SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COBALT OXIDE NANOCOMPOSITES

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SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF COBALT OXIDE
NANOCOMPOSITES Shaik Jeelani, Tuskegee
University, DMR 0611612
Faculty Tamara Floyd-Smith (Tuskegee
University), Lynden Archer (Cornell
University) Students Dwayne Vickers (Tuskegee
University) The objective of this study is to
synthesize cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanocubes and
study their rheological behavior in suspensions
of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol.
This system is of interest because suspensions
of cubes are expected to exhibit enhancements
over traditional spherical particles for
applications such as liquid body armor. These
enhancements are realized because of the ability
of cubes to pack more closely and uniformly based
on their planar faces. A procedure for
synthesizing narrow size distribution cube-shaped
Co3O4 nanoparticles ranging from 40 to 60 nm has
been developed. Viscous and viscoelastic
properties of suspensions of the cubes in
oligomeric polyethylene glycol (PEG) were
investigated over a wide range of particle volume
fractions.
Dwayne Vickers at work at Cornell University
TEM Micrograph of 55 nm Cobalt Oxide Nanocubes
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Education and Outreach Research Experience for
High-Schoolers (REH) Shaik Jeelani, Tuskegee
University, DMR 0611612
Faculty Mahesh Hosur, Vijaya Rangari, Yuanxin
Zhou (TU) Dr. Melissa Hines (CU) and Ms.
Nevjinder Singhota (CU), Students Merlin
Theodore, Sandrea B. Young, Maria Calhoun,
Gregory Strawder, Jessie Mayo Jr., (TU) The
objective of the REH is to involve high school
students in the research on advanced materials,
motivate them to consider careers in science and
engineering and to help them in preparing and
applying for admission to colleges. 15 students
from local area high schools were identified to
participate in a 2-week research experience
program (June 4-14, 2007). The students were
paired with PhD students who served as mentors
and role models. They were given briefings
covering different topics. These included
Engineering Properties, Nanotechnology and
Importance of Nanotechnology, Definitions of
Science, Engineering, Materials Science,
Materials Engineering, Importance of English,
Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics in
Engineering. They were also involved in designing
and building rap and mouse-trap cars.
Hands-on experience in composites fabrication
2007-REH Students at Poster Session
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Education and Outreach Research Experience for
Teachers (RET) Shaik Jeelani, Tuskegee
University, DMR 0611612
Participants Pamela Leggett-Robinson (TU, Lead),
Nicole Powell (TU), Albert Russell (TU), Melissa
Hines (CU) and Nevjinder Singhota (CU) Objective
of this five weeks summer program (900 am 400
pm) is to (a) build bridges between chemistry,
engineering, and material science research and
K-12 education (b) involve educators in the
research community enhance the quality of
pre-college education and (c) produce classroom
instructional materials that engage in and expose
students to interdisciplinary learning,
specifically in the area of chemistry and their
community. RET supports active participation of
K-12 teachers in research and education projects
with the expressed intent of facilitating
professional development of K-12 teachers through
strengthened partnerships between institutions of
higher education and local school districts.
Shenika Brundidge at The Southeastern Regional
Meeting of the American Chemical Society,
Greenville, SC-November 2007.
Highlights of Program Shenika Brundidge attended
a teacher workshop at Cornell University in
October and will participate in the RET II
program. The RET II program is a 2nd year
research for teachers held at Cornell University.
Ms. Brundidge will present this work at SERMACS
2008 in Nashville, TN.
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Science on Saturdays (SoS) Shaik Jeelani,
Tuskegee University, DMR 0611612

• Participants Pamela Leggett-Robinson (TU, Lead),
  Gregory Prichett (TU), Nicole Powell (TU), Albert
  Russell (TU), Barbara Rackley (TU), Melissa Hines
  (CU) and Nevjinder Singhota (CU)
• Objective of this activity is to provide a
  positive, hands-on learning experience for
  students in grades K-12 as well as their parents,
  and teachers through our SoS K-12 educational
  program. The SOS program utilizes our expertise
  as research chemists and educators to
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• foster relationships with the public school
  system
• develop an appreciation for chemistry at the K-12
  age via a constructivist approach
• increase awareness of the role of science in our
  everyday life
• expose elementary age students to the different
  areas and professions of chemistry and
• provide science education experience to the ACS
  student affiliates.
•  
• SoS activities are designed with a common theme
  however, with increasing complexity as to
  accommodate the different learning capacities of
  each age group. Each of the themes and activities
  follows the FOSS K-8 scope for Science Modules,
  NSTA guidelines, and the State of Alabama Science
  guidelines.

K-8 students in a SoS Session
SoS 2007-2008 Demographic Data
Grade Level of Participants Male Female
K-2 47 13 34
3-5 42 16 26
6-8 93 28 65
9-12 12 2 10
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SPECTROSCOPIC AND RHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF
THE CHEMICAL INTERACTIONS IN NANOPARTICLES
POLYMER COMPOSITES Shaik Jeelani, Tuskegee
University, DMR 0611612
Faculty Vijaya Rangari (Tuskegee University),
Melissa Hines (Cornell University) Students
Wanda Jones (Tuskegee University), Amy Richter
(Cornell University) Scope of CNT applications
in practical devices has been largely hampered by
their poor dispersion in polymer resin and weak
interfacial bonding with polymer matrix.
Therefore, objective of this work was to modify
the surface of CNT and obtain good dispersion of
the CNTs in polymers. A novel sonochemical method
was developed to coat various Polyhedral
Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles
onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). These
coated materials were infused into epoxy based
resin systems for multifunctional use of
nanocomposites in structural applications. FTIR
and Raman techniques were applied to understand
the surface characteristic of the carbon
nanotubes. Thermal and mechanical properties of
POSS modified carbon nanotubes infused resin
systems were examined to determine influence of
surface modification of the carbon nanotubes in
epoxy matrix.
Amy Richter (left) and Wanda Jones (right) at
work at Cornell University
TEM micrograph of POSS coated MWCNTs