Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-171).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-171)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 246-276).

This thesis is devoted to the development of microfluidic processes for the controlled self-assembly of quantum dot compound micelles (QDCMs). Microfluidic processes are developed to combine the constituents (cadmium sulfide quantum dots, and block copolymer stabilizing chains) with water to facilitate self-assembly of the composite particles, QDCMs, through initial phase separation, subsequent growth, and eventual quenching. Two genres of microfluidic reactors are developed. The on-chip evolution of QDCM formation and growth is resolved through fluorescence microscopy; QDCM size distributions and associated statistics are determined through off-chip analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In a flow-focusing reactor, control over the mean size of QDCMs is demonstrated through both the water concentration and the growth time (or reactor channel length). Controlled QDCM self-assembly is also demonstrated in a multiphase gas-liquid reactor. In contrast to the flow-focusing reactor, increasing the multiphase reactor channel length results in a decrease in QDCM size and polydispersity.

<p>Luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) offer attractive characteristics as a new class of fluorescent probes for molecular, cellular and in vivo imaging. While traditional cadmium-containing QDs have been widely used in biomedical research, diagnostics, and drug delivery, the cytotoxicity arising from the release of Cd2+ ions caused by the degradation of the surface coating is deemed to be a shortfall of cadmium-based QDs for long-term cellular and in vivo imaging. Here we report a direct synthesis of silver-doped zinc selenide QDs in water with near-infrared tunable fluorescence emissions, coinciding with the biological window of transmission to offer high signal-to-noise for fluorescence imaging of cells and small animals. Glutathione, which carries both carboxyl and amino groups, serves as a stabilizing ligand and offers the flexibility of decorating the surface of the QDs with moieties such as proteins, peptides and DNA. The cytotoxicity of the as-synthesized QDs was evaluated on macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells and human mesenschymal stem cells using MTS cell viability assay. The results indicated that the silver- doped ZnSe QDs possess low cytotoxicity. In vivo biodistribution study shows that these bare QDs are different from conventional QDs, it traversed through systemic route and could accumulate in the stomach of nude mice. These QDs were conjugated to monoclonal CD44v6 antibody and tested with human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS). The results indicated the feasibility of modifying the surface properties of these QDs for efficient targeting applications. The QDs were also conjugated to heparin and used to formulate nanocomplexes with chitosan to encapsulate tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Quantitative imaging analysis revealed in vivo trafficking kinetics of the nanocomplexes to the lymph nodes after subcutaneous administration into nude mice. This study demonstrates the potential of incorporation of near-infrared-emitting QDs in nanocarrier drug delivery that allows in vivo trafficking of the biodistriution events and will be of greatly improve the development new drug nanocarrier formulations.</p> / Dissertation

Ce travail de thèse est centré autour de deux aspects des technologies quantiques: le calcul quantique et la mesure quantique. Il s'appuie sur la boîte à outils de la lumière micro-onde, développé en électrodynamique quantique, pour sonder des circuits mésoscopiques. Ces circuits, fabriqués ici à base de nanotubes de carbone, peuvent être conçus comme des bits quantiques ou comme des systèmes modèles de la matière condensée, et cette thèse explore les deux aspects. La réalisation d'une interface spin-photon cohérente illustre le premier. L'expérience repose sur l'utilisation de contacts ferro-magnétiques pour induire un couplage spin-orbit artificiel dans une double boîte quantique. Ce couplage hybride les degrés de liberté de charge et de spin de l'électron. En incluant ce circuit dans une cavité micro-onde, dont le champ électrique peut être couplé à la charge, nous réalisons une interface spin-photon. Un second projet est centré sur l'utilisation de boîtes quantiques comme systèmes modèles. Ce projet consiste à coupler, via une cavité micro-onde, un qubit supraconducteur, qui servira de sonde peu invasive, et une boîte quantique unique. Un tel circuit peut exhiber différent comportement dont l'effet Kondo, qui est un effet à N-corps. Dans ce travail, nous présentons à la fois une étude théorique, et des travaux expérimentaux. Finalement, un travail en collaboration, sur une proposition théorique pour détecter le caractère auto-adjoint des fermions de Majorana en utilisant une cavité micro-onde, est présenté. / This thesis work is centered around two key aspects of quantum technologies: quantum information processing and quantum sensing. It builds up onto the microwave light toolbox, developed in circuit quantum electrodynamics, to investigate the properties of mesosocopic circuits. Those circuits, made out here of carbon nanotubes, can be designed to act as quantum bits of information or as condensed matter model system and this thesis explore both aspects. The realization of a coherent spin-photon interface illustrates the first one. The experiment relies on ferromagnetic contacts to engineer an artificial spin-orbit coupling in a double quantum dot. This coupling hybridizes the spin and the charge degree of freedom of the electron in this circuit. By embedding this circuit into a microwave cavity, whose electrical field can be coupled to the charge, we realize an artificial spin-photon interface. A second project, started during this thesis, focuses on using quantum dot circuits as model systems. This project consists in coupling, via a microwave cavity, a superconducting qubit, that will serve as a delicate probe, and single quantum dot circuit. Such a circuit can display several behaviors including the Kondo effect which is intrinsically a many-body effect. In this work, we present both a theoretical study of some possible outcomes of this experiment, and experimental developments. Finally, a theoretical proposition to detect the self-adjoint character of Majorana fermions using a microwave cavity, is presented.

