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- Title
- SYNTHESIS OF ALKYLTHIOL-CONTAINING FLUORENE DERIVATIVES FOR GOLD NANOPARTICLE FUNCTIONALIZATION.
- Creator
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Mukundarajan, Sriram, Belfield, Kevin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
A novel synthetic methodology has been developed for attaching fluorene derivatives, containing different types of electron donating and accepting groups at the 2 and 7 positions, to gold nanoparticles of different sizes by exploiting the affinity of the thiol functional group for gold. The distance between the dye and nanoparticles was varied by introducing two alkyl chains containing different number of carbon atoms at the 9 position on the fluorene ring system. The methodology that was...
Show moreA novel synthetic methodology has been developed for attaching fluorene derivatives, containing different types of electron donating and accepting groups at the 2 and 7 positions, to gold nanoparticles of different sizes by exploiting the affinity of the thiol functional group for gold. The distance between the dye and nanoparticles was varied by introducing two alkyl chains containing different number of carbon atoms at the 9 position on the fluorene ring system. The methodology that was developed gave enough scope for performing Radiative Decay Engineering (RDE) studies, in order to investigate the impact of gold nanoparticles on the singlet oxygen quantum yields of fluorene dyes that already exhibit high singlet oxygen quantum yields as well as high two photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections. The dialkylation of the fluorene derivatives was accomplished by reacting the dye with Ñ, ç-dibromoalkanes containing different number of carbon atoms in a biphasic reaction mixture containing toluene and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as a phase transfer catalyst. The bromine atom on the alkyl chains was converted to thioester by reaction with potassium thioacetate. This was followed by the hydrolysis of the thioester to form the thiol moiety. The compounds synthesized were characterized using 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Functionalization of gold nanoparticles was attempted by bringing into contact a solution of the thiol compound in toluene and an aqueous gold nanoparticles solution. UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy was used to monitor the progress of the attachment. Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy was used to probe the enhancement of Raman signal by the metallic nanoparticles.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000769, ucf:46589
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000769
- Title
- GOLD NANOPARTICLE GENERATION USING IN SITU REDUCTION ON A PHOTORESIST POLYMER SUBSTRATE.
- Creator
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Clukay, Christopher, Kuebler, Stephen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This report presents evidence that in-situ reduction of metal ions bound to a cross-linked polymer surface does not always result in nanoparticle formation solely at the interface, as is commonly assumed, but also as much as 40 nm deep within the polymer matrix. Tetrachloroaurate ions were bound using a variety of multi-functional amines to cured films of SU-8 -- a cross-linkable epoxide frequently used for micro- and nanofabrication -- and then treated using one of several reducing agents....
Show moreThis report presents evidence that in-situ reduction of metal ions bound to a cross-linked polymer surface does not always result in nanoparticle formation solely at the interface, as is commonly assumed, but also as much as 40 nm deep within the polymer matrix. Tetrachloroaurate ions were bound using a variety of multi-functional amines to cured films of SU-8 -- a cross-linkable epoxide frequently used for micro- and nanofabrication -- and then treated using one of several reducing agents. The resulting gold-nanoparticle decorated films were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by plan-view and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. Reduction using sodium borohydride or sodium citrate generates bands of interspersed particles as much as 40 nm deep within the polymer, suggesting both the Au(III) complex and the reducing agent are capable of penetrating the surface and affecting reduction and formation of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. It is shown that nanoparticle formation can be confined nearer to the polymer interface by using hydroquinone, a sterically bulkier and less flexible reducing agent, or by reacting the surface in aqueous media with high molecular-weight multifunctional amines, that presumably confine Au(III) nearer to the true interface. These finding have important implications for technologies that apply surface bound nanoparticles, including electroless metallization, catalysis, nano-structure synthesis, and surface enhanced spectroscopy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFH0004091, ucf:44794
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004091
- Title
- Nanoscale Characterization and Mechanism of Electroless Deposition of Silver Metal.
- Creator
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Grabill, Christopher, Kuebler, Stephen, Beazley, Melanie, Zou, Shengli, Frazer, Andrew, Bhattacharya, Aniket, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This dissertation is an investigation of the nanoscale characteristics and mechanism of electrolessly deposited silver metal seeded by gold nanoparticles. The process of growing seed-nanoparticles on a polymer surface was studied. Several bifunctional amines and organic reducing agents were used to explore how these chemical factors affect the size and distribution of gold nanoparticles formed at the interface. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and...
Show moreThis dissertation is an investigation of the nanoscale characteristics and mechanism of electrolessly deposited silver metal seeded by gold nanoparticles. The process of growing seed-nanoparticles on a polymer surface was studied. Several bifunctional amines and organic reducing agents were used to explore how these chemical factors affect the size and distribution of gold nanoparticles formed at the interface. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). An electroless deposition (ED) bath developed by Danscher was selected to study electroless deposition of silver in detail. The chemical species in the bath were varied to determine how concentration, nature of the carboxylate buffering species, and the presence and absence of gum arabic affect the morphology of silver metal formed by ED and the overall rate of deposition at the surface. The kinetics of deposition using the Danscher bath was studied in detail to elucidate the mechanism of ED. Knowledge generated from this investigation can be used to expand applications of silver ED where strict control over the nanoscale morphology of the deposited metal is required to obtain specific chemical and physical properties.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007009, ucf:52051
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007009
- Title
- INVESTIGATION OF AMINOGLYCOSIDE INDUCED NANOPARTICLE SELF-ASSEMBLIES.
