In this report we detail our work fabricating and measuring graphene quantum dots. We investigate a technique, relatively widely used in several other materials but not yet well investigated in graphene, known as Atomic Force Microscope Lithography (AFML). We then use AFML to fabricate graphene quantum dot systems. Transport measurements are carried out on our graphene quantum dots at low temperatures and high parallel magnetic fields and we try to understand the behaviour of spins in graphene. In our initial investigations into AFML we use graphene samples electrically contacted using standard electron-beam lithography. We were able to cut the graphene lattice by applying a negative voltage to the AFM tip and moving the tip across a grounded graphene surface. We have shown, by measuring the current through the AFM tip during lithography, that cutting of graphene is not current driven. Using a combination of transport measurements and scanning electron microscopy we show that , while indentations accompanied by tip current appear in the graphene lattice for a range of tip voltages, real cuts are characterized by a strong reduction of the tip current above a threshold voltage. The flexibility of the technique was then demonstrated by the fabrication, measurement, modification and re-measurement of graphene nanodevices with resolution down to 15 nm. We subsequently developed a shadow-masking technique to electrically contact graphene samples thus eliminating the use of chemical resists and the associated contamination of the graphene surface. With these pristine samples we were able to oxidise and hydrogenate the graphene using AFML. A graphene quantum dot was then fabricated using AFML oxidation. We also fabricated a graphene quantum dot using e-beam lithography in combination with oxygen plasma etching. We studied electron spin physics in these structures by J:1pplying large parallel magnetic fields at low temperatures and performing electrical transport measurements. We do not find an ordered filling sequence of spin states, which we assign to edge disorder and surface charge impurities.

Fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) are well known for their low cell-cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, low preparation cost, excitation dependent photoluminescence, and excellent photostability. Typically, raw C-dots have low quantum efficiency and thus researchers have been utilizing biocompatible polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a passivation agent in order to increase fluorescence signal. In this work, we report fluorescent self-passivated carbon nanodots (CNDs) synthesized from PEG by using it as a carbon source as well as a passivating agent. Importantly, the addition of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) during the synthesis of self-passivated CNDs can tune photoluminescence property. The results of bioimaging and cytotoxicity test of self-passivated CNDs hold promises for biomedicine applications.

Ovarian cancer, one of the most dreadful malignancies of the female reproductive system, poses a lethal threat to women worldwide. In this dissertation, the objective was to introduce a novel type of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) based nano-sized drug delivery systems (DDS) for ovarian cancer treatment. As a starting point, the facile synthesis method of the GQDs was established. Subsequently, the targeting ligand,folic acid (FA), was conjugated to GQDs. Next, a FDA approved chemotherapeutic drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), was loaded to form the GQDs-FA-DOX nano-conjugation as the DDS. Moreover, the uptake profile and anti-cancer effect of the GQDs-FA-DOX were validated in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, the immunotoxicity of GQDs and its mechanism were investigated and elucidated. Taken together, the findings described in this dissertation provide a novel and powerful strategy of targeted treatment for ovarian cancer.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The main aim of this study was to prepare band gap-engineered graphene quantum dot (GQD) structures which match the different energies of the visible region in the solar spectrum. These band gap-engineered graphene quantum dot structures were used as donor materials in rainbow Schottky junction solar cells, targeting all the energies in the visible region of the solar spectrum for improved solar-to-electricity power conversion efficiency. Structural characterisation of the prepared nanomaterials under solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SS-NMR) showed appearance of bands at 40 ppm due to the presence of sp3 hybridised carbon atoms from the peripheral region of the GQD structures. Other bands were observed at 130 ppm due to the presence of polycyclic aromatic carbon atoms from the benzene rings of the GQD backbone, and around 180 ppm due to the presence of carboxylic acid carbons from oxidation due to moisture. Fourier-transform infrared resonance (FTIR) spectroscopy further confirmed the presence of aromatic carbon atoms and oxidised carbons due to the presence of C=O, C=C and -OH functional groups, concurrent with SS-NMR results. / 2023-12-01

No description available.

