Firstly, a series of composite thin films composed of mesoporous silica (SBA-15) filled in polyimide were synthesized. The effect of SBA-15 modified with functional group octytrimethoxysilane (OTMS) or 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (ATS) on the mechanical and dielectric properties as well as the thermal stability of thin films were investigated. The tensile strength and elongation of the composite films containing SBA-15 modified with ATS were higher than those with OTMS and pristine SBA-15. It was found that the poly(amic acid) containing SBA-15 modified with ATS composite films prepared are thermally stable, and have maximum tensile/elongation and low Dk (2.8). The possible mechanistic route is discussed, and the results indicate that the SBA-15 modified by ATS is a good candidate for use as an additive in polyimide to reduce dielectric constant and markedly improve mechanical and thermally properties of the composite films.
Secondly, hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuOxHy) particles composed of nanocrystallites of ~5 nm in size were prepared, using hexagonal self-ordered mesoporous SiO2 (SBA-15) as a template and RuCl3 as the ruthenium precursor. The material is electrically conductive and has a highly mesoporous structure with a sharp distribution of fine pores of size around 3~4 nm. An extremely high specific capacitance of 954 F/g measured at 1mV/s was obtained from electrochemical capacitor made with the material. Rectangular shape of the cyclic voltammetry was observed even increasing the scan rate to about 100mV/s. The capacitor efficiency can be kept at a constant value of 95~98 % at a wide range of current from 10 to 300 mA. The results reveal that the finely and highly mesoporous ruthenium oxide prepared by the templating method has sufficiently high rate capability in H2SO4 media and is promising for energy storage devices such as supercapacitors.

ABSTRACT I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT III
TABLE OF CONTENTS IV
FIGURE CAPTIONS VI
TABLE CAPTIONS VIII
CHAPTER 1 MESOPOROUS SILICA SBA-15 1
1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. FUNCTIONALIZATION OF PORE SURFACE 3
3. PROPOSE NEW APPLICATIONS 5
4 .REFERENCE 8
CHAPTER 2 FUNCTIONALIZED-SBA-15/POLYIMIDE NANOCOMPOSITE THIN FILMS WITH IMPROVED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND LOW DIELECTRIC CONSTANT 12
1. INTRODUCTION 12
2. EXPERIMENTAL 14
2.1 Preparation of poly(amic acid) and functionalized SBA-15 14
2.2 Coating conditions of composite films 15
2.3 Characterization 16
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 18
3.1 Structure studies of functionalized SBA-15 18
3.2 Mechanical property of composite films 19
3.3 SEM of composite films 22
3.4 Thermal analysis of composite films 24
3.5 Dielectric constants of composite film containing SBA-15 modified by ATS 25
4. CONCLUSION 28
5. REFERENCES 29
CHAPTER 3 NANOCRYSTALLINE RUTHENIUM OXIDE OF FINE MESOPOROSITY PREPARED BY TEMPLATING FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CAPACITOR APPLICATIONS 43
1. INTRODUCTION 43
2. EXPERIMENTAL 44
2.1 Preparation of nanocrystalline ruthenium oxide film electrodes 44
2.2 Measurement of electrochemical properties 46
2.3 Characterization 47
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 47
3.1 Template structure 47
3.2 Nanocrystalline Ruthenium Oxide structure 48
3.3 Nanocrystalline Ruthenium Oxide of Fine Mesoporosity 49
3.4 Cyclic voltammetry and DC charge/discharge 51
3.5 Charge-transfer resistance and electronic conductivity of the templated RuOxHy 56
4. CONCLUSION 57
5. REFERENCES 59

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