Metallic composites

The focus of this thesis is to develop lanthanide (Ln) luminescent materials through the exploration of coordination polymers and nanomaterials. Herein, dimethyl-3,4- furanedicarboxylate acid undergoes hydrolysis under hydrothermal conditions to form coordination polymers with lanthanide ions. The resulting coordination polymers exhibited luminescent properties, with quantum yields and lifetimes for the Eu-and Tb-CP of 1.14+-0.32% and 0.387=-0.0001 mx, and 3.33=-0.82% and 0.769=-0.006 ms, respectively. While the incorporation of lanthanides was not achieved in this work, progress toward the production of pure phase InP in the nanoregime has been made, using a low-cost, hydrothermal method. Through SEM and PXRD conflict, it is believed that pure INP particles with a size range of 58-81 nm were successfully synthesized.

The codeposition of a smooth and uniform coating of copper and molybdenum was successfully achieved on T-650 carbon fiber. The effect of various plating parameters on the electrodeposition of copper and molybdenum such as plating bath chemistry, current density, and pulse frequency were studied. By adjusting the aforementioned variables, qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted to evaluate the deposit smoothness, uniformity, and wetting characteristics. Qualitative analysis of the deposits were made using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis of the deposit coating was conducted using inductively coupled plasma chemical analysis, dewetting tests, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the results, a plating line was designed and constructed for the continuous deposition of copper and molybdenum onto carbon fiber tows.

Within solid-state chemistry, coordination polymers have gained interest for use in various applications such as sensing, catalysis, display technology, hydrogen storage, etc. The use of lanthanide ions in these materials provides a mean of exploring how structure may affect luminescence efficiency. In this study, the photophysics of several lanthanide benzenecarboxylates was studied. This data combined with data from other coordination polymers created in our lab indicate that the established guidelines for producing highly efficient materials may not correlate directly from solution to the solid state and that structure may also play a role.