Engineering Commons^™

Thin Film Based Biosensors For Point Of Care Diagnosis Of Cortisol, Syed Khalid Pasha

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the different ways to create thin film-based biosensors that are capable of rapid and label-free detection of cortisol, a non-specific biomarker closely linked to stress, within the physiological range of 10pM to 10 uM. Increased cortisol levels have been linked to stress-related diseases, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also plays a role in the suppression of the immune system as well. Therefore, accurate measurement of cortisol in saliva, serum, plasma, urine, sweat, and hair, is clinically significance to predict physical and mental diseases.

In this dissertation, thin film-based electrochemical …

Multivariate Analysis For The Quantification Of Transdermal Volatile Organic Compounds In Humans By Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell System, Ahmed Hasnain Jalal

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this research, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) sensor was investigated for specific detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of the physiological conditions of humans. A PEMFC is an electrochemical transducer that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. A Redox reaction takes place at its electrodes whereas the volatile biomolecules (e.g. ethanol) are oxidized at the anode and ambient oxygen is reduced at the cathode. The compounds which were the focus of this investigation were ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and isoflurane (C₃H₂ClF₅O), but theoretically, the sensor …

Synthesis, Processing, And Fundamental Phase Formation Study Of Czts Films For Solar Cell Applications, Osama Awadallah

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Copper zinc tin sulfide (Cu₂ZnSnS₄ or CZTS) kesterite compound has attracted much attention in the last years as a new abundant, low cost, and environmentally benign material with desirable optoelectronic properties for Photovoltaic (PV) thin film solar cell applications. Among various synthesis routes for CZTS thin films, sol-gel processing is one of the most attractive routes to obtain CZTS films with superior quality and low cost.

In this study, sol-gel sulfurization process parameters for CZTS thin films were systematically investigated to identify the proper process window. In addition, temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy was employed to monitor the …