Le travail exposé dans cette thèse de doctorat présente des expériences à basse température dans le domaine de la spintronique quantique sur des hétérostructures à base de germanium. Tout d’abord, les avantages attendus du germaniumpour la spintronique quantique sont exposés, en particulier la faible interaction hyperfine et le fort couplage spin-orbite théoriquement prédits dans le Ge. Dans un second chapitre, la théorie des boites quantiques et systèmes à double boite sont détaillés, en se focalisant sur les concepts nécessaires à la compréhension des expériences décrites plus tard, c’est-à-dire les effets de charge dans les boites quantiques et double boites, ainsi que le blocage de spin de Pauli. Le troisième chapitre s’intéresse à l’interaction spin-orbite. Son origine ainsi que ses effets sur les diagrammes d’énergie de bande sont discutés. Ce chapitre se concentre ensuite sur les conséquences de l’interaction spin-orbite spécifiques aux gaz bidimensionnels de trous dans des hétérostructures de germanium, c’est-à-dire l’interaction spin-orbite Rashba, le mécanisme de relaxation de spin D’Yakonov-Perel ainsi que l’antilocalisation faible.Le chapitre quatre présente des mesures effectuées sur des nanofils coeur coquillede Ge/Si. Dans ces nanofils une boite quantique se forme naturellement et celui-ci est étudié. Un système à double boite quantiques est ensuite formé par utilisation de grilles électrostatiques, révélant ainsi du blocage de spin de Pauli.Dans le cinquième chapitre sont détaillés des mesures demagneto-conductance de gas de trous bidimensionnels dans des hétérostructures de Ge/SiGe contraints dont le puit quantique se situe à la surface. Ces mesuresmontrent de l’antilocalisation faible. Les temps de transport caractéristiques sont extraits ainsi que l’énergie de séparation des trous 2D par ajustement de courbe de la correction à la conductivité due à l’antilocalisation. De plus, les mesures montrent une suppression de l’antilocalisation par un champ magnétique parallèle au puit quantique. Cet effet est attribué à la rugosité de surface ainsi qu’à l’occupation virtuelle de sous-bandes inoccupées.Finalement, le chapitre six présente des mesures de quantisation de la conductancedans des hétérostructures de Ge/SiGe contraints dont le puit quantique est enterré. Tout d’abord, l’hétérostructure est caractérisée grâce à des mesures de magneto-conductance dans une barre de Hall. Ensuite, un second échantillon dessiné spécialement pour la réalisation de points de contact quantiques est mesuré. Celui-ci montre des marches de conductance. La dépendance en champ magnétique de ces marches est mesurée, permettant ainsi une extraction du facteur gyromagnétique de trous lourds dans du germanium. / This thesis focuses on low temperature experiments in germaniumbased heterostructure in the scope of quantumspintronic. First, theoretical advantages of Ge for quantum spintronic are detailed, specifically the low hyperfine interaction and strong spin orbit coupling expected in Ge. In a second chapter, the theory behind quantum dots and double dots systems is explained, focusing on the aspects necessary to understand the experiments described thereafter, that is to say charging effects in quantum dots and double dots and Pauli spin blockade. The third chapter focuses on spin orbit interaction. Its origin and its effect on energy band diagrams are detailed. This chapter then focuses on consequences of the spin orbit interaction specific to two dimensional germaniumheterostructure, that is to say Rashba spin orbit interaction, D’Yakonov Perel spin relaxation mechanism and weak antilocalization.In the fourth chapter are depicted experiments in Ge/Si core shell nanowires. In these nanowire, a quantumdot formnaturally due to contact Schottky barriers and is studied. By the use of electrostatic gates, a double dot system is formed and Pauli spin blockade is revealed.The fifth chapter reports magneto-transport measurements of a two-dimensional holegas in a strained Ge/SiGe heterostructure with the quantum well laying at the surface, revealing weak antilocalization. By fitting quantumcorrection to magneto-conductivity characteristic transport times and spin splitting energy of 2D holes are extracted. Additionally, suppression of weak antilocalization by amagnetic field parallel to the quantum well is reported and this effect is attributed to surface roughness and virtual occupation of unoccupied subbands.Finally, chapter number six reportsmeasurements of quantization of conductance in strained Ge/SiGe heterostructure with a buried quantumwell. First the heterostructure is characterized by means ofmagneto-conductance measurements in a Hall bar device. Then another device engineered specifically as a quantum point contact is measured and displays steps of conductance. Magnetic field dependance of these steps is measured and an estimation of the g-factor for heavy holes in germanium is extracted.

