Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Attachment Of 2d Nanomaterials Onto 1d Nanofibers For Separation And Sensing Applications, Elmmer A. Vera Alvarado

Theses and Dissertations

Advancing materials for water desalination and sensing is essential for tackling global issues related to clean water and efficient energy systems. This thesis explores the application of 2D nanomaterials, specifically graphene, integrated onto 1D poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers to enhance their effectiveness in these areas. Utilizing innovative techniques such as Forcespinning® and plasma treatment, PVDF nanofibers were strengthened with graphene and conductive polymers like poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS). The research involved thorough assessments using direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) systems, oil-water separation tests, and various mechanical and electromechanical evaluations. Heat-pressed membranes consistently delivered a flux of 0.33 kg/m²/hr and …

Understanding And Tuning Magnetism In Van Der Waals-Type Metal Thiophosphates, Rabindra Basnet, Jin Hu

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Over the past two decades, significant progress in two-dimensional (2D) materials has invigorated research in condensed matter and material physics in low dimensions. While traditionally studied in three-dimensional systems, magnetism has now been extended to the 2D realm. Recent breakthroughs in 2D magnetism have attracted substantial interest from the scientific community, owing to the stable magnetic order achievable in atomically thin layers of the van der Waals (vdW)-type layered magnetic materials. These advances offer an exciting platform for investigating related phenomena in low dimensions and hold promise for spintronic applications. Consequently, vdW magnetic materials with tunable magnetism have attracted significant …

Nanoparticle-Based Approaches To Brain Injury And Studies For Improved Detectability Toward Better Delivery Characterization, Hunter A. Miller

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The clinical translation of nanoparticle (NP) therapeutics for brain injury has been slow despite preclinical promise. The causes of disconnect between preclinical and clinical outcomes is multifactorial, but insufficient delivery is noteworthy. Preclinical delivery characterization often lacks, obscuring mechanisms of failure, slowing development. Multimodal imaging is a promising strategy to improve delivery characterization, combining the strengths of various modalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and luminescence imaging are a suitable combination for multimodal imaging, expanding the spatial and temporal resolution of either alone, but further material development is needed to enhance detectability. One problem is the interference of cellular autofluorescence in …

Enhanced Optical And Infrared Activity Of Nanosphere Dimers Attributed To Dimer Geometry, D. Keith Roper, Jin-Woo Kim, Ricardo R. Romo, Joseph Batta-Mpouma

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Enhanced optical and infrared activity of subwavelength metal nanoparticles is key to their use in optoelectronics, spectroscopy, and sensing. The present work compared spectra of nanosphere dimers merged by centrifuging gold nanospheres with corresponding simulated nanoscale dimers. Geometric features of the nanosphere dimers were related to corresponding optical and near-infrared activity through simulation. Differences in optical and infrared activity of the nanosphere dimers were largely attributable to changes in the radius of the nanosphere and the radius of the conductive junction between merged nanospheres. The features observed in the experimental spectra were attributed to a select number of dimers exhibiting …

Fabrication And Characterization Of A Monolithic Photonic Integrated Circuit With High-Aspect Ratio Photonic Device Structures, Sami A. Nazib

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

The focus of this work was to create a process to fabricate an InP-based Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC). The design of the PIC required the photonic components of this device to be created by deep etching of an epitaxially-grown multilayer structure. Therefore, a novel dry etching process was developed to produce very high aspect- ratio (HAR) features. This process not only involved the development of dry etch chemistry but also the engineering of a metal mask structure. The next step of the challenge was to use a polymer-based material that would have two functions: cladding for the etched photonic components …

Series Reports From Professor Wei’S Group Of Chongqing University: Advancements In Electrochemical Energy Conversions (1/4): Report 1: High-Performance Oxygen Reduction Catalysts For Fuel Cells, Fa-Dong Chen, Zhuo-Yang Xie, Meng-Ting Li, Si-Guo Chen, Wei Ding, Li Li, Jing Li, Zi-Dong Wei

