Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Engineered Quantum Dots For Eva Nanocomposite Films And Tio2 Photocatalysts, Md Abdul Mumin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Light absorbing inorganic nanoparticles in transparent plastics such as poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) are of enormous interest in emerging solar materials, including photovoltaic (PV) modules and commercial greenhouse films. Quantum dots (QDs) have the potential to absorb UV light and selectively emit visible light. However, how to stabilize the QDs for long product life spans without "blinking" while enabling their easy integration into polymer systems is lacking. This work examines different approaches for loading mesoporous silica encapsulated QDs into EVA polymer films which can control plant growth in greenhouses or enhance PV panel efficiencies.

Highly luminescent CdS and CdS-ZnS core-shell QDs …

Silica Nanoparticle-Based Coatings With Superhydrophilic And Superhydrophobic Properties, Robert Andrew Fleming

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces have potential for implementation into a variety of fields, including self-cleaning surfaces, anti-fogging transparent materials, and biomedical applications. In this study, sandblasting, oxygen plasma treatments, silica nanoparticle films, and a low surface energy fluorocarbon film were employed to change the natural surface wettability of titanium, glass, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates, with an aim to produce superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic behavior. The effects of these surface modifications are characterized by water contact angles (WCAs), surface wetting stability, surface morphology and roughness, surface elemental composition, and optical transmittance measurements. The results show that stable superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces …