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Thesis
Solid-supported nanofilaments in polyurethane foam for high surface area applications
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011066
Abstract
Polyurethane foams have long been used in several applications such as furniture, acoustic dampening, and sponges. Due to the wide variety of applications they see use in, polyurethane foams are rather cheap to produce, and thus research surrounding them is particularly promising if results are meant to be scaled-up. 1-dimensional titanium lepidocrocite (1DL) nanofilaments are a relatively new type of nanomaterial with interesting photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic properties of the 1DL nanofilaments have been demonstrated to be of particular use in water filtration and hydrogen gas generation. Thus, it is desirable to pursue a material wherein a chemically reticulated polyurethane foam is used to hold nanofilaments so that they can be used repeatedly for photocatalytic purposes without having to be replaced. The synthesis methods stem from the fact that the polyurethane foam is made with polyester polyol, which allows for chemical reticulation via quenching in an aqueous solution of 12 wt.% sodium hydroxide to achieve high surface area matrix. Nanofilaments are introduced into the foam during synthesis, where they are typically mixed in with the foam. Functionalizing the surface of a reticulated foam was also attempted as well. The resulting material was then characterized with imaging techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nano-computed tomography (nCT) as well as with physical characterization techniques such as density tests, compression tests, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The material was successfully synthesized and characterized. The synthesis methods and results generated in this study set the ground work for future testing of this material and ideally a material suited for cheap hydrogen gas generation and water filtration.
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Details
- Title
- Solid-supported nanofilaments in polyurethane foam for high surface area applications
- Creators
- John Gerald Portnoy
- Contributors
- Andrew J. D. Magenau (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- viii, 80 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials (Science and) Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) [Historical]; College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022058936004721