title: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications of Novel Ionic Liquids.

authors: Ying, Lucia (Li)

subjects: phosphinate ionic liquids

abstract: A series of novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids have been synthesised using various organic phosphorus acids, such as mono-n-octylphosphinic acid (octylPO₂H₂), mono-n-hexylphosphinic acid (hexylPO₂H₂), di-n-octylphosphinic acid ((octyl)₂PO₂H), di-n-hexylphosphinic acid ((hexyl)₂PO₂H) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid ((TMP)₂PO₂H), by reaction with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide (Bu₄POH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu₄NOH), pyridine (py) and triethylamine (Et₃N). Reactions simply involve neutralizing the organophosphorus acids with bases. The only byproduct, water, and excess amine, py/Et₃N can be easily removed under vacuum (Chapter 2).
Some of the physical and chemical properties of these ionic liquids have been characterized by NMR, ES-MS, TGA, UV-Visible spectroscopy etc. The formed tetraalkylphosphonium/tetraalkylammonium phosphinate ionic liquids are viscous, hygroscopic liquids, but are more thermally stable than trialkylammonium and pyridinium analogues. For example, for the most stable ionic liquid, [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂], its onset temperature of decomposition in thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is 358 °C (Chapter 2).
One of the applications of these novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids has been investigated. Au(0), Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles have been prepared in some of these phosphinate-based ionic liquids as a media and (or) reducing agents and have been characterized by SEM, TEM, Zetasizer, UV-Visible spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. In general, the average particles size of Au(0), and Ir(0) were ca. 25 nm, but some of the particles average size formed was less than 2 nm, such as Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles formed in [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂] or [Bu₄P][(TMP)₂PO₂]. Generally, these phosphinate-based ionic liquids are good media to prevent nanoparticle aggregation (Chapter 3).

text: Synthesis, Characterisation and Applications of Novel Ionic Liquids. A series of novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids have been synthesised using various organic phosphorus acids, such as mono-n-octylphosphinic acid (octylPO₂H₂), mono-n-hexylphosphinic acid (hexylPO₂H₂), di-n-octylphosphinic acid ((octyl)₂PO₂H), di-n-hexylphosphinic acid ((hexyl)₂PO₂H) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid ((TMP)₂PO₂H), by reaction with tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide (Bu₄POH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu₄NOH), pyridine (py) and triethylamine (Et₃N). Reactions simply involve neutralizing the organophosphorus acids with bases. The only byproduct, water, and excess amine, py/Et₃N can be easily removed under vacuum (Chapter 2).
Some of the physical and chemical properties of these ionic liquids have been characterized by NMR, ES-MS, TGA, UV-Visible spectroscopy etc. The formed tetraalkylphosphonium/tetraalkylammonium phosphinate ionic liquids are viscous, hygroscopic liquids, but are more thermally stable than trialkylammonium and pyridinium analogues. For example, for the most stable ionic liquid, [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂], its onset temperature of decomposition in thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) is 358 °C (Chapter 2).
One of the applications of these novel phosphinate-based ionic liquids has been investigated. Au(0), Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles have been prepared in some of these phosphinate-based ionic liquids as a media and (or) reducing agents and have been characterized by SEM, TEM, Zetasizer, UV-Visible spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. In general, the average particles size of Au(0), and Ir(0) were ca. 25 nm, but some of the particles average size formed was less than 2 nm, such as Rh(0) and Ir(0) nanoparticles formed in [Bu₄P][(octyl)₂PO₂] or [Bu₄P][(TMP)₂PO₂]. Generally, these phosphinate-based ionic liquids are good media to prevent nanoparticle aggregation (Chapter 3).

year: 2006

title: Contingent Valuation of Organic Cotton: An Empirical Investigation into the WTA-WTP Disparity

