Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with various elemental composition, size, shape and physical or chemical properties has become active field of research. Among all the metal NPs noble metal ones are receiving much attention due to their special optical properties which make them useful for different applications. Noble metal NPs have bright colors resulting from strong surface plasmon resonance absorption usually in the visible region. The colors are size and shape dependent and provide the tuning of optical properties. The optical properties of NPs are also strongly depending on the nature of the NPs surface which plays a crucial role on chemical sensing. Therefore, surface modification of NPs has become increasingly important. In this study, gold NPs were prepared in aqueous phase by seed-mediated growth method. To enhance the optical properties, surface functionalization was performed by coating NPs with silver. The coating process was achieved by chemical reduction of silver ions on NPs surface. Thickness of silver layer on the NPs were attempted to be controlled by the amount of silver salt added into NPs solution. Coating process of different types of gold NPs (rod, octahedral, star) was done by the same procedure. Moreover, this attempt yielded control over silver layer thickness on sphere, rod and octahedral shaped gold NPs, but not on branched NPs. The structure, composition and spectroscopic properties of Au-Ag core shell NPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscope (FE-TEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) studies, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The analysis showed that all NPs studied were successfully coated with silver and promising for further explorations in sensing and imaging applications.

This thesis describes a fundamental study of the miscibility and the nature of the interface between components of core-shell polymer blends using the technique of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) coupled with data analysis that involves Monte-Carlo simulations. Our aim in this study was to develop a fundamental methodology to quantitatively determine the width of the interface between the two components in binary polymer blends. At the current state of the art, data analysis of FRET experiments requires translational symmetry. In the system under study, uniform core-shell structures satisfy this criterion. Thus, in this work our focus was directed toward the study of a blend system with a core-shell structure. For this FRET study, I have identified a number of potential donor and acceptor dye pairs that fluoresce in the visible range of the spectrum and can be chemically attached to polymers. Among them, I selected, as the donor and the acceptor, a pair of naphthalimide dyes that have not previously been used for FRET experiments. Model experiments showed that while the fluorescence decay profile of the donor chromophore was exponential in solution, it was not exponential in polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. Thus, I carried out refinements to existing FRET theory to interpret the data generated by using these dyes. Also, I derived a new model to predict the fluorescence intensity of non-exponential decaying donor dyes in core-shell systems. I selected a model system composed of a PS core surrounded by a PMMA shell. The PS core particles were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization to obtain cross-linked PS particles with a narrow size distribution. Seeded emulsion polymerization under starved-fed condition was employed to synthesize monodisperse dye-labeled core-shell particles. The extent of miscibility and the nature of interface between the core and the shell polymers were retrieved from a combined study by Monte-Carlo simulations and analysis of the donor fluorescence intensity decays. Agreement between the retrieved interface thickness and the literature data on PS-PMMA validates the methodology developed here for the use of such donor dyes in FRET studies on polymer blends.

This thesis describes a fundamental study of the miscibility and the nature of the interface between components of core-shell polymer blends using the technique of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) coupled with data analysis that involves Monte-Carlo simulations. Our aim in this study was to develop a fundamental methodology to quantitatively determine the width of the interface between the two components in binary polymer blends. At the current state of the art, data analysis of FRET experiments requires translational symmetry. In the system under study, uniform core-shell structures satisfy this criterion. Thus, in this work our focus was directed toward the study of a blend system with a core-shell structure. For this FRET study, I have identified a number of potential donor and acceptor dye pairs that fluoresce in the visible range of the spectrum and can be chemically attached to polymers. Among them, I selected, as the donor and the acceptor, a pair of naphthalimide dyes that have not previously been used for FRET experiments. Model experiments showed that while the fluorescence decay profile of the donor chromophore was exponential in solution, it was not exponential in polystyrene (PS) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. Thus, I carried out refinements to existing FRET theory to interpret the data generated by using these dyes. Also, I derived a new model to predict the fluorescence intensity of non-exponential decaying donor dyes in core-shell systems. I selected a model system composed of a PS core surrounded by a PMMA shell. The PS core particles were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization to obtain cross-linked PS particles with a narrow size distribution. Seeded emulsion polymerization under starved-fed condition was employed to synthesize monodisperse dye-labeled core-shell particles. The extent of miscibility and the nature of interface between the core and the shell polymers were retrieved from a combined study by Monte-Carlo simulations and analysis of the donor fluorescence intensity decays. Agreement between the retrieved interface thickness and the literature data on PS-PMMA validates the methodology developed here for the use of such donor dyes in FRET studies on polymer blends.