- Creator
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Leong, Michael, Self, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Aminoglycosides are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that, under neutral pH conditions, carry a positive charge. The net cationic charge arises from the high number of amino groups in the core structure of aminoglycosides. Previous studies performed have shown that negatively charged citrate ligand-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can interact with various biomolecules such as aminoglycosides. AuNPs bound to biomolecules have been used in conjugation with various assaying techniques to...
Show moreAminoglycosides are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that, under neutral pH conditions, carry a positive charge. The net cationic charge arises from the high number of amino groups in the core structure of aminoglycosides. Previous studies performed have shown that negatively charged citrate ligand-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can interact with various biomolecules such as aminoglycosides. AuNPs bound to biomolecules have been used in conjugation with various assaying techniques to detect and study compounds in vitro and in vivo. AuNPs also have strong light scattering properties that can be used with a wide variety of imaging and assaying techniques. Our laboratory has previously performed experiments on the aminoglycoside antibiotic ribostamycin sulfate. During this experiment, the concentration dependent rod-like assembly of ribostamycin sulfate was characterized. This experiment used three analytical techniques in conjunction with AuNPs: (1) dynamic light scattering (DLS), (2) UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and (3) dark field optical microscope imaging (DFM). This suite of techniques was used to analyze mixtures of ribostamycin sulfate at different concentration with different sized AuNPs. The primary objective of this research was to determine if the techniques used to characterize the self-assembly of ribostamycin sulfate could be generalized and applied to other aminoglycoside antibiotics. The secondary objective of this research was to determine if other aminoglycoside antibiotics formed rod-like assemblies. This study demonstrated that AuNPs can be used to detect self-assembled oligomers for different aminoglycoside antibiotics. In addition, this study also revealed that not all aminoglycoside antibiotics will self assemble into rod-like oligomers similar to ribostamycin. It was observed that the aminoglycoside antibiotic amikacin self assembled into rod-like aggregates similar to ribostamycin sulfate but the aminoglycoside antibiotics neomycin sulfate and streptomycin sulfate did not.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFH2000339, ucf:45911
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000339
- Title
- GOLD NANOPARTICLES: SYNTHESIS, PROPERTY STUDY AND APPLCICATIONS FORBIOMOLECULAR DETECTION AND PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY.
- Creator
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liu, xiong, Huo, Qun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This dissertation presents a systematic study on gold nanoparticles: from their chemical synthesis, modification of surface functionalities, optical properties studies with emphasis on the absorption and scattering properties, to applications of gold nanoparticles in biomolecular detection, imaging and photothermal therapy. In chapter 2, we studied the kinetics of gold nanoparticle growth under Brust-Shiffrin reaction conditions. In chapter 3, we further examined the reaction mechanism and...
Show moreThis dissertation presents a systematic study on gold nanoparticles: from their chemical synthesis, modification of surface functionalities, optical properties studies with emphasis on the absorption and scattering properties, to applications of gold nanoparticles in biomolecular detection, imaging and photothermal therapy. In chapter 2, we studied the kinetics of gold nanoparticle growth under Brust-Shiffrin reaction conditions. In chapter 3, we further examined the reaction mechanism and growth kinetics of gold nanoparticles using oleylamine as both a reducing reagent and particle growth passivation ligand. From these two projects, important understanding was revealed on gold nanoparticle formation and growth mechanism. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of a monofunctional gold nanoparticle through a solid phase place exchange reaction. From Chapter 5, we moved to the optical property study of gold nanoparticles, particularly the absorption and scattering phenomenon. In this work a systematic analysis on the extinction coefficient of gold nanoparticles was performed, providing meaningful references for applications based on optical absorption properties of gold nanoparticles. In Chapter 6 and Chapter 7, we developed a one-step homogeneous immunoassay for protein detection and analysis based on the strong light scattering of gold nanoparticles and dynamic light scattering detection technique. In Chapter 8, we further improved the stability of gold nanoparticle bioconjugates using a poly(ethylene glycol)-coated gold nanoparticles and further tested this nanoparticle in the one-step homogeneous immunoassay. Finally in Chapter 9, we demonstrated the application of gold nanoparticles for in vitro bioimaging and photothermal therapy of a lung cancer cell. In summary, this dissertation presents a comprehensive study on the synthesis, surface modification, property study of gold nanoparticles and their applications in biomolecular imaging and analysis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002874, ucf:48020
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002874
- Title
- SURFACE ENGINEERING OF GOLD NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS.
- Creator
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Dai, Qiu, Huo, Qun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with their unique sizes, shapes, and properties have generated much enthusiasm over the last two decades, and have been explored for many potential applications. The successful application of AuNPs depends critically on the ability to modify and functionalize their surface to provide stability, compatibility, and special chemical functionality. This dissertation is aimed at exploring the chemical synthesis and surface modification of AuNPs with the effort to (1)...
