Alumina nanofibers, having average diameters of 500 nm, have been fabricated via the electrospinning process. Annealing the as-spun nanofibers at temperatures ranging from 525 °C-1200 °C was found to produce intermediate forms of alumina, transition aluminas before conversion into the thermodynamically stable phase, α-alumina. An in depth characterization of these alumina nanofibers via solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and other characterization techniques provide valuable information about the bulk and surface properties of these alumina nanofibers. As the surface of alumina materials have been known to have chemical and catalytic capabilities, the reactive nature of these alumina nanofibers were studied by the adsorption of phosphorus compounds on the surface of the nanofibers. Two phosphorus containing compounds were used; a chemical warfare agent simulant, dimethylmethyl phosphonate (DMMP) and methyl phosphate. The interaction of these materials with the surface of the alumina nanofibers were studied by SSNMR.
Protonation (doping) of polyaniline, with a protonic acid renders it conducting, altering its electronic and structural properties. One of the highest reported conductivities of doped polyaniline is when it is doped with camphorsulfonic acid (HCSA) and cast from a m-cresol solution. Several models of the crystal structure of this system have been proposed, however they have not been proven experimentally. Solid-state NMR has been used to investigate the structure and specific interactions that occur between the dopant and/or solvent within the conducting polymer system. The structure of polyaniline synthesized in the presence of a polyacid, poly-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (PAAMPSA) was also investigated, by the used of solid-state NMR.