Date of Award

8-2022

Degree Type

Dissertation-Restricted

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Program

Chemistry

Department

Chemistry

Major Professor

John B Wiley

Second Advisor

Matthew A Tarr

Third Advisor

Weilie Zhou

Fourth Advisor

Viktor Poltavets

Abstract

Nanomaterials offer abundant applications not accessible in regular bulk structures. A nanotubular structure (nanoscroll or nanotube) is a 1D architecture with distinct properties varying from that of the parent material. The new structure for example provides more surface area and presents more active sites on the structure exterior, interior, or edges. In this research, different nanotubular materials were targeted including nanopeapods (NPPs), nanoscrolls (NScs), and their various derivatives.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) were used as pod materials to grow noble metal NPs in their lumen. The synthesis was done rapidly, within 2 minutes at 55 ⸰C. This allows the growth of gold (Au) NPs, silver (Ag) NPs, and palladium (Pd) NPs in HNTs. Concurrently, the growth of NPs in the HNTs were studied utilizing different amounts of reducing agents.

Kaolinite has a similar chemical formula to HNTs but with a different morphology, was used as a precursor to synthesize kaolinite NScs through a microwave process. The outcome of the experiments shows that the desired NScs can be achieved within 14 hours. Alternating the final intercalating agent allowed the formation of either thin and thick outer layered NScs.

Hexaniobate (HNB) NPPs were synthesized through a solvothermal process where titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) act as peas. The nanocomposites were found to be photochemically active and were employed to degrade organic dyes in the aqueous medium after methylation of the nanocomposites.

Ultrathin vanadate nanosheets (NSs) are highly desirable in a variety of applications including batteries and capacitors. Vanadate NSs were readily made by the thermal processing of vanadate NScs. The newly synthesized NSs are well dispersed and have a 4 nm average thickness.

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The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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