Show moreGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with their unique sizes, shapes, and properties have generated much enthusiasm over the last two decades, and have been explored for many potential applications. The successful application of AuNPs depends critically on the ability to modify and functionalize their surface to provide stability, compatibility, and special chemical functionality. This dissertation is aimed at exploring the chemical synthesis and surface modification of AuNPs with the effort to (1) control the number of functional groups on the particle surface, and to (2) increase the colloidal stability at the physiological conditions. To control the functionality on the particle surface, a solid phase place exchange reaction strategy was developed to synthesize the 2 nm AuNPs with a single carboxylic acid group attached on the particle surface. Such monofunctional AuNPs can be treated and used as molecular nanobuilding blocks to form more complex nanomaterials with controllable structures. A "necklace"-like AuNP/polymer assembly was obtained by conjugating covalently the monofunctional AuNPs with polylysine template, and exhibited an enhanced optical limiting property due to strong electromagnetic interaction between the nanoparticles in close proximity. To improve the colloidal stability in the psychological condition, biocompatible polymers, polyacrylic acid (PAA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used to surface modify the 30 nm citrate-stabilized AuNPs. These polymer-modified AuNPs are able to disperse individually in the high ionic strength solution, and offer as the promising optical probes for bioassay applications. The Prostate specific antigen (PSA) and target DNA can be detected in the low pM range by taking advantages of the large scattering cross section of AuNPs and the high sensitivity of dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement. In addition to the large scattering cross section, AuNPs can absorb strongly the photon energy at the surface plasmon resonance wavelength and then transform efficiently to the heat energy. The efficient photon-thermal energy conversion property of AuNPs has been used to thermal ablate the Aβ peptide aggregates under laser irradiation toward Alzheimer's disease therapy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002395, ucf:47767
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002395
- Title
- Thermally annealled plasmonic nanostructures.
- Creator
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Wang, Chaoming, Su, Ming, Coffey, Kevin, Chai, Xinqing, Schelling, Patrick, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is induced in metal nanoparticles by resonance between incident photons and conduction electrons in nanoparticles. For noble metal nanoparticles, LSPR can lead to strong absorbance of ultraviolet-violet light. Although it is well known that LSPR depends on the size and shape of nanoparticles, the inter-particle spacing, the dielectric properties of metal and the surrounding medium, the temperature dependence of LSPR is not well understood. By...
Show moreLocalized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is induced in metal nanoparticles by resonance between incident photons and conduction electrons in nanoparticles. For noble metal nanoparticles, LSPR can lead to strong absorbance of ultraviolet-violet light. Although it is well known that LSPR depends on the size and shape of nanoparticles, the inter-particle spacing, the dielectric properties of metal and the surrounding medium, the temperature dependence of LSPR is not well understood. By thermally annealing gold nanoparticle arrays formed by nanosphere lithography, a shift of LSPR peak upon heating has been shown. The thermal characteristics of the plasmonic nanoparticles have been further used to detect chemicals such as explosive and mercury vapors, which allow direct visual observation of the presence of mercury vapor, as well as thermal desorption measurements.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004454, ucf:49322
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004454
- Title
- IN-SITU GAS PHASE CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF METAL NANOPARTICLES.
- Creator
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Ono, Luis, Roldan Cuenya, Beatriz, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Recent advances in surface science technology have opened new opportunities for atomic scale studies in the field of nanoparticle (NP) catalysis. The 2007 Nobel Prize of Chemistry awarded to Prof. G. Ertl, a pioneer in introducing surface science techniques to the field of heterogeneous catalysis, shows the importance of the field and revealed some of the fundamental processes of how chemical reactions take place at extended surfaces. However, after several decades of intense research,...
Show moreRecent advances in surface science technology have opened new opportunities for atomic scale studies in the field of nanoparticle (NP) catalysis. The 2007 Nobel Prize of Chemistry awarded to Prof. G. Ertl, a pioneer in introducing surface science techniques to the field of heterogeneous catalysis, shows the importance of the field and revealed some of the fundamental processes of how chemical reactions take place at extended surfaces. However, after several decades of intense research, fundamental understanding on the factors that dominate the activity, selectivity, and stability (life-time) of nanoscale catalysts are still not well understood. This dissertation aims to explore the basic processes taking place in NP catalyzed chemical reactions by systematically changing their size, shape, oxide support, and composition, one factor at a time. Low temperature oxidation of CO over gold NPs supported on different metal oxides and carbides (SiO2, TiO2, TiC, etc.) has been used as a model reaction. The fabrication of nanocatalysts with a narrow size and shape distribution is essential for the microscopic understanding of reaction kinetics on complex catalyst systems ("real-world" systems). Our NP synthesis tools are based on self-assembly techniques such as diblock-copolymer encapsulation and nanosphere lithography. The morphological, electronic and chemical properties of these nanocatalysts have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Chapter 1 describes briefly the basic principles of the instrumentation used within this experimental dissertation. Since most of the state-of-art surface science characterization tools provide ensemble-averaged information, catalyst samples with well defined morphology and structure must be available to be able to extract meaningful information on how size and shape affect the physical and chemical properties of these structures. In chapter 2, the inverse-micelle encapsulation and nanosphere lithography methods used in this dissertation for synthesizing uniformly arranged and narrow size- and shape-selected spherical and triangular NPs are described. Chapter 3 describes morphological changes on individual Au NPs supported on SiO2 as function of the annealing temperature and gaseous environment. In addition, NP mobility is monitored. Chapter 4 explores size-effects on the electronic and catalytic properties of size-selected Au NPs supported on a transition metal carbide, TiC. The effect of interparticle interactions on the reactivity and stability (catalyst lifetime) of Au NPs deposited on TiC is discussed in chapter 5. Size and support effects on the formation and thermal stability of Au2O3, PtO and PtO2 on Au and Pt NPs supported on SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2 is investigated in chapter 6. Emphasis is given to gaining insight into the role of the NP/support interface and that played by oxygen vacancies on the stability of the above metal oxides. Chapter 7 reports on the formation, thermal stability, and vibrational properties of mono- and bimetallic AuxFe1-x (x = 1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.2, 0) NPs supported on TiO2(110). At the end of the thesis, a brief summary describes the main highlights of this 5-year research program.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002940, ucf:47962
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002940
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION STUDY OF NANOSCALE THIN FILM MATERIALS AND POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES.
