Application of Carbon Aerogels in Lithium-Air Batteries
One of the main challenges with today’s batteries is their relatively low volumetric and specific capacities. The highest specific capacity can be achieved with lithium-air batteries, which use metallic lithium as the anode and typically some form of porous carbon as the cathode. To enhance performance, aerogels—among the world’s lightest solid materials—are ideal candidates for cathodes. Resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF)-based carbon aerogels, for example, serve this purpose well. In my work, I utilized two types of carbon aerogels as cathode materials: one derived from pyrolyzed resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer and the other a graphene-oxide-modified version of this carbon gel. I integrated the carbon aerogels I had pyrolyzed into lithium-air batteries to improve the cell’s performance, energy density, and capacity compared to cells using activated carbon. In my research, I examined the pore structure and surface properties of these materials in aqueous media using NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) relaxometry and cryoporometry, exploring their impact on battery efficiency. I found that the graphene-oxide-containing sample's pores filled with water in a layered manner, indicating a more hydrophilic surface, which suggests a denser arrangement of oxygen-containing functional groups compared to the unmodified carbon aerogel. The pore sizes were reduced after adding graphene oxide, resulting in an increased specific surface area for the sample. Incorporating the reduced graphene-oxide-containing carbon aerogel enabled the creation of a more efficient, higher-capacity battery than with the RF carbon aerogel. This improved performance is likely due to the aerogel’s higher oxygen content and altered morphology. The increased oxygen content provides more active sites for oxygen reduction, meaning that a greater specific power output can be obtained from the battery.
一價銠金屬催化肉桂胺衍生物進行不對稱氫芳基化反應
Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroarylation of Cinnamylamine Derivatives
一價銠金屬催化反應已經被廣泛應用於有機化學合成領域中。而本研究以具保護基之肉桂胺衍生物1與四芳基硼鈉試劑2a作為起始物進行銠金屬不對稱氫芳基化催化反應，得到具有保護基的掌性2,3-雙芳基丙胺衍生物3，並探討此反應的掌性雙烯配基對於反應的影響。本研究已完成使用Ts（對甲苯磺醯基）保護基之肉桂胺衍生物1a作為起始物進行反應，並改變與銠金屬錯合的配基，發現當配基使用2,5號位為芳基取代之配基L（掌性雙環[2,2,1]雙烯配基）時，反應有較好的位置選擇性，其中最佳的是芳基取代為苯基之配基L1，其位置選擇性比例為1:0:0.09。目前將進行改變起始物1之氮上的保護基，以L1作為配基進行反應，並與1a比較，優化反應性及產率。
製備藻類衍生物碳點與 Mxene複合材料並應用高效超級電容
本研究運用綠藻、螺旋藻、卡拉膠（k,i,λ）進行製備碳點並應用高效超級電容。本實驗已完成綠藻、螺旋藻、卡拉膠（ k,i,λ）在不同的pH值中的溶解度測試，並找出綠藻、螺旋藻、卡拉膠（k,i,λ）各自適合溶解的溫度及溶液。此外，中途也已透過文獻中的實驗證實我們實驗中所運用的電化學實驗設計及裝置可以成功製備出碳點。而在電化學製備碳點的部分目前完成單獨藻類、藻類加histidne的電擊實驗以及測其吸收光譜，也運用先前製備出較穩定的碳點加入MXene進行電化學分析，透過碳點擴大MXene分層，以達到增加MXene電化學效能的效果。最後，預計之後將進行更多的電化學分析，進一步地確認碳點結合MXene能在超級電容的應用。
Detection of Calcium Oxalate in Nephrolithiasis Using Ca-D
Nephrolithiasis isacommondiseasewherestoneisfoundinthe kidney. Kidney stones areharddepositsmadeofmineralsandsalts that form inside your kidneys. Urine has various wastes dissolved in it. When there is too much waste in too little liquid, crystals begin to form. Sometimes, tiny stones move out ofthebodyinthe urine without causingtoomuchpainanditcontainscalciumoxide. But stones that don't move may cause a back-up of urine in the kidney, ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. Therefore, Ca-d is used as an effective and affordable alternative device to check kidney stones. A new detector we can operate as an indicator for people who have high calcium oxalate levels in their urine. Which will help us to check calcium oxalate levels easily and practically with the use of tds (PPM as its unit). It can check whether people have high PPM levels that can cause issues like nephrolithiasis. It can also be used regularly so that people can avoid the disease by consistently checking their urine with Ca-d.