published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The results presented in this thesis demonstrate the first synthesis of several nanostructured transition metal oxides and lithium containing transition metal oxides. Their uses in lithium-ion batteries and/or as magnetic materials have been investigated. The first example of two and three dimensional mesoporous Fe₂O₃ has been prepared by using the soft templating (surfactant) method. The materials have amorphous walls and exhibit superparamagnetic behaviour. By using a hard template route, a mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ with highly crystalline walls has been synthesized. Its unique magnetic behaviour, distinct from bulk α-Fe₂O₃, nanoparticulate α-Fe₂O₃, and mesoporous Fe₂O₃ with disordered walls, has been demonstrated. The hard template method was also used to prepare nanowire and mesoporous Co₃O₄, β-MnO₂ and MnO₃ with crystalline walls. Their electrochemical properties as electrodes in Li-ion batteries have been investigated. Mesoporous β-MnO₂ can accommodate 0.9 Li/Mn in stark contrast to bulk β-MnO₂ which cannot accommodate Li. To prepare mesoporous materials which cannot be obtained directly by the hard template method, a post-templating route has been developed. Mesoporous Fe₃O₄, γ-Fe₂O₃, and Mn3O4 with ordered mesostructures and highly crystalline walls have been obtained by post-synthesis reduction/oxidation treatments. All the materials show unique magnetic properties compared with nanoparticulate and bulk materials. Also, the first example of lithium containing mesoporous material, LT-LiCoO₂, was synthesized by first preparing mesoporous Co₃O₄, then reacting this with LiOH to form LT-LiCoO₂, with retention of the ordered nanostructure. The nanostructured LT-LiCoO₂ compounds demonstrate superior performance compared with normal or nanoparticulate LT-LiCoO₂, when used as intercalation electrodes in lithium batteries. Finally, monodispersed Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (diameter ~ 8 nm) with a core-shell structure (a highly crystalline Mn₃O₄ core encased in a thin MnO₂ shell) have been prepared for the first time. Ordered three-dimensional arrays form by spontaneous self-assembly. Magnetic measurements demonstrated that the self-assembled three-dimensional arrays exhibit spin-glass behaviour, rather than the anticipated superparamagnetic behaviour for isolated nanoparticles. Such behaviour is interpreted as arising from strong interactions between the core (crystallized Mn₃O₄) and shell (MnO₂).

Abstract not available

Graduation date: 1996

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Julian, Alexander L. Second Reader: Crisiti, Roberto. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 28, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Pulsed power, charger, buck converter, field programmable gate array (FPGA), lithium-ion batteries. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-79). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2003. / Adviser: Ronald B. Goldner. Submitted to the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Includes bibliographical references. Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Michael, Sherif. "September 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on 5 November 2009. Author(s) subject terms: Thin-Film photovoltaics, CIGS, unmanned aerial systems, UAV, solar plane, Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT), lithium polymer. Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-125). Also available in print.

Thesis (M. S.)--Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Kohl, Paul; Committee Member: Fuller, Tom; Committee Member: Gray, Gary; Committee Member: Liu, Meilin; Committee Member: Meredith, Carson; Committee Member: Rincon-Mora, Gabriel.