- Creator
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Chen, Hui, Huo, Qun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This dissertation demonstrated that the manipulation of substances at the molecular or nanometer level can lead to the discovery and development of new materials with interesting properties and important applications. Chapter 1 describes the development of a nanoscale molecular thin film material for corrosion protection. By using a self-assembled monolayer film with a thickness of only about 1 nanometer as a linkage, a covalent bonding was achieved between a polyurethane top coating and an...
Show moreThis dissertation demonstrated that the manipulation of substances at the molecular or nanometer level can lead to the discovery and development of new materials with interesting properties and important applications. Chapter 1 describes the development of a nanoscale molecular thin film material for corrosion protection. By using a self-assembled monolayer film with a thickness of only about 1 nanometer as a linkage, a covalent bonding was achieved between a polyurethane top coating and an aluminum alloy substrate. This covalent bonding between polymer top coating and the aluminum alloy substrate significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the substrate. Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 describe the development of a gold nanoparticle-polymer composite material in different forms with a number of applications. Gold nanoparticles are among one of the most extensively studied nanomaterials. When the size of gold is shrunk to the nanometer scale, many interesting and new physical properties start to appear from gold nanoparticles. The optical properties of gold nanoparticles, particularly the surface plasmon resonance absorption, have been investigated in this dissertation for the development of multifunctional nanocomposite materials. Chapter 2 presents the preparation of a gold nanoparticle/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposite film and the application of such films for microstructure fabrication using a direct laser writing technique. Gold nanoparticles are excellent photon-thermal energy converters due to their large absorption cross section at the surface plasmon resonance region. Upon laser irradiation of the nanocomposite film, the thermal energy converted from the absorbed photon energy by gold nanopaticles induced a complete decomposition of PMMA, leading to the formation of various microstructures on the nanocomposite films. Chapter 3 reports the further development of a nanoparticle/polymer composite nanofiber material fabricated through an electrospinning process. The matrix of the nanofiber is made of two polyelectrolytes, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). Three methods were developed to incorporate gold nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. The composite nanofiber materials developed in this study demonstrate multifunctional properties, including good electrical conductivity, photothermal response, and surface-enhanced IR absorption. This material may be used for many important applications including catalysis, chemical and biological sensors, and scaffold materials for tissue engineering. In Chapter 4, another most important nanomaterial, carbon naotubes (CNTs), were introduced as fillers to prepare polymer nanocomposites. A dispersion method for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using a conjugated conducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the third component and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as a co-solvent was developed. Due to the excellent dispersion of carbon nanotubes in PMMA and enhanced conductivity of the nanocomposites by the conjugated conducting polymers, the prepared composite materials has an extremely low percolation threshold of less than 0.006 wt% of MWCNT content. The potential use of MWCNT/conducting polymer composites for energy storage applications such as suppercapacitors was further investigated by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and charging-discharging cycles. Compared to pure carbon nanotubes, the nanocomposite materials have significantly improved properties and are promising for supercapacitor applications.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002265, ucf:47825
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002265
- Title
- The Characterization of Condom Lubricants and Personal Hygiene Products using DART-TOFMS and GC- MS and The Investigation of Gold Nanoparticle Behavior in Water and the Interaction with Blood Serum Proteins.
- Creator
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Moustafa, Yasmine, Huo, Qun, Bridge, Candice, Sigman, Michael, Baudelet, Matthieu, Popolan-Vaida, Denisia, Ni, Liqiang, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This dissertation is divided into two independent research projects. First, condom lubricants, sexual lubricants, and personal hygiene products (PHPs) were studied using direct analysis in real time-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (DART-TOFMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The purpose addressed the concern of perpetrators resorting to new tactics, i.e. using condoms to remove seminal fluid that could provide a DNA link to a suspect, leading to the need of the...
Show moreThis dissertation is divided into two independent research projects. First, condom lubricants, sexual lubricants, and personal hygiene products (PHPs) were studied using direct analysis in real time-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (DART-TOFMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The purpose addressed the concern of perpetrators resorting to new tactics, i.e. using condoms to remove seminal fluid that could provide a DNA link to a suspect, leading to the need of the consideration of condom lubricants as pieces of sexual assault evidence. Due to condom lubricants having a chemical composition resembling PHPs, the investigation of both sample groups was analyzed to prevent false positives. Although past research has focused on the identification of major lubricant groups and additives, the discernment between such samples is insufficient. The discriminatory capability and rapid analysis of samples using DART-TOFMS was illustrated through resolution among the sample groups and higher classification rates. Here, lubricant analysis was introduced as a viable source of evidence, with a scheme detailing their discrimination from common hygiene products using DART-TOFMS as a robust tool for the analysis of sexual assault evidence. Second, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), dark field Imaging (DFM), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Following characterization, AuNPs were used in protein adsorption study from blood serum concentration and to observe how the differences in their characterization affected their interactions with blood serum proteins. AuNPs are an interest in the bioanalytical sector due to their optical properties, scattering of light, and high surface-to-volume ratio. A common issue plagues the field: the difficulty of inter/intra laboratory reproducibility from one characterization technique. This further affects the understanding of how AuNPs may react for diagnostic and other applications. The importance of a comprehensive characterization protocol for AuNP products and the need for manufacturers to include product specifications is demonstrated in this study.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- Identifier
- CFE0007842, ucf:52814
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007842
- Title
- Development of in vitro point of care diagnostics (IVPCD) based on Aptamers integrated Biosensors.(&)nbsp;.
