................................................................................................................................... ii Dedication................................................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................... v Vita........................................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables............................................................................................................................. xii List of Figures............................................................................................................................ xiv Chapter 1 ‐ Introduction........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 ‐ Microbial fuel cells.................................................................................................. 2 1.2 ‐ Microbial fuel cell applications............................................................................... 4 1.3 ‐ Research problems associated with MFC technology............................................. 5 1.4 ‐ Introduction to this research study......................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 ‐ Effects of Nano‐structure Enhanced Cathodes on Electricity Production of Two‐ Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells 2.1 ‐ Introduction............................................................................................................ 8 2.2 ‐ Materials and Methods........................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 ‐ Electrode construction Graphite bar anodes.......................................................................................... 18 Graphite bar cathodes....................................................................................... 20

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

The discovery of novel family of molecular sieves called M41S aroused a worldwide resurgence in the field of porous materials. According to IUPAC definition inorganic solids that contain pores with diameter in the size range of 20-500 A are considered mesoporous materials. Mesoporous silica and alumina based materials find applications in catalysis, adsorption, host- guest encapsulation etc. This article reviews the current state of art and outline the recent patents in mesoporous materials research in three general areas: Synthesis, various mechanisms involved for porous structure formation and applications of silica and alumina based mesoporous materials.

A Review on Chemical Methodologies for Preparation of Mesoporous Silica and Alumina Based Materials

The published data concerning the structural, surface, and catalytic properties of aluminas are reviewed, and these properties are related to the preparation procedures. The experimental and computational investigations of the structural characteristics of the polymorphs most useful for applications in catalysis, which are γ-, η-, δ-, and θ-Al 2 O 3 , are critically analyzed. The thermodynamics of the various polymorphs and the kinetics of the phase transitions are considered. The available information on Bronsted sites (i.e., hydroxyl groups), Lewis acid sites, and acid–base pairs on the surface of aluminas is discussed. Data regarding the application of aluminas as a catalyst and as a catalyst support are summarized. Suggestions for future research are proposed.

Structural, Surface, and Catalytic Properties of Aluminas

Comparison of the Cd(II) adsorption processes between boehmite (γ-AlOOH) and goethite (α-FeOOH)

Boehmite nanoparticles as versatile support for organic–inorganic hybrid materials: Synthesis, functionalization, and applications in eco-friendly catalysis

Hydrothermal synthesis of microscale boehmite and gamma nanoleaves alumina

Single-crystal gibbsite nanorods with a high aspect ratio were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method Characterizations by HRTEM, SAED, and XRD revealed that the nanorods prefer to grow along the c-axis The nanorods can be easily transformed to chi-alumina by calcination at 250 degrees C, while the nanorod morphology is well-maintained HRTEM indicates that the chi-alumina nanorod possesses a single-crystal-like structure formed by orientated connection of crystalline nanodomains Altering the synthetic procedure will lead to alumina nanostructures with a different phase structure and morphology, such as alumina nanotubes

Synthesis and characterization of gibbsite nanostructures

The invention provides a method for preparing a nanometer compound by the loading of monox on monodisperse nanometer particles. The method comprises the following specific process: using a silanized reagent to modify the surface of spherical nanometer monox to have hydrophobic property; dispersing the dried nanometer monox particles of which the surface is hydrophobized in an organic solvent with high boiling point, adding metallic oleate and oleic acid and synthesizing the mixture to form the monox nanometer compound of which the surface is evenly distributed with metal oxides or metal single nanometer particles with even dimension by the thermolysis of the metallic oleate at a temperature of between 150 and 380 DEG C. The method has the advantages of wide applicability, simple equipment, easy realization of control, good process repeatability, stable product quality and safe and reliable operation; the nanometer compound with the nanometer monox to load various nanometer particles with even dimension synthesized by the method can be applied in catalyst preparation, a biosensor, magnetic resonance imaging, optics, photoelectron and other fields.

Ye Liu

Papers

Hydrothermal synthesis of microscale boehmite and gamma nanoleaves alumina

Synthesis and characterization of gibbsite nanostructures

Preparation of silicon oxide supported monodisperse nanoparticle nano complex