Amphetamine abuse is an enduring problem in many developed nations, including Sweden. It causes lasting damage both to its users and in the form of increased strain on healthcare services. It is therefore critical that police be equipped with the tools necessary to rapidly and accurately identify any samples in order to combat this scourge. Current analysis methods rely on large complex machines such as gas-chromatographs. This causes a significant bottleneck as all samples must be sent to lab for analysis. In this report the potential application of graphene quantum dots(GQDs) as a sensor for amphetamine has been studied. These offer a potentially quick and cheap analysis method that could be integrated into an easily portable detector. It was found that GQDs synthesised by a simple method from citric acid shows increased photo-luminescence in the presence of amphetamine. The response is largely linear with increasing concentrations of amphetamine within an interval of 1mM-200mM. This indicates they may very well serve as a sensing element of an amphetamine detector. / Amfetaminmissbruk har länge varit ett problem i många industrialiserade länder, inklusive Sverige. Det skapar långvariga skador både på dess användare och i form av ökade kostnader för hälsovården. Det är därför kritiskt att polisen ges de verktyg som behövs för att snabbt och precist kunna analysera prov. Nuvarande analysmetoder använder sig av stora avancerade maskiner so som gas-kromatografer. Detta skapar en flaskhals då alla prov som tas måste skickas till labb för analys. I denna rapport har användningen av grafen kvantprickar (GQD) som en sensor för amfetamin studerats. Dessa har potentialen att ge en snabb och enkel analysmetod som skulle kunna integreras i portabel sensor. GQD:er syntetiserade med en simpel metod från citronsyra visas i dessa experiment ha ökad fotoluminiscens när de är lösta tillsammans med amfetamin. Denna respons är linjär relativt till koncentrationen av amfetamin inom intervallet 1mM-200mM. Detta indikerar att dessa GQD:er mycket väl kan användas som ett sensorelement i en amfetamindetektor.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / Vikas Berry / Graphene - a single atom thick two dimensional sheet of sp[superscript]2 bonded carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice - has shown great promise for both fundamental research & applications because of its unique electrical, optical, thermal, mechanical and chemical properties. Derivatization of graphene unlocks a plethora of novel properties unavailable to their pristine parent “graphene”. In this dissertation we have synthesized various structural and chemical derivatives of graphene; characterized them in detail; and leveraged their exotic properties for diverse applications. We have synthesized protein/DNA/ethylenediamine functionalized derivatives of graphene via a HATU catalyzed amide reaction of primary-amine-containing moieties with graphene oxide (GO) – an oxyfunctional graphene derivative. In contrast to non-specificity of graphene, this functionalization of GO has enabled highly specific interactions with analytes. Devices fabricated from the protein (concanavalin – A) and DNA functionalized graphene derivatives were demonstrated to enable label-free, specific detection of bacteria and DNA molecules, respectively, with single quanta sensitivity. Room temperature electrical characterization of the sensors showed a generation of ~ 1400 charge carriers for single bacterium attachment and an increase of 5.6 X 10[superscript]12 charge carriers / cm[superscript]2 for attachment of a single complementary strand of DNA. This work has shown for the first time the viability of graphene for bio-electronics and sensing at single quanta level. Taking the bio-interfacing of graphene to the next level, we demonstrate the instantaneous swaddling of a single live bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) with several hundred sq. micron (~ 600 µm[superscript]2) areal protein-functionalized graphene sheets. The atomic impermeability and high yield strength of graphene resulted in hermetic compartmentalization of bacteria. This enabled preservation of the dimensional and topological characteristics of the bacterium against the degrading effects of harsh environments such as the ultrahigh vacuum (~ 10[superscript]-5 Torr) and high intensity electron beam (~ 150 A/cm[superscript]2) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) column. While an unwrapped bacterium shrank by ~ 76 % and displayed significant charge buildup in the TEM column; a wrapped bacterium remained uncontracted and undamaged owing to the graphenic wraps. This work has shown for the first time an impermeable graphenic encasement of bacteria and its application in high vacuum TEM imaging without using any lengthy traditional biological TEM sample preparation techniques. In an inch-scale, we fabricated robust free-standing paper composed of