No description available.

The present thesis describes a novel photonic crystal platform dubbed the photonic nose, a color-based analogue of the human olfactory system. The platform is founded on a one dimensional photonic crystal architecture known as Bragg stacks, which are fabricated using bottom-up self-assembly approaches. Structural and compositional aspects of this novel class of photonic crystals are established that provide them with functionality and utility. Silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, clays and zeolites are among the materials incorporated into one-dimensional photonic structures. Retention of materials functionality is demonstrated by vapor and liquid sensing experiments. This class of Bragg stacks displays well defined optical properties that have been thoroughly investigated by use of spectroscopic ellipsometry, as we demonstrate in a chapter dedicated to the technique. Utilizing conventional building blocks comprised of nanostructured silicon and titanium dioxide we discuss various aspects of technique pertaining single layered as well as multilayered films. In terms of practical applications these kinds of Bragg stacks show significant potential in areas such as display and sensors that exploit their vibrant and tunable colors. These colors are an important attribute of photonic crystals with bandgaps in the visible range and in this thesis work we present new approaches for characterizing photonic crystal color using well established methods from the field of color imagery. With this knowhow we have been able to assemble a pixilated array of chemically functionalized Bragg stacks in which each pixel responds differently to vapor phase analytes. The combinatorial response of the entire array enables a unique diagnostic fingerprint of a given analyte vapor as determined from color imagery and multivariate statistical methods of analysis. It was possible to discriminate between ethanol, butanol, hexanol, hexane, octane and decane. We also demonstrate the power of the photonic nose platform by distinguishing different bacteria from a photonic nose color analysis of the complex mixture of vapors in the bacteria culture headspace. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be discriminated based on this technique.

The present thesis describes a novel photonic crystal platform dubbed the photonic nose, a color-based analogue of the human olfactory system. The platform is founded on a one dimensional photonic crystal architecture known as Bragg stacks, which are fabricated using bottom-up self-assembly approaches. Structural and compositional aspects of this novel class of photonic crystals are established that provide them with functionality and utility. Silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, clays and zeolites are among the materials incorporated into one-dimensional photonic structures. Retention of materials functionality is demonstrated by vapor and liquid sensing experiments. This class of Bragg stacks displays well defined optical properties that have been thoroughly investigated by use of spectroscopic ellipsometry, as we demonstrate in a chapter dedicated to the technique. Utilizing conventional building blocks comprised of nanostructured silicon and titanium dioxide we discuss various aspects of technique pertaining single layered as well as multilayered films. In terms of practical applications these kinds of Bragg stacks show significant potential in areas such as display and sensors that exploit their vibrant and tunable colors. These colors are an important attribute of photonic crystals with bandgaps in the visible range and in this thesis work we present new approaches for characterizing photonic crystal color using well established methods from the field of color imagery. With this knowhow we have been able to assemble a pixilated array of chemically functionalized Bragg stacks in which each pixel responds differently to vapor phase analytes. The combinatorial response of the entire array enables a unique diagnostic fingerprint of a given analyte vapor as determined from color imagery and multivariate statistical methods of analysis. It was possible to discriminate between ethanol, butanol, hexanol, hexane, octane and decane. We also demonstrate the power of the photonic nose platform by distinguishing different bacteria from a photonic nose color analysis of the complex mixture of vapors in the bacteria culture headspace. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be discriminated based on this technique.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-183). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Not available / text

No description available.

This research focuses on the effect of several convex and concave nose shapes on cavity formation for both hydrophilic and hydrophobic projectiles. It specifically investigates the effect of convex shape on the threshold velocity for cavity formation as well as the effect of concave shapes on cavity formation in terms of impact velocity, geometry of the concave shape and wettability of the projectile. For the convex cases, the streamlined axisymmetric shape significantly increases the threshold velocity when cavities form and is most pronounced for the ogive and cone. The study demonstrates that measuring the wetting angle and impact velocity is not enough to predict cavity behavior, rather the roughness and nose shape must also be taken into consideration for convex projectiles. For the concave cases, the cavities formed are highly influenced by impact speed and nose shape. Wetting angle did not have any visible effect on the cavity formed at higher impact speeds (7 m/s). The dynamics of the cavity formation are dominated by the pocket of trapped air formed when the concave projectiles impact the water. At low impact speeds (~0-1 m/s) the trapped air can separate the flow from the leading edge of the projectile nose when venting out and cause a large cavity to form, depending on the specific concave shape and speed. At moderate impact speeds (1-4 m/s) the trapped air will vent completely underwater forming a small ring-shaped cavity. At high impact speeds (4-10 m/s) the trapped pocket of air compresses tremendously and causes an unsteady pressure pulse, which can result in the formation of a bubble and jet in front of the cavity. The jet is formed by water passing behind the pocket of trapped air along the walls of the concave nose and converging into a jet at the top of the concave shape and entraining the trapped air as it descends.

