Synthesis, characterization, modeling, and catalysis of titania, alumina, zeolite, and manganese oxide materials

This work is divided into two major parts. The first portion is experimental, and involves the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic reactions of titanium dioxide and a combined system of titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide. Syntheses were carried out using sol-gel methods; characterization was by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron microscopy, and light microscopy. Photocatalysis was done with these samples. The second part of the work involves the application of computer modeling and X-ray powder refinement employing Rietveld methods to zeolite and manganese oxide catalysts. Computations were done using a molecular modeling system supplied by BIOSYM Technologies.