abstract: As existing solar cell technologies come closer to their theoretical efficiency, new concepts that overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit and exceed 50% efficiency need to be explored. New materials systems are often investigated to achieve this, but the use of existing solar cell materials in advanced concept approaches is compelling for multiple theoretical and practical reasons. In order to include advanced concept approaches into existing materials, nanostructures are used as they alter the physical properties of these materials. To explore advanced nanostructured concepts with existing materials such as III-V alloys, silicon and/or silicon/germanium and associated alloys, fundamental aspects of using these materials in advanced concept nanostructured solar cells must be understood. Chief among these is the determination and predication of optimum electronic band structures, including effects such as strain on the band structure, and the material's opto-electronic properties. Nanostructures have a large impact on band structure and electronic properties through quantum confinement. An additional large effect is the change in band structure due to elastic strain caused by lattice mismatch between the barrier and nanostructured (usually self-assembled QDs) materials. To develop a material model for advanced concept solar cells, the band structure is calculated for single as well as vertical array of quantum dots with the realistic effects such as strain, associated with the epitaxial growth of these materials. The results show significant effect of strain in band structure. More importantly, the band diagram of a vertical array of QDs with different spacer layer thickness show significant change in band offsets, especially for heavy and light hole valence bands when the spacer layer thickness is reduced. These results, ultimately, have significance to develop a material model for advance concept solar cells that use the QD nanostructures as absorbing medium. The band structure calculations serve as the basis for multiple other calculations. Chief among these is that the model allows the design of a practical QD advanced concept solar cell, which meets key design criteria such as a negligible valence band offset between the QD/barrier materials and close to optimum band gaps, resulting in the predication of optimum material combinations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2011

[pt] Se faz um estudo detalhado da produção de pontos quânticos de InAs crescidos sobre ligas de InGaAlAs que, por sua vez, são depositadas em substratos de InP de forma casada. Através da caracterização óptica e morfológica dos pontos quânticos obtém-se a dependência tanto da altura quanto da densidade dos pontos produzidos em função das condições de crescimento. Os pontos quânticos são produzidos em condições de crescimento variadas. A temperatura, o tempo de crescimento e a taxa de deposição são os parâmetros alterados de uma amostra para a outra. São utilizadas técnicas de microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e fotoluminescência (PL) para avaliar o efeito dos parâmetros de crescimento epitaxial sobre a qualidade óptica das estruturas obtidas, as alturas dos pontos quânticos nucleados, a homogeneidade e a densidade da distribuição resultante. É desenvolvida a otimização no processamento digital das imagens de AFM para obter melhores resultados em suas análises. São correlacionados e analisados os resultados obtidos em AFM como a altura e a densidade dos pontos quânticos e seus respectivos picos de emissão de PL. Finalmente foram feitas simulações dos níveis de energia dos pontos quânticos para correlacioná-las com os valores dos picos dos sinais de PL e as alturas dos pontos quânticos. / [en] A detailed study is performed of the production of InAs quantum dots grown on InGaAlAs lattice matched to InP. Performing the optical and morphological characterization of the quantum dots the dependence of the height and density of the quantum dots with the growth conditions is obtained. The quantum dots were produced under different growth conditions. Temperature, growth time and growth rate were changed from one sample to another. We use atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques to evaluate the effect of the growth conditions on the optical quality of the obtained structures, as well as the quantum dots heights, their homogeneity and density distribution. Image processing of AFM images was optimized to allow better accuracy in the analysis of quantum dot height. The AFM results, such as quantum dots height and density, were related and analyzed with their respective PL emission. Finally, simulations of the quantum dots energy levels were performed to correlate them with the quantum dots height and PL signal.

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology) / The expansion of nanotechnology, resulting in multitudes of consumer and industrial products, causes concern amongst the scientific community regarding the risks associated with the release of nanomaterials into the environment and its subsequent effects on plants. Therefore, the focus of this study was aimed at investigating the effects of MPA-capped CdTe and carbon QDs on legumes plants namely P. vulgaris and G. max. Fluorescent imaging revealed that QDs were translocated from the roots to the aerial parts of the plant and accumulated in the edible parts of P. vulgaris. Subsequent physiological and biochemical tests revealed that both QD types induced oxidative stress as biological markers for stress including lipid peroxidation and cell death were elevated. In addition, carbon QDs displayed lower toxicity in comparison to MPA-CdTe QDs, but still possessed the ability to induce oxidative stress in plant cells. However, the effects were more pronounced in G. max in comparison to P. vulgaris; and more so with MPA-CdTe QDs than carbon QDs. Furthermore, MPA-CdTe and carbon QDs altered the concentrations and translocation of essential macro and microelements that are required for plant growth and development. This may have detrimental effects on crop productivity and yield, with negative implications on food quality and food security. / 2021-08-31