system to measure and quantify electronic properties of single walled carbon nanotube material and metal oxide catalysts

这项拨款提案为近红外到紫外范围的光学吸收分光光度计寻求资金，该分光光度计需要研究与单壁碳纳米管（SWNT）和金属氧化物基非均相催化剂的电子结构相关的关键挑战。所要求的仪器将具有表征我们实验室正在开发的各种先进材料的电子结构和化学环境的卓越能力。所得的信息将对诸如单壁碳纳米管的确定性合成、基于功能SWNT的复合材料的制造、SWNT在地下运输的监测、高级氧化过程新型光催化剂的合成和表征以及烷烃氧脱氢过程催化VOx粉末的研究等潜在应用具有关键价值。所要求的设备还支持对这些材料进行包容性的“现场”表征；能够以所需的时间分辨率详细研究电子结构的变化，以捕获在操作条件下发生的结构和化学变化的动态。固体和粉末样品的分析需要漫反射电池，而原位反应电池则需要在等温条件和受控环境下进行分析。质量流量控制器和流量控制箱连同不锈钢管道，配件和额外的开关阀也被要求在严格控制的等温条件下将精确的气体反应物成分输送到原位反应池。这些将成为在操作条件下对材料进行光谱研究的专用设施的一部分。该设备将增强反应工程、催化剂和光催化剂表征领域的能力和专业知识，同时确保西安大略大学土木与环境系、化学与生物化学工程系纳米技术新项目的发展。

This grant proposal seeks  funding for an optical absorption spectrophotometer in the near infrared to ultraviolet range needed to investigate key challenges related to the electronic structure of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and metal oxide-base heterogeneous catalysts. The requested instrumentation will have the exceptional capability of characterizing the electronic structure and chemical environment of a wide range of advanced materials under development in our laboratories. The information derived will be of critical value for potential applications such as deterministic synthesis of single walled carbon nanotubes, fabrication of functional SWNT-based composites, monitoring of SWNT transport on the subsurface, synthesis and characterization of novel photocatalysts for advanced oxidation processes and the study of catalytic VOx powders for alkane oxy-dehydrogenation processes. The requested equipment supports inclusive "in situ" characterization of these materials as well; enabling a detailed study of the changes of electronic structure with the time resolution required to capture the dynamics of structural and chemical changes that occur under operating conditions. A diffuse reflectance cells is required for analysis of solid and powdered samples while an in situ reaction cell is requested to allow analysis under isothermal conditions and controlled environments. Mass flow controllers and a flow control box together with stainless steel tubing lines, fittings and additional on/off valves are requested as well to deliver precise compositions of gas reactants to the in situ reaction cell under careful controlled isothermal conditions. These will be part of a dedicated facility for spectroscopy studies of materials under operating conditions. This equipment will enhance the capabilities and expertise in the areas of reaction engineering, catalyst and photocatalysts characterization and at the same time ensure development of new programs in nanotechnology in the departments of Civil and Environmental and Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario.