Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Atomic Force Microscope Imaging Of Dna And Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Jacob Hohnbaum

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Micro and Nano System Laboratory at the University of Arkansas currently is equipped with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). This device can be used to measure objects with resolution on the nanometer scale, but there are a number of technical difficulties in performing scans of carbon nanotubes and DNA. The goal of this research is to successfully perform scans on both carbon nanotubes and DNA and to also establish laboratory processing protocols to re-perform such scans in the future. Previous works performed by other researchers in the laboratory provided basic protocols with which to begin the present research. These …

Interface Proximity Effects In Current-Perpendicular-To-Plane Magnetoresistance, R.J. Baxter, David G. Pettifor, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Using a tight-binding model that takes into account a realistic electronic band structure and includes defect scattering we investigate spin-dependent transport in Co/Cu/Co trilayers when current flows perpendicular to the plane. We show that resistance of the Co/Cu interface depends on the proximity of another interface, which makes the parameters characterizing the spin-dependent interface resistance AR_F/N^* and γ_F/N, to be dependent on the layer thickness separating the two interfaces. This leads to a decrease in the measurable quantity SR=√(AR_AP)(AR_AP-AR_P) with the Cu layer thickness and, therefore, …

Elasticity Of Planar Fiber Networks, X.-F. Wu, Yuris A. Dzenis

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

A micromechanics model is proposed for the elasticity of planar fiber networks (FNs). The FN is created by random deposition of linearly elastic straight rods within a region. The rods are bonded rigidly at contacts. Under external in-plane loading, the FN deformation consists of fiber bending, elongation, and contraction. An effective constitutive relation for fiber network is developed by averaging the strain energy dissipated by all possible fiber deformations in all directions. Numerical calculations are performed to analyze the effects of fiber aspect ratio and fiber concentration on the effective stiffness of the planar random FN. Finite element analysis (FEA) …

Guided Self-Assembly Of Diblock Copolymer Thin Films On Chemically Patterned Substrates, Xiang-Fa Wu, Yuris A. Dzenis

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

We study the guided self-assembly of symmetric/asymmetric diblock copolymer (BCP) films on heterogeneous substrates with chemically patterned surface by using a coarse-grained phase-separation model. During the procedure, the free energy employed for the BCP films was modeled by the Ginzburg-Landau free energy with nonlocal interaction, and the flat, chemically patterned surface was considered as a heterogeneous surface with short-range interaction with the BCP molecules. The resulting Cahn-Hilliard equation was solved by means of an efficient semi-implicit Fourier-spectral algorithm. Effects of pattern scale, surface chemical potential, and BCP asymmetry on the self-assembly process were explored in detail and compared with those …

Interfaces, Volume 9, Issue 1 - Spring 2007

INTERFACES: Newsletter of the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience

CONTENTS
From the Director
Facility Focus: Crystallography
Recent Achievements of Center Researchers
Catalysts For Carbon Monoxide Conversion
NCMN Welcomes Li Tan
Research Spotlight: Christian Binek
LNK Chemsolutions Receives Funding

Simulation And Modeling Of Nerve Impulse Propagation And Its Blockage By External Electrical Stimulation, Nidhi Nahar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The electric nature of biological tissues permits the transmission of signals for information and for control and is, therefore, of vital importance for life. The latest scientific achievements and nanoscale probing techniques now allow scientists to research at the subcellular level by measuring the electric current flows through a single ion channel of the cell membrane with the patch-clamp method. With the latter approach, the effects of electrical stimulation can be quantified, understood, and applied to molecular biology and the development of medical diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

In this thesis, the Hodgkin-Huxley approach for unmyelinated fibers, coupled with a transmission …

Effect Of Ferroelectricity On Electron Transport In Pt/Batio3/Pt Tunnel Junctions, Julian P. Velev, Chun-Gang Duan, Kirill D. Belashchenko, Sitaram Jaswal, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Based on first-principles calculations, we demonstrate the impact of the electric polarization on electron transport in ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). Using a Pt/BaTiO₃ /Pt FTJ as a model system, we show that the polarization of the BaTiO₃ barrier leads to a substantial drop in the tunneling conductance due to changes in the electronic structure driven by ferroelectric displacements. We find a sizable change in the transmission probability across the Pt/BaTiO₃ interface with polarization reversal, a signature of the electroresistance effect. These results reveal exciting prospects that FTJs offer as resistive switches in nanoscale electronic devices.

