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.
Description
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.