Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Masters in Chemical Sciences
Department
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Madalynn Marshall
Second Advisor
Heather Abbott
Third Advisor
Michael Stollenz and Huggins Msimanga
Abstract
Spinel oxides are promising multifunctional materials whose physical properties are strongly influenced by cation ordering and lattice distortions. In this work, we investigated the electrochemical performance and magnetocaloric response of a spinel compound with a pronounced structural distortion. Working electrodes of these materials have been fabricated using etched-aluminum substrates for electrochemical performance measurements, including cyclic voltammetry. Ex-situ scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy measurements and powder X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed to assess structural stability and morphological changes. Furthermore, the magnetic entropy change, the adiabatic temperature change and the relative cooling power from magnetization and heat capacity measurements have been determined revealing the influence of the distortion on the magnetic behavior which can provide a potential source of tunability over the magnetocaloric effect. By correlating structural distortions with charge storage behavior and magnetic entropy changes, this study highlights how subtle crystallographic modifications can alter both electrochemical and magnetic functionalities in spinel oxides, opening pathways for their use in next-generation energy and cooling technologies.