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- All Subjects: Polymers
- Creators: Chemical Engineering Program
Lithium ion batteries are quintessential components of modern life. They are used to power smart devices — phones, tablets, laptops, and are rapidly becoming major elements in the automotive industry. Demand projections for lithium are skyrocketing with production struggling to keep up pace. This drive is due mostly to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles; sales of electric vehicles in 2020 are more than double what they were only a year prior. With such staggering growth it is important to understand how lithium is sourced and what that means for the environment. Will production even be capable of meeting the demand as more industries make use of this valuable element? How will the environmental impact of lithium affect growth? This thesis attempts to answer these questions as the world looks to a decade of rapid growth for lithium ion batteries.
This honors thesis covers an overview of the the motivation, objectives, and projects of the Xie Research Group, focusing on the mechanical effect of dopants (through p-doping) on the structural domains of conjugated polymers (specifically P3DT). The ability to sustainably 3D-print conjugated polymers has the potential to impact a variety of industries (personalized technology, medical treatment, replacement of metals, etc).
This honors thesis covers an overview of the the motivation, objectives, and projects of the Xie Research Group, focusing on the mechanical effect of dopants (through p-doping) on the structural domains of conjugated polymers (specifically P3DT). The ability to sustainably 3D-print conjugated polymers has the potential to impact a variety of industries (personalized technology, medical treatment, replacement of metals, etc).