Pt-based alloy surfaces are used to catalyze the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), where molecular oxygen is converted into water on fuel cell electrodes. In this work, we address challenges due to the cost of high Pt loadings in the cathode electrocatalyst, as well as those arising from catalyst durability. We aim to develop an increased understanding of the factors that determine ORR activity together with stability against surface segregation and dissolution of Pt-based alloys. We firstly focus on the problem of determining surface atomic distribution resulting from surface segregation phenomena. We use first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations on PtCo and Pt3Co overall compositions, as well as adsorption of water and atomic oxygen on PtCo(111) and Pt-skin structures. The bonding between water and surfaces of PtCo and Pt-skin monolayers are investigated in terms of orbital population. Also, on both surfaces, the surface reconstruction effect due to high oxygen coverage and water co-adsorption is investigated. Although the PtCo structures show good activity, a large dissolution of Co atoms tends to occur in acid medium. To tackle this problem, we examine core-shell structures which showed improved stability and activity compared to Pt(111), in particular, one consisting of a surface Pt-skin monolayer over an IrCo or Ir3Co core, with or without a Pd interlayer between the Pt surface and the Ir-Co core. DFT analysis of surface segregation, surface stability against dissolution, surface Pourbaix diagrams, and reaction mechanisms provide useful predictions on catalyst durability, onset potential for water oxidation, surface atomic distribution, coverage of oxygenated species, and activity. The roles of the Pd interlayer in the core-shell structures that influence higher ORR activity are clarified. Furthermore, the stability and activity enhancement of new shell-anchor-core structures of Pt/Fe-C/core, Pt/Co-C/core and Pt/Ni-C/core are demonstrated with core materials of Ir, Pd3Co, Ir3Co, IrCo and IrNi. Based on the analysis, Pt/Fe-C/Ir, Pt/Co-C/Ir, Pt/Ni-C/Ir, Pt/Co-C/Pd3Co, Pt/Fe-C/Pd3Co, Pt/Co- C/Ir3Co, Pt/Fe-C/Ir3Co, Pt/Co-C/IrCo, Pt/Co-C/IrNi, and Pt/Fe-C/IrNi structures show promise in terms of both improved durability and relatively high ORR activity.

The pseudo-binary system of BaTiO3-SrTiO3 ceramics offering potential applications in the electronic industry, particularly for the passive components, has been studied for its diffuse phase transition over the temperature range of +150oC and -50oC. This research concentrating on the interdiffusion between two sintered layers of such perovskite is a continuation of study, conducted by this author¡¦s group over the past years. Two-layer BaTiO3-SrTiO3 stacks were sintered at 1300oC and annealed for various time periods to investigate if and how the interdiffusion occurs across the BaTiO3-SrTiO3 interface. Optical microscopy reveals an interface layer consisting of polytitanate second phases, which appear to be large, chunky grains initially. Both results obtained from X-ray diffractometry and micro-chemical analysis using the energy-dispersive spectrometry, equipped with the scanning electron microscopy, suggest that the second phases are: Ba4Ti13O30, Ba2Ti9O20, Ba6Ti17O40 and BaTi2O5. These polytitanates are produced from the solid-state reaction between BaTiO3 and TiO2, which is left behind in the BaTiO3 layer when Ba2+ being the faster diffusion A-site cation have moved across into the SrTiO3 layer in a significantly higher content. The interface phases grow progressively to a coherent second-phase layer upon prolonged annealing for 100 h. It is revealed by the transmission electron microscopy that residual pores, similar to the Kirkendall type in the classical Cu-Zn diffusion couple, generated at ~100 £gm away from the interface and located in the BaTiO3 layer. This is attributed to the significantly different lattice diffusivities between two A-cations, i.e. Ba2+ being faster than Sr2+ by approximately three times, with A-site vacancies ( ) created in the grains of the BaTiO3 layer. Together with B-site cation vacancy ( ) and oxygen vacancy ( ), similar to the prismatic loops formed in quenched aluminium, condensation of vacancies via a reverse Schottky defect reaction has formed such Kirkendall-like pores within BaTiO3 grains. Interdiffusion has resulted in forming the solid solutions of (Ba,Sr)TiO3, with Sr2+ being solute cation, and (Sr,Ba)TiO3, with Ba2+ being solute cation, in the initial layers, respectively, and the characteristic core-shell grains responsible for the diffuse-phase transition. A mechanism of how cation diffusion produces the core-shell grains in both layers, modified from Bow (1990) and Liu (1991), is proposed.

The scaling of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistors (FETs) has continued for over four decades, providing device performance gains and considerable economic benefits. However, continuing this scaling trend is being impeded by the increase in dissipated power. Considering the exponential increase of the number of transistors per unit area in high speed processors, the power dissipation has now become the major challenge for device scaling, and has led to tremendous research activity to mitigate this issue, and thereby extend device scaling limits. In such efforts, non-planar device structures, high mobility channel materials, and devices operating under different physics have been extensively investigated. Non-planar device geometries reduce short-channel effects by enhancing the electrostatic control over the channel. The devices using high mobility channel materials such as germanium (Ge), SiGe, and III-V can outperform Si MOSFETs in terms of switching speed. Tunneling field-effect transistors use interband tunneling of carriers rather than thermal emission, and can potentially realize low power devices by achieving subthreshold swings below the thermal limit of 60 mV/dec at room temperature. In this work, we examine two device options which can potentially provide high switching speed combined with reduced power, namely germanium nanowire (NW) field-effect transistors (FETs) and tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs). The devices use germanium (Ge) – silicon-germanium (Si[subscript x]Ge[subscript 1-x]) core-shell nanowires (NWs) as channel material for the realization of the devices, synthesized using a 'bottom-up' growth process. The device design and material choice are motivated by enhanced electrostatic control in the cylindrical geometry, high hole mobility, and lower bandgap by comparison to Si. We employ low energy ion implantation of boron and phosphorous to realize highly doped contact regions, which in turn provide efficient carrier injection. Our Ge-Si[subscript x]Ge[subscript 1-x]­ core-shell NW FETs and NW TFETs were fabricated using a conventional CMOS process and their electrical properties were systematically characterized. In addition, TCAD (Technology computer-aided design) simulation is also employed for the analysis of the devices. / text