Journal of Electrochemistry

Two major challenges, high cost and short lifespan, have been hindering the commercialization process of low-temperature fuel cells. Professor Wei’s group has been focusing on decreasing cathode Pt loadings without losses of activity and durability, and their research advances in this area over the past three decades are briefly reviewed herein. Regarding the Pt-based catalysts and the low Pt usage, they have firstly tried to clarify the degradation mechanism of Pt/C catalysts, and then demonstrated that the activity and stability could be improved by three strategies: regulating the nanostructures of the active sites, enhancing the effects of support materials, and …

Kai Wu, The Editorial Board Member Of Journal Of Electrochemistry And Chief Scientist Of Catl, Receives The National Science And Technology Progress Award, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Data-Driven Viewpoint For Developing Next-Generation Mg-Ion Solid-State Electrolytes, Fang-Ling Yang, Ryuhei Sato, Eric Jian-Feng Cheng, Kazuaki Kisu, Qian Wang, Xue Jia, Shin-Ichi Orimo, Hao Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Magnesium (Mg) is a promising alternative to lithium (Li) in solid-state batteries due to its abundance and high theoretical volumetric capacity. However, the sluggish Mg-ion conduction in the lattice of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) is one of the key challenges that hamper the development of Mg-ion solid-state batteries. Though various Mg-ion SSEs have been reported in recent years, key insights are hard to be derived from a single literature report. Besides, the structure-performance relationships of Mg-ion SSEs need to be further unraveled to provide a more precise design guideline for SSEs. In this Viewpoints article, we analyze the structural characteristics of …

First Announcement Of 76th Annual Meeting Of The International Society Of Electrochemistry, International Society Of Electrochemistry (Ise)

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Professor Yong Yang, The Editorial Board Member Of Journal Of Electrochemistry, Is Elected As A Fellow Of The Electrochemical Society, Editorial Office Of J.Electrochem.

Journal of Electrochemistry

No abstract provided.

Exploring Co2-Eor Miscibility Flooding Potential For Horus Oil Field, Western Desert, Egypt: A Simulation-Based Investigation, Attia Attia, Adel Salem Prof., Rehab El-Maghraby, Mohamed Youssef Prof.

Petroleum Engineering and Gas

Carbon dioxide (CO2) miscible flooding is becoming increasingly vital in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) not only for residual oil extraction but also for holding a potential for environmental protection, given its association with global warming. This paper explores the impact of EOR using miscible continuous gas injection on enhancing the oil productivity of the aging Horus oil field in Egypt's Western Desert. Horus field faces declining production rates and a significant water cut, with only eight wells out of 24 wells actively producing. Currently, the field maintains a stabilized oil production plateau of 1050 barrels per day, accompanied by a …

Chemical And Physical Properties Of Fine Fractions From A Village Proximate To A Uranium Mine: Insights About Soil Health, Mary P. Haley

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Thousands of abandoned uranium mines (AUM) in Native American tribal lands have not been fully remediated, leaving uranium mine wastes exposed and accessible for potential erosion and transport by wind. Analyzing the metal and organic content of the fine-grained fractions in soils could uncover the impact of mine legacy on the soil health in communities that live in proximity to AUM. This study investigates the physical and chemical properties of the fine-grained fraction (μm) of soils to quantify the effect of heavy metal-bearing particulates on the soil health in the village of Paguate and within the Jackpile-Paguate AUM located on …

Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Dysregulation In Traumatic Brain Injury Leading To Tauopathy, Kristina M. Tosi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) causes a cascade of detrimental events within neurons, contributing to a host of neurological diseases relating to dementia. In this study we have performed a meta-analysis comparing differentially expressed genes (DEG) in specific cell types such as neurons and microglia revealing inflammation as a common driver of neurological deficiencies post TBI. Inflammation and hypoxia are well characterized features of TBI; however, the molecular mechanisms causing tau hyperphosphorylation by tauopathy associated genes (TAG) post-TBI are currently poorly understood. Furthermore, there are limited in-vitro neuroinflammatory models that mimic primary and secondary TBI. We hypothesize that inducing hypoxia and …

Development And Characterization Of Automated Screen Mesh-Based Microfluidic Device To Perform Continuous Countercurrent Liquid-Liquid Extraction, Quinn Mcculloch

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Continuous Countercurrent Microfluidic Liquid-Liquid Extraction (CC-MLLE) shows tremendous potential to generate large numbers of equilibrium stages of separation in a small footprint, with a minimum of pumping, valving, and phase separation steps. However, CC-MLLE rarely appears in literature because it requires a delicate balance between capillary and hydrodynamic forces for deterministic flow.

