Matthew S. Wellons

Synthesis and Characterization of a Lithium-Doped Fullerane (Lix-C60-Hy) for Reversible Hydrogen Storage

Herein, we present a lithium-doped fullerane (Li(x)-C(60)-H(y)) that is capable of reversibly storing hydrogen through chemisorption at elevated temperatures and pressures. This system is unique in that hydrogen is closely associated with lithium and carbon upon rehydrogenation of the material and that the weight percent of H(2) stored in the material is intimately linked to the stoichiometric ratio of Li:C(60) in the material. Characterization of the material (IR, Raman, UV-vis, XRD, LDI-TOF-MS, and NMR) indicates that a lithium-doped fullerane is formed upon rehydrogenation in which the active hydrogen storage material is similar to a hydrogenated fullerene. Under optimized conditions, a lithium-doped fullerane with a Li:C(60) mole ratio of 6:1 can reversibly desorb up to 5 wt % H(2) with an onset temperature of ~270 °C, which is significantly less than the desorption temperature of hydrogenated fullerenes (C(60)H(x)) and pure lithium hydride (decomposition temperature 500-600 and 670 °C respectively). However, our Li(x)-C(60)-H(y) system does not suffer from the same drawbacks as typical hydrogenated fullerenes (high desorption T and release of hydrocarbons) because the fullerene cage remains mostly intact and is only slightly modified during multiple hydrogen desorption/absorption cycles. We also observed a reversible phase transition of C(60) in the material from face-centered cubic to body-centered cubic at high levels of hydrogenation.

NOVEL CATALYTIC EFFECTS OF FULLERENE FOR LIBH4 HYDROGEN UPTAKE AND RELEASE

The addition of catalysts to complex hydrides is aimed at enhancing the hydrogen absorption desorption properties. Here we show that the addition of carbon nanostructure C60 to LiBH4 has a remarkable catalytic effect, enhancing the uptake and release of hydrogen. A fullerene-LiBH4 composite demonstrates catalytic properties with not only lowered hydrogen desorption temperatures but also regenerative rehydrogenation at a relatively low temperature of 350 degrees C. This catalytic effect probably originates from C60 interfering with the charge transfer from Li to the BH4 moiety, resulting in a minimized ionic bond between Li+ and BH4(-), and a weakened covalent bond between B and H. Interaction of LiBH4 with an electronegative substrate such as carbon fullerene affects the ability of Li to donate its charge to BH4, consequently weakening the B-H bond and causing hydrogen to desorb at lower temperatures as well as facilitating the absorption of H2. Degradation of cycling capacity is observed and is probably due to the formation of diboranes or other irreversible intermediates.

Ambient aging of rhenium filaments used in thermal ionization mass spectrometry: Growth of oxo-rhenium crystallites and anti-aging strategies

Degassing is a common preparation technique for rhenium filaments used for thermal ionization mass spectrometric analysis of actinides, including plutonium. Although optimization studies regarding degassing conditions have been reported, little work has been done to characterize filament aging after degassing. In this study, the effects of filament aging after degassing were explored to determine a “shelf-life” for degassed rhenium filaments, and methods to limit filament aging were investigated. Zone-refined rhenium filaments were degassed by resistance heating under high vacuum before exposure to ambient atmosphere for up to 2 months. After degassing the nucleation and preferential growth of oxo-rhenium crystallites on the surface of polycrystalline rhenium filaments was observed by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compositional analysis of the crystallites was conducted using SEM-Raman spectroscopy and SEM energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and grain orientation at the metal surface was investigated by electron back-scatter diffraction mapping. Spectra collected by SEM-Raman suggest crystallites are composed primarily of perrhenic acid. The relative extent of growth and crystallite morphology were found to be grain dependent and affected by the dissolution of carbon into filaments during annealing (often referred to as carbonization or carburization). Crystallites were observed to nucleate in region specific modes and grow over time through transfer of material from the surface. Factors most likely to affect the rates of crystallite growth include rhenium substrate properties such as grain size, orientation, levels of dissolved carbon, and relative abundance of defect sites; as well as environmental factors such as length of exposure to oxygen and relative humidity. Thin (∼180 nm) hydrophobic films of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) were found to slow the growth of oxo-rhenium crystallites on the filament surfaces and may serve as an alternative carbon source for filament carburization.

Investigations of Uranyl Fluoride Sesquihydrate (UO2F2·1.57H2O): Combining 19F Solid-State MAS NMR Spectroscopy and GIPAW Chemical Shift Calculations

High-resolution 19F magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra were obtained for the uranium-bearing solid uranyl fluoride sesquihydrate (UO2F2·1.57H2O). While there are seven distinct crystallographic fluorine sites, the 19F NMR spectrum reveals six peaks at -33.3, 9.1, 25.7, 33.0, 39.0, and 48.2 ppm, with the peak at 33.0 ppm twice the intensity of all the others and therefore corresponding to two sites. To assign the peaks in the experimental spectra to crystallographic sites, 19F chemical shifts were calculated using the gauge including projector augmented waves (GIPAW) plane-wave pseudopotential approach for a DFT-optimized crystal structure. The peak assignments from DFT are consistent with two-dimensional double-quantum 19F MAS NMR experiments.

Practical Utilization of Uranium-Containing Particulate Test Samples for SEM/EDS and SIMS Automated Particle Analysis Method Validation

The detection and characterization of uranium particulates from swipe samples collected by nuclear facilities safeguards inspectors often relies on automated search algorithms and instrument software for analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and/or secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS). Because safeguards samples are inherently cluttered with background environmental material automated particle measurement (APM) methods with correctly tuned instrument parameters are required for robust identification of uranium containing material. Unfortunately, no standard or reference specimens are commercially available for uranium APM method validation or instrument proficiency testing. To meet such challenges the safeguards community has generated and characterized select test specimens over the past decade, but these efforts have been hindered by limited production and challenging characterization [1-3].