With an increasing demand for alternative clean energy solutions, much effort is being invested in the progression of nanoscale semiconductor materials in hopes of better harnessing solar energy. ZnO and TiO2 remain the most prominent photocatalytically active materials. This thesis reports on a comparison between nanoscale core-shell and hierarchical Zn-Ti-O/ZnO heterostructures. After a seed layer thickness optimization, hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods were coated with mixed concentrations of Ti and Zn within an oxygen rich sputtering environment at two distinct temperature zones. Core-shell structures resulted from low temperature (23°C) depositions while hierarchical branch structures grew at high temperature (800°C). Excluding deposition temperature and the strategic variation of Zn and Ti gun power, every fabrication process remained identical between the two resultant heterostructure groups. Amongst the variety of samples produced, one from each heterostructure group proved notably similar in structural dimension, composition, and crystallization, yet demonstrated distinct differences in photoluminescence and dye degradation via UV-visible light spectroscopy. While photoluminescence results indicated core-shell heterostructure more photocatalytically promising, hierarchical heterostructure prevailed as the more powerful photocatalyst. Increased surface area due to hierarchical branching in conjunction with enhanced light exposure was believed responsible for the improved photocatalytic effectiveness.

Thesis advisor: Udayan Mohanty / The high surface area and atomic-level tunability offered by nanoparticles has defined their promise as heterogeneous catalysts. While initial studies began with nanoparticles of a single metal assuming thermodynamic shapes, modern work has focused on using nanoparticle composition and geometry to optimize nanocatalysts for a wide variety of reactions. Further optimization of these refined nanocatalysts remains difficult, however, as the factors that determine catalytic activity are intertwined and a fundamental understanding of each remains elusive. In this work, precise synthetic methods are used to tune a number of factors, including composition, strain, metal-to-metal charge transfer, atomic order, and surface faceting, and understand their impact on catalysis. The first chapter focuses on current achievements and challenges in the synthesis of intermetallic nanocatalysts, which offer long-range order that allows for total control of surface structure. A particular focus is given to the impact of the synthetic approach on the activity of the resulting nanoparticles. In the second chapter, multilayered Pd-(Ni-Pt)x nanoparticles serve as a controlled arena for the study of metallic mixing and order formation on the nanoscale. The third chapter controls the shell thickness of Au@PdPt core-alloyed shell nanoparticles on a nanometer scale to isolate strain at the nanoparticle surface. In the fourth chapter, the synthetic approaches of chapters two and three are applied to catalysis. In totality, the work presented here represents a brick in the foundation of understanding and exploiting structure-function relationships on the nanoscale, with an eye toward the rational design of tailored nanocatalysts. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

The industrial demand for high strength-to-weight ratio materials is increasing due to the need for high performance components. Epoxy polymers, although often used in fiber-reinforced polymeric composites, have an inherent low toughness that further decreases with decreasing temperatures. Second-phase additives have been effective in increasing the toughness of epoxies at room temperature; however, the mechanisms at low temperatures are still not understood. In this study, the deformation mechanisms of a DGEBA epoxy modified with MX960 core-shell rubber (CSR) particles were investigated under quasi-static tensile and impact loads at room temperature (RT) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature. Overall, the CSR had little effect on the tensile properties at RT and LN2 temperature. The impact strength decreased from neat to 3 wt% but increased from neat to 5 wt% at RT and LN2 temperature, with a higher impact strength at RT at all CSR loadings. The CSR particles debonded in front of the crack tip, inducing voids into the matrix. It was found that an increase in shear deformation and void growth likely accounted for the higher impact strength at 5 wt% CSR loading at RT while the thermal stress fields due to the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between rubber and epoxy and an increase in secondary cracking is likely responsible for the higher impact strength at 5 wt% tested at LN2 temperature. While a large toughening effect was not seen in this study, the mechanisms analyzed herein will likely be of use for further material investigations at cryogenic temperatures.

