Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 14 of 14

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Degradation And Exciton Energy Transfer Studies In Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Bundles, Abhishek Gottipati Jan 2016

Degradation And Exciton Energy Transfer Studies In Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Bundles, Abhishek Gottipati

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) due to their unique optical behavior, large surface area, robust mechanical strength and electrical properties make them one of the ideal candidates for sensing and opto-electronic applications. In this work, we explore the energy transfer (exciton energy transfer-EET) phenomena occurring between nanotubes in bundles, using resonance Raman spectroscopy.


Development Of Low-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition Of Ultra-Thin Ruco Direct Plate Liners For Flexible Electronics Applications, Dillon Alexander Gregory Jan 2016

Development Of Low-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition Of Ultra-Thin Ruco Direct Plate Liners For Flexible Electronics Applications, Dillon Alexander Gregory

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Low temperature plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition-grown metal nanocomposite layers based on mixtures of ruthenium and cobalt have been investigated as potential copper adhesion/barrier layers in flexible electronics applications. The success of adapting this process to flexible electronics depends on the candidate barriers meeting several necessary properties including sufficient electrical conductivity, compatibility with Cu electroplating, and ability to prevent Cu diffusion into the substrate. Preliminary testing has shown that atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used as a technique for depositing alloyed metallic barrier layers at the lower thermal constraints dictated by the use of polymer substrates and still produce continuous …


Strong Metal Support Interaction Of Pt On Tio₂ Grown By Atomic Layer Deposition And Physical Vapor Deposition For Fuel Cell Applications, Robin Paul Hansen Jan 2016

Strong Metal Support Interaction Of Pt On Tio₂ Grown By Atomic Layer Deposition And Physical Vapor Deposition For Fuel Cell Applications, Robin Paul Hansen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Several roadblocks prevent the large-scale commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells, including the stability of the Pt catalysts and their substrates, as well as the high cost of Pt. This is particularly true for the cathode, which requires a higher Pt loading because of the slow kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The problem with the stability of the substrate can be solved by replacing the traditional carbon support with a conductive metal oxide such as reduced TiO2, which will not easily corrode and should result in longer lasting fuel cells. In this study, Pt was deposited either by atomic …


Development Of Integrated Tio₂ On Carburized Si Nanowires As A Catalyst/Support Structure For Alkaline Fuel Cells, Adam Lemke Jan 2016

Development Of Integrated Tio₂ On Carburized Si Nanowires As A Catalyst/Support Structure For Alkaline Fuel Cells, Adam Lemke

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Due to a combination of environmental and economic motivations, there is a strong impetus to transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources of energy. Critical to achieving this goal will be technologies that allow for the storage and transmission of energy derived from renewable sources. Hydrogen fuel cells may play a significant role in making this a reality, allowing for the use of hydrogen as a non-carbon based fuel, in particular for vehicle applications. Hydrogen fuel cells directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy, with only water vapor and heat as waste products.


Magnetoresistance Of A Low-K Dielectric, Brian Thomas Mcgowan Jan 2016

Magnetoresistance Of A Low-K Dielectric, Brian Thomas Mcgowan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Low-k dielectrics have been incorporated into advanced computer chip technologies as a part of the continuous effort to improve computer chip performance. One drawback associated with the implementation of low-k dielectrics is the large leakage current which conducts through the material, relative to silica. Another drawback is that the breakdown voltage of low-k dielectrics is low, relative to silica [1]. This low breakdown voltage makes accurate reliability assessment of the failure mode time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) in low-k dielectrics critical for the successful implementation of these materials. The accuracy with which one can assess this reliability is currently a …


The Gammaturc Nanomachine Mechanism And Future Applications, Timothy Riehlman Jan 2016

The Gammaturc Nanomachine Mechanism And Future Applications, Timothy Riehlman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The complexity and precision of the eukaryotic cell’s cytoskeletal network is unrivaled by any man-made systems, perfected by billions of years of evolution, mastering elegant processes of self-assembly, error correction, and self-repair. Understanding the capabilities of these networks will have important and far reaching applications in human medicine by aiding our understanding of developmental processes, cellular division, and disease mechanisms, and through biomimicry will provide insights for biosynthetic manufacturing at the nanoscale and across scales. My research utilizes cross species techniques from Human to the model organism of Fission Yeast to investigate the structure and mechanisms of the g-tubulin ring …


Optical Metrology For Cigs Solar Cell Manufacturing And Its Cost Implications, Sravan Kumar Sunkoju Jan 2016

Optical Metrology For Cigs Solar Cell Manufacturing And Its Cost Implications, Sravan Kumar Sunkoju

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Solar energy is a promising source of renewable energy which can meet the demand for clean energy in near future with advances in research in the field of photovoltaics and cost reduction by commercialization. Availability of a non-contact, in-line, real time robust process control strategies can greatly aid in reducing the gap between cell and module efficiencies, thereby leading to cost-effective large-scale manufacturing of high efficiency CIGS solar cells. In order to achieve proper process monitoring and control for the deposition of the functional layers of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) based thin film solar cell, optical techniques such as spectroscopic reflectometry and …


Nanotechnology & Human Stem Cells : Applications In Cardiogenesis And Neurogenesis, Martin Lyubomirov Tomov Jan 2016

