Hygroscopic properties are important characteristics of a material that is used in building construction. Wood is an anisotropic, heterogeneous and hygroscopic material. Given the cellular structure of wood as well as capillary action in the Lumina, the level of water uptake in wood is significant. Such amount of water uptake makes the wood susceptible to dimensional instabilities, causes alterations in the mechanical properties, and potential for degradation of the material. Various approaches have been investigated to modify the hydrophilic nature of lignocellulosic materials, including surface modifications using silane treatments, acetylation, wax etc. Although these surface modifications can decrease the rate of water uptake by the materials, the amount of water uptake at saturation remains unchanged. In fact, the lumen diameter is so small that the rise of liquid, even with a hydrophobic surface, can still occur. Therefore, the only way to halt the water uptake driven by capillary action in lignocellulosic materials is to apply a uniform cover on the material surface in addition to filling the lumen with dense material. In the current research project, the vascular structure of softwood (Spruce) is obstructed by silica nanoparticles using the impregnation technique as one of the advanced methods to reduce the water absorption capacity in wood. This process can form a thin film of nanoparticles on solid objects with complex geometries. In addition, the technique can fill up the cavities and voids of porous materials and prevent the capillary action inside the Lumina. In this method, the wood specimen is dipped into the solution, silica 40 (wt. %) colloidal solution. Then the solvent is evaporated which results in the formation of nanoparticles in the form of thin films or particulates. The former may change the moisture absorption on the surface and the later reduces the capillarity of the vascular system. This project aims to find the optimal impregnation condition to minimize the water uptake capacity of wood in order to increase wood physical and mechanical stabilities. Three immersing times (i.e. short, medium, and long) were used to coat wooden samples with the silica colloidal solution. The samples were conditioned in wet environments with specificiii relative time and then their weight as percentage change were examined. To investigate the capability of the method to obstruct the vascular structure of the wood samples, the characteristic process was done in the next step by some common tests such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Water Contact Angle (WCA), etc. The results from the experiments show that dip-coating the wood samples with silica nanoparticle colloidal solution had effect on the amount of water absorption, but significant levels of reduction in water attraction was achieved with considering the other effective parameters such as duration of each set, the number of sets that are conducted, and impregnation in vacuumed condition. More research is needed to quantify the benefits of using nanoparticle in these applications.

The surface phenemona in polishing process induced by nano-particle was studied in this thesis. The properties of particle, rigidity and geometry, are forced. A perfect polished surface includes lower roughness and thinner damage layer. Besides a perfect surface, how we get higher rate of remove is also an important thing. The goal is to get the relation between induced surface phenomena and properities of nano-particle. The M.D. (Molecular Dynamic) simulation is uesed in this thesis. The specicaly lowered integral timestep is second for simulating the rigidity of nano-particle with saving simulation time and geting accurate in simulation results. In order to simuate the nano-particle rigidity and adhesive effects between nanoparticle and work surface, the modified potential function is used. Considering the types of nano-particle motion which are pure rolling and sliding, the different geometric shapes are used . In the results of simulation about the rigidity of particles, the phenomena induced by rolling particles and rigidity don¡¦t have apparent correlation. For sliding particles, the lower rigidity and lower thick damage layer was. However, if the rigidity is too weak to hold the particle geometric shape, the damage layer thickness is larger. In the results of simulation about particle shapes, the sliding particle with larger front angle will indcue deeper damager layer. It¡¦s because the more workpiece atoms could move to the bottom or rear of the particles to make more damaged atoms. If the length of particle bottom be increased, the interactive behavior between particle and work surface would become more violently to make deeper damaged layer. The rolling particle with scraggy surface can cohere more atoms than the ball particle even in the lower adhesive coefficient, but induced roughness will be higher .

Recent advances in nano technology have opened doors to several next generation devices and sensors. Characterizing nano particles and structures in a simple and effective way is imperative for monitoring and detecting processes at nano scale in a variety of environments. In recent years, the problem of studying nano particle interactions with surface plasmons or evanescent waves has gained significant interest. Here, a numerical model is presented to characterize nano-size particles and agglomerates near a metal or a dielectric interface. The methodology is based on a hybrid method, where the T-matrix approach is coupled with the image theory. The far field scattering patterns of single particles and agglomerates subjected to surface plasmons/evanescent waves are obtained. The approach utilizes the vector spherical harmonics for the incident and scattered fields relating them through a T-matrix. Effects of size, shape and orientation of the cluster on their scattering patterns are studied. An effort is made to distinguish particle characteristics from the scattering information obtained at certain observation angles. Understanding these scattering patterns is critical for the design of sensors using the surface plasmon scattering technique to monitor nano self assembly processes

Although gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are promising probes for biological imaging because of their attracting optical properties and bio-friendly nature, properties of the multi-photon (MP) emission from GNP aggregates produced by a short-wave infrared (SWIR) laser have not been examined. In this paper, characterization of MP emission from aggregated 50 nm GNPs excited by a femtosecond (fs) laser at 1560 nm is discussed with respect to aggregate structures. The key technique in this work is single particle spectroscopy. A pattern matching technique is applied to correlate MP emission and SEM images, which includes an optimization processes to maximize cross correlation coefficients between a binary microscope image and a binary SEM image with respect to xy displacement, image rotation angle, and image magnification. Once optimization is completed, emission spots are matched to the SEM image, which clarifies GNP ordering and emission properties of each aggregate. Correlation results showed that GNP aggregates have stronger MP emission than single GNPs. By combining the pattern matching technique with spectroscopy, MP emission spectrum is characterized for each GNP aggregate. A broad spectrum in the visible region and near infrared (NIR) region is obtained from GNP dimers, unlike previously reported surface plasmon enhanced emission spectrum.

Current micro-scale electronics technology has been approaching rapidly towards its technological limit. This has shifted the focus towards nano-scale technology in recent years. More and more researchers around the globe are working in pursuit of bringing nano-scale technology into mainstream. The research carried out here is a small step towards a similar goal. The remarkable optical properties exhibited by certain nano-scale structures are in stark contrast to their bulk form and this provides the basis for this research. Two kinds of nanostructures are developed and investigated for their optical properties. One of these is nanofibers processed from a polymer known as polyaniline (PANI). The focus of this study is to investigate its optical and conductive properties under different conditions of doping environments, temperature and polymerization conditions. Optical characterization technique such as UV-Visible spectroscopy is developed to carry out the investigation. The developed nanofibers have been demonstrated to possess optical and conductive properties to be dependent on doping variables. Study of these optical properties could prove very useful in the development of electrochromic devices and gas sensors. Later in the research, UV-Visible spectroscopy has been improved into a low cost Raman spectroscopy setup which is validated by experimentation carried out on some samples. The second type of nano-structure developed and investigated, is an array of nanoparticles of noble metals such as gold and silver. Such an array is shown to exhibit a phenomenon called plasmon resonance effect when excited by light. UV-Visible spectroscopy technique is utilized to investigate this effect for metal nano-arrays. A biologically nano-structured surface (wing of an insect called cicada) is used as the substrate for the fabrication of metal array. A serious attempt has also been made to do 'Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)', making use of the metal nano-array developed. This technique improves the raman lines intensities of certain less sensitive samples such as thiophenol, which are known to give weak raman lines. This is carried out by adsorbing the sample on the metal nano-array.

Microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) have attracted much research attention in recent years due to their promising applications in renewable energy generation, bioremediation, and wastewater treatment. In a MES, microorganisms interact with electrodes via electrons, catalyzing oxidation and reduction reactions at the anode and the cathode. The bacterial community of a high power mixed consortium MESs (maximum power density is 6.5W/m��) was analyzed by using denature gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S DNA clone library methods. The bacterial DGGE profiles were relatively complex (more than 10 bands) but only three brightly dominant bands in DGGE results. These results indicated there are three dominant bacterial species in mixed consortium MFCs. The 16S DNA clone library method results revealed that the predominant bacterial species in mixed culture is Geobacter sp (66%), Arcobacter sp and Citrobacter sp. These three bacterial species reached to 88% of total bacterial species. This result is consistent with the DGGE result which showed that three bright bands represented three dominant bacterial species. Exoelectrogenic bacterial strain SX-1 was isolated from a mediator-less microbial fuel cell by conventional plating techniques with ferric citrate as electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence revealed that it was related to the members of Citrobacter genus with Citrobacter sp. sdy-48 being the most closely related species. The bacterial strain SX-1 produced electricity from citrate, acetate, glucose, sucrose, glycerol, and lactose in MFCs with the highest current density of 205 mA/m�� generated from citrate. Cyclic voltammetry analysis indicated that membrane associated proteins may play an important role in facilitating electron transfer from the bacteria to the electrode. This is the first study that demonstrates that Citrobacter species can transfer electrons to extracellular electron acceptors. Citrobacter strain SX-1 is capable of generating electricity from a wide range of substrates in MFCs. This finding increases the known diversity of power generating exoelectrogens and provids a new strain to explore the mechanisms of extracellular electron transfer from bacteria to electrode. The wide range of substrate utilization by SX-1 increases the application potential of MFCs in renewable energy generation and waste treatment. Anode properties are critical for the performance of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Inexpensive Fe nanoparticle modified graphite disks were used as anodes to preliminarily investigate the effects of nanoparticles on the performance of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in MECs. Results demonstrated that average current densities produced with Fe nanoparticle decorated anodes were up to 5.9-fold higher than plain graphite anodes. Whole genome microarray analysis of the gene expression showed that genes encoding biofilm formation were significantly up-regulated as a response to nanoparticle decorated anodes. Increased expression of genes related to nanowires, flavins and c-type cytochromes indicate that enhanced mechanisms of electron transfer to the anode may also have contributed to the observed increases in current density. The majority of the remaining differentially expressed genes were associated with electron transport and anaerobic metabolism demonstrating a systemic response to increased power loads. The carbon nanotube (CNT) is another form of nano materials. Carbon nanotube (CNT) modified graphite disks were used as anodes to investigate the effects of nanostructures on the performance S. oneidensis MR-1 in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The current densities produced with CNT decorated anodes were up to 5.6-fold higher than plain graphite anodes. Global transcriptome analysis showed that cytochrome c genes associated with extracellular electron transfer are up-expressed by CNT decorated anodes, which is the leading factor to contribute current increase in CNT decorated anode MECs. The up regulated genes encoded to flavin also contribute to current enhancement in CNT decorated anode MECs. / Graduation date: 2013

Research with heterogeneous mixtures involving solid particulate in closed, constant-volume bombs is typically limited by the powder dispersion technique. This work details the development of an experimental apparatus that promotes ideal conditions, namely a quiescent atmosphere and uniform particle distribution, for measuring laminar, heterogeneous flame propagation. In this thesis, two methods of dispersing particles are investigated. In the first, heterogeneous mixtures are made in a secondary vessel that is connected to the main experiment. Particles are dispersed into the secondary vessel by adapting a piston-driven particle injector, which has been shown to produce uniform particle distributions. The heterogeneous mixture is then transferred to the main bomb facility and ignited after laminar conditions are achieved. In the second method of dispersion, particles are directly injected into the main experimental facility using a strong blast of compressed air. As with the first approach, enough time is given (~4 minutes) for the mixture to become quiescent before ignition occurs. An extinction diagnostic is also applied to the secondary mixing vessel as well as the primary experimental facility (for both dispersion methods) to provide a qualitative understanding of the dispersion technique. To perform this diagnostic a 632.8-nm, 5-mW Helium-Neon (HeNe) laser was employed. Aluminum nano-particles with an average diameter of 100 nm were used in this study. It was found that for typical dust loadings produced with both dispersion techniques, a pure dust-air system would not ignite due to the current spark ignition system. Thus, a hybrid mixture of Al/CH4/O2/N2 was employed to achieve the project goal of demonstrating a system for controlled laminar flame speed measurements in aerosol mixtures. With the hybrid mixture, the combustion characteristics were studied both with and without the presence of nano-Al particles. Based on the experimental results, the simplicity of the "direct-injection" methodology compared to that of the "side-vessel" is desirable and will be further investigated as a viable alternative, or improvement, to the side-vessel technology.

This thesis presents a comparative study between two silver nanoparticle inks that were deposited using a Drop-on-Demand (DoD) inkjet printer, aiming at finding a functional ink that can be used to print electrodes in Light-emitting Electrochemical Cells (LECs). To achieve this, a DoD inkjet printer was installed and an acquaintance with the printer was attained. Among the two inks, one was employed as received while the other was reformulated, and successful deposition of both the inks was observed. During the reformulation process, it was seen that the highly volatile tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent can be used to improve the ink properties, in contrast to what is recommended. After that, the inks were deposited on UV-ozone treated glass substrates, sintered at an elevated temperature under ambient conditions, and their specific resistances and thicknesses were measured. Finally, the inks were used to print the anode in a structured sandwich-cell LEC. The performance comparison was conducted by observing the emitted light of the LECs. The results indicate that the reformulated ink performs better, probably due to the lower silver concentration that results in flatter surface, which in turn effectively alleviates shorts.

