Publications

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Magnesium oxide (MgO) can convert to different magnesium-containing compounds depending on exposure and environmental conditions. Many MgO-based phases contain hydrated species allowing 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to be used in the characterization and quantification of proton-containing phases; however, surprisingly limited examples have been reported. Here, 1H-magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra of select Mg-based minerals are presented and assigned. These experimental results are combined with computational NMR density functional theory (DFT) periodic calculations to calibrate the predicted chemical shielding results. This correlation is then used to predict the NMR shielding for a series of different MgO hydroxide, magnesium chloride hydrate, magnesium perchlorate, and magnesium cement compounds to aid in the future assignment of 1H-NMR spectra for complex Mg phases.

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To modify existing Bruker connectors for the BCU-II cooler system to allow use with older style MAS probes where the cooling gas is the bearing gas. The use of the BCU will allow lower temperature MAS experiments without the need to use N₂ liquid exchangers.

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Solid state 1H NMR line-shape analysis and (double quantum) DQ 1H NMR experiments have been used to investigate the segmental and polymer chain dynamics as a function of temperature for a series of thermosetting epoxy resins produced using different diamine curing agents. In these thermosets, chemical crosslinks introduce topological constraints leading to residual stresses during curing. Materials containing a unique ferrocene-based diamine (FcDA) curing agent were evaluated to address the role of the ferrocene fluxional process on the atomic-level polymer dynamics. At temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg), the DQ 1H NMR experiments provided a measure of the relative effective crosslink and entanglement densities for these materials and revealed significant polymer chain dynamic heterogeneity in the FcDA-cured thermosets. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 1143–1156.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin diffusion measurements have been widely used to estimate domain sizes in a variety of polymer materials. In cases where the domains are well-described as regular, repeating structures (e.g., lamellar, cylindrical channels, monodispersed spherical domains), the domain sizes estimated from NMR spin diffusion experiments agree with the characteristic length scales obtained from small-angle x-ray scattering and microscopy. In our laboratory, recent NMR spin diffusion experiments for hydrated sulfonated Diels Alder poly(phenylene) (SDAPP) polymer membranes have revealed that assuming a simple structural model can often misrepresent or overestimate the domain size in situations where more complex and disordered morphologies exist. Molecular dynamics simulations of the SDAPP membranes predict a complex heterogeneous hydrophilic domain structure that varies with the degree of sulfonation and hydration and is not readily represented by a simple repeating domain structure. This heterogeneous morphology results in NMR-measured domain sizes that disagree with length scales estimated from the ionomer peak in scattering experiments. Here we present numerical NMR spin diffusion simulations that show how structural disorder in the form of domain size distributions or domain clustering can significantly impact the spin diffusion analysis and estimated domain sizes. Simulations of NMR spin diffusion with differing domain size distributions and domain clustering are used to identify the impact of the heterogeneous domain structure and highlight the limitations of using NMR spin diffusion techniques for irregular structures.

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The degradation of poly[dimethyl siloxane] (PDMS) fluids at metal surfaces can produce insulative PDMS films (also known as SiCO films) that lead to high contact resistance events impacting the performance of electrical contacts in PDMS fluid-filled environmental sensing devices(ESDs). To determine the extent of SiCO film formation on metal contact surfaces due to different exposure and aging conditions it is necessary to develop new characterization methods that allow rapid and non-destructive measurement of the location, thickness and quality of the SiCO degradation films.

Multiple computational and experimental techniques are used to understand the nanoscale morphology and water/proton transport properties in a series of sulfonated Diels-Alder poly(phenylene) (SDAPP) membranes over a wide range of temperature, hydration, and sulfonation conditions. New synthetic methods allow us to sulfonate the SDAPP membranes to much higher ion exchange capacity levels than has been previously possible. Nanoscale phase separation between the hydrophobic polymer backbone and the hydrophilic water/sulfonic acid groups was observed for all membranes studied. We find good agreement between structure factors calculated from atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and those measured by X-ray scattering. With increasing hydration, the scattering ionomer peak in SDAPP is found to decrease in intensity. This intensity decrease is shown to be due to a reduction of scattering contrast between the water and polymer and is not indicative of any loss of nanoscale phase separation. Both MD simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that as hydration levels are increased, the nanostructure morphology in SDAPP evolves from isolated ionic domains to fully percolated water networks containing progressively weaker hydrogen bond strengths. The conductivity of the membranes is measured by electrical impedance spectroscopy and the equivalent proton conductivity calculated from pulsed-field-gradient (PFG) NMR diffusometry measurements of the hydration waters. Comparison of the measured and calculated conductivity reveals that in SDAPP the proton conduction mechanism evolves from being dominated by vehicular transport at low hydration and sulfonation levels to including a significant contribution from the Grötthuss mechanism (also known as structural diffusion) at higher hydration and sulfonation levels. The observed increase in conductivity reflects the impact that changing hydration and sulfonation have on the morphology and hydrogen bond network and ultimately on the membrane performance.

