Synthesis and modification of mesoporous silica and the preparation of molecular sieve thin films via pulsed laser deposition

Hexagonal mesoporous DAM-1 (Dallas Amorphous Material-1) was prepared using Vitamin E TPGS as the structure-directing agent. Depending upon the temperature and gel composition, highly ordered and hydrothermally stable DAM-1 with various morphologies could be achieved including spheres, gyroids, discoid, hexagonal plates and rods. This synthesis was modified to prepare hybrid organic-inorganic amine and thiol bifunctionalized DAM-1 by direct co-condensation under acidic conditions. Patterned DAM-1 thin films were prepared on patterned transparencies utilizing pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and line patterning techniques. DAM-1 laser ablation onto the patterned substrate followed by hydrothermal treatment resulted in a densely packed film. Removal of the patterned lines by sonication revealed patterned DAM-1 films. Thin films of zeolite type X were also prepared using the PLD technique. Laser ablation of zeolite X onto TiN-coated silicon wafers followed by a hydrothermal treatment resulted in partially oriented, crystalline membranes. Hydrothermal treatment of PLD films on stainless steel mesh produced a coated wire mesh with a 3-μm thick zeolite X film.; A novel strategy for imprinting mesoporous SBA-15 that combines a triblock copolymer template and a chiral ruthenium complex is reported. A chiral PEO helix was formed by the chiral ruthenium complex interaction with the block copolymer during the synthesis of SBA-15. Upon removal of the chiral ruthenium complex, a stereospecfic cavity was created. Preliminary results indicated stereoselective absorption of Δ or Λ-Ru(phen)₃ 2+ isomer from a racemic mixture could be achieved depending on the chirality of the PEO chain.; Practicum Two. The industrial practicum report describes the process development unit (PDU) 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) refining operation. This distillation works was operated to refine crude 3PN product, which contained 3PN, 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile (2M3BN), and other byproducts. This report also describes the evaluation of the HISIV™ 1000 molecular sieve for TBC adsorption. The TBC equilibrium capacity was determined from a cyclohexane/TBC liquid mixture and was comparable to alumina adsorbents.; Practicum One. A fluorescent diagnostic system was developed to image the inhomogeneous mixture formed as two miscible fluids mix. This diagnostic for the mixing fraction uses a commercially available CCD color camera, a polarity sensitive fluorescent probe (DCM), and the planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging technique to track the mixing of two miscible fluids of different polarity (ethanol and decane). The DCM fluorescence spectrum shifts to the red with increasing polarity, and the CCD camera's red, green, and blue color channels serve as spectral filters for the probe's fluorescence.