Calculations Of Spin-Disorder Resistivity From First Principles, Aleksander L. Wysocki, Kirill D. Belashchenko, Julian P. Velev, Mark Van Schilfgaarde

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Spin-disorder resistivity of Fe and Ni is studied using the noncollinear density functional theory. The Landauer conductance is averaged over random disorder configurations and fitted to Ohm’s law. The distribution function is approximated by the mean-field theory. The dependence of spin-disorder resistivity on magnetization in Fe is found to be in excellent agreement with the results for the isotropic s-d model. In the fully disordered state, spin-disorder resistivity for Fe is close to experiment, while for fcc Ni it exceeds the experimental value by a factor of 2.3. This result indicates strong magnetic short-range order in Ni at …

Determination Of Young’S Modulus Of Individual Electrospun Nanofibers, Philip A. Yuya, Yongkui Wen, Joseph A. Turner, Yuris A. Dzenis, Zheng Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

The authors report a technique for measuring Young’s modulus of a single electrospun nanofiber using the vibrations of two microcantilevers coupled with the nanofiber. The modulus is calculated from the resonant frequency shift resulting from the nanofiber. Polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (200 nm diameter) were collected during electrospinning and wrapped on two similar microcantilevers causing a shift in first resonance from 10.0 to 19.4 kHz. Finite element analysis was used to analyze the frequency shift using images from a scanning electron microscope giving a modulus of the as-spun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber of 26.8 GPa.

Accessibility Of Home Blood Pressure Monitors For Blind And Visually Impaired People, Mark M. Uslan, Darren M. Burton, Thomas E. Wilson, Steven Taylor, Bruce S. Chertow, Jack E. Terry

Physics Faculty Research

Background: The prevalence of hypertension comorbid with diabetes is a significant health care issue. Use of the home blood pressure monitor (HBPM) for aiding in the control of hypertension is noteworthy because of benefits that accrue from following a home measurement regimen. To be usable by blind and visually impaired patients, HBPMs must have speech output to convey all screen information, an easily readable visual display, identifiable controls that are easy to use, and an accessible user manual.

Methods: Data on the physical aspects and the features and functions of nine Food and Drug Administration-approved HBPMs (eight of which were …

Improved Carrier Injection In Ultrathin-Body Soi Schottky-Barrier Mosfets, M Zhang, Joachim Knoch, Joerg Appenzeller, S Mantl

Other Nanotechnology Publications

The impact of the gate oxide and the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) body thickness on the electrical performance of SOI Schottky-barrier (SB) MOSFETs with fully nickel silicided source and drain contacts is experimentally investigated. The subthreshold swing S is extracted from the experimental data and serves as a measure for the carrier injection through the Sills. It is shown that decreasing the gate oxide and body thickness allows to strongly increase the carrier injection and hence, a significantly improved ON-state of SB-MOSFETs can be obtained.

Studies On The Ion Conductive Performance Of Composite Polymer Electrolyte Containing Nano-Scale Sio2, Lin Ye, Yu-Mei Zhao, Xiao-Wen Zhang, Zeng-Guo Feng, Ying Bai, Feng Wu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nano-silicon oxide was doped into a novel comblike polyether,poly(3-(methoxy(triethylenoxy))methyl-3'-methyloxetane) to prepare a series of composite polymer electrolyte.The ion conductivity measurement revealed that the composite polymer electrolyte added with 5% weight fraction of SiO₂ has the highest ion conductivity of 7.8×10^-5 S/cm at 30℃ and 4.5×10^-4 S/cm at 80℃,which is increased 30%~60% as compared to the polymer electrolyte without adding any SiO₂.DSC results implied that the nano-silicon oxide inserts into the macromolecule chains to increase the free volume and decrease the glass transition temperature to enhance the ion conductivity.In addition,it seems that the crystallization occurred due …