- Creator
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Saraf, Nileshi, Seal, Sudipta, Fang, Jiyu, Florczyk, Stephen, Dong, Yajie, Self, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The global market for the medical diagnostic industry is worth 25 billion dollars in the United States and is expected to grow exponentially each year. Presently available methods for biodetection, such as immunoassays, chemiluminescence and fluorescent based assays are expensive, time consuming and require skilled labor with high-end instruments. Therefore, development of novel, passive colorimetric sensors and diagnostic technologies for detection and surveillance is of utmost importance...
Show moreThe global market for the medical diagnostic industry is worth 25 billion dollars in the United States and is expected to grow exponentially each year. Presently available methods for biodetection, such as immunoassays, chemiluminescence and fluorescent based assays are expensive, time consuming and require skilled labor with high-end instruments. Therefore, development of novel, passive colorimetric sensors and diagnostic technologies for detection and surveillance is of utmost importance especially in resource constrained communities. The present work focusses on developing novel and advanced in vitro biodiagnostic tools based on aptamer integrated biosensors for an early detection of specific viral proteins or small biomolecules used as potential markers for deadly diseases. Aptamers are short single stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) which are designed to bind to a specific target biomolecule. These are readily synthesized in laboratory and offers several advantages over antibodies/enzymes such as stable in harsh environment, easily functionalized for immobilization, reproducibility etc. These undergo conformational changes upon target binding and produces physical or chemical changes in the system which are measured as colorimetric or electrochemical signals. Here, we have explored the aptamer-analyte interaction on different platforms such as microfluidic channel, paper based substrate as well as organic electrochemical transistor to develop multiple compact, robust and self-contained diagnostic tools. These testing tools exhibit high sensitivity (detection limit in picomolar) and selectivity against the target molecule, require no sophisticated instruments or skilled labor to implement and execute, leading a way to cheaper and more consumer driver health care. These innovative platforms provide flexibility to incorporate additional or alternative targets by simply designing aptamers to bind to the specific biomolecule.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007766, ucf:52388
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007766
- Title
- Nanoscale Control of Gap-plasmon Enhanced Optical Processes.
- Creator
-
Lumdee, Chatdanai, Kik, Pieter, Dogariu, Aristide, Kuebler, Stephen, Huo, Qun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Surface plasmon resonances of metal nanostructures have been studied intensely in recent years. The strong plasmon-mediated electric field enhancement and field confinement well beyond the diffraction limit has been demonstrated to improve the performance of optical devices including ultrasensitive sensors, light emitters, and optical absorbers. A plasmon resonance mode of particular recent interest is the gap plasmon resonance that occurs on closely spaced metallic structures. In contrast to...
Show moreSurface plasmon resonances of metal nanostructures have been studied intensely in recent years. The strong plasmon-mediated electric field enhancement and field confinement well beyond the diffraction limit has been demonstrated to improve the performance of optical devices including ultrasensitive sensors, light emitters, and optical absorbers. A plasmon resonance mode of particular recent interest is the gap plasmon resonance that occurs on closely spaced metallic structures. In contrast to plasmon resonances supported by isolated metal nanostructures, coupled nanostructures provide additional spectral and spatial control over the plasmon resonance response. For example, the resonance frequencies of metal nanoparticle dimers depend strongly on the gap size between the nanoparticles. Gap plasmons can produce local electric field enhancement factors that are several orders of magnitude stronger and more confined than surface plasmon resonances of isolated plasmonic nanospheres. The reliance of gap plasmons on few-nanometer separation between nanostructures makes it difficult to prepare gap-plasmon supporting structures with predictable resonance frequency and field enhancement. A structure that avoids this challenge is the film-coupled nanoparticle (NP). Similar to nanoparticle dimers, a nanoparticle on a supporting metallic film (or NP-on-a-mirror) can offer a strong coupling between the particle and its local environment, in this case the supporting film instead of adjacent nanoparticles, enabling strongly confined gap-plasmon modes. The NP-on-a-mirror geometry has been shown to produce reproducible gap plasmon resonances in a chemically and thermally robust, easy to fabricate structure. In this Thesis, we first present a scheme for controlling the gap plasmon resonance frequency of single gold nanoparticles using aluminum oxide coated metal films. We demonstrate experimentally and numerically that the gap-plasmon resonance of single gold nanoparticles can be tuned throughout the visible range by controlling the aluminum oxide thickness via anodization. In a separate study of Au NP on Al2O3 coated gold films it is shown that the oxide coating improves the stability of the structure under intense laser irradiation. An combined experimental and numerical analysis of the spectral response of Au NP on rough Au films shows that a film roughness of a few nanometer can affect the gap plasmon resonance in the absence of an oxide spacer layer. A photoluminescence study of single gold nanoparticles on an Al2O3 coated gold film shows that the gap-plasmon resonance of this type of plasmonic structure can increase gold photoluminescence by more than four orders of magnitude. Related numerical simulations reveal that the local photoluminescence enhancement of a gold nanoparticle on an Al2O3 coated gold film can be as high as one million near the particle-film junction. Finally, a new plasmonic sensing element was proposed based on our findings in the previous chapters. This proposed hole-in-one structure offers several attractive features including an easily optically accessible gap plasmon mode, while maintaining a relatively simple fabrication method. Taken together, the research presented in this Thesis demonstrates how the resonance frequency, field enhancement, mode polarization, structural stability, and structure reliability can be controlled at the nanoscale. The knowledge gained in the course of this work could lead to further development of nanophotonic devices that utilize extremely confined optical fields and precisely controlled resonance frequencies.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005972, ucf:50772
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005972
- Title
- QUANTITATIVE SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THICK SAMPLES AND OF GOLD AND SILVER NANOPARTICLES ON POLYMERIC SURFACES.
