A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science of the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in full fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. May 2017 / Nanomaterials (NMs) have been shown to exhibit unique physical and chemical properties that are highly size and shape-dependent. The ability to control synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with particular shapes and sizes can lead to exciting new applications or enhancements of current systems in the fields of optics, electronics, catalytics, biomedicine and biotechnology. Due to increased chemical pollution as well as health concerns, biological synthesis of NMs has quickly emerged as potentially being an eco-friendly, scalable, and clean alternative to chemical and physical synthesis. In this study, the inference that the heavy metal-resistant bacteria, Paenibacillus castaneae, has the propensity to synthesize metal NPs was validated. NP formation was achieved after the exposure of bacterial cell biomass or cell-free extracts (CFE) to excess metal ion precursors in solution. These include lead nitrate and calcium sulphate dehydrate, gold (III) chloride trihydrate and silver nitrate, respectively. All reactions were incubated at 37 °C for 72 h at 200 rpm and observed for a colour change. UV–visible (UV-Vis) spectral scans (200 nm – 900 nm) were measured on a Jasco V-630 UV-Vis spectrophotometer. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), samples were fixed, dehydrated and loaded onto carbon-coated aluminium stubs. The stubs were then sputter-coated with either Au/Pd or Cr and analysed on the FEI Nova Nanolab 600 FEG-SEM/FIB. Size distribution analysis was done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using the FEI Tecnai T12 TEM and Image J software. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements were carried out on a Rigaku Miniflex-II X-ray diffractrometer. Colour changes indicative of the synthesis of PbS, Au and Ag NPs were observed as a white precipitate (PbS), purple (Au) and yellow-brown (Ag) colour, respectively. This was confirmed by absorbance peaks at 325 nm and 550 nm (PbS), 595 nm (Au) and 440 nm (Ag) from UV-Vis analyses. Exposure of P. castaneae biomass and CFE to PbS ions in solution resulted in the production of nanospheres, irregularly-shaped NPs, nanorods, nanowires as well as large nanoflowers. Exposure of P. castaneae biomass to Au3+ ions in solution produced Au nanospheres, nanotriangles, nanohexagons, nanopentagons and nanopolyhedrons. Ag/AgCl NP production occurred using both the P. castaneae biomass and CFE, and resulted in the synthesis of nanospheres only. This is the first report of the biosynthesis of such a diverse set of anisotropic NPs by P. castaneae. It is also the first instance in which anisotropic PbS nanorods and nanowires, 3-D Au nanoprisms as well as “rough” Ag/AgCl nanospheres were bacterially produced. This study serves as an eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of NPs that is a simple yet amenable method for the large-scale commercial production of nanoparticles with technical relevance. This in turn expands the limited knowledge surrounding the biological synthesis of heavy metal NMs. / MT 2017

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of science, Department of Chemistry University of the Witwatersrand Private Bag X03 Wits 2050 / In recent years, studies have shown that supported Au catalysts have high activity for CO oxidation at low or ambient temperatures. However, the activity of these catalysts is dependent on a lot of synthesis conditions as reproducibility of small sized gold particles is hard. In this study supported Au catalysts were prepared via deposition precipitation-method (DP). The small sized Au particles were supported on TiO2 (P25). The suitable synthesis conditions such as pH, aging, metal loading and catalyst pre-treatment were investigated in order to obtain optimum synthesis conditions. The catalysts were characterized with TEM, XRD, and HRTEM. It was found that 3.7 nm Au particles were best synthesized when Au metal loading is 3% at pH 8 and aged for 72 h. The suitable calcination temperature was 200 °C. It was found that the Au particle size was 4.5 nm when Au was supported on SiO2 thus making TiO2 a suitable support. Bimetallic catalyst was synthesized via DP where Pd metal was incorporated as the second metal. It was found that the type of bimetallic formed was heterostructed where both metals where separately attached on the support. The interatomic distance measured from HRTEM results confirmed that both metal were individually attached on the support. XRD results showed that there was no Au-Pd alloy phase or PdO confirming that the Pd metal on the support was indeed in metallic form. Carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation reactions were undertaken in a tubular glass flow reactor. The monometallic Au catalyst showed superior activity at 200 °C with almost 100% CO conversion. It was also observed that the activity of these catalyst decreased as temperature increased. The CO-TPD studies showed that as temperature increased there was a low CO adsorption due to a decrease in adsorption sites. Varying Pd composition in the bimetallic catalyst did not enhance catalytic activity. However, 25Au75Pd catalyst showed a better conversion as compared to other Au-Pd catalysts. Temperatures studies on bimetallic catalysts showed that as temperature increased there was a decrease in activity. The observed decrease could be attributed to catalyst formation of large particle aggregates. It was also assumed that the low activity was due to how these catalysts were prepared as there was no surfactant utilized during preparation.