authors: Powley, Francis Deva

subjects: Contingent Valuation Method

abstract: Contingent valuation is a non-market valuation technique which elicits preference data from participants by asking them to value a change in the provision of a specific good or service, contingent on the specifications outlined in a hypothetical market scenario. A commonly observed feature of CV results is a significant and pervasive disparity that develops between willingness to accept and willingness to pay measures of value. While these two measures should theoretically produce the same value estimate for a particular good, with the exception of a small difference due to the income effect, this is not the case in a majority of the experimental CV literature. This WTA-WTP disparity is the focus of this thesis’ investigation, which aims to offer a more accurate understanding of the phenomenon. This thesis provides a detailed review of past research experiments investigating the WTA-WTP gap, identifying two main alternate explanations for the disparity: one which explains the discrepancy as resulting from flaws in the methodological design of the CV experiments (weak experimental design) and one which suggests the gap is caused the fact that people place a higher value on a good they own than an identical good they do not own (endowment effect theory). To assess the legitimacy of each of these two explanations, this thesis presents an experimental investigation into the WTA-WTP gap, where a basic CV survey is design and then used to elicit preference data from participants for organic cotton. The experimental design includes six CV surveys, all of which are fundamentally identical except for small specific alterations, which will allow valuation results to be compared across survey groups in an attempt to isolate the effect that the specified survey design features have on valuation estimates. Two of the surveys collect WTP and WTA data from participants under a binding condition where the average valuation stated by the group would determine a binding monetary outcome for all of the participants. Two further surveys collect WTP and WTA data from participants where no binding monetary outcome is specified (i.e. purely hypothetical), and the final two treatment groups are asked to estimate the WTP and WTA of the binding groups, rather than provide their own personal value estimates. The core comparisons possible between these survey designs include: assessing whether a WTA-WTP gap is observed even when controlling for features of weak experimental design, assessing how the hypothetical nature of a CV experiment impacts on the valuation results, and whether participants are able to provide an unbiased estimate of others’ preferences. Data was collected from 178 participants with between 27 and 31 respondents involved in each of the six survey groups. The data was then analysed using SPSS to test whether there were significant differences between the valuation estimates collected from the different participant groups. The results of the experiment found that the WTA-WTP gap is caused by the endowment effect rather than weak experimental design, that hypothetical and binding treatments do not differ significantly in terms of valuation estimates, and that participants are able to provide unbiased estimates of others’ preferences, so long as they are not first asked to state their own preferences.

text: Contingent Valuation of Organic Cotton: An Empirical Investigation into the WTA-WTP Disparity Contingent valuation is a non-market valuation technique which elicits preference data from participants by asking them to value a change in the provision of a specific good or service, contingent on the specifications outlined in a hypothetical market scenario. A commonly observed feature of CV results is a significant and pervasive disparity that develops between willingness to accept and willingness to pay measures of value. While these two measures should theoretically produce the same value estimate for a particular good, with the exception of a small difference due to the income effect, this is not the case in a majority of the experimental CV literature. This WTA-WTP disparity is the focus of this thesis’ investigation, which aims to offer a more accurate understanding of the phenomenon. This thesis provides a detailed review of past research experiments investigating the WTA-WTP gap, identifying two main alternate explanations for the disparity: one which explains the discrepancy as resulting from flaws in the methodological design of the CV experiments (weak experimental design) and one which suggests the gap is caused the fact that people place a higher value on a good they own than an identical good they do not own (endowment effect theory). To assess the legitimacy of each of these two explanations, this thesis presents an experimental investigation into the WTA-WTP gap, where a basic CV survey is design and then used to elicit preference data from participants for organic cotton. The experimental design includes six CV surveys, all of which are fundamentally identical except for small specific alterations, which will allow valuation results to be compared across survey groups in an attempt to isolate the effect that the specified survey design features have on valuation estimates. Two of the surveys collect WTP and WTA data from participants under a binding condition where the average valuation stated by the group would determine a binding monetary outcome for all of the participants. Two further surveys collect WTP and WTA data from participants where no binding monetary outcome is specified (i.e. purely hypothetical), and the final two treatment groups are asked to estimate the WTP and WTA of the binding groups, rather than provide their own personal value estimates. The core comparisons possible between these survey designs include: assessing whether a WTA-WTP gap is observed even when controlling for features of weak experimental design, assessing how the hypothetical nature of a CV experiment impacts on the valuation results, and whether participants are able to provide an unbiased estimate of others’ preferences. Data was collected from 178 participants with between 27 and 31 respondents involved in each of the six survey groups. The data was then analysed using SPSS to test whether there were significant differences between the valuation estimates collected from the different participant groups. The results of the experiment found that the WTA-WTP gap is caused by the endowment effect rather than weak experimental design, that hypothetical and binding treatments do not differ significantly in terms of valuation estimates, and that participants are able to provide unbiased estimates of others’ preferences, so long as they are not first asked to state their own preferences.

year: 2011

title: Maori & Psychology Research Unit annual report 2006

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Maori and Psychology Research Unit

abstract: Annual report of the Maori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) 2006. The unit was established in August of 1997. The unit is designed to provide a catalyst and support network for enhancing research concerning the psychological needs, aspirations, and priorities of Maori people. The MPRU is well situated to draw together skilled and experienced interdisciplinary research groups by networking and establishing working relationships with staff and students within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University, and the wider community.

text: Maori & Psychology Research Unit annual report 2006 Annual report of the Maori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) 2006. The unit was established in August of 1997. The unit is designed to provide a catalyst and support network for enhancing research concerning the psychological needs, aspirations, and priorities of Maori people. The MPRU is well situated to draw together skilled and experienced interdisciplinary research groups by networking and establishing working relationships with staff and students within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University, and the wider community.

year: 2006