This dissertation showcases a patented screen mesh-based CC-MLLE invention that performs stable, long-duration (> 36 hr.), countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction and achieves 37 equilibrium stages within a 38.5 μl internal volume. The device is fabricated from chemically resistant polyetheretherketone plastic, using standard machine shop equipment, a plotting cutter, screen …

Alternative Applications Of Composite Materials To Reduce Radar Cross Section, Mark Patterson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The use of carbon nanoparticles and graphene in composite materials has created a foundational shift in enhancing performance across mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Such applications are vital in the aerospace industry. However, there has not been such a focus on the material use for reducing radar cross section (RCS). Historically, RCS is minimized by designing sharp geometric shapes to deflect or dissipate the incoming electromagnetic waves away from the receiving antenna. However, these designs are not always optimized for aerodynamics. The goal of this research is to understand the application of composite materials and specifically carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to …

Enhancement Of Polytetrafluoroethylene-Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibers Triboelectric Effect With Carboxylic Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Coating, Fernando Viesca

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we fabricated a TENG using Forcespinning® (FS) Polytetrafluoroethylene microfibers (FS-PTFE-MFs) and Electrospun (ES) Polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers (ES-PVA-NFs). The FS-PTFE-MFs were physically linked with functionalized carboxylic multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) employing water dispersions. MWCNTs-COOH were dispersed using three different surfactants: Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), and Triton X-100 (TX-100). Coated FS-PTFE-MFs were then characterized using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) attachment and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). While no significant difference in performance was observed with different surfactants, electrical results of the TENG recorded a notable enhancement of …

Understanding And Tuning Magnetism In Layered Ising-Type Antiferromagnet Fepse3 For Potential 2d Magnet, Rabindra Basnet, Taksh Patel, Jian Wang, Dinesh Upreti, Santosh Karki Chhetri, Gokul Acharya, Md Rafique Un Nabi, Joshua Sakon, Jin Hu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent developments in 2D magnetic materials have motivated the search for new van der Waals magnetic materials, especially Ising-type magnets with strong magnetic anisotropy. Fe-based MPX₃ (M = transition metal, X = chalcogen) compounds such as FePS₃ and FePSe₃ both exhibit an Ising-type magnetic order, but FePSe₃ receives much less attention compared to FePS₃. This work focuses on establishing the strategy to engineer magnetic anisotropy and exchange interactions in this less-explored compound. Through chalcogen and metal substitutions, the magnetic anisotropy is found to be immune against S substitution for Se whereas …

Molybdenum Disulfide And Carbon Nanotubes Composite Electrode For Electrochemical Conversion Of Salinity Gradient Energy, Jia-Jun Li, Wei-Bin Zhang, Xin-Yu Liu, Jing-Lei Yang, Yi Yin, Ze-Qin Yang, Xue-Jing Ma

Journal of Electrochemistry

The ocean accounts for 97% of the total water resources on earth, covering over 70% of the map's surface area. With the continuous consumption of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and the rapid development of renewable energy, humans are increasingly paying attention to the utilization of ocean resources. Ocean energy includes tidal energy, wave energy, temperature difference energy, and salinity gradient energy. Salinity gradient energy is the energy generated by the interaction of seawater and fresh water, which is the ocean energy existing in the form of chemical energy. This energy is mostly generated in estuaries. The osmotic …

Surface Structures And Properties Of High-Voltage Licoo2: Reviews And Prospects, Jian-Jun Fang, Yu-Hao Du, Zi-Jian Li, Wen-Guang Fan, Heng-Yu Ren, Hao-Cong Yi, Qing-He Zhao, Feng Pan

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nowadays, the development of high-voltage LiCoO₂ (lithium cobalt oxide, LCO) cathodes has attracted the widespread attention from both the academic and industry fields. Among the multiple concerns, researches on the surface issues would provide the most effective performance optimization pathway for the synthesis of high-voltage LCO. In this work, the issues of high-voltage LCO, including the phase transitions and crack formation, the oxygen redox related issues and side reactions, as well as the surface structure degradation, have been systematically reviewed. Then, we further clarify the surface modulations, and the interplay between the surface modulation and electrolyte tuning. Finally, we …