- Creator
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Dutta, Aniruddha, Heinrich, Helge, Del Barco, Enrique, Chow, Lee, Chen, Bo, Kuebler, Stephen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a reliable tool for chemical and structural studies of nanostructured systems. The shape, size and volumes of nanoparticles on surfaces play an important role in surface chemistry. As nanostructured surfaces become increasingly important for catalysis, protective coatings, optical properties, detection of specific molecules, and many other applications, different techniques of TEM can be used to characterize the properties of nanoparticles on surfaces...
Show moreTransmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) is a reliable tool for chemical and structural studies of nanostructured systems. The shape, size and volumes of nanoparticles on surfaces play an important role in surface chemistry. As nanostructured surfaces become increasingly important for catalysis, protective coatings, optical properties, detection of specific molecules, and many other applications, different techniques of TEM can be used to characterize the properties of nanoparticles on surfaces to provide a path for predictability and control of these systems.This dissertation aims to provide fundamental understanding of the surface chemistry of Electroless Metallization onto Polymeric Surfaces (EMPS) through characterization with TEM. The research focuses on a single EMPS system: deposition of Ag onto the cross-linked epoxide (")SU8("), where Au nanoparticles act as nucleation sites for the growth of Ag nanoparticles on the polymer surface. TEM cross sections were analyzed to investigate the morphology of the Au nanoparticles and to determine the thicknesses of the Ag nanoparticles and of the Ag layers. A method for the direct measurement of the volume and thickness of nanomaterials has been developed in the project using High-Angle Annular Dark-Field (HAADF) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM). The morphology of Au and Ag NPs has been studied to provide reliable statistics for 3-D characterization. Deposition rates have been obtained as a function of metallization conditions by measuring the composition and thickness of the metal for EMPS. In the present work a calibration method was used to quantify the sensitivity of the HAADF detector. For thin samples a linear relationship of the HAADF signal with the thickness of a material is found. Cross-sections of multilayered samples provided by Triquint Semiconductors, FL, were analyzed as calibration standards with known composition in a TECNAI F30 transmission electron microscope to study the dependence of the HAADF detector signal on sample thickness and temperature.Dynamical diffraction processes play an important role in electron scattering for larger sample thicknesses. The HAADF detector intensity is not linearly dependent on sample thicknesses for thick samples. This phenomenon involves several excitation processes including Thermal Diffuse Scattering (TDS) which depends on temperature-dependent absorption coefficients. Multislice simulations have been carried out by Python programming using the scattering parameters available in the literature. These simulations were compared with experimental results. Wedge-shaped Focused Ion Beam (FIB) samples were prepared for quantitative HAADF-STEM intensity measurements for several samples and compared with these simulations. The discrepancies between the simulated and experimental results were explained and new sets of absorptive parameters were calculated which correctly account for the HAADF-STEM contrasts. A database of several pure elements is compiled to illustrate the absorption coefficients and fractions of scattered electrons per nanometer of the sample.In addition, the wedge-shaped FIB samples were used for studying the HAADF-STEM contrasts at an interface of a high- and a low-density material. The use of thick samples reveals an increased signal at the interfaces of high- and low-density materials. This effect can be explained by the transfer of scattered electrons from the high density material across the interface into the less-absorbing low-density material. A ballistic scattering model is proposed here for the HAADF-STEM contrasts at interfaces of thick materials using Python. The simulated HAADF-STEM signal is compared with experimental data to showcase the above phenomenon. A detailed understanding of the atomic number contrast in thick samples is developed based on the combination of experimental quantitative HAADF-STEM and simulated scattering. This approach is used to describe the observed features for Ag deposition on SU-8 polymers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005485, ucf:50333
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005485
- Title
- NOVEL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND THEIR METABOLITES.
- Creator
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Wang, Huiyong, Campiglia, Andres, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are important environmental pollutants originating from a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. Because many of them are highly suspect as etiological agents in human cancer, chemical analysis of PAH is of great environmental and toxicological importance. Current methodology for PAH follows the classical pattern of sample preparation and chromatographic analysis. Sample preparation pre-concentrates PAH, simplifies matrix composition, and...