In this study, organic-inorganic hybrid materials were prepared from polyurethane and boehmite. It was achieved by polymerizing monomers in the presence of functional nano-particles of boehmite with cyanate groups. The produced polyurethane organic-inorganic hybrid materials with enhanced mechanical properties were used for coating applications. Plate-like boehmite nano-particles were produced by hydrothermal process from aluminum hydroxide which was first ground in a high energy ball-mill, and then, processed hydrothermally under pressure and high temperature in a reactor. The surface morphology and crystal structure of boehmite were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction analyses, respectively. The molecular structures of boehmite particles were investigated by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and Photon Correlation Spectroscopy analysis were carried out to determine the surface area and the size of particles. Then, plate-like boehmite nano-particles were functionalized by the reaction of their hydroxyl groups with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate and 4,4&rsquo / -methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, and elemental analysis were performed for both functionalized and non-functionalized particles to confirm the functionalization of the particles. The polyester polyol used in the production of polyurethane was synthesized from 1,4-butanediol and adipic acid (PE-PO-1), and phthalic anhydride (PE-PO-2). Molecular structure of the polyester polyols was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis and molecular weight of the polymers were determined by end group analysis. Then, the produced functionalized nano-particles and polyester polyols were used for producing polyurethane organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Furthermore, polyurethane polymer and polymer-nonfunctionalized boehmite organic-inorganic hybrids were also synthesized for property comparison. Hardness, impact resistance, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and gloss property of the samples were determined. It was observed that mechanical properties of organic-inorganic hybrid materials improved significantly. The hardness of the PU produced with PE-PO-1 increased from 82 to 98 Persoz, and the hardness of the PU produced with PE-PO-2 increased from 52 to 78 Persoz when one weight percentage functionalized boehmite was used. The impact resistance of the coatings was found to depend on the type of the polyols used in PU but not in the inorganic component. Therefore PE-PO-2 used PU has higher impact resistance than PE-PO-1 used PU. Scratch resistance of the coatings improved from 2B to 2H when using functionalized boehmite. Abrasion resistance of PUs produced with PE-PO-1 increased from 2 to 10 l/micrometer and abrasion resistance of PUs produced with PE-PO-2 increased from 12 to 20 l/micrometer by addition of functionalized boehmite.

In this PhD thesis, the preparation of several types of hybrid materials of block copolymer and magnetic nanoparticles is described. The diversified morphologies of nanoaggregates formed by dispersing poly(glyceryl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) tri-block copolymers in block selective solvents will be reported first. The volume occupied by the core block in these nanoaggregates can be swollen by solvent, and the core block can be sculpted. The cores can act potentially as the template to grow magnetic nanoparticles. Thus, a potential method for preparing hybrid magnetic materials of block copolymers and magnetic nanoparticles with different morphologies is developed. A one-pot method to synthesize cobalt nanoparticles covered by a polymer shell is then reported. This is achieved by thermally decomposing dicobalt octacarbonyl in the presence of polymeric multi-dentate ligand poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(acrylic acid). Using a similar method, cobalt nanoparticles covered by poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacryate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) ligand are synthesized. The cobalt nanoparticles fuse into chains for their magnetic dipole-dipole interaction. The chains are then coated with poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate). The coated Co chains are further locked by photo-crosslinking the poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate) segments. The as-prepared cobalt nano wires have interesting magnetic response and may be used to build complicated magnetic nano devices. Another hybrid magnetic material is prepared via an oil-in-water emulsion method. The oil phase of the emulsion sphere consists of r-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles covered with the poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacryate)-block-poly(acrylic acid) ligand and a poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacryate) homopolymer. It was dispersed in water using a mixture of poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(succinoylglyceryl methacrylate) and poly(2-cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(glyceryl methacrylate) as the surfactants. The evaporation of the organic solvent left behind solid particles in water. The polymer chains on the surface of the obtained spheres allow the immobilization of biomolecules. Factors affecting the emulsion process are studied systematically. The emulsion spheres are characterized using TEM, AFM, TGA and etc. The emulsion sphere have potential application is immunoassay. The protein binding capacity of the spheres is determined. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2010-09-10 11:50:46.618