Effect Of Oxidation Of Graphene On Agglomeration And The Mechanical Properties Of Thermosetting Resins, Matthew A. Reil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Thermosetting resins are used extensively worldwide in applications ranging from adhesives to structural components. However, these resins generally fail in a brittle fracture mode which is undesirable in most situations. Graphene (G) and its derivatives have been considered as additives to epoxy for material property enhancement and varied results have been reported in the literature. In this work, the effects of the oxidation of G to graphene oxide (GO) on polymer interactions and plate agglomeration were studied by classical molecular dynamics (MD). Results from those simulations concluded that agglomerates were likely present in all G-based nanocomposites. The effect of these …

Activity Descriptors As Tools For Designing Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts For Water Splitting, Aya Gomaa

Theses and Dissertations

There is an uprising urge to design efficient, active, and durable catalysts to achieve sustainable hydrogen production. The unambiguity of which material should be used pushed the scientific community to devote enormous efforts in exploring different elements with different ratios on trial and error bases. However, the bridge between the theoretical calculation and the experiments introduced a new realm of designing efficient catalysts by introducing the concept of activity descriptors. In the first part of the thesis, the ability to convert waste stainless steel (SS) 316L meshes into highly efficient and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is demonstrated. The …

Emergent Magnetism And Hyperthermia In Phase- And Size-Tunable Iron Oxide Nanostructures, K Mudiyanselage Tharindu Supun Bandara Attanayake

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) hold immense potential across diverse fields, from spintronics, magnetic hyperthermia to drug delivery, biodetection, and magnetic resonance imaging. Unlocking these applications hinges on our ability to tailor the magnetic properties of IONPs, and this dissertation presents novel and powerful approaches for enhancing magnetic and hyperthermic responses of multiphase iron oxide nanostructures. This is achieved by manipulating their phase volume fraction, size, and shape with a focus on the magnetic tunability of nanostructures via strategic control over structural and environmental parameters. The aforementioned has been achieved by the following three key approaches: (i) phase-tunability of iron oxide …

Single-Molecule Orientation Imaging Reveals The Nano-Architecture Of Amyloid Fibrils Undergoing Growth And Decay, Brian Sun, Tianben Ding, Weiyan Zhou, Tara S. Porter, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Amyloid-beta (Aβ42) aggregates are characteristic Alzheimer’s disease signatures, but probing how their nanoscale architectures influence their growth and decay remains challenging using current technologies. Here, we apply time-lapse single-molecule orientation-localization microscopy (SMOLM) to measure the orientations and rotational “wobble” of Nile blue (NB) molecules transiently binding to Aβ42 fibrils. We correlate fibril architectures measured by SMOLM with their growth and decay over the course of 5 to 20 min visualized by single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). We discover that stable Aβ42 fibrils tend to be well-ordered and signified by well-aligned NB orientations and small wobble. SMOLM also shows that increasing order …

Predicting Rheology Of Uv-Curable Nanoparticle Ink Components And Compositions For Inkjet Additive Manufacturing, Cameron D. Lutz

Master's Theses

Inkjet additive manufacturing is the next step toward ubiquitous manufacturing by enabling multi-material printing that can exhibit various mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. These characteristics are realized in the careful formulation of the inks and their functional materials, but there are many constraints that need to be satisfied to allow optimal jetting performance and build quality when used in an inkjet 3-D printer. Previous research has addressed the desirable rheology characteristics to enable stable drop formation and how the metallic nanoparticles affect the viscosity of inks. The contending goals of increasing nanoparticle-loading to improve material deposition rates while trying to …

Development Of Super Hydrophobic Membranes And Their Applications, Sumona Paul

Dissertations

Effective liquid phase separation is vital across industries, especially in aviation, chemicals, fuels, and textiles. Membrane technology offers advantages over traditional methods like distillation, with low energy consumption and protection for heat-sensitive molecules. Membrane performance is assessed based on factors such as materials, surface modification, and interactions. This research targets superhydrophobic membranes for liquid-liquid filtration and antiwetting omniphobic membranes for membrane distillation, focusing on properties like contact angle and thermal resistance.