Nanotechnology & Human Stem Cells : Applications In Cardiogenesis And Neurogenesis, Martin Lyubomirov Tomov

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Human stem cell research holds an unprecedented promise to revolutionize the way we approach medicine and healthcare in general, moving us from a position of mostly addressing the symptoms to a state where treatments can focus on removing the underlying causes of a condition. Stem cell research can shed light into normal developmental pathways, as we are beginning to replicate them in a petri dish and can also be used to model diseases and abnormal conditions. Direct applications can range from finding cures for single or multigene diseases to demonstrating that we can replace these genes with a normal copy. …


Tailoring The Optical Properties Of Silicon With Ion Beam Created Nanostructures For Advanced Photonics Applications, Perveen Akhter Jan 2016

Tailoring The Optical Properties Of Silicon With Ion Beam Created Nanostructures For Advanced Photonics Applications, Perveen Akhter

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In today’s fast life, energy consumption has increased more than ever and with that the demand for a renewable and cleaner energy source as a substitute for the fossil fuels has also increased. Solar radiations are the ultimate source of energy but harvesting this energy in a cost effective way is a challenging task. Si is the dominating material for microelectronics and photovoltaics. But owing to its indirect band gap, Si is an inefficient light absorber, thus requiring a thickness of solar cells beyond tens of microns which increases the cost of solar energy. Therefore, techniques to increase light absorption …


Investigating The Size Dependent Material Properties Of Nanoceria, Bushra B. Alam Jan 2016

Investigating The Size Dependent Material Properties Of Nanoceria, Bushra B. Alam

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Nanoceria is widely being investigated for applications as support materials for fuel cell catalysts, free radical scavengers, and as chemical and mechanical abrasives due to its high antioxidant capacity and its oxygen buffering capacity. This antioxidant or oxygen buffering capacity has been reported to be highly size dependent and related to its redox properties. However, the quantification of this antioxidant capacity has not been well defined or understood and has been often been carried out using colorimetric assays which do not directly correlate to ceria nanoparticle properties. Fabrication rules for developing materials with optimal antioxidant/oxygen buffering capacities are not yet …


Development Of Enhanced Window Layers For Cigs Photovoltaic Devices, James Nicholas Alexander Jan 2016

Development Of Enhanced Window Layers For Cigs Photovoltaic Devices, James Nicholas Alexander

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Photovoltaic devices are among the promising options for sustainable future energy generation. Thin film solar cells have demonstrated the ability to be a low-cost solution to clean renewable energy and are cost competitive with current silicon based photovoltaic devices. One of the most promising thin film devices right now is the Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) solar cell with maximum reported power conversion efficiency of 22.3%. The Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) which is the top layer of the CIGS device also known as the window layer, is responsible for collecting the electrons generated in the CIGS device and conducting them …


Texture And Microstructure Of Ipvd Copper Manganese Seed In 1 Μm & 70 Nm Wide Damascene Trenches, Robert Stuart Brown Jan 2016

Texture And Microstructure Of Ipvd Copper Manganese Seed In 1 Μm & 70 Nm Wide Damascene Trenches, Robert Stuart Brown

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This thesis describes the grain texture and microstructure of Ionized Physical Vapor Deposition (iPVD) Copper Manganese seed in 1 µm and 70 nm wide damascene trenches. Using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) imaging and diffraction pattern analysis, the grain size and general orientation of the grains were determined. It was found that the 1 µm wide trenches contained larger grains and more texture than that of the 70 nm wide trenches. While this thesis builds upon previous work by Brendan O’Brien in the Dunn group, one significantly different finding will be presented regarding the structure on the sidewall of the trenches. …


Investigation Of The Optical And Sensing Characteristics Of Nanoparticle Arrays For High Temperature Applications, Gnanaprakash Dharmalingam Jan 2016

Investigation Of The Optical And Sensing Characteristics Of Nanoparticle Arrays For High Temperature Applications, Gnanaprakash Dharmalingam

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The monitoring of polluting gases such as CO and NOx emitted from gas turbines in power plants and aircraft is important in order to both reduce the effects of such gases on the environment as well as to optimize the performance of the respective power system. The need for emissions monitoring systems is further realized from increased regulatory requirements that are being instituted as a result of the environmental impact from increased air travel. Specifically, it is estimated that the contributions from aircraft emissions to total NOx emissions will increase from 4% to 17% between 2008 and 2020. Extensive fuel …


The Investigation Of Nanoscale Effects On Schottky Interfaces And The Scattering Rates Of High Resistivity Metals, Christopher Anthony Durcan Jan 2016

The Investigation Of Nanoscale Effects On Schottky Interfaces And The Scattering Rates Of High Resistivity Metals, Christopher Anthony Durcan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Understanding the transport of electrons through materials and across interfaces is fundamental to modern day electronics. As electrons travel, interactions with defects within the crystal lattice induce scattering which gives rise to resistivity. At the interface between two materials, electrostatic barriers exist which can impede the flow of electrons. The work of this thesis is to further the understanding of electron transport by measuring the transport across metal-semiconductor interfaces at the nanoscale and measure scattering phenomena in metals. The measurement technique ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM) was used due to its ability to probe the scattering processes within a metal …