Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

The Study Of The Dielectric Properties Of The Endohedral Fullerenes, Shusil Bhusal

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Dielectric response of the metal nitride fullerenes is studied using the density functional theory at the all-electron level using generalized gradient approximation. The dielectric response is studied by computing the static dipole polarizabilities using the finite field method, i.e. by numerically differentiating the dipole moments with respect to electric field. The endohedral fullerenes studied in this work are Sc3N@C68(6140), Sc3N@C68(6146), Sc3N@C70(7854), Sc3N@C70(7960), Sc3N@C76(17490), Sc3N@C78(22010), Sc3N@C80(31923), Sc3N@C80(31924), Sc3N@C82(39663), Sc3N@C90(43), Sc3N@C90(44), Sc3N@C92(85), Sc3N@C94(121), Sc3N@C96(186), Sc3N@C98(166). Using the Voronoi and Hirschfield approaches as implemented in our NRLMOL code, we determine the atomic contributions to the total polarizability. The site-specific contributions to the polarizability …

Qualifying Composition Dependent P And N Self-Doping In Ch3Nh3Pbi3, Qi Wang, Yuchuan Shao, Haipeng Xie, Lu Lyu, Xiaoliang Liu, Yongli Gao, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We report the observation of self-doping in perovskite. CH₃NH₃PbI₃ was found to be either n- or p-doped by changing the ratio of methylammonium halide (MAI) and lead iodine (PbI₂) which are the two precursors for perovskite formation. MAI-rich and PbI₂-rich perovskite films are p and n self-doped, respectively. Thermal annealing can convert the p-type perovskite to n-type by removing MAI. The carrier concentration varied as much as six orders of magnitude. A clear correlation between doping level and device performance was also observed.

3d Printing & Open Access Databases For Crystallographic College Education, Peter Moeck, Jennifer Stone-Sundberg, Trevor J. Snyder, Werner Kaminsky, Saulius Grazulis, International Advisory Board Of The Crystallography Open Database

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Presentation gives an overview of available open access databases of crystals and crystal structures, as well as discussions of how newly developed 3D printing technologies can be used to teach crystallography at the college level. Offers advice regarding conversion of crystallographic information files to 3D printing files, and shares news from the 3D printing of crystallographic models community.

Development Of Antifouling Surfaces To Reduce Bacterial Attachment, Mary Viola Graham

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Bacteria are exceptionally good at adhering to surfaces and forming complex structures known as biofilms. This process, known as biofouling, can cause problems for infrastructure (eg, clogging and damaging pipes), for the food industry (eg, contamination of processing surfaces and equipment, and for the medical industry (eg, contamination of indwelling medical devices). Accordingly, multiple strategies have been explored to combat biofouling, including chemical modification of surfaces, development of antibiotic coatings, and more recently, the use of engineered surface topography. When designed properly, engineered surface topographies can significantly reduce bacterial surface attachment, ultimately limiting surface colonization. In this work, we hypothesized …

Fundamental Studies Of Supported Graphene Interfaces : Defect Density Of States In Graphene Field Effect Transistors (Fets) And Ideal Graphene - Silicon Schottky Diodes, Dhiraj Sinha

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The physics of transport in atomically thin 2D materials is an active area of research, important for understanding fundamental properties of reduced dimensional materials and for applications. New phenomena based on graphene may include properties of topologically protected insulators. Applications of these materials are envisioned in electronics, optoelectronics and spintronics.

Investigating Quantum Oscillations In The Thermal Coefficient Of Resistivity Of Ultra-Thin Ag Capping Layers On Cu For Ic Interconnect Applications, Elroy Tatem

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As the semiconductor industry continues to scale feature sizes, scattering from phonons, surfaces, and grain boundaries result in an increase of metal interconnect resistivity in state-of-the-art integrated circuits (ICs). The interconnect chapter of the 2011 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) stated that there are currently no manufacturable solutions in the near term for suitable Cu replacements. Previous studies of thin Ag films deposited on Cu demonstrated oscillations in the electron-phonon interactions within the bilayer system. This thesis investigates oscillations in the resistive properties of the Ag/Cu bilayer system and discusses the applicability of these oscillations to the resistivity challenges …

Investigation Of Hfox/Cu Resistive Memory For Advanced Encryption Applications, Benjamin David Briggs

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used encryption algorithm to protect data and communications in today's digital age. Modern AES CMOS implementations require large amounts of dedicated logic and must be tuned for either performance or power consumption. A high throughput, low power, and low die area AES implementation is required in the growing mobile sector. An emerging non-volatile memory device known as resistive memory (ReRAM) is a simple metal-insulator-metal capacitor device structure with the ability to switch between two stable resistance states. Currently, ReRAM is targeted as a non-volatile memory replacement technology to eventually replace flash. Its …

