Topochemistry of Layered Selenide Materials

Date

2004-01

Authors

Martin, Benjamin R.

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Abstract

This award has been invaluable as I built a new research program at Texas State University. These funds not only gave me the necessary resources to acquire supplies and encourage student involvement, but they also helped to secure external funding by ensuring that these resources would be available at the time this external grant would begin. The research project detailed in the proposal centers on the low temperature modification of selenium-containing structures. Before such work may take place, the framework compounds must be synthesized from elements at high temperatures in a furnace. Since the compounds of interest contain highly reactive alkali metals, for safety these metals are pre-reacted with selenium to generate alkali selenide salts. Each step described above requires specialized glassware and equipment. During the term of this grant we converted the laboratory into a space suitable for solid state synthesis by building a high vacuum line, an inert gas line, and a bank of furnaces. We then synthesized and analyzed more than 60 products including a number of alkali chalcogenide salts, and the low dimensional structures Cs6Re6S12, LiCrS2, and KFeS2. These compounds, and the equipment purchased from this REP grant serve as the basis for the research proposal submitted to the Petroleum Research Fund, which was awarded beginning 9/1/2004. 40% of the funds were used to pay undergraduate students (Rick Gonzales, Ross Spann, and Roy Ouma) during the summer of 2004, and the remainder was used to buy specialized glassware, furnace supplies, electrochemical apparatus, and a license for the ICSD structural database.

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Research Enhancement Program Final Report

Keywords

low temperature, selenium, alkali metals, selenide salts

Citation

Martin, B. R. (2004). <i>Topochemistry of layered selenide materials</i>. Research Enhancement Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.

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