Shaojun Ding. / "October 2001." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, / Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-200). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

The effect of temperature increase on the optical excitation of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) at an Ag-Si metal-semiconductor (M-S) junction at a wavelength of 1 . 1 52 pm is investigated theoretically using computer modeling in Fortran. In order to accurately quantify the SPR, the temperature dependent optical constants for Ag and Si are obtained theoretically or semiempirically , using a Drude model for Ag and previous experimentally determined equations for Si (the behavior of the optical constants for crystalline Si and doped Si are found to have very little deviation between each other for our case). An improvement in the theoretical derivation for the optical constants of Ag is obtained, maintaining self-consistency. The optical constants are utilized to quantify the reflectance of an incident wave on an M-S junction, using Fresnel equations for a four layer system. The reflectivity of the M-S junction is indicative of the surface plasmon generation. There exists much industrial interest in increasing the amount of photocurrent generation in semiconductors for a given number of incident photons. This increase in photocurrent is often referred to as enhancing the quantum efficiency (Q). It has been previously shown by many groups that there can be an appreciable enhancement of Q due to the optical excitation of surface plasmons on a Schottky barrier junction (M-S junction), although all these previous studies were done at room temperature. Hence, the studies of temperature effect of SPR at the M-S junction could lead to interesting effects for the Q as well. In this thesis, we have studied qualitatively the effect of temperature increase on the optical excitation of SPR at an Ag-Si junction. From these results we have attempted to draw inference to the possibility of the enhancement of Q at elevated temperatures for such a diode junction.

Along with the rapid growth of the nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have found many applications in commercial products. However, there are only a few studies on the toxicity and the environmental effects of NPs in biological systems. <p>In the study described in this thesis, I have used water-soluble Au NPs that were synthesized using the Brust method and then modified by small molecules. I explored the interactions of these modified Au NPs with self-assembled monolayer films on gold surfaces.<p>Three types of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified gold surfaces were used in this study. The surfaces had SAMs that could be positively or negatively charged or carry no charge, or be able to engage in hydrogen bonding. <p>Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to characterize SAMs of disulfide-glycine conjugate, disulfide-aspartic conjugate, and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold surface electrodes. The possible interactions of Au NPs with the disulfide-aminoacid conjugates and alkanethiol modified surfaces were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An apparent decline in current density observed in CV along with an electron transfer resistance increase in EIS measurements upon exposure of the films to the MUA-modified anionic Au NPs clearly indicate interactions of the NPs with the films. Likewise, upon exposure of the films to cationic NPs, electron transfer resistance decreases dramatically in EIS experiments. In addition, the current increase in CV measurements provided further evidences for the interactions. The interactions between modified Au NPs and the SAMs were investigated in more detail by infrared spectroscopy and by employing quartz crystal microbalance. These studies clearly showed that upon exposure of these SAM films to the water-soluble Au NPs, significant changes occur. As would be expected for the adsorption of the Au NPs onto the SAMs, the weight of the film increased due to the addition of the NPs on the surface. Moreover, there are significant increases in the carbonyl stretching vibration at 1735 cm-1 along with the appearance of the amide hydrogen stretching band, between 3160-3380 cm-1, which indicate the adsorption of Gly-CSA modified Au NPs onto the MUA film.

Along with the rapid growth of the nanotechnology, nanoparticles (NPs) have found many applications in commercial products. However, there are only a few studies on the toxicity and the environmental effects of NPs in biological systems. <p>In the study described in this thesis, I have used water-soluble Au NPs that were synthesized using the Brust method and then modified by small molecules. I explored the interactions of these modified Au NPs with self-assembled monolayer films on gold surfaces.<p>Three types of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified gold surfaces were used in this study. The surfaces had SAMs that could be positively or negatively charged or carry no charge, or be able to engage in hydrogen bonding. <p>Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to characterize SAMs of disulfide-glycine conjugate, disulfide-aspartic conjugate, and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold surface electrodes. The possible interactions of Au NPs with the disulfide-aminoacid conjugates and alkanethiol modified surfaces were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An apparent decline in current density observed in CV along with an electron transfer resistance increase in EIS measurements upon exposure of the films to the MUA-modified anionic Au NPs clearly indicate interactions of the NPs with the films. Likewise, upon exposure of the films to cationic NPs, electron transfer resistance decreases dramatically in EIS experiments. In addition, the current increase in CV measurements provided further evidences for the interactions. The interactions between modified Au NPs and the SAMs were investigated in more detail by infrared spectroscopy and by employing quartz crystal microbalance. These studies clearly showed that upon exposure of these SAM films to the water-soluble Au NPs, significant changes occur. As would be expected for the adsorption of the Au NPs onto the SAMs, the weight of the film increased due to the addition of the NPs on the surface. Moreover, there are significant increases in the carbonyl stretching vibration at 1735 cm-1 along with the appearance of the amide hydrogen stretching band, between 3160-3380 cm-1, which indicate the adsorption of Gly-CSA modified Au NPs onto the MUA film.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Accompanying CD-ROM contains supporting information on avi formated video clips. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-183). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Hud, Nicholas; Committee Member: Doyle, Donald; Committee Member: Lobachev, Kirill; Committee Member: Oyelere, Adegboyega; Committee Member: Wartell, Roger. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Not available / text

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2003.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Chemistry. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1163224921&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1195066319&clientId=5220

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Dept. of Chemistry. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/12/07). Includes bibliographical references.