In this research we consider two different approaches for microfabricating physical templates to be used in template directed colloidal self-assembly experiments. Fabrication of templates, usable with confocal microscopy, forms an essential part of observation and analysis of template directed colloidal self-assembly studies. We use existing laboratory based microfabrication methods for patterning thin glass coverslips and polymeric films. These templates when used for directing colloidal self-assembly along with confocal microscopy analysis provide us with relevant information on the effect of confined geometries of the template on particle packing and order. The first method of template fabrication involves ultraviolet photolithography, thin film deposition, and glass micro machining. Various stages of the process were optimized while selecting reactive ion etch (RIE) and nickel etch mask with a suitable etch recipe for microfabrication of patterns on thin multi-component glass coverslips. Pattern dimensions were shown to be nearly commensurate with patterns on the microfiche, which was used as a field mask. In another approach, mechanical machining for fabricating polymeric templates was attempted on poly(methyl methacrylate) films spin coated on thin glass cover slips. The mechanical machining was implemented using computer numerical control (CNC) machines with the pattern dimensions in the range of 50 Mu m-150 Mu m. The glass and polymeric templates were used in template directed colloidal self-assembly experiments us ing polystyrene or silica particles. Confocal microscopy was used to obtain images of particle packing in template geometries. Imaging of the particles confined in the template geometries show increased particle concentration along pattern walls and corners. Inherent pattern irregularities and roughness possibly resulted in limited order in particle. Using a simple fortran program, image stack generated from confocal microscopy is used for obtaining images of particle packing in four different view planes which includes top, side, cross sectional and diagonal view of the image stack. The results from this research show the application of simple microfabrication processes for creating physical templates for template directed colloidal self-assembly. Confocal microscopy imaging combined with fortran image processing program can provide images of particle packing in different view planes. These images of the particles confined in various pattern geometries illustrate greater possibility of packing order in straight and regular pattern geometries or profiles.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-201).

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Polyelectrolytes coated on high surface curvature nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared and characterized by a variety of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments in order to examine surface interactions, polymer-water association and polymer dynamic properties of layer components. Gold nanoparticles of four nanometers in diameter pre-stabilized by 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and silica and neodymium NPs were chosen as substrates for these studies. The high surface to volume ratio provided by such nanoparticles is advantageous for NMR analysis, which requires a high material content for adequate sensitivity. Firstly, poly(styrene sulfonate) was deposited on gold NPs by electrostatic self-assembly where charged polyelectrolytes adsorb onto an oppositely charged substrate. Surface charges on gold NPs were provided by the ligand DMAP that induces a positive charge at the NP surface that is otherwise neutral. Nanoparticle encapsulation by PSS was monitored by the gold surface plasmon absorption band (SPB) which revealed a good stability under assembly conditions where the pH was maintained above the DMAPsoln pKa and for a polymer radius of gyration comparable to the particle radius. An electrostatic association between DMAPbound and PSS, rather than a ligand substitution, was detected by solid state 13C NMR. When a subsequent layer composed of a weak or a strong polycation was added, the stability of the bilayer was found to be dictated by the nature of the multiple, weak interactions of the polymer functional groups (SO3, NH2, N(CH 3)2+Cl-, NH3 +) with the gold surface relative to that of DMAPbound which in turn is influenced by the assembly pH. / A detailed study of the interactions between the polyelectrolytes, stabilizers and substrates was also extended to polyelectrolyte multilayers coated on gold NPs of different dimensions. Limitations in the application of the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique to very small NPs were investigated and strategies to optimize the method were proposed. 1H NMR analysis in the solid state and 2H NMR analysis in solution revealed that water association and film dynamics were closely related to the identity of the capping layer and independent of even/odd layer effects. These results were compared to those obtained for larger NP substrates which revealed many similarities between the two systems. / A study of the parameters that affect the fabrication of Poly(L-lysine) and DNA polyelectrolyte multilayer films was also conducted for both flat and highly curved surfaces. Such polyelectrolyte films coated on nanopartic1es can be considered as potential vectors for gene therapy. Control over DNA loading into films was performed by varying the ionic strength and pH of polyelectrolyte assembly solutions. DNA density, film degradability and transfection efficiency were examined to determine optimal conditions for vector preparation in gene therapy. Finally, the acid-base properties of lanthanide-based nanoparticles of 10 nm of diameter were explored under a wide range of pH conditions. The interactions of the neodymium oxide nanoparticles with the cationic poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and the anionic poly(styrene sulfonate) polymers were investigated by following spectroscopically optical changes in suspension absorbance and visual changes in NP dimensions. Transparancy and efficiency of stabilization were the evaluated criteria for polymers to be considered as potential stabilizing agents for neodymium oxide NPs used in neutrino detection experiments.

