Investigation of luminescent tin and lead materials and application of their vapor detection capabilities
Abstract
While surface studies of tin oxide, a well established gas sensing material, are quite prevalent, a void of information regarding most other tin materials is quite apparent. Tin oxide, like silicon and germanium, is a semiconductor, while tin itself is metallic in nature. This disparity allows for the possibility of a multitude of new chemistries on metallic tin surfaces which have not yet been attempted. Inorganic tin compounds are useful starting materials for many reactions, including those which lead to organotin compounds. As to our knowledge there are no instances of many surface-bound tin functionalities including halides, hydrocarbons, and hydrides. The bulk of this thesis explores the different chemistries that lead to various tin surface functionalizations. A number of reactions produced high surface area materials and in addition, many displayed unexpected room temperature and low temperature photoluminescence (PL). Of these surfaces several were found to be responsive to specific analytes such as amine-containing vapors, human sweat, and various aqueous salts and amino acids by inducing either a shift or quench of the visible light emission. In addition a number of similar PL quenching experiments were preformed on various luminescent lead compounds. These results will be discussed in order to elucidate the differences and similarities with the described luminescent tin compounds.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Buriak, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Chemistry
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