Show morePolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are important environmental pollutants originating from a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. Because many of them are highly suspect as etiological agents in human cancer, chemical analysis of PAH is of great environmental and toxicological importance. Current methodology for PAH follows the classical pattern of sample preparation and chromatographic analysis. Sample preparation pre-concentrates PAH, simplifies matrix composition, and facilitates analytical resolution in the chromatographic column. Among the several approaches that exist to pre-concentrate PAH from water samples, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the use of solid-phase extraction (SPE). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are the basis for standard PAH identification and determination. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption and room temperature fluorescence detection are both widely used in HPLC, but the specificity of these detectors is modest. Since PAH identification is solely based on retention times, unambiguous PAH identification requires complete chromatographic resolution of sample components. When HPLC is applied to "unfamiliar" samples, the EPA recommends that a supporting analytical technique such as GC-MS be applied to verify compound identification and to check peak-purity HPLC fractions. Independent of the volume of extracted water, the approximate time required to separate and determine the sixteen "priority pollutants" (EPA-PAH) via HPLC is approximately 60min. If additional GC-MS analysis is required for unambiguous PAH determination, the total analysis time will reach 2-3 hours per sample. If the concentrations of target species are found to lie outside the detector's response range, the sample must be diluted and the process repeated. These are important considerations when routine analysis of numerous samples is contemplated. Parent PAH are relatively inert and need metabolic activation to express their carcinogenicity. By virtue of the rich heterogeneous distribution of metabolic products they produce, PAH provide a full spectrum of the complexity associated with understanding the initial phase of carcinogenesis. PAH metabolites include a variety of products such as expoxides, hydroxyl aromatics, quinines, dihydrodiols, dioepoxides, tetrols and water soluble conjugates. During the past decades tremendous efforts have been made to develop bio-analytical techniques that possess the selectivity and sensitivity for the problem at hand. Depending on the complexity of the sample and the relative concentrations of the targeted metabolites, a combination of sample preparation techniques is often necessary to reach the limits of detection of the instrumental method of analysis. The numerous preparation steps open ample opportunity to metabolite loss and collection of inaccurate data. Separation of metabolites has been accomplished via HPLC, capillary electrophoresis (CE) and GC-MS. Unfortunately, the existence of chemically related metabolic products with virtually identical fragmentation patterns often challenges the specificity of these techniques. This dissertation presents significant improvements in various fronts. Its first original component - which we have named solid-phase nano-extraction (SPNE) - deals with the use of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as extracting material for PAH. The advantages of SPNE are demonstrated for the analysis of PAH in water samples via both HPLC and Laser-Excited Time-Resolved Shpol'skii Spectroscopy (LETRSS). The same concept is then extended to the analysis of monohydroxy-PAH in urine samples via SPE- HPLC and In-Capillary SPNE-CE. The second original component of this dissertation describes the application of Shpol'skii Spectroscopy to the analysis of polar PAH metabolites. The outstanding selectivity and sensitivity for the direct analysis of PAH at trace concentration levels has made Shpol'skii spectroscopy a leading technique in environmental analysis. Unfortunately, the requirement of a specific guest-host combination - typically a non-polar PAH dissolved in an n-alkane - has hindered its widespread application to the field of analytical chemistry. This dissertation takes the first steps in removing this limitation demonstrating its feasibility for the analysis of polar benzopyrene metabolites in alcohol matrixes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003202, ucf:48579
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003202
- Title
- Light Scattering Property of Gold Nanoparticles with Applications to Biomolecule Detection and Analysis.
- Creator
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Zheng, Tianyu, Huo, Qun, Zou, Shengli, Gesquiere, Andre, Kang, Hyeran, Zhai, Lei, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have unique optical and chemical properties. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is an analytical tool used routinely for nanoparticle size measurement. The combined use of AuNPs and DLS has led to a novel analytical assay technology called D2Dx (from diameter to diagnostics). Herein, my dissertation highlights the extended use of D2Dx for biomolecule detection and analysis. Under this general theme, Chapter 1 provides some background information of AuNPs, DLS, the...
Show moreGold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have unique optical and chemical properties. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is an analytical tool used routinely for nanoparticle size measurement. The combined use of AuNPs and DLS has led to a novel analytical assay technology called D2Dx (from diameter to diagnostics). Herein, my dissertation highlights the extended use of D2Dx for biomolecule detection and analysis. Under this general theme, Chapter 1 provides some background information of AuNPs, DLS, the principle of D2Dx technique and its potential applications. Chapter 2 summarizes a study on the effect of AuNP concentrations and laser power on the hydrodynamic size measurement of AuNPs by DLS. This study demonstrated the multiple scattering effect on DLS analysis, and how to use the exceptionally high sensitivity of DLS in AuNP aggregate detection for bioassay design and development. Chapter 3 explores a cooperative interaction between AuNP and certain proteins in blood serum that are key to the immune system, leading to a novel diagnostic tool that can conveniently monitor the humoral immunity development from neonates to adults and detect active infections in animals. Chapter 4 reports an application of D2Dx technique for acute viral infection detection based on the active immune responses elicited from mouse models infected with influenza virus. Chapter 5 describes another application of D2Dx for prostate cancer detection. The D2Dx assay identifies prostate cancer patients from non-cancer controls with improved specificity and sensitivity than PSA test. Chapter 6 demonstrates the use of AuNPs and DLS for hydrodynamic size measurement of protein disulfide isomerase with two different conformations. Chapter 7 investigates the concentration-dependent self-assembling behavior of ribostamycin through its interaction with AuNPs in aqueous solution. Overall, this dissertation established several lines of applications of using AuNPs and DLS for biomolecular research and in vitro diagnostics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007385, ucf:52056
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007385
- Title
- Development of a nano-sensing approach and a portable prototype for real-time detection and quantification of free mercury in stream-flow: combining science and engineering in pro of the environment.
- Creator
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Chemnasiri, Warinya, Hernandez, Florencio, Kuebler, Stephen, Zou, Shengli, Uribe Romo, Fernando, Huo, Qun, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Mercury (Hg) is a well-known hazardous environmental contaminant existing in several forms, but all are toxic to human in one way or the others. Since Hg usually settles into water polluting the environment and accumulating in living organisms, it is crucial to monitor Hg levels in the aquatic ecosystem. Although there are many well established techniques currently used to detect Hg, most of them require elaborate and time-consuming sample preparation and pre-concentration procedures, as well...