TWEEN/Graphene composite which exhibited excellent chemical stability and mechanical strength. This paper displayed excellent biocompatibility towards three mammalian cell lines while inhibiting the non-specific binding of bacteria (Bacillus cereus). We predict this composite and its derivatives to have excellent applications in biomedical engineering for transplant devices, invasive instrument coatings and implants. We also demonstrate a novel, ultra-fast and high yield process for reducing GO to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using a facile hydride-based chemistry. The RGO sheets thus-produced exhibited high carrier mobilities (~ 100-600 cm[superscript]2/V•s) and reinstatement of the ambipolar characteristic of graphene. Raman spectra and UV-Vis spectroscopy on the RGO sheets displayed a high degree of restoration of the crystalline sp2 lattice with relatively low defects. We fabricated graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) – 1D structural derivatives of graphene – using a nano-scale cutting process from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) blocks, with widths pre-determinable between 5 nm to 600 nm. The as-produced GNRs had very high aspect ratio in the longitudinal direction (~ 0.01); exhibited predominantly mono-layered structure (< 10 % bilayer); and smooth edges (Raman I[subscript]D/G ~ 0.25 -0.28). Low temperature electrical transport measurements on back-gated thin film GNR devices were performed and a carrier mobility of ~ 20 ± 4 cm[superscript]2/V•s with sheet resistances of 2.2-5.1 MΩ / □ was extracted. Despite the ~ 50 nm thicknesses of the films, a clear bandgap scaling was observed with transport via variable range hopping (VRH) in 2 and 3 dimensions. This work demonstrates the first fully functional narrow pristine GNR thin-film field effect transistors (FETs). In addition we fabricated graphene quantum dots (GQDs) – 0D derivatives of graphene with dimensions < 100 nm – using a slight variation of our nano-scale cutting strategy, where the cleavage process is carried out in two dimensions. A high degree of control on the dimensions (Std. Dev. of ~ 5 nm for 50 X 50 nm square GQDs) and shape (pre-determinable between square, rectangle, triangle and trapezoid) of the as-synthesized GQDs is demonstrated. The optical properties of the GQDs such as the UV-Vis absorbance and photoluminescence were studied and their facile tunability was demonstrated depending on their dimensions. This work demonstrates for the first time the high throughput fabrication of GQDs with tunable dimensions and shape.

"There is plenty of room at the bottom." This bold and prophetic statement from Nobel laureate Richard Feynman back in 1950s at Cal Tech launched the Nano Age and predicted, quite accurately, the explosion in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Now this is a fast developing area in both science and technology. Many think this would bring the greatest technological revolution in the history of mankind. To understand electronic and optical properties of nanostructures, the following problems have been studied. In particular, intensity of mid-infrared light transmitted through a metallic diffraction grating has been theoretically studied. It has been shown that for s-polarized light the enhancement of the transmitted light is much stronger than for p-polarized light. By tuning the parameters of the diffraction grating enhancement can be increased by a few orders of magnitude. The spatial distribution of the transmitted light is highly nonuniform with very sharp peaks, which have the spatial widths about 10 nm. Furthermore, under the ultra fast response in nanostructures, the following two related goals have been proved: (a) the two-photon coherent control allows one to dynamically control electron emission from randomly rough surfaces, which is localized within a few nanometers. (b) the photoelectron emission from metal nanostructures in the strong-field (quasistationary) regime allows coherent control with extremely high contrast, suitable for nanoelectronics applications. To investigate the electron transport properties of two dimensional carbon called graphene, a localization of an electron in a graphene quantum dot with a sharp boundary has been considered. It has been found that if the parameters of the confinement potential satisfy a special condition then the electron can be strongly localized in such quantum dot. Also the energy spectra of an electron in a graphene quantum ring has been analyzed. Furthermore, it has been shown that in a double dot system some energy states becomes strongly localized with an infinite trapping time. Such states are achieved only at one value of the inter-dot separation. Also a periodic array of quantum dots in graphene have been considered. In this case the states with infinitely large trapping time are realized at all values of inter-dot separation smaller than some critical value.