Preparation And Lithium Storage Performance Of Nano-Structural Sno2/Carbon Nanotubes Composite Electrodes, Hong-Bing Wei, Ling Huang, Xiao-Bin Wu, Fu-Sheng Ke, Jin-Shu Cai, Xiao-Yong Fan, Fang-Zu Yang, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Nano-structural SnO₂/Carbon Nanotubes Composites were prepared in a solution of SnCl₂,ethylene glycol(EG),purified MWCNTs and sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) at 160 ℃.The phase structure and surface morphology of the composites were measured by XRD HRTEM and SEM.The results indicate that there are high dispersions and high loadings of SnO₂ nanoparticles on MWCNTs.Electrochemical lithium storage performance was studied preliminarily on the obtained samples.MWCNTs modified with SnO₂ nanoparicles were shown to have a higher electrochemical reversible capacity than that of MWCNTs during the charge and discharge process.MWCNTs can accommodate the larger structure strain of the active materials …

Comparison Of The Electrochemical Reactivity Of Electrodes Modified By Carbon Nanotubes With Different Sizes, Guo-Feng Yang, Neng-Qin Jia, Zhi-Yong Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrochemical activity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs) with different sizes,including four different MWNTs with the same length and different diameter,two different MWNTs with the same diameter and different length has been assessed and compared.The various MWNTs modified electrodes were prepared by immobilizing the suitable amount of MWNTs onto a glassy carbon electrode,and their voltammetric responses to ferricyanide,uric acid and dopamine were examined.The corresponding cyclic voltammetric data was showed that the electrochemical and electrocatalytic activities are depended on the nanotube length.The electrochemical reactivity of short MWNT(S-MWNT) is better than that of long MWNT(L-MWNT),which may be mainly attributed to the existence of …

Effect Of Oxygen Vacancies On Spin-Dependent Tunneling In Fe/Mgo/Fe, Julian P. Velev, Kirill D. Belashchenko, Sitaram S. Jaswal, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to elucidate the effect of O vacancies, forming F centers, on spin-dependent tunneling in Fe/MgO/Fe(001) magnetic tunnel junctions. O vacancies produce occupied localized s states and unoccupied resonant p states, which is consistent with available experimental data. The authors find that O vacancies affect the conductance by nonresonant scattering of tunneling electrons causing a substantial reduction of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR). Improving the quality of the MgO barrier to reduce O vacancy concentration would improve TMR in these and similar junctions.

Hyperthermic Effects Of Gold Nanorods On Tumor Cells, Terry B. Huff, Ling Tong, Matthew N. Hansen, Ji-Xin Cheng, Alexander Wei

Other Nanotechnology Publications

Plasmon-resonant gold nanorods, which have large absorption cross sections at near-infrared frequencies, are excellent candidates as multifunctional agents for image-guided therapies based on localized hyperthermia. The controlled modification of the surface chemistry of the nanorods is of critical importance, as issues of cell-specific targeting and nonspecific uptake must be addressed prior to clinical evaluation. Nanorods coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (a cationic surfactant used in nanorod synthesis) are internalized within hours into KB cells by a nonspecific uptake pathway, whereas the careful removal of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide from nanorods functionalized with folate results in their accumulation on the cell surface over the …

Granular Layers On Vibrating Plates: Effective Bending Stiffness And Particle-Size Effects, Wonmo Kang, Joseph A. Turner, Florin Bobaru, Liyong Yang, Kitti Rattanidit

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Acoustic methods of land mine detection rely on the vibrations of the top plate of the mine in response to sound. For granular soil (e.g., sand), the particle size is expected to influence the mine response. This hypothesis is studied experimentally using a plate loaded with dry sand of various sizes from hundreds of microns to a few millimeters. For low values of sand mass, the plate resonance decreases with added mass and eventually reaches a minimum without particle size dependence. After the minimum, a frequency increase is observed with additional mass that includes a particle-size effect. Analytical nondissipative continuum …

Tunneling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance Driven By Resonant Surface States: First-Principles Calculations On An Fe(001) Surface, Athanasios N. Chantis, Kirill D. Belashchenko, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Mark Van Schilfgaarde

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Fully relativistic first-principles calculations of the Fe(001) surface demonstrate that resonant surface (interface) states may produce sizable tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance in magnetic tunnel junctions with a single magnetic electrode. The effect is driven by the spin-orbit coupling. It shifts the resonant surface band via the Rashba effect when the magnetization direction changes. We find that spin-flip scattering at the interface is controlled not only by the strength of the spin-orbit coupling, but depends strongly on the intrinsic width of the resonant surface states.

