Hafnium Dioxide Nanoparticle Thin Film Morphology and Reactivity with Dimethyl Methylphosphonate

Organophosphonates have been used as simulants of highly toxic compounds such as chemical warfare agents in the study of the decomposition reactions that occur on the surface of hafnium dioxide. Metal oxide and metal-oxide nanoparticles have been shown to decompose organophosphonate molecules. In this study, high surface area hafnium oxide nanoparticles are synthesized via laser ablation. This creates nanoparticles that are free of contaminants and have a narrow size distribution. The particles are characterized by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine particle size and thin film morphology. Once characterized, they are exposed to dimethyl methylphosphonate and the surface reaction is analyzed by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Department dc:contributor.department

Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Milojevich, Allyn Katherine

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Morris, John R.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Dillard, John G.
• Brewer, Karen J.

• organophosphonate
• dimethyl methylphosphonate
• DMMP
• hafnium dioxide

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-12122006-165629

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/46196