Precipitation polymerization is a unique method that produces narrow-disperse, uniform polymer particles with clean surfaces. In this research, internally structured poly(divinylbenzene-co-chloromethylstyrene) polymer microspheres were prepared by thermal imprinting precipitation polymerization. The influence of thermal profiles and the monomer/crosslinker feed ratio on the resulting core-shell microspheres were explored by optical and transmission electron microscopy, and potential route to extend this technique to other polymer system was discussed. Further surface functionalization of this type of particles was demonstrated by substitution of chlorine with cysteine, a good and hydrophilic nucleophile. Narrow-disperse, hydrophilic particles may in future serve as components of synthetic extracellular matrices used in exploring cell-matrix interactions in a 3D context. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Piezoelectric material based sensors are widely used in applications such as automobiles, aircraft, and industrial systems. In past decade, attention has been focused on synthesizing composites that can provide multifunctional properties, i.e., same material exhibits two or more properties. In this group of composites, magnetoelectric materials are particularly interesting as they provide the opportunity of coupling magnetic and electric field. Another class of composite materials that are being actively pursued is piezoresistive materials. Piezoresistivity refers to change in resistance with applied stress and these materials are promising for enhancing the sensitivity of current generation pressure sensors based on silicon. In this study, we focus on two composites systems: ferrite / Terfenol-D / nickel — lead zirconate titanate (magnetoelectric); and lanthanum strontium manganate (LSMO) — carbon nanotube (CNT) – silicon carbonitride (SiCN) (piezoresistive). Recently, Islam et al. have reported a magnetic field sensor based on a piezoelectric transformer with a ring- dot electrode pattern. In this thesis, this design was further investigated by synthesizing Terfenol-D / PZT laminate. The fabricated sensor design consists of a ring-dot piezoelectric transformer laminated to a magnetostrictive disc and its working principle is as follows: When a constant voltage is applied to the ring section of the piezoelectric layer at resonance, a stress is induced in the dot section. Then, if an external magnetic object is introduced in the vicinity of the dot section, the effective elastic stiffness is increased, altering the resonance frequency (fr). The variation of resonance frequency and magnitude of output voltage with applied magnetic field was characterized and analyzed to determine the sensitivity. The sensor showed a shift of ~1.36Hz/Oe over the frequency range of 137.4<fr<144.2 kHz with increasing magnetic bias from 1<Hdc<6kOe. Next, in order to overcome the need of magnetic DC bias in current magnetoelectric composites, a metal – ceramic core-shell composite structure was investigated. Metal-ceramic composite particles were synthesized at room temperature and their magnetic properties were investigated. The particles constitute a core-shell structure where the core is nickel-metal, while the shell is manganese zinc ferrite (MZF). Coprecipitation was used for synthesis of MZF nanoparticles comprising the shell, whereas nickel was synthesized by hydrazine assisted reduction of nickel ions in aqueous media. A core shell structure was then obtained by hetero-coagulation to form a shell of MZF around the nickel particles. Electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction confirmed nickel cores coated by MZF shells. Magnetization studies of MZF nano-particles revealed that they were not super-paramagnetic at room temperature, as expected for such particle sizes of 20nm in size. Sintered composites of metal-ceramic particles core-shell exhibited