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Refractive Index Chemical Sensing With Noble Metal Nanoparticles, Phillip Blake

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chemical sensing is a key component in modern society, especially in engineering applications. Because of their widespread impact, improvements to chemical sensors are a significant area of research. One class of sensors, plasmonic sensors, is being heavily researched because of their ability to detect low levels of analyte in near real time without destroying the analyte. This work studies a new class of plasmonic sensor that utilizes diffractive coupling to improve sensor performance. Specifically, this work outlines the first study of diffractive coupling sensors with typical nanoparticle shapes. Sensitivity of this new class of sensor is directly compared to typical …

Gravure Printability Of Indium Tin Oxide Nanoparticles On Glass And Pet Films For Applications In Printed Electronics, Dania Awni Alsaid

Dissertations

The advancements in the field of solution processable electro-active materials and their ability to be printed on different substrates have led to the evolution of printed electronics. In this field, electronic components are manufactured with conventional printing methods. Transparent electrodes made from indium tin oxide (ITO) are part of many electronic devices. Currently in industry, highly conductive ITO films are prepared by sputtering. The sputtering and then patterning of ITO films is a sophisticated process that consumes high energy, generates waste and produces films with limited flexibility. Therefore, there is a need to investigate processing methods for creating ITO films …

Nano Tio2/Graphene Composites For Photovoltaic And Photocatalytic Materials, Nasrin Farhangi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Graphene has been recognized as one of the most exciting carbon based materials of the present decade due to its unique electronic, mechanical and thermal properties. High surface area exfoliated graphene sheets with controllable surface functionality is an attractive two-dimensional surface for attaching different metals and semiconductors for improving the performance of catalysts, sensors, photoelectronic and energy conversion devices. Graphene is an ideal material which can be used for improving various metal oxide properties such as those of titania (TiO₂). TiO₂/graphene composites have shown excellent properties compared to bare TiO₂ in various applications. In high …

Porous Metal Oxide Materials Through Novel Fabrication Procedures, Nicholas Hendricks

Open Access Dissertations

Porous metal oxide materials, particularly those comprised of silica or titania, find use in many applications such as low-k dielectric materials for microelectronics as well as chemical sensors, micro/nanofluidic devices, and catalyst substrates. For this dissertation, the focus will be on the processing of porous metal oxide materials covering two subjects: hierarchical porosity exhibited over two discrete length scales and incorporation of functional nanomaterials. To generate the porous silica materials, the technique of supercritical carbon dioxide infusion (scCO2) processing was heavily relied upon. Briefly, the scCO2 infusion processing utilizes phase selective chemistries within a pre-organized amphiphilic block copolymer template using …

Fabrication Of Printed Substrate For Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Ali Eshkeiti

Masters Theses

A novel surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate was successfully fabricated on a silicon wafer using inkjet printing and on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using gravure printing. Silver (Ag) nanoparticle (NP) based ink, was used for roughening of the surface of silicon and PET. A thickness of 400 nm was measured for the printed Ag NP printed film on silicon and the thickness of the single and double layered films on PET were measured as 340 nm and 680 nm, respectively by using vertical scanning interferometry. The Ag NP printed SERS substrate was tested for application with heavy metal compounds like …

Nanoencapsulated Copper Pthalocyanine As Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Prathima Arrabelly

All Capstone Projects

The growing resistance developed by microbes towards antimicrobial agents has driven our focus on developing alternative treatment modalities such as Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT). It would be difficult for the microbes to develop resistance towards singlet oxygen generated during the PACT process. Photosensitizers are the vehicles of the transfer and translation of light energy into a type II chemical reaction (singlet oxygen generation) in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy. PACT is proposed as a potential, low cost approach to treatment of locally occurring infection.

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has been studied in cultures treated with photoactivated copper …

Multidentate Resorcinarene Surfactants For The Phase Transfer Of Metal Nanoparticles And Nanodiamonds: Applications In Catalysis And Diamond Film Growth, Vara Prasad Sheela

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

One main objective of the present work is to functionalize cuboctahedral platinum nanoparticles with various multidentate resorcinarene surfactants and study their influence in determining their catalytic activity. We hypothesized that catalytically active and recyclable catalysts can be achieved by incomplete yet strong passivation of the nanoparticle surfaces by using multidentate resorcinarene surfactants. We have developed phase transfer protocols for functionalizing cuboctahedral platinum nanoparticles with resorcinarene thiol or amine. Fluorescence assay confirmed that both these nanoparticles contained almost comparable unpassivated metal area. The activity of such phase transferred nanoparticles was tested in the catalytic hydrogenation of allyl alcohol. The conversion of …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Gold And Silver Nanoparticles In Formal And Informal Settings, Mathew Wynn

Materials Engineering

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized through the reduction of AgNO3 using NaBH4. The borohydride anions were adsorbed onto silver nanoparticles. The repelling forces of the borohydride anions prevented the aggregation of particles, but the addition of an electrolyte or agitation induced aggregation. A yellow hue was given off by the silver nanoparticle sol that, using a spectrophotometer, had plasmon resonance at 386 nm. The silver nanoparticles were estimated to be 10 to 20 nm in diameter. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized through the reduction of HAuCl4 using Na3C6H5O7. The gold nanoparticle sol gave off a red hue that had plasmon resonance at …

The Effects Of Concentration, Stir Rate, And Processing Temperature On The Iridescence Of Polymethyl Methacrylate Nanoparticles, David Baruela

Materials Engineering

Synthetic opals were synthesized by creating polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanospheres in order to determine which conditions would create the best iridescent samples. The factors affecting the iridescence were nanosphere concentration, stir rate, and processing temperature. PMMA solutions were made by adding 17 mg of granular azobis to a solution of 16 mL of distilled water with 3 mL of methyl methacrylate (MMA). The solution was stirred at different rates, slow and fast, and different temperatures, 70 °C and 90 °C, under a constant flow of nitrogen gas for 40 minutes until the polymerization reaction was complete. Glass substrates were prepared …

Structural Dna Origami: Engineering Supermolecular Self-Assembly For Nanodevice Fabrication, Craig Marshal Onodera

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Two challenges encountered in nanotechnology are the ability to create nanostructures inexpensively and the ability to arrange nanomaterials with a precision commensurate with their size. In nature, nanostructures are created using a bottom-up approach, whereby molecules hierarchically self-assemble into larger systems. Similarly, structural DNA nanotechnology harnesses the programmability, specificity, and structural integrity of DNA to engineer synthetic, self-assembled materials. For example, during scaffolded DNA origami, a long single stranded DNA polymer is artificially folded into nanostructures using short oligonucleotides. Once folded, two- and three-dimensional nanostructures may be decorated with proteins, metallic nanoparticles, and semiconductor quantum dots. Using gold nanoparticles and …

Nanoparticles In Solution-Derived Chalcogenide Glass Films, Spencer Novak

All Theses

The results in this thesis are from our efforts to modify the optical properties of solution-derived chalcogenide glass films by the incorporation of nanomaterials. First, the composition Ge23Sb7S70 was selected as the appropriate glass matrix for testing because solution-derived films of this composition have been well-studied in our group. Additionally, this composition was found to be less sensitive to certain processing parameters than As2S3, another well-studied, candidate chalcogenide glass composition, making Ge23Sb7S70 more suitable for the addition of nanomaterials. Optimization of film process parameters was performed to obtain high-quality films appropriate for doping with nanomaterials. This consisted of determining the …

Electrochemical Deposition Of Ag-Sn Nanoparticles For Photovoltaic Current Collection Efficiency, Rebecca Wilson

Honors Theses and Capstones

Photovoltaic cells utilize a semiconductor to harness the sun's energy, then conduct the energy by silver current collector lines to an energy storage device. To make photovoltaic cells less expensive and more energy efficient, silver-tin nanoparticles were researched to incorporate into the silver polymer paste that makes up current collector lines. The Ag-Sn alloy was synthesized by electrochemical deposition, and was then characterized by it's melting point and crystal structure.

Encapsulation And Controlled Release Of Rhu-Erythropoietin From Chitosan Biopolymer Nanoparticles, Cody Bulmer

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this research project was to develop a drug delivery system for recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO), a glycoprotein hormone used in the treatment of renal anaemia and chemotherapy induced anaemia, using the biopolymer chitosan as the base component. Two types of chitosan nanoparticles were produced through ionotropic gelation using flush mixing with either tripolyphosphate (TPP) or carrageenan polymer. Chitosan-TPP and chitosan-carrageenan nanoparticles were generated under a variety of conditions to evaluate the effects of chitosan concentration, chitosan to anion mass ratio and solution pH on the nanoparticle characteristics of particle diameter, surface charge and particle size distribution. A …

X-Ray Radiation Enabled Cancer Detection And Treatment With Nanoparticles, Mainul Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite significant improvements in medical sciences over the last decade, cancer still continues to be a major cause of death in humans throughout the world. Parallel to the efforts of understanding the intricacies of cancer biology, researchers are continuously striving to develop effective cancer detection and treatment strategies. Use of nanotechnology in the modern era opens up a wide range of possibilities for diagnostics, therapies and preventive measures for cancer management. Although, existing strategies of cancer detection and treatment, using nanoparticles, have been proven successful in case of cancer imaging and targeted drug deliveries, they are often limited by poor …

Controlled Delivery Of Tgf-Ss1 From Plga Nanoparticles, Pratik K. Vaidya

ETD Archive

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) typically manifest as localized wall weakening and dilation of the infrarenal aorta, which grows gradually, and ultimately leads to fatal rupture. It is caused due to overexpression of proteolytic enzymes (matrix metalloproteases or MMPs) resulting into disruption of tissue structure, especially elastic matrix, which cannot be regenerated by adult vascular cells. On account of post-operative complications associated with their surgical repair, there is a critical need for developing non-surgical strategies for slowing and even regressing AAA growth. Recent studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that 1 ng/mL of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) enhances regenerative repair by …

Fate Of Coated Zinc Oxide In Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, Stephanie Carbone Bolyard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given the increase in nanomaterial (NM) use in consumer products and the large fraction of waste placed in landfills worldwide, the probability of these products reaching municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills at the end of their useful life is high. Since nanotechnology use is still in its early stages, there are currently no regulations pertaining to the disposal of NMs and their fate in MSW landfills is still unknown. Understanding the fate of NMs in MSW landfills is vital to ensure the proper handling of these novel materials from cradle to grave; such research will provide information on how these …

Design Of Colloidal Composite Catalysts For Co2 Photoreduction And For Co Oxidation, Bijith D. Mankidy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this doctoral dissertation, novel colloidal routes were used to synthesize nanomaterials with unique features. We have studied the impact of nanoparticle size of catalyst, role of high surface area of a photocatalyst, and the effect of varying elemental composition of co-catalytic nanoparticles in combination with core-shell plasmonic nanoparticles. We have demonstrated how physical and chemical characteristics of nanomaterials with these unique features play a role in catalytic reactions, specifically the oxidation of CO and the photoreduction of CO2. The first objective of this doctoral dissertation involved the preparation of CoO nanoparticles with discrete nanoparticles sizes (1-14 nm) using a …

Investigations Of Oxidative Stress Effects And Their Mechanisms In Rat Brain After Systemic Administration Of Ceria Engineered Nanomaterials, Sarita S. Hardas

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Advancing applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in various fields create the opportunity for intended (e.g. drug and gene delivery) or unintended (e.g. occupational and environmental) exposure to ENM. However, the knowledge of ENM-toxicity is lagging behind their application development. Understanding the ENM hazard can help us to avoid potential human health problems associated with ENM applications as well as to increase their public acceptance. Ceria (cerium [Ce] oxide) ENM have many current and potential commercial applications. Beyond the traditional use of ceria as an abrasive, the scope of ceria ENM applications now extends into fuel cell manufacturing, diesel fuel additives …

Energetic Nanoparticles As Fuel Additives For Enhanced Performance In Propulsion Systems, Srinibas Karmakar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Biofuels are currently being explored as a carbon-neutral fuel alternative to petroleum-based fuels. However, biofuels such as ethanol has lower energy density (~27MJ/kg) relative to petroleum fuels (~ 45 MJ/kg). Adding high-energy density particles (such as boron with heating value of ~ 58.5 MJ/kg) to biofuels can generate fuel slurry with higher energy density than the base fuel, and represents a potential strategy toward making biofuels more viable. However, the combustion of boron is inhibited (specifically, the ignition is delayed) by the initial presence of an oxide layer, and its high evaporation and boiling temperatures. The present study investigates the …

Towards The Development Of Biotin Carboxylase Driven Robotic Nanoswimmers, Rachel Yates

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this research is to take the first step towards demonstrating the use of the enzyme biotin carboxylase (BC) as a biomolecular motor. BC is a homodimeric protein involved in fatty biosynthesis in all organisms. The conjecture is that BC can convert chemical energy into useful mechanical work via its conformation change, which acts as a fin or flexible oar producing nonreciprocal motion. To this end, we fabricate a proof-of-concept biomolecular machine driven by BC molecules, viz., a robotic nanoswimmer. This machine consists of a Janus-type nanosize silica particle, where one hemisphere is coated with an intermediate layer …

Surface-Modified Plga Nanoparticles For Targeted Drug Delivery To Neurons, Jingyan Li

LSU Master's Theses

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the central nervous system (CNS) from unnecessary substances, is a challenging obstacle in the treatment of CNS disease such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Many therapeutic agents such as hydrophilic and macromolecular drugs cannot overcome the BBB. One promising solution is the employment of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs as drug carrier. Over the past few years, significant breakthroughs have been made in developing suitable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles for drug delivery across the BBB. Recent advances on PLGA/PLA NPs enhanced neural delivery of …