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry, 2017 / The aim of this study was to synthesize helical carbon nanofibers with controlled diameter by using copper nanoparticles contained inside hollow carbon sphere. In this work, different methods have been explored to synthesize copper nanoparticles contained inside mesoporous hollow carbon spheres in order to minimize the sintering effect of the copper nanoparticles. Mesoporous hollow carbon spheres were used not only as a support for the copper nanoparticles but to stabilize and disperse these nanoparticles to prevent the formation of aggregates. Mesoporous hollow carbon spheres were synthesized using a hard templating method, in which mesoporous silica spheres or polystyrene spheres were used as a sacrificial template. Carbon nanofibers with different morphologies, including straight and helical fibers were obtained by a chemical vapor deposition method where acetylene was decomposed over copper nanoparticles contained inside mesoporous hollow carbon spheres catalyst at 350 °C. The synthesized carbon nanofibers were grown on the surface of the mesoporous hollow carbon spheres as the methods used to synthesize the catalyst failed to incorporate copper nanoparticles inside the spheres. Differences in the diameter of the straight and helical carbon nanofibers were observed from both catalysts. This supports the important effect of particle size on influencing the shape of the synthesized carbon nanofibers. / XL2018

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Chemistry, University of Witwatersrand in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg 2014 / The resin-gel method of synthesis successfully produced compounds of mixed metal oxides of copper titanium oxide powders of the form CuxTiyOZ with different compositions. These include Cu3TiO5, Cu3TiO4, Ti3Cu3O, Cu2Ti4O, Cu2Ti2O5 and Cu2TiO3. Heat-treatment of the powders at 300°C, 500°C, 700°C and 900°C for 1 hour was performed to determine the full composition/temperature phase diagram. The target particle size was in the 10- nanometer range, and for most of the samples, this size was achieved. Powder xray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were the main techniques used to study the crystallization of these materials and their transformation to other polymorphic phases under different temperatures. Phase-match, particle size analysis and TEM imaging determined the properties and characteristics of the respective crystallographic phases of these materials. TEM analysis showed that some powders agglomerated while others exhibited both regular and irregular morphologies and polydisperse particle size distribution. Only a single unique phase was identified, but its structure could not be determined.

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A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2015. / Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a surface sensitive vibrational technique that leads to the enhancement of the Raman scattering molecules on or close to the surface of a plasmonic nanostructure. The enhancement is found to be in orders of 104 to 1015, which allows the technique to be sensitive enough to detect a single molecule. In this study, we report on the synthesis of different sizes of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs). These are functionalized or co-stabilized with different stoichiometric ratios of HS-(CH2)11-PEG-COOH and alkanethiols (Raman reporters), i.e.; HS-(CH2)11-NHCO-coumarin(C), HS-(CH2)11-triphenylimidazole (TPI), HS- (CH2)11-indole (HSI), HS-(CH2)11-hydroquinone (HQ) to form mixed monolayer protected clusters (MMPCs). The alkanethiols were chosen as Raman reporters to facilitate the selfassembled formation of monolayers on the metal surface, thus resulting in stable MMPCs. The optical properties and stability of MMPCs were obtained using ultraviolet-visible (UVvis) spectrophometry and a zeta sizer. Size and shape of the as-synthesized nanoparticles were obtained using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tendency of thiolcapped nanoparticles to form self-assembled ordered superlattices was observed. Their Raman activities were evaluated using Raman spectroscopy, with the enhancement factor (EF) being calculated from the intensities of symmetric stretch vibrations of C-H observed in the region of about 2900 to 3000 cm-1 in all SERS spectra. In all four different alkanethiols (Raman reporters), smaller size metal nanoparticles (14 nm for AuNPs and 16 nm AgNPs) showed higher EF compared to 30 and 40 nm metal nanoparticles. The EF was observed to increase proportionally with stoichiometric ratios of alkanethiols from 1% iv | P a g e to 50%. The prepared MMPCs with small sizes were used as a SERS probe for the detection of malaria and tuberculosis biomarkers.