a magnetostriction of 5ppm. Lastly, the thesis investigates the piezoresistive properties of LSMO – CNT – SiCN composites that were synthesized by the conventional ceramic sintering technique. Recent investigations have shown that CNTs and SiCN have high piezoresistive coefficient. DSC/TGA results showed that pure CNTs decompose at temperatures of ~600°C, however, SiCN was found to sustain the sintering temperature of 1300°C. Thus, LSMO – SiCN composites were used for the final analysis. A fractional resistivity change of 4% was found for LSMO — 12.5 vol% SiCN composites which is much higher compared to that of unmodified LSMO. / Master of Science

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry Candidate: Kateřina Brokešová Supervisor: Ing. Martin Drastík, Ph. D. Thesis title: The use of core-shell columns for fluconazole determination A novel HPLC method for determination of fluconazole in dissolution test samples was developed and partly validated. A matrix formed by lactic and glycolic acid copolymer branched by different compounds was used as a drug carrier. Fluconazol was incorporated as the model drug. The concentration profile of fluconazole was studied by developed HPLC method during the dissolution test. A modern core-shell column Ascentis Express RP-Amide, 10 cm × 3.0 mm; 2.7 μm was employed. A mixture of acetate buffer pH 5.0:methanol (80:20) served as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.70 ml/min and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. The temperature of analysis was 50 řC. The retention time of fluconazole was 3.3 min and the whole analysis took just 4 min. Keywords: fluconazole, core-shell column, HPLC, PLGA

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry Candidate: Andrea Malovaná Supervisor: Ing. Martin Drastík, Ph. D. Diploma thesis: Simplification of terbinafine HPLC analysis of samples based on biodegradable polyesters A HPLC method for determination of terbinafine in samples consisting of copolymers of lactic and glycolic acid was optimized and validated. The development of the method was based on the finding of suitable chromatographic conditions for separation of terbinafine. The separation was performed on the Ascentis Express ES-CN, 15 cm × 4.6 mm; 2.7 μm core- shell column. The mixture of the citrate phosphate buffer pH 4 and acetonitrile in ratio 40:60 (v/v) was chosen as the mobile phase. The mobile phase flow rate was set to 1.4 ml/min and the temperature to 30 řC. The injection volume of samples containing terbinafine was 5 µl. The UV detection at 226 nm was employed. The retention time of terbinafine was 3.3 min. The whole analysis was completed within 4 min. The method was validated, following parameters were tested: column efficiency, factor of symmetry, LOD, LOQ, linearity, repeatability and robustness. Keywords: terbinafine, HPLC, core-shell column, PLGA

BSc. Martina Hloušková Supervisor: Ing. Martin Drastík, Ph.D. The aim of this diploma thesis was the optimization and validation of a HPLC method for miconazole determination in samples supplied by the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology. A gradual miconazole release dependent on the composition of the copolymere of glycolic and lactic acid was studied. HPLC analysis was performed using a modern core-shell Column Ascentis Express RP- Amide, 10 cm x 3.0 mm; 2.7 μm. Optimized analytical conditions were: mobile phase methanol:water 70:30, flow rate 0.8 ml/min, temperature 45 řC, injection 5 l and UV detection at 220 nm. Miconazole retention time was 5.65 min. The entire analysis was carried out in 7 minutes. When the optimal conditions of analysis were determined, the method could be validated. The following parameters were monitored during validation: linearity, selectivity, efficiency, LOD, LOQ, repeatability and tailing factor. All of the monitored parameters met the requirements of the Czech Pharmacopoeia.