La lutte contre le terrorisme et le trafic de narcotiques sont devenus des enjeux sociétaux majeurs. Par exemple, l’identification rapide des colis piégés est aujourd’hui indispensable dans les lieux publics, motivant le développement de systèmes de détection de types nez électroniques. Ce travail de recherche, porte sur l’étude des transducteurs MEMS de type microleviers et SAW (surface acoustic wave), choisis parmi les différentes familles de biocapteurs existants pour leurs nombreux avantages tels que leur grande sensibilité à détecter tous types de molécules. Cette thèse est axée sur l’étude de ces deux types de MEMS en diamant combinés à des biorécepteurs olfactifs spécifiquement impliqués dans la perception et la reconnaissance des odeurs. Les propriétés physiques et chimiques exceptionnelles du diamant déposé sur leur surface ont permis le développement de détecteurs à la fois miniaturisés, robustes et sensibles. La chimie unique du diamant a permis en particulier d’immobiliser sur la surface de ces transducteurs différents types de biorécepteurs de type OBP (Odorant Binding Protein), MUP (Major Urinary Protein) et OR (récepteurs olfactifs) comme couche sensible. L’immobilisation de ces LBP sur les MEMS en diamant a été caractérisée par diverses techniques telles que la spectroscopie électrochimique d’impédance (EIS), la spectroscopie de fluorescence ou encore la spectroscopie XPS. Les performances des capteurs ont été suivies par vibrométrie laser dans le cas des microleviers et à l’aide d’un système d’acquisition commercial dans le cas des SAW, en mesurant les déplacements de fréquence de résonance lors d’exposition aux composés cibles. Une comparaison entre les différents types de LBP provenant de différentes espèces (mammifères, insectes) a été effectuée en termes de sensibilité lors d’exposition à des drogues et des composés explosifs. Les limites de détections (LOD) obtenues dans nos conditions de mesures se situent dans la gamme d’1µg jusqu’à 35 ng par exemple pour l’héroïne, en fonction des espèces cibles testées. La LOD du TNT est d’environ 100 ng. / Over the last decade, the need for resources devoted to counter terrorism as well as narcotic trafficking has grown. Thus the effective fight against those scourges requires the development of advanced physical and chemical detection systems and sensor systems such as electronic noses able to detect drugs and explosives compounds. In this context, ligand binding proteins (LBP) combined to diamond MEMS such as resonant microcantilevers and surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors are foreseen as highly promising transducers for the design of label free biosensors in particular for the detection of small organic molecules. LBP are small proteins involved in the perception and recognition of odorant molecules. In this study, OBP (Odorant Binding Protein), MUP (Major Urinary Protein) and OR (olfactory receptor) were used to bind selected analytes. The carbon nature of diamond offers wide opportunities for stable grafting of such bioreceptors. The performances of these transducers present a real improvement in terms of speed, miniaturization and sensitivity. Immobilization of LBP on diamond transducers was investigated using fluorescence methods, electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The sensing performances of the resulting biosensors were assessed by monitoring the frequency shift in real time upon exposure to the target molecules. We compared different kind of LBP, coming from vertebrates, insects, mutant or wild type in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and for their capability to bind odors, explosive and drug compounds. Within our experimental conditions, the detection of a wide variety of drugs and explosives was possible in the concentration range typically from 1 µg to e.g. 35 ng in the case of heroin, depending on the test substances. The limit of detection of TNT compound is about 100 ng.

Rapid and sensitive detection of biomolecules is an important issue in nanomedicine. Many disorders are manifested by changes in protein levels of serum and other biofluids. Rapid and effective differentiation between normal and cancerous cells is an important challenge for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor. Likewise, rapid and effective identification of pathogens is a key target in both biomedical and environmental monitoring. Most biological recognition processes occur via specific interactions. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) feature sizes commensurate with biomacromolecules, coupled with useful physical and optical properties. A key issue in the use of nanomaterials is controlling the interfacial interactions of these complex systems. Modulation of these physicochemical properties can be readily achieved by engineering nanoparticles surface. Inspired by the idea of mimicking nature, a convenient, precise and rapid method for sensing proteins, cancerous cells and bacteria has been developed by overtaking the superb performance of biological olfactory systems in odor detection, identification, tracking, and location. On the fundamental side, an array-based/`chemical nose' sensor composed of cationic functionalized AuNPs as receptors and anionic fluorescent conjugated polymers or green fluorescent proteins or enzyme/substrates as transducers that can properly detect and identify proteins, bacteria, and cancerous cells has been successfully fabricated.