Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Utilizing Fluorescent Nanoscale Particles To Create A Map Of The Electric Double Layer, Quintus Owen

Theses and Dissertations

The interactions between charged particles in solution and an applied electric field follow several models, most notably the Gouy-Chapman-Stern model, for the establishment of an electric double layer along the electrode, but these models make several assumptions of ionic concentrations and an infinite bulk solution. As more scientific progress is made for the finite and single molecule reactions inside microfluidic cells, the limitations of the models become more extreme. Thus, creating an accurate map of the precise response of charged nanoparticles in an electric field becomes increasingly vital. Another compounding factor is Brownian motion’s inverse relationship with size: large easily …

Study Of The Chemical Fabrication Process Of Nsom Probes And The Modification Of The Probe Surface, Muhammad Nazmul Hussain

Theses and Dissertations

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) merges scanning probe technology with the power of high-resolution optical microscopy and provides a natural view into the nanoworld. NSOM requires tapered probes with subwavelength optical apertures and wide cone angles to efficiently channel the illumination light to the tip apex so that it can acquire optical images beyond the diffraction limit. Tapered probes with a range of cone angles can be fabricated through chemical etching of optical fibers using hydrofluoric acid (HF) by varying the etching time. Apart from their use for NSOM imaging, such optical probes can also be transformed into nanosensors by …

Transport, Photoluminescence & Photoconduction Characteristics Of Free Standing Two-Dimensional Γ-Alumina & Titanium Superlattice Doped Two-Dimensional Γ-Alumina Grown By Graphene-Assisted Atomic Layer Deposition, Elaheh Kheirandish

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a facile high-yield bottom-up fabrication, morphology, crystallographic and optoelectronic characterization of free-standing quasi-2D γ-alumina, a non van der Waals 2D material. The synthesis comprises a multi-cycle atomic layer deposition (ALD) of amorphous alumina on a porous interconnected graphene foam as a growth scaffold and removed next by annealing and sintering the alumina/graphene/alumina sandwich at ~ 800 °C in air . The crystallographic and structural characteristics of the formed non-van der Waals quasi 2D γ-alumina were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). This analysis revealed the synthesized 2D …

Novel Solar Cells Based On Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials And Recycled Lead Components, Xiaoru Guo

Theses and Dissertations

To meet the rapidly growing demand for energy and reduce the use of dwindling fossil fuels, the efficient utilization of renewable energy is a constant pursuit globally. Because solar cells convert vastly available sunlight into electricity, developing high-performance and low-cost solar cells is a top strategy for future energy supply. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are the most promising choices. In the meantime, highly concentrated sulfuric acids from retired lead-acid batteries become an environmental concern, and lead contamination in drinking water raises concerns in general public. This study addresses both above-mentioned problems by using two-dimensional (2D) …

Functional Organic Nanomaterials, Ryan R. Kohlmeyer

Theses and Dissertations

π-Conjugated polymers have a wide range of applications such as photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, and sensors. To gain a better understanding of these systems, monodisperse oligomers can be used as a more simplistic model to generate predictive structural and physical properties of corresponding polymers. A divergent/convergent synthetic approach to synthesis of monodisperse π-conjugated oligomers has been developed. These well-defined, thiophene-containing molecular building blocks have been successfully coupled to a ferrocene hinge, which has been found to be highly efficient in the transport of gold atoms using a gold scanning tunneling microscopy tip.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent a rare class of materials, …