Atualmente, as nanopartículas superparamagnéticas despertam enorme interesse científico devido sua grande variedade de aplicações em biomedicina, tanto na área de diagnóstico quanto no tratamento de enfermidades. Embora muitos materiais vem sendo estudados, os óxidos de ferro (magnetita e maghemita) apresentam maiores avanços nos estudos para aplicações em medicina. A preferência por óxidos de ferro se deve a baixa toxicidade destas partículas quando comparado as nanopartículas metálicas ou ligas. Entretanto, as nanopartículas destes óxidos possuem baixas magnetizações de saturação que diminuem ainda mais com as sucessivas etapas de recobrimento necessárias para conferir funcionalidade a estas partículas. Desse modo, há uma necessidade atual para o desenvolvimento de nanopartículas superparamagnéticas com elevada magnetização, baixa toxicidade e maior facilidade de funcionalização da sua superfície com biopolímeros e agentes funcionalizantes. Neste trabalho, nanopartículas superparamagnéticas de cobalto metálico e ferrita de cobalto foram sintetizadas e suas propriedades magnéticas foram comparadas com a magnetita. Nanopartículas de cobalto foram escolhidas, pois seu elevado comportamento ferromagnético é menor apenas que o ferro metálico, além do baixo custo de seus reagentes. As nanopartículas magnéticas foram sintetizadas pelos métodos de microemulsão e decomposição térmica (baseado no método poliol) e suas composições química, estrutural, tamanho e distribuição de tamanho foram devidamente determinadas. Além disso, as nanopartículas de cobalto metálico e ferrita de cobalto foram recobertas com ouro utilizando o método de crescimento mediado por semente. Os sistemas microemulsionados utilizados neste trabalho não foram eficientes nem na síntese de nanopartículas estáveis de cobalto metálico nem no seu esperado controle morfológico. Já o método de decomposição térmica resultou em um rigoroso controle de composição química, estrutural e morfológico para as diferentes nanopartículas sintetizadas. O recobrimento com ouro foi efetivo na proteção do núcleo magnético e adicionalmente conferiu estabilidade, baixa toxicidade e bifuncionalidade às nanopartículas magnéticas através do seu fenômeno de ressonância plasmônica de superfície o qual foi preservado na nanoestrutura core@shell. O comportamento superparamagnético das nanopartículas de cobalto metálico recobertas com ouro e sua elevada magnetização de saturação foram expressivamente intensificadas quando comparadas as nanopartículas de magnetita sem recobrimento. Portanto, as nanopartículas sintetizadas neste trabalho apresentam propriedades de superfície e magnéticas otimizadas demonstrando um bom potencial para aplicações em biomedicina como sensores bifuncionais óptico-magnético. / Superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been extensively studied because its wide range of biomedical applications in both diagnostic and therapy areas. Although different materials are currently investigated, superparamagnetic iron oxides nanoparticles (SPION), magnetite and maghemite, are the most extensively studied for applications in medicine. The lower toxicity profile of the SPION becomes the most attractive than metal or alloys nanoparticles. Nevertheless, iron oxides nanoparticles have low saturation magnetization, which further decreases due to successive coats to provide their functionality, leading the actual demand to develop superparamagnetic nanoparticles with high magnetization, low toxicity and easy surface functionalization with biocompatible agents. In this work, superparamagnetic nanoparticles of metallic cobalt and cobalt ferrite were synthesized and their magnetic properties were compared with the magnetite SPION. Cobalt nanoparticles were chosen because present high ferromagnetic behavior among chemical elements, second only to iron, besides their low cost. The magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by both microemulsion and thermal decomposition (based on the polyol process) methods and their chemical composition, structure, size and size distribution were properly characterized. In addition, the ferrite and metallic cobalt nanoparticles were coated with gold by using the seed-mediated growth method. The used microemulsion systems were not efficient enough to synthesize stable metallic nanoparticles and to promote the expected morphological control even to ferrites. Instead, the thermal decomposition processes resulted in rigorous control of chemical compositional, structure and morphology in all different prepared samples. Au-coating process was effective to protect the magnetic nuclei also giving additional stability, low toxicity and a bifunctionality to the magnetic nanoparticle since their surface plasmon resonance phenomenon was preserved in the core@shell nanostructure. The superparamagnetic behavior of the Au-coated cobalt nanoparticle was preserved and their saturation magnetization was significantly increased compared with the naked magnetite SPION. In conclusion, the synthesized nanoparticles present enhanced magnetic and surface properties showing good potential to be used in biomedical application as bifunctional optical-magnetic sensor.

