Publication Date

2007

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Zheng, Chong (Professor of chemistry)

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

LCSH

Semiconductors

Abstract

The synthesis of new semiconducting materials with novel electrical properties is of great importance to many fields of industrial manufacturing and electronics. Semiconducting materials often possess photocatalytic properties in addition to their potential future utilization as components in next-generation solidstate electronic components. This study is of a group of three new semiconducting materials that were synthesized by finely grinding mixes each consisting of a rare earth such as lanthanum, one or more metals or metalloids, a metal halide flux, and optionally an oxidizer such as sulfur. After grinding, the mixes were placed in electric furnaces for periods of between one and two weeks at temperatures to 1000° C. Following cleaning of any residual traces of the flux compounds, these crystalline solids were structurally analyzed via EDICS and single-crystal x-ray diffraction and some of their bulk material properties were catalogued. In some cases, photocatalytic properties with respect to methylene blue and methyl orange were observed, documented, and compared to known standard photocatalytic compounds in the same media.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [173]-178).

Extent

xiii, 195 pages (some color pages)

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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