The kinetics and mechanism of the place exchange reaction(PER) of alkylthiols with alkylthiol-protected gold nanoparticles(AuNP) are investigated. Using chemically similar alkylthiols it was possible to study the reaction in the absence of perturbing factors, enabling detailed mechanistic and kinetic studies to be explored. It is found that the reactions are zero order in incoming ligand and overall follow a second order diffusion limited Langmuir rate law. In the case where there is little chemical distinction between the incoming and capping ligands, the reactions proceed to an endpoint consistent with a Keq=1. The rate of the reaction is dependent on the chain length of the capping ligand and the AuNP core size. The related dialkyldisulphide for-alkylthiol AuNP exchange reaction is consistent with the same rate law and also proceeds to a well-defined endpoint. However, the rate constant is 20-fold less than the alkylthiol case. These results lead to a convergent model of PERs where the rate limiting process involves both incoming and outgoing ligands, with diffusion of the incoming ligand to the AuNP surface as the major controlling factor of the reaction rate.

Nanoparticles are very interesting building blocks. Their large surface-to-bulk ratio gives them different properties from those of larger particles. Controlling their assembly can greatly affect macroscopic material properties. This often happens in nature, resulting in macroscopic materials with properties far better than those of similar human-made materials. However, in this fast-growing research field, we may soon compete with nature in certain areas. This thesis demonstrates that the distribution and orientation of nanocellulose particles can be controlled, which is crucial for many applications. Nanocellulose is an interesting nanoparticle, for example, because of its high strength, low thermal expansion, and high crystallinity. Nanocellulose particles are called nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). NFC is obtained from wood by mechanically shearing apart fibrils from the fiber wall and to obtain CNCs, parts of the cellulose are broken down by hydrolytic acidic reactions, most commonly, prior to homogenization. NFC particles are longer and less crystalline than are CNCs, but both are similar in width. The particles attract each other in aqueous dispersions and have a high aspect ratio and, thus, a large tendency to aggregate. The rate at which this occurs is typically reduced by charging the particles, generating an electrostatic repulsion between them. To fully utilize the many interesting properties of nanocellulose, the aggregation and orientation of the particles have to be controlled; examining this delicate task is the objective of this thesis. The limits for particle stability and aggregation are examined in papers 2–3 (as well as in this thesis) and orientation of the particles is investigated in papers 3–5. In addition, the liberation of the nanoparticles from different types of wood fibers is studied in papers 1 and 2. It was found that the liberation yield improved with increased fiber charge. In addition, the charge of the fibrils is higher than the charge of the original fibers, indicating that the fibrils were liberated from highly charged parts of the fibers and that the low-charge fraction was removed during processing. Aggregation was both theoretically predicted and experimentally studied. A theoretical model was formulated based on Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory, which is intended to predict the influence of salt, pH, and particle charge on the colloidal stability of the NFC. To predict the experimental trends, specific interactions between salt counterions and the particles charges had to be included in the model, which greatly increased the effect of salt on the NFC stability. Below the particle overlap concentration, instability induced by pH or salt created small sedimenting flocs, whereas above the overlap concentration the system gelled. Increasing the particle concentration further also gels the system. Orientation of nanocellulose was first achieved by shearing, salt- or acid-induced NFC gels. This oriented the fibrils and increased the gel modulus in the direction of shear. The orientation persisted after the shear strain was released and did not cause breakdown of the macroscopic gel. The orientation is probably due to rotation in the interfibril crosslinks, which is possible because the crosslinks are physical, not covalent.      Second, orientation was also induced by elongational flow. Shear and acceleration forces were combined to align fibrils in the direction of the flow. The orientation was then frozen by gelation (adding salt or reducing the pH). Drying the gel threads created filaments of aligned fibrils with a higher specific strength than that of steel.      Finally, CNC particles could be aligned on flat surfaces. The particles were first forced to align due to geometrical constraints in grooves on a nanowrinkled surface. The CNCs were then transferred to a flat surface using a contact-printing process. This created surfaces with lines of highly aligned CNCs, where the line–line spacing was controlled with nanometer precision. / <p>QC 20131114</p>

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