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2017-07-10T11:42:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Raphael Lucas de Sousa e Silva - 2017.pdf: 3882688 bytes, checksum: 6b33233b331ed11ce579c9148910d0d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-07-10T11:46:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Raphael Lucas de Sousa e Silva - 2017.pdf: 3882688 bytes, checksum: 6b33233b331ed11ce579c9148910d0d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T11:46:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Raphael Lucas de Sousa e Silva - 2017.pdf: 3882688 bytes, checksum: 6b33233b331ed11ce579c9148910d0d4 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Among the various iron oxides studied, a magnetite (Fe3O4) stands out due to its superparamagnetic behavior and its high biocompatibility. Luminescent properties working cooperatively in magnetic nanoparticles with which the material converts certain types of energy into emission of electromagnetic radiation at the same time, which enables an interaction by magnetic fields. In the present work, an investigation and structural, elemental and morphological analysis of superparamagnetic / luminescent particles formed by coating of iron oxide by an SiO2 base network was carried out. The Fe3O4 oxide was synthesized by the coprecipitation method, and in the Eu3+ rare earth together with the 1,10-phenanthroline linker in the network, were responsible for energy transfer processes in systems that checked as optical materials for materials. The nanocomposites synthesized obeyed the formation of a core-shell system and was verified by micrographs obtained by Electron Transmission Electron Microscopy, evidencing a formation of nanoparticles of varied sizes. As the compositions of the phases of the materials were characterized by X-ray Diffraction, Radiated Spark Energy and Absorption Spectroscopy in the Infrared region, showing a crystal phase of the magnetic oxide and a formation of nanocomposite. The properties of interest (magnetism and photoluminescence) were evaluated and the respective results presented agreed with each other, with characteristic emissions of Eu3+ emitting a pink coloration, and an emission intensity for a concentration of this species in the material. The materials presented a superparamagnetic behavior, evidencing that the oxide coating did not change as Fe3O4 magnetic characteristics, and is in turn presented in a saturation magnetization of 55 emu / g with a magnetic domain of 8.9 nm. As nanoparticles have dimensions that indicate that a part has a magnetic domain. / Entre os diversos óxidos de ferro estudados, a magnetita (Fe3O4) destaca-se, devido ao seu comportamento superparamagnético e a sua alta biocompatibilidade. Propriedades luminescentes trabalhando de forma cooperativa em nanopartículas magnéticas faz com que o material converta certos tipos de energia em emissão de radiação eletromagnética ao mesmo tempo, que possibilita a interação por campos magnéticos. No presente trabalho, foi investigada a síntese e a caraceterização estrutural, elementar e morfológica de partículas superparamagnéticas/luminescentes formadas pelo revestimento do óxido de ferro por uma rede a base de SiO2. O óxido Fe3O4 foi sintetizado pelo método de coprecipitação, e o íon terra-rara Eu3+ juntamente com ligante 1,10-fenantrolina na rede, foram responsáveis por processos de transferência de energia inter e intrasistemas que conferiram as propriedades ópticas aos materiais. Os nanocompósitos sintetizados obedeceram a formação de um sistema core-shell sendo comprovado pelas micrografias obtidas por Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão, evidenciando a formação de nanopartículas de tamanhos variados. As composições das fases dos materiais foram caracterizadas por Difração de Raios X, Energia Dispersiva de Raios X e Espectroscopia de Absorção na região do Infravermelho, mostrando a fase cristalina do óxido magnético e a formação do nanocompósito. As propriedades de interesse (magnetismo e fotoluminescência) foram avaliadas e seus respectivos resultados apresentaram concordância entre si, com emissões características do íon Eu3+ emitindo uma coloração rosa, e a intensidade de emissão foi equivalente a concentração desta espécie no material. Os materiais apresentaram um comportamento superparamagnético, evidenciando que o recobrimento do óxido não alterou as características magnéticas do Fe3O4, e este por sua vez apresentou uma magnetização de saturação de 55 emu/g com domínio magnético de 8,9 nm. As nanopartículas apresentaram dimensões que indicaram que majoritariamente uma partícula possui apenas um domínio magnético.