Nanostructured Tiox As A Catalyst Support Material For Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Richard Phillips

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Recent interest in the development of new catalyst support materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) has stimulated research into the viability of TiO₂-based support structures. Specifically, substoichiometric TiO₂ (TiO_x) has been reported to exhibit a combination of high conductivity, stability, and corrosion resistance. These properties make TiO_x-based support materials a promising prospect when considering the inferior corrosion resistance of traditional carbon-based supports. This document presents an investigation into the formation of conductive and stable TiO_x thin films employing atomic layer deposition (ALD) and a post deposition oxygen reducing anneal (PDORA). …

Metrology Of Epitaxial Thin Films And Periodic Nanostructures Using High Resolution X-Ray Diffraction Techniques, Manasa Medikonda

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The continued scaling of device size to achieve higher performance and/or lower power operation at lower cost is driving research and development into new, 3D transistor structures such as the FinFET. This research and development effort is highlighting the need for new, advanced measurement capability that is highly accurate, reliable, rapid, and nondestructive. Periodic arrays of fin structures enable process monitoring at each level of fabrication and the maintenance of overall device yield. High resolution x-ray diffraction (HR XRD) has been shown to provide unique capability of characterizing blanket thin films and structural parameters of periodic arrays of fins fabricated …

Genomic And Physical Analysis Of Rnr1-Containing Autophagosomes During Environmental Stress, Tamir Danon

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Physical & Genetic Analysis of Rnr1 autophagosomes during the DNA damage response

Towards A Fundamental Understanding Of Inhomogeneous Interfaces Utilizing Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy, Robert John Balsano

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

A fundamental understanding of charge transport across metal/semiconductor interfaces is of great technological and scientific importance. Metal/semiconductor, or Schottky barrier devices are widely utilized in sensing applications and power electronics. Additionally, Schottky barriers appear in resistive memory technology and current transistor technology. Although Schottky interfaces are ubiquitous, the effects of spatially variant interfaces on the measured Schottky barrier height (SBH) are not entirely understood. For these reasons it is necessary to explore the spatial variation at Schottky interfaces at the nanoscale. Ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM) is a three terminal scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) technique used to measure hot carrier …

Expanding Applications Of The Nano Intravital Device As A Platform For Exploring Tumor Microenvironments, Michael Padgen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated to be a key determinant in the progression of cancer. Unfortunately, the mechanisms behind the different microenvironments (cytokine gradients, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, etc) have not been fully elucidated. Identifying these mechanisms can lead to targeted, individualized therapy to prevent metastasis. The Nano Intravital Device (NANIVID) is a microfabricated, implantable device designed to initiate specific microenvironments in vivo so that the time course of the effects can be observed. With both spatial and temporal control over the induced environments, the affected regions of the tumor can be compared to the rest of the tumor. The NANIVID …

First-Principles Study Of The Electric Field Effect On The Water-Adsorbed Rutile Titanium Dioxide Surface, Abraham L. Hmiel

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

TiO₂ is a semiconducting material that has been used extensively in many industrial applications, and recently has become a candidate for photocatalytic water splitting, fuel cell anode support materials, sensors, and other novel nanodevices. The interface of TiO2 with water, historically well-studied but still poorly understood, presents a ubiquitous environmental challenge towards the ultimate practical usefulness of these technologies. Ground-state density functional theory (DFT) calculations studying the characteristics of molecular adsorption on model surfaces have been studied for decades, showing constant improvement in the description of the energetics and electronic structure at interfaces. These simulations are invaluable in the …

Development Of Novel Technologies To Enhance Performance And Reliability Of Iii-Nitride Avalanche Photodiodes, Puneet Harischandra Suvarna

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Solar-blind ultraviolet avalanche photodiodes are an enabling technology for applications in the fields of astronomy, communication, missile warning systems, biological agent detection and particle physics research. Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are capable of detecting low-intensity light with high quantum efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio without the need for external amplification. The properties of III-N materials (GaN and AlGaN) are promising for UV photodetectors that are highly efficient, radiation-hard and capable of visible-blind or solar-blind operation without the need for external filters. However, the realization of reliable and high performance III-N APDs and imaging arrays has several technological challenges. The high price and …

Growth And Characterization Of Graphene On Cuni Substrates, Parul Tyagi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Graphene is a single layer of sp2 bonded carbon atoms that crystallizes in the honeycomb structure. Because of its true two-dimensional structure, it has very unique electrical properties, including a very high carrier mobility that is symmetric for holes and electrons. To realize these unique properties, it is important to develop a method for growing graphene films with uniform thickness and low defect density. One of the most popular methods of growth is by chemical vapor deposition on Cu substrates, because it is self-limited. However many applications require the growth of graphene films that are more than one atomic layer …