abstract: In recent years, the field of nanomedicine has progressed at an astonishing rate, particularly with respect to applications in cancer treatment and molecular imaging. Although organic systems have been the frontrunners, inorganic systems have also begun to show promise, especially those based upon silica and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs). Many of these systems are being designed for simultaneous therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities, thus coining the term, theranostics. A unique class of inorganic systems that shows great promise as theranostics is that of layered double hydroxides (LDH). By synthesis of a core/shell structures, e.g. a gold nanoparticle (NP) core and LDH shell, the multifunctional theranostic may be developed without a drastic increase in the structural complexity. To demonstrate initial proof-of-concept of a potential (inorganic) theranostic platform, a Au-core/LDH-shell nanovector has been synthesized and characterized. The LDH shell was heterogeneously nucleated and grown on the surface of silica coated gold NPs via a coprecipitation method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was introduced in the initial synthesis steps to improve crystallinity and colloidal stability. Additionally, during synthesis, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was intercalated into the interlayer spacing of the LDH. In contrast to the PEG stabilization, a post synthesis citric acid treatment was used as a method to control the size and short-term stability. The heterogeneous core-shell system was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD). A preliminary in vitro study carried out with the assistance of Dr. Kaushal Rege's group at Arizona State University was to demonstrate the endocytosis capability of homogeneously-grown LDH NPs. The DLS measurements of the core-shell NPs indicated an average particle size of 212nm. The PXRD analysis showed that PEG greatly improved the crystallinity of the system while simultaneously preventing aggregation of the NPs. The preliminary in vitro fluorescence microscopy revealed a moderate uptake of homogeneous LDH NPs into the cells. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2011

abstract: Raman scattering from Ge-Si core-shell nanowires is investigated theoretically and experimentally. A theoretical model that makes it possible to extract quantitative strain information from the measured Raman spectra is presented for the first time. Geometrical and elastic simplifications are introduced to keep the model analytical, which facilitates comparison with experimental results. In particular, the nanowires are assumed to be cylindrical, and their elastic constants isotropic. The simple analytical model is subsequently validated by performing numerical calculations using realistic nanowire geometries and cubic, anisotropic elastic constants. The comparison confirms that the analytic model is an excellent approximation that greatly facilitates quantitative Raman work, with expected errors in the strain determination that do not exceed 10%. Experimental Raman spectra of a variety of core-shell nanowires are presented, and the strain in the nanowires is assessed using the models described above. It is found that all structures present a significant degree of strain relaxation relative to ideal, fully strained Ge-Si core-shell structures. The analytical models are modified to quantify this strain relaxation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Physics 2011

Herein two novel synthetic strategies for the synthesis of sub-millimetre sized core–shell particles comprising a polyelectrolyte core and a porous hydrophobic shell are presented. In the first method, a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion was used as a template for the simultaneous polymerisation of both the internal aqueous and the intermediate oil phases, via suspension polymerisation, leading to the formation of a cross-linked poly(acrylic acid-co-bisacrylamide) core contained in a porous poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene) shell. It was found that the formation of core–shell morphology was favoured by the effect of acrylic acid which was responsible for the selective destabilization of the internal aqueous/oil (W/O) interface. It was found that rapid internal phase coarsening promoted the formation of single-core structures. A rapid gel-point of the oil phase, on the other hand, reduced the internal aqueous phase diffusion towards the external phase. The detrimental effect over internal emulsion stability was replicated using ethanol, 2-propanol, n-butanol and propionic acid which were used as a co-solvent in the internal aqueous phase to promote core/shell morphology formation. The second method involved the use of a flow-focusing device for the formation of monodisperse W/O/W emulsion droplets which were photo-polymerised. Anionic poly(sodium acrylate), poly(sodium vinyl sulfonate), and cationic poly(3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride) hydrogels were encapsulated within a porous poly(trimethylolpropane triacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) shell. Control over both particle diameter and shell thickness was achieved by tuning the flow rates of the different phases. The use of these novel hydrogel core/shell particles as novel material for environmental applications, including the scavenging of radionuclides, was investigated. It was found that hydrophilic substances including dyes and metal ions were rapidly adsorbed and encapsulated within the core region after diffusing through the permeable porous shell. Part of the results obtained in this work have been published in the article J. Mater. Chem. A, 2013, 1, 12553-12559.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22162号 / 工博第4666号 / 新制||工||1728(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科化学工学専攻 / (主査)教授 宮原 稔, 教授 山本 量一, 教授 松坂 修二 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM