In the field of clinical diagnostics, biosensors are used to identify genetic
disorders by hybridizing a surface-bound DNA sequence with the
patient’s DNA. To further improve biosensor design, two nonlinear
optical techniques, sum frequency generation (SFG) and second
harmonic generation (SHG), were used to probe the orientation,
chirality, and surface...
The formation of organic layers on hydrogen-passivated silicon (HPS)
surfaces via (UV) ultraviolet treatment was completed for three styrene
derivatives with different conjugated lengths. The styrene molecules
were synthesized and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
(GC-MS). Layer formation on silicon was then accomplished through...
Polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) were formed from amphiphilic diblock
copolymers consisting of a hydrophilic block with pendant polyethylene
glycol tosylate (PEG-OTs) groups and a hydrophobic block with pendant
terthiophene (TTT) groups. The resulting PNPs were characterized
using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) to determine size, shape, and...
The formation of covalently grafted polymer brushes on silica (SiO2)
nanoparticles was achieved by surface-initiated reversible additionfragmentation
chain transfer (si-RAFT) polymerization. RAFT initiator
was first attached onto the surface of silica nanoparticles and then
examined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) analysis. From the
resulting RAFT initiator-modified SiO2 nanoparticles, polymer chains
can...
Bone-related problems have always been a concern in the medical field,
particularly how to heal and rebuild bones more rapidly when injuries
occur. A path to solving such problems might be to examine the
processes when bone develops in nature. This project aims at discovering
the chemical reactions that occur...
The aim of this research is to investigate the pH effect on the assembled
nanostructures of peptide amphiphiles (PAs). Controlling the sizes and
shapes of these assembled nanostructures is of great importance for
their ultimate applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and
regenerative medicine. A complete characterization of these nanostructures...
Semiconductor oxides are important materials in gas-detection systems
and can be improved by enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of
oxide sensors to specific gases. This research investigates the effect of
palladium dopant (Pd) on the hydrogen gas-sensing ability of ZnO 2-D
nanostructures. Photolithography was used to pattern electrodes on
various...
Concern about maximizing and improving heterogeneous catalysis has
grown because it is used in a variety of applications. This study focused
on the effect single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) had on titanium
dioxide (TiO2) catalysis. Two different forms of TiO2, rutile and anatase,
were combined with SWNTs in heterogeneous mixtures and...
Chip-based devices and biosensors
incorporate the attachment of biomolecules
at interfaces. The behavior of biomolecules
at the surface and interfaces differs from the
behavior of biomolecules in the bulk solution.
Surface-analysis techniques are therefore
required to characterize these interfaces.
Second harmonic generation (SHG) has been
used to characterize DNA on...
In this research project, particle sorting of
Brownian liquids was explored by sweeping
two noncoherent pairs of parallel optical
standing waves in a translating medium.
Each wave was created by interfering two
coherent beams of light, and the resulting
fringe periods were determined by the angle
of intersection. Adjusting the...