AcoPolymer of styrene and methyl styrene was synthesized by nitroxide-mediated "living" free radical polymerization (NMP). N-Bromosuccinimide was used as a brominating agent to obtain a copolymer with bromine as its end group. This brominated copolymer was used as macro initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Chemical modification of the clay and transformation of this inorganic material to an organophilic clay was carried out by cation exchange reaction between the clay and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride salt in deionized water by mechanical stirring. Preparation of nanocomposite was carried out by solution intercalation method. The structures of the terpolymer and other compounds were investigated by IHNMR, GPC, FTIR, SEM, TEM and XRD methods and their thermal stability was examined by TGA analyses.

Recently, there exists a discrepancy on the lithium ion de-intercalation mechanism for LiCoPO4 electrode. In the present work, the study was focused upon exploring the origin of this discrepancy by studying the dependence of the impedance spectrum on the state of charge and the carbon content. For the pure LiCoPO4 electrode, the two plateaus in the charge curve are at 4.82 and 4.92 V. We have also studied the variation of electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EISs) with the state of charge. The EIS measurement has shown that the total interfacial resistance increases as the state of charge increases for the pure LiCoPO4 electrode. If higher content of sucrose was added in the precursor (this implies higher carbon content in the synthesized sample), only one potential plateau can be found in the charge curve. For this electrode, the total interfacial resistance decreases with the state of charge. Especially, the total interfacial resistance has a dramatic decrease when the state of charge increases from 20% to 40%. It is believed that the influence of carbon impurity on the variation tendency of the EIS pattern may reflect the change of the fine structure. For the pure LiCoPO4 electrode, the intermediate phase is Li0.20~0.45 CoPO4.

Intercalation of lithium into Ag-CNTs sample is reported here. We have used a nano-porous silver foam as a frame for deposition of the CNTs inside the pores by electrophoresis deposition (EPD) technique. By using chronopotentiometry method, we have noticed that the Li storage capacity of the prepared Ag-CNTs electrode was improved noticeably in comparison with literature. In addition, a very good functional stability for the prepared electrode has been tested during subsequent cycles of charge /discharge (C&D) procedures. By scanning the cycle's regulated current from 0.2 up to 1.0 mA, it was shown that in the range of 0.4-0.6 mA reversibility of the C&D capacity became optimum and the voltage profiles were converged, as well.

Hypothesis: Chemical modification of commercial and industrial copolymers and polymers such as polypropylene (PP) is one of the challenges of polymer chemistry. In this research work, a polypropylene nanocomposite modified with polystyrene (PSt) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was synthesized by new methods, including living free radical polymerization (LFRP). Methods: Maleic anhydride was grafted onto polypropylene (PP) followed by opening of the anhydride ring with ethanolamine to produce hydroxylated polypropylene (PPOH). Hydroxyl groups were esterified using α-chlorophenylacetyl chloride to obtain PP-Cl. Then 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) was immobilized onto the PP backbone using a nucleophilic substitution reaction to produce PP-TEMPO macroinitiator. Afterward, the monomer (St) was grafted onto the backbone (PP) through “ grafting onto” technique to afford (PP-TEMPO)-g-PSt. The chlorideend-caped PP-g-PSt copolymer was then attached to the oxidized MWCNTs in the presence of DMF as solvent to produce the MWCNTs-g-(PP-g-PSt) nanocomposite by solution intercalation method. Also, the present study confirmed that PP-g-MA was efficient to promote the dispersion of MWCNTs in the PP matrix, which solved the problem of CNTs aggregation and limited compatibility between nanotubes and polymer matrices. In another study nanotubes-polypropylene nanocomposities were prepared through esterification process. Findings: The chemical structures of all samples were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Chemical bonding (PP-TEMPO)-g-PSt to MWCNTs was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results. In addition, morphology studies were investigated using TEM and SEM images. A synthesized MWCNTs-g-(PP-g-PSt) nanocomposite can be used as a reinforcement for polymer (nano-) composites due to the superior features of MWCNTs as well as their compatibility with polymer materials after functionalization processes.

There are various methods for preparation of polymeric nanocomposite materials. One of these methods is melt intercalation procedure. In this study, segmented linear thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers based on polytetramethylene glycol, toluene diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol were synthesized by prepolymer method. The molar ratios of reactants were 1:3:2 for polyol, isocyanate and chain extender, respectively. Then, melt intercalation of thermoplastic polyurethane with nanoclay was carried out in a Haake internal mixer at 135ºC temperature, 60 rpm rotational speed for 6 min. Three different weight percents of a nanoclay as filler were used in the synthesized polyurethane model compound. Using this method, an exfoliated nanocomposite structures formed which was confirmed by wide angle X-ray scattering. Tensile strength was increased as nanoclay content was increased from 0.4 to 1.2. It is believed that, this behaviour can be related to delamination of nanoclay layers and strong surface adhesion of polymer and modified nanoclay. Also, thermogravimetric analysis and T95 studies have shown that the thermal stability of nanocomposite has been shifted to higher temperatures as clay content is being increased.

The angular dependent magnetoresistance oscillation (ADMRO) of the stage-2 IBr graphite intercalation compound (GIC) was studied between 1.8 K and 110 K in magnetic fields between 1 and 9 T. There was a series of peaks in the c-axis resistance as the field direction was changed from the c axis to the (001) plane. The field independence of the angular positions of the peaks, showing that the oscillation is not from the Shubnikov-de Haas effect, and the presence of the oscillation at high temperatures indicate that the effect is semiclassic. The location and the relative amplitudes of the peaks show that the ADMRO in this compound does not follow the predictions for the symmetrical corrugation model of the cylindrical Fermi surface. The reason is attributed to the presence of two cylindrical Fermi surfaces and zone folding of the Fermi surface by the periodicity of the IBr lattice in this compound.

Effluent, containing toxic and hazardous wastes, discharged by industries has been an eye-catching issue for researchers over the past few years. Mainly, this hazardous waste incorporates a large variety of dyes, chemicals, and traces of heavy metals. This work focuses on the treatment of industrial wastewater using the adsorption technique for Graphite Intercalation Compound (GIC) as an adsorbent. NyexTM 1000, a commercial adsorbent with a surface area of 1.0 m2/g, offering a Bulk density of 0.88 g/cm3 and Pore diameter of 133 Å respectively, was utilized to remediate an industrial contaminant. A GIC adsorbent was found to reduce COD by about 90% i.e., 150 mg/L to 10 mg/L. The outcome of this research has revealed that Graphite intercalation compound (GIC) as an adsorbent is suitable for the reduction of COD from industrial effluent. Kinetic studies reveal adsorbent surface heterogeneity is increased and multilayer adsorption was observed. 6 cyclic adsorption studies were performed by regenerating the adsorbent 5 times consecutively. The GIC adsorbent was regenerated via an electrochemical reactor and has shown a significant regeneration efficiency of more than 99%. The electrochemical reactor was integrated with a solar energy system to make the process cost-effective.