MSU Student Research Celebration
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/405
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Item Characterization of Strontium-doped Lanthanum Manganite Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Cathodes(2013-03) Green, Brett; Schmidt, HugoLanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) is a perovskite ceramic used as a cathode material in fuel cells. Here at Montana State University, recent attempts to utilize it in fuel cells have been inexplicably failing. In my project, I am sintering LSM pellets at various temperatures (100o C intervals from 1000 o C to 1500 o C) and performing both x-ray diffraction and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy on the sintered pellets in order to determine what synthesis parameters optimize their performance. The data obtained will be used as a reference for future work in the laboratory on LSM, since our results will likely differ from those seen in scientific literature due to the nuances of different laboratory equipment and methodologies. Our pellets are pressed at 250MPa. Silver paste and silver wire are used to connect the pellet and EIS apparatus. Data is collected at 50 o C intervals from around 300 o C to 900 o C at frequencies ranging from 1Hz to 10MHz. X-ray diffraction data is also obtained and used in the identification of different phases.Item Superconductivity in Alkali-doped Dibenzopentacene(2013-03) Green, Brett; Neumeier, JohnIn November 2011, a group of Chinese researchers set a new record at thirty-three kelvins for the highest critical temperature of any non-fullerene organic superconductor. The compound was potassium-doped dibenzopentacene in a particulate form. Our project's goal is to reproduce their results and attempt to improve upon the superconducting activity seen so far by crystallizing the dibenzopentacene sample. We will determine both the critical temperature and the temperature-dependent resistivity of both non-crystalline and crystalline dibenzopentacene, and then compare our results with those already published. Samples, purchased from chemical suppliers, will be doped by direct heating of the dopant alkali with the sample in a sealed quartz tube. The literature also describes a method of doping in solution. We will employ the gas antisolvent process and solvent pair method, both of which involve precipitation from solution, in our efforts to generate crystals. Should we encounter other possible methods early on, we may try them as well. Analysis will be performed using a “Physical Property Measurement System.” We will determine critical temperature by watching for a sudden change in magnetic susceptibility. Electrical resistivity will be found using test voltages and probes.