The large-scale abuse and addiction of narcotics such as amphetamine and cocaine have become a global problem. In this project, we innovatively use graphene quantum dots (GQDs) as a fluorescent sensor to detect and quantify amphetamine and cocaine. This technology will have broad forensic application prospects. Compared with metallic quantum dots, graphene quantum dots are green and safe, with excellent bio-compatibility and low toxicity. We used undoped and N-doped GQDs as fluorescent sensing probes for the detection of amphetamine and cocaine, respectively. Using FTIR and FL as characterization methods, the fluorescence luminescence of GQDs under multiple excitation wavelength bands was studied and compared with the fluorescence after adding drugs. The experimental results show that the N-doped GQDs has a higher response to the binding substance. The detection concentration of amphetamine ranges from 5 µM to 5 mM, and the detection concentration of cocaine ranges from 10 µM-10 mM. Within this range, the fluorescence peak intensity ratio and the drug concentration have a two-stage linear negative correlation. / Storskaligt missbruk och missbruk av narkotika som amfetamin och kokain har blivit ett globalt problem. I detta projekt använder vi innovativt grafenkvantprickar (GQDs) som en fluorescerande sensor för att detektera och kvantifiera amfetamin och kokain. Denna teknik kommer att ha breda rättsmedicinska applikationsmöjligheter. Jämfört med traditionella kvantprickar är grafenkvantprickar gröna och säkra, med utmärkt biokompatibilitet och låg toxicitet. Vi använde odopade och N-dopade GQD: er som fluorescerande avkännande sonder för detektion av amfetamin respektive kokain. Med användning av FTIR och FL som karakteriseringsmetoder studerades fluorescens luminiscens hos GQD under flera exciteringsvåglängdsband och jämfördes med fluorescensen efter tillsats av läkemedel. De experimentella resultaten visar att den N-dopade GQD har ett högre svar på den bindande substansen. Detekteringskoncentrationen av amfetamin sträcker sig från 5 µM till 5 mM, och detektionskoncentrationen av kokain varierar från 10 µM-10 mM. Inom detta område har fluorescens toppintensitetsförhållandet och läkemedelskoncentrationen en tvåstegs linjär negativ korrelation.

[pt] O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de métodos espectroanalíticos capazes de determinar indiretamente analitos de interesse biológico e farmacológico que possuem fraca atividade óptica no UV-vis (no caso, captopril, histamina e sulfato de canamicina). Embora muitos métodos para quantificar esses analitos estejam reportados, muitos dependem da derivatização química do analito, procedimento considerado complexo e trabalhoso para fazer tais analitos absorverem e emitirem no UV-vis. Por isso, a proposta de uso de pontos quânticos fotoluminescentes é interessante, pois permitem, em condições ajustadas, respostas analíticas que proporcionam a determinação indireta dos analitos de interesse em concentrações da ordem de até 10-8 mol L-1. A determinação do captopril foi proposta utilizando pontos quânticos de grafeno aminofuncionalizados com uso de glutationa (GQDs-amino). O captopril induziu a supressão e o deslocamento espectral (para o vermelho) da fotoluminescência da dispersão aquosa dos GQDs-amino. Por outro lado, quando Fe3+ foi usado como um mediador que gera uma supressão da fotoluminescência da dispersão de GQDs-amino, a adição de captopril restabelece a fotoluminescência original dos pontos quânticos. Em condições experimentais ajustadas, a magnitude da supressão ou de deslocamento espectral da fotoluminescência dos GQDs-amino pode ser relacionada com a concentração de captopril. Em ambos os casos, a resposta linearizada abrangeu três ordens de grandeza (10-6 a 10-4 mol L-1). Em contrapartida, a abordagem de restauração do sinal da sonda, previamente suprimida com Fe3+, também se mostrou útil do ponto de vista analítico. As abordagens propostas foram testadas com a determinação de captopril em amostras simuladas e em formulações farmacêuticas comerciais. O deslocamento 10 espectral a partir da sonda GQDs-amino e ativação/desativação da fotoluminescência utilizando GQDs-amino-Fe3+ resultou em recuperações satisfatórias, mostrando o potencial de detecção quantitativo do método. No estudo com a histamina, avaliou-se o comportamento fotoluminescente da dispersão aquosa de GQDs-amino na presença de histamina com interação mediada por diferentes íons metálicos. Os resultados revelaram que uma interação mais forte e seletiva existia na presença de Eu3+, Fe3+ e Cu2+. A sensibilidade das curvas de supressão de fotoluminescência normalizada (Ks) indicou uma interação dez vezes mais forte da histamina com a superfície dos GQDs na presença de Fe3+. A resposta linear observada nos GQDs-amino-Fe3+ (luminescência medida a 345/435 nm) abrangeu a concentração de histamina de 4,3 × 10-7 mol L-1 (limite de quantificação) até 3,2 × 10-5 mol L-1. A dispersão de GQDs-amino-Fe3+ foi usada como sonda na análise de amostras de atum após extração do analito em cartucho fase sólida catiônica. Os resultados analíticos foram estatisticamente semelhantes