Magister Scientiae - MSc (Chemistry)

Development of modified TiO2 nanostructures for photocatalysis

Mashiya, Nzaliseko (University of the Western Cape, 2019)

TiO2 has been broadly used as a standard photocatalyst due to its high stability, low cost, relatively low toxicity, and excellent photocatalytic performance in comparison to other semiconductor materials. However, the ...

Tellurium attenuation of kesterite band-gap for improved photovoltaic efficiency

Nwambaekwe, Kelechi Chiemezie (University of the Western Cape, 2019)

Tellurium is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table and is known to be a better semiconductor material when compared to sulfur and selenium. By introducing tellurium into the kesterite structure there would ...

Synthesis, characterization, and study mode of coordination of N,N’- and N,O - (arene)ruthenium II complexes co-ligated by isoniazid: Preparation for antimicrobial studies

Diyoka, Nkongolo Jean Blaise (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

This thesis reports on the syntheses of complexes of (arene) ruthenium (II) isoniazid Schiff base ligands for antimicrobial studies. Isoniazid Schiff base ligands; isonicotinyl acid (2-hydroxy-5- methyl-benzilidene)-hydrazide ...

Multi-component Platinum Group Metals for the methanol electro-oxidation process

Javu, Bulelwa Patricia (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

The purpose of this study was to develop a high performance-lower cost catalyst to be applied in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC). The study also aimed to prepare plurimetallic supported platinum (Pt), platinum-ruthenium ...

Long-range transport clusters, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and soot concentrations of air masses in Cape Town, South Africa

Williams, John Peter (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Ambient air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to human health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ambient air pollution kills millions of people worldwide every year. Airborne particulate matter ...

Synthesis, characterization and anticancer effects of quantum dots in neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cell lines

Lasher, Sashca Yosima (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Introduction: Nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining increased popularity for cancer treatment, especially the multifunctional nanoparticles like Quantum dots (QDs) which have a wide range of applications in nanotheranostics, ...

Synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles embedded on various polymers

Magqazolo, Siphesihle (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

During the course of this study iron oxide nanoparticles, which have been researched for drug-targeted delivery, were synthesised via the co-precipitation method and characterised using various methods. This study focused ...

Graphene-modified pencil graphite mercury-film electrodes for the determination of trace metals by cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry

Tekenya, Ronald (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

This project focuses on the simple, fast and highly sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetry detection of Nickel and Cobalt complexed with DMG and Nioxime respectively at a Reduced Graphene Oxide modified pencil graphite ...

Studies of chemical constituents on the aerial parts of pelargoniumcapitatum

Mthembu, Zandile Lorraine (University of the Western Cape, 2017)

Pelargonium capitatum is a plant that is popular in essential oils. The isolated essential oil constituents from the flowers and leaves of the plant were obtained by hydrodistillation followed by GC-MS analysis. The following ...

Preparation and electrospinning of chitosan from waste Black Soldier Fly biomass

Zimri, Monushia Natasha (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Black soldier flies are important in sustainability because of their ability to voraciously degrade organic waste without constituting a nuisance to the environment. In South Africa, Agriprotein Ltd, a company producing ...

Phytochemical studies of extracts from Aloe succotrina

Makhaba, Masixole (University of the Western Cape, 2017)

Global climate change and geographical differences are two major parameters known to have, either, direct or indirect influence on the production of secondary metabolites in plants, which in-turn may affect the quality ...

Synthesis and characterization of binary Palladium based electrocatalysts towards alcohol oxidation for fuel cell application

Klaas, Lutho Attwell (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

The anode catalyst is one of the important parts of the direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC); it is responsible for the alcohol oxidation reaction (AOR) takes place at the anode side. Pd has been reported to have good alcohol ...

Nanoparticles for use in imaging, catalysis and phthalocyanine synthesis

Samsodien, Mogammad Luqmaan (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are known to be interdisciplinary, crossing and combining various fields and disciplines in pursuit of desirable outcomes. This has brought about applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology ...

L-Cysteine-Capped Indium Telluriselenide Quantum Dot Aptasensor for Interferon-Gamma TB Biomarker

Januarie, Kaylin Cleo (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major infectious diseases that affect the health of people all over the world. South Africa is one of the countries that account for most of the TB cases; it is the leading cause of death ...

Determination of Thallium and Indium with an Electrochemically-reduced Graphene Oxide-Carbon Paste Electrode by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Martin, Tayla (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

In this study, graphene oxide was synthesized by oxidizing graphite using the modified Hummer's method. The graphene oxide was characterized by Raman Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, High Resolution ...

Synthesis and analysis of Novel Platinum group Metal Chalcogenide Metal Quantum Dot and Electrochemical Markers

Nxusani, Ezo (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Although cadmium and lead chalcogenide quantum dot have excellent optical and photoluminescent properties that are highly favorable for biological applications, there still exists increasing concerns due to the toxicity ...

Nano silver-iron-reduced graphene oxide modified titanium dioxide photocatalyst for the remediation of organic dye in water systems

Sass, Danielle Thandi (University of the Western Cape, 2018)

Drinking water with high concentrations of inorganic and organic contaminants can cause adverse health defects. Specifically methyl orange dye is an organic water contaminant that has been known (along with others like ...