Quantitative Analysis Of Polycrystalline Electron Diffraction Patterns, Xingzhong Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Image processing and computer-assisted analysis are very important in electron microscopy/crystallography, e.g., computer programs have been well developed for image processing and simulation for high-resolution electron microscopy images, and are widely used in research. Unfortunately, few computer programs have been developed for analysis and processing electron diffraction ring patterns. Facing this situation, Labar [1] developed ProcessDiffraction, a computer program to process electron diffraction patterns from polycrystalline and amorphous samples, with an aim to provides good angular resolution, quantified intensities, and reproducible identification of discontinuous and/or faint rings. For phase identification, it is to compare the generated diffractogram to the X-ray …

Improved Hole-Injection Contact For Top-Emitting Polymeric Diodes, Juo-Hao Li, Jinsong Huang, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this letter, an efficient hole-injection contact was achieved for the top-emitting polymeric light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). The anode has a structure of metal/molybdenum oxide/ poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). It has been found that hole injection was significantly improved by inserting a thin layer of MoO₃ between aluminum and PEDOT:PSS. An ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) was used to investigate the change of work function, and photovoltaic measurement confirmed that the improved hole injection is due to the reduction of barrier height, resulted from the addition of transition metal oxide. PEDOT:PSS layer was found necessary in anode structure to further enhance the …

Three-Dimensional Structure Of Cdx (X= Se, Te) Nanocrystals By Total X-Ray Diffraction, S. K. Pradhan, Z. T. Deng, F. Tang, Y. Ren, Peter Moeck, V. Petkov

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The three-dimensional structure of oleic acid-capped CdSe and thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals used as quantum dots has been determined by total synchrotron radiationx-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis. Both CdSe and CdTe are found to exhibit the zinc-blende-type atomic ordering. It is only slightly distorted in CdSe implying the presence of nanosize domains and very heavily distorted in CdTe due to the presence of distinct core-shell regions. The results well demonstrate the great potential of the experimental approach and thus encourage its wider application in quantum dot research.

Exafs Characterization Of Dendrimer‐Derived Pt/Γ‐Al2O3, A. Siani, Oleg S. Alexeev, Christopher T. Williams, Harry J. Ploehn, Michael D. Amiridis

Faculty Publications

The various steps involved in the preparation of a Pt/γ‐Al₂O₃ material using hydroxyl‐terminated generation four (G4OH) PAMAM dendrimers as templates were monitored by EXAFS. The results indicate that Cl ligands in the Pt precursors (H₂PtCl₆ and K₂PtCl₄) were partially replaced by aquo ligands upon hydrolysis to form [PtCl₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ and [PtCl₂(H₂O)₂] species. After interaction of such species with G4OH, Cl ligands from the first coordination shell of Pt were further replaced by nitrogen atoms from the dendrimer interior, …

Microwave Absorption Of Patterned Arrays Of Nanosized Magnetic Stripes With Different Aspect Ratios, Leszek M. Malkinski, Minghui Yu, Andriy Y. Voyk, Donald J. Scherer Ii, Leonard Spinu, Weillie Zhou, Scott Whittenburg, Zachary Davis, Jin-Seung Jung

Physics Faculty Publications

Arrays consisting of nanosized stripes of Permalloy with different length-to-width ratios have been fabricated using electron beam nanolithography, magnetron sputtering, and lift-off process. These stripes have a thickness of 100 nm, a width of 300 nm, and different lengths ranging from 300 nm to 100 μm. The stripes are separated by a distance of 1 μm. Magnetization hysteresis loops were measured using a superconducting quantum interference device susceptometer. Microwave absorption at 9.8 GHz was determined by means of ferromagnetic resonance technique. The dependence of the resonant field on the angle between the nanostructure and the in-plane dc magnetic …