The effect of mixing and sintering processes to prepare tin fluorophosphate glass (Pglass) matrix composites incorporating trisilanol phenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (TSP-POSS) was investigated by comparing manual and suspension mixing, one-step and stepwise sintering processes to explore the structure dynamics and physical properties in the composites as a function of the different process conditions used. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed optimal homogeneous dispersion of the TSP-POSS molecules in the composites prepared by the suspension method. The observed increase of glass transition temperature and the reduction of non-bridging bonds in the composites are believed to be the reason for the effective dispersion of TSP-POSS molecules in the composites. The chemical reaction between the TSP-POSS and Pglass was strongly influenced by the mixing/dispersion and sintering processes investigated. 13C cross polarized magic angle spinning (CP MAS) solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed the chemical stability of the TSP-POSS during the sintering process at elevated temperatures. In addition, a chemical reaction between the TSP-POSS and Pglass was evidenced by 29Si CP MAS NMR analysis. This study will provide a better fundamental understanding of the effective dispersion mechanism of the TSP-POSS molecules in the Pglass matrix that will facilitate tailoring the physicochemical properties of the composites with addition of various small concentrations of TSP-POSS for a number of applications where the pure Pglass is not applicable due to the intrinsic properties of the Pglass.

Magnesium oxide (MgO)-engineered barriers used in subsurface applications will be exposed to high concentration brine environments and may form stable intermediate phases that can alter the effectiveness of the barrier. To explore the formation of these secondary intermediate phases, MgO was aged in water and three different brine solutions and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. After aging, there is ∼4% molar equivalent of a hydrogen-containing species formed. The 1H MAS NMR spectra resolved multiple minor phases not visible in XRD, indicating that diverse disordered proton-containing environments are present in addition to crystalline Mg(OH)2 brucite. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations for the proposed Mg-O-H-, Mg-Cl-O-H-, and Na-O-H-containing phases were performed to index resonances observed in the experimental 1H MAS NMR spectra. Although the intermediate crystal structures exhibited overlapping 1H NMR resonances in the spectra, Mg-O-H intermediates were attributed to the growth of resonances in the δ +1.0 to 0.0 ppm region, and Mg-Cl-O-H structures produced the increasing contributions of the δ = +2.5 to 5.0 ppm resonances in the chloride-containing brines. Overall, 1H NMR analysis of aged MgO indicates the formation of a wide range of possible intermediate structures that cannot be observed or resolved in the XRD analysis.

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The effects of ultra-low glass transition temperature (T_g) phosphate glass (Pglass) on the thermal, morphological, rheological, mechanical, and crystallization properties of hybrid Pglass/poly(eththylene terephthalate)(PET) were investigated. Nano- and micro-scale distribution of the Pglass in the PET polymer matrix was observed. The polydispersed Pglass in the PET matrix functioned as a nucleation agent, resulting in increasing crystallization temperature. The Pglass in the PET matrix decreased the T_g, indicating a plasticizing effect of the Pglass in the hybrids that was confirmed by the significantly decreased complex viscosity of the PET matrix. In addition, with increasing temperature, a non-terminal behavior of the viscoelastic properties occurred due to the hybrid structural changes and improved miscibility of the hybrid components. In conclusion, the obtained solid-state variable temperature ³¹P and ¹H NMR spectroscopy results showed strong Pglass concentration dependency of the interactions at the PET-Pglass interface.

Some long-outstanding technical challenges exist that continue to be of hindrance to fully harnessing the unique investigative advantages of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the in situ investigation of rechargeable battery chemistry. For instance, the conducting materials and circuitry necessary for an operational battery always deteriorate the coil-based NMR sensitivity when placed inside the coil, and the shape mismatch between them leads to low sample filling factors and even higher detection limits. We report, herein, a novel and successful adaptation of stripline NMR detection that integrates seamlessly NMR detection with the construction of an electrochemical device in general, or a battery in particular, which leads to an in situ electrochemical NMR technique with much higher detection sensitivity, higher sample filling factor, and which is particularly suitable for mass-limited samples.

Cheap and efficient ion conducting separators are needed to improve efficiency and lifetime in fuel cells, batteries, and electrolyzers. Current state-of-the-art polymeric separators are made from Nafion, which is too expensive to be competitive with other technologies. Sandia has developed unique polymer separators that have lower cost and equivalent or superior ion transport compared to Nafion. These membranes consist of sulfonated Diels-Alder poly(phenylene) (SDAPP), a completely hydrocarbon polymer that conducts protons when hydrated. SDAPP membranes are thermally and chemically robust, with conductivities rivaling those of Nafion at high sulfonation levels. However, rational design of new separators requires molecular-level knowledge, currently unknown, of how polymer morphology affects transport. Here we describe the use of multiple computational and experimental techniques to understand the nanoscale morphology and water/proton transport properties in a series of sulfonated SDAPP membranes over a wide range of temperature, hydration, and sulfonation conditions.

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