pit. A delayed dissolution of salt film remnants would lead to a loss of the enriched pit solution, which would cause the metastable pit to repassivate. / Dissertation (M Eng (Metallurgical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / unrestricted

No description available.