An Implantable Device For Manipulation Of The In Vivo Tumor Microenvironment, James K. Williams

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the past decade, it has become increasingly recognized that interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate metastasis. One such interaction is the paracrine loop between macrophages and cancer cells which drives metastatic invasion in mammary tumors. Tumor associated macrophages release epidermal growth factor (EGF), a chemoattractant which induces the migration of cancer cells toward the blood vessels. The cancer cells reciprocate by releasing a macrophage chemoattractant, colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), resulting in the co-migration of both cell types and subsequent intravasation. In this work, a new technology has been developed for studying the mechanisms by which …

The Influence Of Impurities And Metallic Capping Layers On The Microstructure Of Copper Interconnects, Michael Rizzolo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As copper interconnects have scaled to ever smaller dimensions on semiconductor devices, the microstructure has become increasingly detrimental for performance and reliability. Small grains persist in interconnects despite annealing at high temperatures, leading to higher line resistance and more frequent electromigration-induced failures. Conventionally, it was believed that impurities from the electrodeposition pinned grain growth, but limitations in analytical techniques meant the effect was inferred rather than observed.

Characterization Of Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography Photoresists Using Advanced Metrology And Fitting Techniques, Genevieve Kane

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) prepares to be incorporated into high volume manufacturing, many challenges must be addressed. Among these challenges, a need for photoresist improvement exists. The work described here will look into some of the problems and challenges facing EUV resists, in particular out-of-band (OOB) wavelengths of light and their interaction with photoresists. Studies have been completed on the effect of out-of-band light on photoresists [1]-[3]. It is imperative that solutions to suppress the deep ultraviolet (DUV) OOB light be incorporated into next generation EUV production tools due to concerns of decreased performance of lithography, and an increase …

Experimental And Simulation Studies Of Printability Of Buried Euv Mask Defects And Study Of Euv Reflectivity Loss Mechanisms Due To Standard Euv Mask Cleaning Processes, Mihirkant Upadhyaya

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

There's a big push for development and commercialization of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing of 14 nm half-pitch patterning and beyond. One of the primary concerns for making this a reality has been the ability to achieve defect-free masks. My study is focused on two aspects related to the performance degradation of the EUV masks namely EUV mask cleaning induced reflectivity loss mechanisms, and the buried multilayer phase defects in EUV masks.

Radiation Effects In Gate-All-Around Silicon Nanowire Mosfets And Carbon Nanotube P-N Diodes, Everett Steven Comfort

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The scaling of MOSFETs has resulted in short channel effects that increase their power consumption above acceptable levels. In order to lower the power dissipation, new device designs and materials are being considered. For example, multiple-gate MOSFETs, including the gate-all-around silicon nanowire (GAA SiNW) MOSFET, are known to reduce short channel effects. Furthermore, new high-mobility channel materials such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be integrated to allow for further scaling of the supply voltage, again aiding in lowering power dissipation.

Development Of A One-Dimensional Position Sensitive Detector For Tracking Applications, Leigh Kent Lydecker

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Optical Position Sensitive Detectors (PSDs) are a non-contact method of tracking the location of a light spot. Silicon-based versions of such sensors are fabricated with standard CMOS processing, are inexpensive and provide a real-time, analog signal output corresponding to the position of the light spot. Because they are non-contact, they do not degrade over time from surface friction due to repetitive sliding motion associated with standard full contact sliding potentiometers. This results in long, reliable device lifetimes. In this work, an innovative PSD was developed to replace the linear hard contact potentiometer currently being used in a human-computer interface architecture.

Exposure Assessment And Risk Management Of Engineered Nanoparticles : Investigation In Semiconductor Wafer Processing, Michele Shepard

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are currently used in hundreds of commercial products and industrial processes, with more applications being investigated. Nanomaterials have unique properties that differ from bulk materials. While these properties may enable technological advancements, the potential risks of ENMs to people and the environment are not yet fully understood. Certain low solubility nanoparticles are more toxic than their bulk material, such that existing occupational exposure limits may not be sufficiently protective for workers. Risk assessments are currently challenging due to gaps in data on the numerous emerging materials and applications as well as method uncertainties and limitations.

