A Machine Learning Approach to Predicting the Employability of a Graduate

For many credit-offering institutions, such as banks and retailers, credit scores play an important role in the decision-making process of credit applications. It becomes difficult to source the traditional information required to calculate these scores for applicants that do not have a credit history, such as recently graduated students. Thus, alternative credit scoring models are sought after to generate a score for these applicants. The aim for the dissertation is to build a machine learning classification model that can predict a students likelihood to become employed, based on their student data (for example, their GPA, degree/s held etc). The resulting model should be a feature that these institutions should use in their decision to approve a credit application from a recently graduated student

Synthesis and photophysical properties of lead phthalocyanines

This work reports on the synthesis and photophysical parameters of tetra-and octa-substituted new lead phthalocyanines. The complexes synthesized are: 1,4-(tetraphenoxyphthalocyaninato)lead (7a), 1,4-(tetra-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato)lead (7b), 2,3-(tetraphenoxyphthalocyaninato)lead (8a), 2,3-(tetra-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato)lead (8b), 2,3-octaphenoxyphthalocyaninatolead (9a) 2,3-[octakis(4-t-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato)]lead (9b). Photophysical properties were studied for these complexes in a dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. The fluorescence spectra were different from excitation spectra due to demetallation upon excitation. High triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.70 to 0.88 (in DMSO, DMF and toluene) and low triplet lifetimes (20–50 μs in DMSO, and more than 10 μs in the rest of the solvents) were observed due to the presence of heavy atom

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of octa-substituted antimony phthalocyanines

This work reports on the synthesis and photophysicochemical parameters of unsubstituted [SbIIIPc]+I3- and octa-phenoxy ([SbIIIOPPc]+I3-) and -4-t-butylphenoxy ([SbIIIOTBPPc]+I3-) substituted antimony phthalocyanines. Photophysical and photochemical properties were studied for these complexes in dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide and toluene. The excitation spectra of oxidized antimony (Sb(V)Pc) derivates were similar to absorption spectra. Low fluorescence quantum yields, high triplet quantum yields and low triplet lifetimes were observed as the result of heavy atom (antimony ion)

Synthesis, photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of microwave synthesized 4-tetra and octa-substituted lead phthalocyanines

This work presents the photophysical and nonlinear optical behaviour of newly synthesized complexes: 2,(3)-tetrakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (5a) and 2,3-octakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (6a). The nonlinear optical behaviour of complexes 5a and 6a are compared with those of 2,(3)-tetraphenoxyphthalocyaninato lead (5b), 2,(3)-tetrakis(4-t-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (5c), 2,3-octaphenoxyphthalocyaninato lead (6b) and 2,3-octakis(4-t-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (6c). The synthesis of 5a and 6a was performed using microwave irradiation. Photophysical properties were studied for these complexes in dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. The fluorescence spectra were different from excitation spectra due to demetallation upon excitation. High triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.80 to 0.86 (in DMSO, DMF and toluene) and low triplet lifetimes (20–50 μs in DMSO, and more than 10 μs in the rest of the solvents) were observed due to the presence of heavy atom. Nonlinear optical properties were studied in dimethylsulfoxide. The optical limiting threshold intensity (Ilim) for the PbPc derivatives were calculated and ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 W/cm2

Poisoning-tolerant metal hydride materials and their application for hydrogen separation from CO2/CO containing gas mixtures

Metal hydride materials offer attractive solutions in addressing problems associated with hydrogen separation and purification from waste flue gases. However, a challenging problem is the deterioration of hydrogen charging performances resulting from the surface chemical action of electrophilic gases. In this work, the feasibility study of poisoning tolerance of surface modified AB5-type hydride forming materials and their application for hydrogen separation from process gases containing carbon dioxide and monoxide was carried out. Target composition of La(Ni,Co,Mn,Al)5 substrate was chosen to provide maximum reversible hydrogen capacity at the process conditions. The selected substrate alloy has been shown to be effectively surface-modified by fluorination followed by electroless deposition of palladium. The surface-modified material exhibited good coating quality, high cycle stability and minimal deterioration of kinetics of selective hydrogen absorption at room temperature, from gas mixtures containing 10% CO2 and up to 100 ppm CO. The experimental prototype of a hydrogen separation unit, based on the surface-modified metal hydride material, was tested and exhibited stable hydrogen separation and purification performances when exposed to feedstocks containing concentrations of CO2Web of Scienc

Fabrication, characterization, and photovoltaic performance of titanium dioxide/metal-organic framework composite