This work deals with a preparation of superparamagnetic nano- and microparticles with hydrophilic surfaces for bioapplications. The wok is divided into three parts in consonance with experimentally solved problem. First part describes a choice and an optimalization of synthesis of iron oxides nanoparticles with appropriate toxicological, morphological and physico-chemical properties, which surface can be post synthetically modified. Maghemite - γ-Fe2O3 particles were prepared by consequent oxidation of mangnetite - Fe3O4 as an initial substance for a preparation of materials for diagnostics and separations. A conventional alkaline coprecipitation method of magnetite preparation was modified to produce nanoparticles with narrowed size distribution without use of surfactants during their synthesis. Prepared maghemite nanoparticles were cca. 6 nm in diameter and their saturation magnetization was Ms ~ 70 A·m2 ·kg-1 . Such observed value is far higher in comparison with the state of the art and argues thus a proposition the Ms depends not on the preparation method, but only on the nanoparticles size. Maghemite nanoparticles morphology was evaluated by picture analysis of SEM and TEM micrographs, hydrodynamic size and zetapotential was measured with DLS. The structure of the maghemite was confirmed with...

O projeto tem como proposito estudar o comportamento elétrico da microestrutura e interface de tungstato de prata e do tungstato de prata com nanoparticulas de prata focando em uma possível aplicação como dispositivo eletrônico. Os rods de α-Ag2WO4 foram sintetizadas utilizando o método hidrotermal assistido por microondas e posteriormente submetidas a um feixe de elétrons fazendo com que os íons de prata Ag+, dentro do bulk do cristal, sejam reduzidos e migrem para a superfície do material crescendo as partículas metálicas. A nucleação desses filamentos podem ser visualizado ao vivo e in situ acompanhando as imagens de MEV-FEG da matrix do material. A fase do material, posições atômicas e o entendimento da distrorção da rede foi confirmada pela difratometria de raio-X com o refinamento Rietveld. O material foi caracterizado, estruturalmente, pelas técnicas de espectroscopia Raman e infravermelho, na qual consegue entender quais são as ligações a curto alcance que os átomos estão fazendo. Foi estudado o seu comportamento eletrônico e espectroscópico, por medidas de espectroscopia de UV-Vis-NIR determinando o valor de bandgap do material. Por meio das medidas de XPS foi possível comparar o a pureza e o o grau de oxidação da superfície. E finalmente, foram realizadas medidas de espectroscopia de impedância e condutividade elétrica em regime DC do material não-irradiado e irradiado para com o feixe de elétrons para se entender o mecanismo de condução elétrica. Pelas curvas de impedância, é possível perceber que as amostras irradiadas possuem uma resistência maior causada pelos defeitos gerados dentro da estrutura dificultando a mobilidade dentro do cristal. Foi possível notar pelas medidas elétricas, que a formação dessa superfície com o nanoparticulas altera o o contato entre os cristais do material, apresenta um desvio da linearidade, essa a fase no contorno estaria permitindo a migração dos portadores de carga nos limites dos cristais de tungstato. / This project have to aim study the electrical conduction behavior of silver tungsten and silver tungsten with Ag nanoparticles microstructures and interface on focus in a possible application in electronic device. The rods of α-Ag2WO4 were synthetized using a microwave assisted method and then target by a electron beam, making the Ag+ ions inside of the crystal, reduce and go out to surface material as nanoparticles of Ag0 metallic. This growth can be view in situ by MEV-FEG. The phase of material, atomic position and structure distortion was confirmed by DRX pattern with Rietveld refinement. The material was structural characterized for Raman and infrared spectroscopy, which could be understood what bonds at short range the atoms was doing. The electronic behavior was study by UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy for determine the bandgap. XPS measurements were performed to compare the purity of the surface and the degree of oxidation. Finally, the samples non-irradiated and irradiated were characterized electrical with impedance spectroscopy and electrical conductivity in DC to understand the electrical conduction mechanism. For the impedance curves, it was possible to notice that the samples irradiated have a higher resistance caused by the bulk defects difficult the mobility inside de crystal. Can be observed by electrical measures, that the formation of this surface with nanoparticles modify the contact between the crystal, showing a leak of linearity, this phase in the boundary could allow the migration of the charge transport.

Thesis advisor: Chia-Kuang (Frank) Tsung / The core-shell hybrid structure is the simplest motif of two-component systems which consists of an inner core coated by an outer shell. Core-shell composite materials are attractive for their biomedical, electronic and catalytic applications in which interface between core and shell is critical for various functionalities. However, it is still challenging to study the exact role that interface plays during the formation of the core-shell structures and in the properties of the resulted materials. By studying the formation mechanism of a well interface controlled one-to-one metal nanoparticle (NP)@zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) core-shell material, we found that the dissociation of capping agents on the NP surface results in direct contact between NP and ZIF-8, which is essential for the formation of core-shell structure. And the amount of capping agents on the NP surface has a significant effect to the crystallinity and stability of ZIF-8 coating shell. Guided by our understanding to the interface, one-to-one NP@UiO-66 core-shell structure has also been achieved for the first time. We believe that our research will help the development of rational design and synthesis of core-shell structures, particularly in those requiring good interface controls. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Nanomateriais, incluindo as nanopartículas e nanotubos, tem sido extensivamente utilizados em diversas aplicações tecnológicas, devido principalmente às suas interessantes propriedades, advindas da alta relação área/volume. Para a efetiva aplicação destes materiais em dispositivos nanotecnológicos, no entanto, é crucial o desenvolvimento de sistemas altamente estáveis, que mantenham suas propriedades por longos períodos. Neste trabalho foi proposta uma rota sintética para a preparação de nanopartículas de ouro na presença de polieletrólitos e tióis numa só fase, juntamente com um estudo sistemático da estabilidade dos sistemas produzidos. Os espectros de UV-vis obtidos demonstraram a formação de nanopartículas de ouro, com banda plasmônica característica. As nanopartículas foram também visualizadas por imagens de microscopia de Transmissão. Análise de espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR) mostraram as ligações químicas que ocorrem entre os materiais constituintes dos sistemas híbridos de AuNPs. O estudo de estabilidade das AuNps foi realizado com medidas de espalhamento de luz dinâmico (DLS) bem como por medidas de UV-vis, o que permitiu a obtenção do tipo de solução e condições mais estáveis. Através de análise estatística, por meio da análise de componentes principais (PCA), foi possível verificar quais fatores influenciam de forma significativa a estabilidade das diferentes soluções preparadas. / The use of nanomaterials - including nanoparticles and nanotubes - for technological applications has received tremendous attention in the last few years, mainly due to their unique, size-dependent properties. The proper application of such nanomaterials in technological devices, however, has been limited by parameters such as their physical or chemical stability. In this Master´s dissertation, we introduce a single step synthetic route for preparation of gold nanoparticles in the presence of polyelectrolytes and thiols, with emphasis on the stability of the nanomaterials under different storage conditions. Four different hybrid nanoparticles had been investigated, containing either PAH or PVA as the polymeric phase, in the presence of 3-AMP or 11-AMP thiols, respectively. After synthesis, the formation of the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) was evidenced by UV-vis spectroscopy, upon appearance of a characteristic plasmonic band centered at ca. 510 or 540 nm, depending on the stabilizing agents used. The AuNPs were also investigated via TEM images. FTIR analyses evidenced that electrostatic interactions occurred between the thiols and the polyelectrolytes, within the hybrid nanoparticles structure. The stability of the four different systems was detailed investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and visual analyses. The data pointed to the higher stability presented by the AuNps stabilized with PAH in the presence of 3-AMP (PAH/3-AMP AuNPs). In contrast, the AuNPs stabilized with PVA exhibited the lowest stability. This feature was corroborated by statistical analysis, using principal component analysis (PCA), through which was possible to identify the main factor affecting AuNPs stability.