aos obtidos com um método baseado na cromatografia líquida com detecção fluorimétrica (após derivatização química da histamina). A determinação do sulfato de canamicina foi feita medindoo efeito que ela exerce sobre a fotoluminescência dos GQDs-amino associados às nanopartículas de ouro (AuNPs), que foram produzidas pela redução de AuCl4 com NaBH4 em uma dispersão aquosa de GQDs-amino (obtido pela pirólise de ácido cítrico e glutationa) contendo também o agente tensoativo catiônico CTAB. O sistema AuNPs-GQDs-amino-CTAB apresentou fotoluminescência suprimida, que foi amplificada na presença de canamicina. Sob condições experimentais ajustadas, a ampliação da fotoluminescência do nanomaterial em função da concentração de analito se mostrou linear e abrangeu três ordens de grandeza (10-7 a 10-5 mol L-1). O uso de extração em fase sólida com um cartucho empacotado com um polímero molecularmente impresso (seletivo para aminoglicosídeos) assegurou a seletividade nas determinações de sulfato de canamicina feitas em vacina da febre amarela e em formula� / [en] The objective of the present work was the development of spectroanalytical methods capable of indirectly determining analytes of biological and pharmacological interest that present inherent weak optical activity in UV-vis (in this case, captopril, histamine and kanamycin sulfate). Although many methods to quantify these analytes are reported, many of these depend on chemical derivatization, a procedure considered complex and laborious to promote UV-vis absorption and luminescence. Therefore, the proposed use of photoluminescent quantum dots is interesting since they allow, under adjusted conditions, analytical responses that allow the indirect determination of the analytes of interest in concentrations of the order of down to 10-8 mol L-1. The determination of captopril was proposed using graphene quantum dots aminofunctionalized using glutathione as a precursor (GQDs-amino). Captopril induced photoluminescence suppression and spectral red-shift from the aqueous dispersion of GQDs-amino. In contrast, when Fe3+ is used as a mediator, it generates a suppression of the photoluminescence of the GQD-amino dispersion and the addition of captopril restored the original photoluminescence of the quantum dots. In adjusted experimental conditions, photoluminescence suppression of the GQDs-amino, as a function of the captopril concentration, can be related both to the magnitude of the suppression and to the spectral shift. In both cases, the linearized response covered three orders of magnitude (10-6 to 10-4 mol L-1). In contrast, the probe signal restoration of the previously Fe3+ suppressed photoluminescent GQDs, also proved to be analytically useful. The proposed approaches were tested by the determination of captopril in simulated samples and in commercial pharmaceutical formulations. Spectral shift from the GQDs-amino probe and the photoluminescence on/off approach (using GQDs-amino-Fe3+ probe) resulted in satisfactory recoveries, showing the quantitative capability of the method. In the work concerning histamine, the photoluminescent behavior of the aqueous dispersion of GQDs-amino in the presence of this amino acid was studied in function of different interaction mediators (metal ions). The results revealed that strong and selective interaction existed in the presence of Eu3+, Fe3+ and Cu2+. The sensitivity of normalized photoluminescence (Ks) suppression curves indicated a ten-fold stronger interaction of histamine with the surface of GQDs in the presence of Fe3+. The linear response observed in the GQDs-amino-Fe3+ (luminescence measured at 345/435 nm) covered the histamine concentration of 4.3 × 10-7 mol L-1 (quantification limit) to 3.2 × 10-5 mol L-1. The GQDs-amino-Fe3+ was applied as a probe in the analysis of tuna fish samples after solid phase extraction (SPE) of the analyte using a cationic solid phase. The analytical results were statistically similar to those obtained with a method based on liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (after chemical derivatization of histamine). The determination of kanamycin sulfate was made by measuring the effect it exerts on the photoluminescence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) associated GQDs, that were produced by the reduction of AuCl4 with NaBH4 in an aqueous dispersion of GQDs-amino (obtained by pyrolysis of citric acid and glutathione) also containing the cationic surfactant CTAB. The AuNPs-GQDs-amino-CTAB system showed a suppressed photoluminescence, which was amplified in the presence of kanamycin. Under adjusted experimental conditions, the magnification of the photoluminescence of the nanomaterial as a function of the analyte concentration was linear and covered three orders of magnitude (10-7 to 10-5 mol L-1). The use of solid phase extraction with a cartridge packed with a molecularly imprinted polymer (selective for aminoglycosides) ensured selectivity in the determinations made in yellow fever vaccine and in veterinary pharmaceutical formulations. The analytical results were statistically similar to those obtained with an HPLC based method with fluorimetri