This study presents a highly hydrophobic membrane achieved by immobilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) onto a PTFE microfiltration membrane. It's designed for dewatering organic-water mixtures with trace water content via …

Targeted Drug Delivery: Investigating Protein Corona Behavior, Atharva Markale

Theses

Due to high specificity and less toxicity, nanoparticles have become promising for targeted drug delivery against cancer, although they face challenges when they enter the bloodstream, making their behavior unpredictable. The deposition of proteins on nanoparticles, the protein corona, changes their biosignature, affecting their circulation, drug release potency, targeting ability, and immunogenicity. The continuous exchange of protein layers on a nanoscale is complex to analyze.

Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) is a method to characterize nanoparticles in blood plasma by combining principles of light scattering microscopy and Brownian motion. In this work, time-dependent experiments with plasma were conducted to analyze the …

Recent Advance In Electrochemical Dehalogenative Deuteration, Peng-Fei Li, Guang-Sheng Kou, Li-Ping Qi, You-Ai Qiu

Journal of Electrochemistry

In recent years, the incorporation of deuterium atoms into organic compounds has emerged as a vital focus in the development of pharmaceutical molecules. This trend is driven by the increasing recognition of the significance of compounds containing deuterium atoms across various domains, including materials and biopharmaceuticals, where they have found widespread applications in mechanistic studies within the realms of chemistry and biology. Meanwhile, organic electrochemistry, as a relatively environmentally friendly catalytic mode with broad adaptability to redox reactions, has emerged as a crucial alternative to traditional halogen-deuterium exchange in the context of the reduction deuteration of halides. This approach circumvents …

Comparison Of Ligands In Palladium-Catalyzed Electrochemical Allyl 4-Pyridinylation, Wei-Jie Ding, Chun-Hui Yang, Zhong-Tao Feng, Shi-Rong Lu, Xu Cheng

Journal of Electrochemistry

4-CN-pyridine is a widely applied 4-pyridinylation reagent for diverse transformations. Conventionally, the reaction proceeds via an open-shell radical cross-coupling pathway. Following our previous study, in this work, we report the Pd-catalyzed allyl 4-pyrinylation reaction under electrochemical conditions. The reaction proceeds via radical-polar crossover pathway in which the role of phosphine ligand in reactivity and selectivity was extensively investigated.

Nickel-Catalyzed Α-Arylation Of Α-Cyanoacetates Enabled By Electrochemistry, Zi-Meng Li, Zhang-Jian Li, Anat Milo, Ping Fang, Tian-Sheng Mei

Journal of Electrochemistry

β-Amino acids have a wide range of applications in the field of pharmaceuticals. Utilizing a combination strategy of nickel catalysis and paired electrolysis, a catalytic α-arylation protocol of carbonyl compounds has been developed. This protocol affords various a-aryl-a-cyanoacetates, which can be reduced to high-value-added α-aryl-β-amino acids. The cross-coupling reaction of electron-deficient aryl bromides with a-cyanoacetates achieves the expected products with good yields and functional group compatibility under mild conditions. Excessive electron-richness in initial aryl bromides facilitates the self-coupling of desired products. DFT calculations confirm that the presence of electron-rich aryl substitutions decreases the reduction potentials of the product anions, making …

Phase Interface Dynamics And Heat Transfer Mechanisms In Evaporating Droplet And Pool Boiling Processes, Md Tanbin Hasan Mondal

Doctoral Dissertations

Despite the significant importance and widespread use of phase-change cooling techniques, there are still fundamental questions about the microscopic processes that govern the heat transfer mechanisms. In order to gain a better understanding of the underlying physics involved, it is essential to have information at the microscale regarding the surface temperature distribution with time as well as the location and speed of the moving contact line (MCL). A comprehensive understanding of heat transfer mechanisms and phase-interface behavior during phase-change cooling is crucial for improving heat transfer models, optimizing surface engineering, and maximizing overall effectiveness. Firstly, this dissertation presents a capacitance-based …