Biomacromolecule Conjugated Nanofiber Scaffold For Salivary Gland Tissue Engineering, Kavitha Jayarathanam

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT :

Microfluidic Electrical Sorting Of Particles Based On Shape In A Spiral Microchannel, John Dubose, Xinyu Lu, Saurin Patel, Shizhi Qian, Sang Woo Joo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Shape is an intrinsic marker of cell cycle, an important factor for identifying a bioparticle, and also a useful indicator of cell state for disease diagnostics. Therefore, shape can be a specific marker in label-free particle and cell separation for various chemical and biological applications. We demonstrate in this work a continuous-flow electrical sorting of spherical and peanut-shaped particles of similar volumes in an asymmetric double-spiral microchannel. It exploits curvature-induced dielectrophoresis to focus particles to a tight stream in the first spiral without any sheath flow and subsequently displace them to shape-dependent flow paths in the second spiral without any …

Fabrication Of Magnetic Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Microstructures For Microfluidics And Microrobotics Applications, Hui Li

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology has had an increasing impact on industry and our society. A wide range of MEMS devices are used in every aspects of our life, from microaccelerators and microgyroscopes to microscale drug-delivery systems. The increasing complexity of microsystems demands diverse microfabrication methods and actuation strategies to realize. Currently, it is challenging for existing microfabrication methods—particularly 3D microfabrication methods—to integrate multiple materials into the same component. This is a particular challenge for some applications, such as microrobotics and microfluidics, where integration of magnetically-responsive materials would be beneficial, because it enables contact-free actuation. In addition, most existing microfabrication methods …

In-Situ Tem Plasma Chip Nanofabrication And Characterization, Xuebo Cui

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

A silicon-based microcell was fabricated with the potential for use in in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of materials under plasma processing. The microcell consisted of 50 nm-thick film of silicon nitride observation window with 60μm distance between two electrodes. E-beam scattering Mont Carlo simulation showed that the silicon nitride thin film would have very low scattering effect on TEM primary electron beam accelerated at 200 keV. Only 4.7% of primary electrons were scattered by silicon nitride thin film and the Ar gas (60 μm thick at 1 atm pressure) filling the space between silicon nitride films. Theoretical calculation also showed …

Fabrication Of Drug Eluting Ti Implants For Dental/Orthopedic Applications, Azhang Hamlekhan

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Titanium and its alloys are typically used for fabrication of dental and orthopedic implants as they possess various desirable properties including biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. In spite of such benefits, titanium implants show lack of osseointegration after surgery in minor cases. The objective of this research has been to modify the surface of titanium alloy for medical applications through increasing surface hydrophilicity and drug loading. Primarily, anodization method is employed for fabrication of nanotubes on titanium surface to act as anchoring cite for cells.

Considering the key role of surface hydrophilicity on cellular attachment to the surface and subsequent biological …

Effect Of Electrospun Nanofibers On The Short Beam Strength Of Laminated Fiberglass Composite, Dattaji K. Shinde

Dissertations

High specific modulus and strength are the most desirable properties for the material used in structural applications. Composite materials exhibit these properties and over the last decade, their usage has increased significantly, particularly in automotive, defense, and aerospace applications. The major cause of failures in composite laminates is due to delaminations. Delamination in composite laminates can occur due to fatigue, low velocity impact and other loadings modes. Conventional methods like “through-the-thickness stitching” or “Z-Pinning” have limitations for improving flexural and interlaminar properties in woven composites due to the fact that while improving interlaminar properties, the presence of stitches or Z …

Enhancing The Insulation Of Wide-Range Spectrum In The Pva/N Thin Film By Doping Zno Nanowires, Yu-Chen Lin, Ching-Hsiang Vhen, Liang-Yih Chen, Shih-Chieh Hsu, Shizhi Qian

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol/nitrogen (PVA/N) hybrid thin films doped with sharp-sword ZnO nanowires with insulating effect and wide-range spectrum are demonstrated for the first time. PVA/N doped ZnO nanocomposites were developed by blending PVA and N-doped ZnO nanowires in water at room temperature. Measurements from the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and photoluminescence emission (PL) spectra of the products show that nitrogen is successfully doped into the ZnO wurtzite crystal lattice. In addition, the refractive index of PVA/N doped ZnO hybrid thin films can be controlled by varying the doped ZnO nanowires under different …

The Application Of Graphene Films In Biosensing And Electrowetting, Xuebin Tan

Wayne State University Dissertations

In recent years, graphene has been found to possess extraordinary electronic, optical, mechanical and electrochemical properties. Graphene is optically transparent and mechanically flexible, and has high electron mobility and conductivity. In this thesis, we propose to investigate graphene's properties in the detection of biomolecules as well as the manipulation of biological samples. Graphene without defects has high charge carrier mobility and surface areas, which is ideal for biosensors. However, literature shows a lot of variations in the measurements using graphene biosensors. In addition, the surface functionalization of graphene in order to enhance the specificity has not been fully investigated yet. …