The titanium dioxide-metal-organic framework (TiO2−MOF) composite was prepared using the sol-gel method for photovoltaic applications. Raman analyses showed the presence of MOF clusters in the TiO2 sol-gel network. Using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, the resultant composite material exhibited a surface area of 111.10 m2 g−1 as compared to the surface area values of 262.90 and 464.76 m2 g−1 for TiO2 and MOF, respectively. The small optical band gap values of 2.63 for direct electronic transition and 2.70 eV for indirect allowed electronic transition in TiO2/MOF composite were observed using ultraviolet-visible supported by cyclic voltammetry (CV)

Application of surface-modified metal hydrides for hydrogen separation from gas mixtures containing carbon dioxide and monoxide

Application of surface-modified MH material for H2 separation using temperature/pressure swing absorption–desorption was studied. The substrate alloy had the following composition LaNi3.55Co0.75Al0.4-Mn0.3, and the surface modification was carried out through fluorination followed by aminosilane functionalization and electroless deposition of Pd. The material was found to have good poisoning tolerance towards surface adsorbates, even for the large (rv1.5 kg) batches. Feasibility of its application for H2 separation from gas mixtures (up to 30% CO2 and 100 ppm CO) was demonstrated by testing of a prototype H2 separation system (rv280 g of MH in two reactors), and H2 separation reactor (0.75 kg of MH). The H2 separation was characterized by stable performances in the duration of 250 absorption/desorption cycles. However, the total process productivity was found to be limited by the sluggish H2 absorption (partial H2 pressure 62.5 bar, temperature below 100 °C). In the presence of CO2 and CO, additional deceleration of H2 absorption was observed at space velocities of the feed gas below 5000 hWeb of Scienc

Improvement of hydriding kinetics of LaNi5-type metal alloy through substitution of nickel with tin followed by palladium deposition

Hydrogen absorption performances of LaNi5 alloy are sensitive to the surface reactions with poisonous gases, such as oxygen, readily forming oxides/hydroxides. In this study, we report the studies on the hydrogen absorption behaviour of AB5-type hydrogen storage alloys, formed by LaNi(5–x)Snx (X = 0.2) followed by electroless Pd deposition. The uncoated and Pd-coated materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller. XRD analyses indicated that both LaNi5 and LaNi4.8Sn0.2 alloys crystallize in CaCu5-type crystal structure, while SEM analysis and particle size distribution histograms showed increment in particle size upon Sn incorporation. Palladium particles on the surface of the materials were detected by AAS and EDS analyses. Furthermore, substitution of a small fraction of Ni by Sn leads to an increase in hydrogen absorption capacity even without activation. Moreover, a decrease in hydrogen absorption rate was observed for LaNi4.8Sn0.2 alloy and this was related to an increment in the crystalline unit cell volume. Kinetic curves of Pd-coated alloys show superior absorption kinetics compared to their uncoated counterparts due to high affinity of Pd for hydroge

Instrumental techniques for characterization of molybdenum disulphide nanostructures

The excellent chemical and physical properties of materials (nanomaterials) with dimensions of less than 100 nm (nanometers) resulted in researchers and industrialists to have great interest in their discovery and applications in various systems/applications. As their sizes are reduced to nanoscale, these nanomaterials tend to possess exceptional properties differing from those of their bulk counterparts; hence, they have found applications in electronics and medicines. In order to apply them in those applications, there is a need to synthesise these nanomaterials and study their structural, optical, and electrochemical properties. Among several nanomaterials, molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) has received a great interest in energy applications due to its exceptional properties such as stability, conductivity, and catalytic activities. Hence, the great challenge lies in finding the state-of-the-art characterization techniques to reveal the different properties of MoS2 nanostructures with great accuracy. In this regard, there is a need to study and employ several techniques to accurately study the surface chemistry and physics of the MoS2 nanostructures. Hence, this review will comprehensively discuss a detailed literature survey on analytical techniques that can be used to study the chemical, physical, and surface properties of MoS2 nanostructures, namely, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/X), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electroanalytical methods which include linear sweep (LSV) and cyclic (CV) voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)

Polyaniline-Based Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation

With growth in civilisation and industrialisation, there is an increase in the release of toxic heavy metal ions and dyes into water system, which is of public concern. As a result, appropriate treatment methods have to be implemented in order to mitigate and prevent water pollution. The discovery of nanotechnology has led to the development and utilisation of various nanoadsorbent for the removal of pollutants from water. PANI nanostructures and nanocomposites are noble adsorbents that have gained popularity in addressing water pollution issues and have been reported in literature. In this chapter, the main focus is on the synthesis of PANI nanocomposites and nanostructures and their application as efficient adsorbents for water treatment. Detailed discussions on different synthetic routes and characterisation have been dedicated to applications of these materials and are compared for the adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions and dyes from water