Measurement And Modeling Of Light Transmission Through Turbid Media, Alois (Al) J. Adams, Michael Fahrenwald, Long Do

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Low Voltage And Fast Speed All-Polymeric Optocouplers, Yan Yao, Hsiang-Yu Chen, Jinsong Huang, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

An all-polymeric optocoupler has been demonstrated with a polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) as the light source (input unit) and a polymer/fullerene photodiode (PD) as the detector (output unit). The electroluminescence (EL) peak of the PLED is 560 nm, and the entire EL spectrum is within the response range of the PD. The optocoupler can work at low driving voltages, 5 V on the PLED and 0 V on the PD. The output photocurrent increases linearly with input current, and the current density transfer ratio reaches 1.5%. The frequency response of the optocoupler is at 500 kHz. With comparable performance to …

Origin Of Photomultiplication In C60 Based Devices, Jinsong Huang, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this manuscript, the origin of the photomultiplication effect was studied in C₆₀ based devices by evaluating the wavelength dependent external and internal quantum efficiencies under various biases. The effect of materials with disordered structures on the photomultiplication effect was determined by intentionally integrating both ordered and disordered material structures into one organic solar cell device with a configuration of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/pentacene/C₆₀ fullerene/bathocuproine (BCP)/Al. Our results show that both the disordered structure of C₆₀ and the charge trapping effect at the C₆₀ /PEDOT:PSS interface contribute to the photomultiplication effect. By studying the C60-only …

Deck-Mounted Steel Post Barrier System, John D. Reid, Ronald K. Faller, Jason A. Hascall

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

An existing mountable safety barrier system, previously crash tested successfully on a wood bridge deck, was evaluated for use on a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bridge deck. In an attempt to avoid expensive full-scale crash testing, components of the existing system were evaluated using worst case conditions on two dynamic bogie crash tests and a series of computer simulations using nonlinear finite-element analysis. Simulation results closely approximated the physical results, with both displaying similar deformation, damage, and force levels. Both testing and simulation demonstrated that the barrier should function sufficiently if used on the FRP deck system. Further, the development …

Regional Mechanical Properties And Stress Analysis Of The Human Anterior Lens Capsule, Ryan M. Pedrigi, G. David, J. Dziezyc, J. D. Humphrey

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The lens capsule of the eye functions, in part, as a deformable support through which the ciliary body applies tractions that can alter lens curvature and corresponding refractive power during the process of accommodation. Although it has long been recognized that characterization of the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is fundamental to understanding this physiologic process as well as clinical interventions, prior data have been limited by one-dimensional testing of excised specimens despite the existence of multiaxial loading in vivo. In this paper, we employ a novel experimental approach to study in situ the regional, multiaxial mechanical behavior of …

A Scientific Foundation Of Collaborative Engineering, S. C.-Y. Lu, W. Elmaraghy, G. Schuh, R. Wilhelm

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Collaborative engineering is the practical application of collaboration sciences to the engineering domain. In today’s highly connected technology-driven economy, the production industry must rely on the best practices of collaborative engineering to stay competitive when designing, manufacturing, and operating complex machines, processes, and systems on a global scale. Despite its importance, collaborative engineering is currently more of a practiced art than a scientific discipline. A better understanding of how engineers should collaborate with all stakeholders to accomplish complex tasks that fulfill our increasing social responsibilities is a grand challenge. However, because we currently lack well-defined sciences of human collaboration, we …

Ultrasonic Characterization Of Microstructure Evolution During Processing, Liyong Yang, Joseph A. Turner, Zheng Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Many cold-working processes for polycrystalline metals cause alignment of the grains with a single symmetry axis. This type of microstructure is called fiber texture. The existence of a preferred orientation of the grains has a significant influence on the propagation and scattering of ultrasonic waves, which are often used for material inspection. Knowledge of the wave attenuation of such textured materials is of both theoretical and practical interest to nondestructive testing and materials characterization. In this article, the quantitative relations between fiber texture and wave attenuations of hexagonal crystals are presented. The texture is characterized by a Gaussian distribution function …