Show moreMercury (Hg) is a well-known hazardous environmental contaminant existing in several forms, but all are toxic to human in one way or the others. Since Hg usually settles into water polluting the environment and accumulating in living organisms, it is crucial to monitor Hg levels in the aquatic ecosystem. Although there are many well established techniques currently used to detect Hg, most of them require elaborate and time-consuming sample preparation and pre-concentration procedures, as well as costly and bulky equipment that limit their practical application in the field. In order to overcome the existent limitations in Hg determination methods, Hernandez and co-workers proposed the first surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) (-) based Hg sensor using gold nanorods (AuNRs) that offers high sensitivity and selectivity, attributed to the strong affinity between Au and Hg. In this dissertation, I first present my contribution to the understanding of the effect of size and aspect ratio of AuNRs on the limit of detection (LOD) and the dynamic range (DR) of the SPR-based Hg sensor using the qualitative model. In this part I demonstrate how both sensitivity and DR can be improved simultaneously via a modified wet chemistry procedure. Then, I show our approach towards the immobilization of AuNRs silane coated glass slides to expand the application of the SPR-based Hg sensor to stream-flow. Finally, I present the design and fabrication of the first real prototype of the SPR-based Hg sensor, and its application in stream-flow detection and speciation of mercury in the environment. The outcomes of my research have resulted in an innovative real-time portable Hg sensor apparatus with the desired high sensitivity, selectivity and DR to be used in stream-flow applications in Oak Ridge National Labs sites.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0006283, ucf:51589
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006283
- Title
- Novel Developments on the Extraction and Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Environmental Samples.
- Creator
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Wilson, Walter, Campiglia, Andres, Belfield, Kevin, Rex, Matthew, Harper, James, Hoffman, Jay, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This dissertation focuses on the development of analytical methodology for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. Chemical analysis of PAHs is of great environmental and toxicological importance. Many of them are highly suspect as etiological agents in human cancer. Among the hundreds of PAHs present in the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists sixteen as "Consent Decree" priority pollutants. Their routine monitoring in...
Show moreThis dissertation focuses on the development of analytical methodology for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. Chemical analysis of PAHs is of great environmental and toxicological importance. Many of them are highly suspect as etiological agents in human cancer. Among the hundreds of PAHs present in the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists sixteen as "Consent Decree" priority pollutants. Their routine monitoring in environmental samples is recommended to prevent human contamination risks.A primary route of human exposure to PAHs is the ingestion of contaminated water. The rather low PAH concentrations in water samples make the analysis of the sixteen priority pollutants particularly challenging. Current EPA methodology follows the classical pattern of sample extraction and chromatographic analysis. The method of choice for PAHs extraction and pre-concentration is solid-phase extraction (SPE). PAHs determination is carried out via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). When HPLC is applied to highly complex samples, EPA recommends the use of GC/MS to verify compound identification and to check peak-purity of HPLC fractions. Although EPA methodology provides reliable data, the routine monitoring of numerous samples via fast, cost effective and environmentally friendly methods remains an analytical challenge. Typically, 1 L of water is processed through the SPE device in approximately 1 h. The rather large water volume and long sample processing time are recommended to reach detectable concentrations and quantitative removal of PAHs from water samples. Chromatographic elution times of 30 (-) 60 min are typical and standards must be run periodically to verify retention times. If concentrations of targeted PAHs are found to lie outside the detector's response range, the sample must be diluted (or concentrated), and the process repeated. In order to prevent environmental risks and human contamination, the routine monitoring of the sixteen EPA-PAHs is not sufficient anymore. Recent toxicological studies attribute a significant portion of the biological activity of PAH contaminated samples to the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, i.e. PAHs with MW ? 300. Because the carcinogenic properties of HMW-PAHs differ significantly from isomer to isomer, it is of paramount importance to determine the most toxic isomers even if they are present at much lower concentrations than their less toxic isomers. Unfortunately, established methodology cannot always meet the challenge of specifically analyzing HMW-PAHs at the low concentration levels of environmental samples. The main problems that confront classic methodology arise from the relatively low concentration levels and the large number of structural isomers with very similar elution times and similar, possibly even virtually identical, fragmentation patterns. This dissertation summarizes significant improvements on various fronts. Its first original component deals with the unambiguous determination of four HMW-PAHs via laser-excited time-resolved Shpol'skii spectroscopy (LETRSS) without previous chromatographic separation. The second original component is the improvement of a relatively new PAH extraction method - solid-phase nanoextraction (SPNE) - which uses gold nanoparticles as extracting material for PAHs. The advantages of the improved SPNE procedure are demonstrated for the analysis of EPA-PAHs and HMW-PAHs in water samples via GC/MS and LETRSS, respectively.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005443, ucf:50384
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005443
- Title
- Structure, stability, vibrational, thermodynamic, and catalytic properties of metal nanostructures: size, shape, support, and adsorbate effects.
- Creator
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Behafarid, Farzad, Roldan Cuenya, Beatriz, Chow, Lee, Heinrich, Helge, Kara, Abdelkader, Schoenfeld, Winston, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have provided the scientific community with exciting new opportunities to rationally design and fabricate materials at the nanometer scale with drastically different properties as compared to their bulk counterparts. In this dissertation, several challenges have been tackled in aspects related to nanoparticle (NP) synthesis and characterization, allowing us to make homogenous, size- and shape-selected NPs via the use of colloidal chemistry,...
Show moreRecent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have provided the scientific community with exciting new opportunities to rationally design and fabricate materials at the nanometer scale with drastically different properties as compared to their bulk counterparts. In this dissertation, several challenges have been tackled in aspects related to nanoparticle (NP) synthesis and characterization, allowing us to make homogenous, size- and shape-selected NPs via the use of colloidal chemistry, and to gain in depth understanding of their distinct physical and chemical properties via the synergistic use of a variety of ex situ, in situ, and operando experimental tools. A variety of phenomena relevant to nanosized materials were investigated, including the role of the NP size and shape in the thermodynamic and electronic properties of NPs, their thermal stability, NP-support interactions, coarsening phenomena, and the evolution of the NP structure and chemical state under different environments and reaction conditions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004779, ucf:49796
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004779