Nanomaterials are expected to enable significant advances in several technological fields in coming years. Among them, electronics has emerged as one of the most likely benefactors from the ability to control matter on the nanometer-scale. For many electronic devices synthesized nanomaterials must be integrated into thin film structures. Vapor-based deposition...
We investigated the thermal stability of a new ternary amorphous metal thin film, Ta₂.₄Ni₂.₂Si, and assessed its suitability as a Cu diffusion barrier for semiconductor device applications. Transmission electron microscopy was coupled with atom probe tomography to provide a detailed understanding of the atomic-scale evolution of both structure and composition...
Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticles were synthesized using ethylene glycol as a solvent via a continuous flow mesofluidic reactor. In this study reaction temperature, residence time, and precursor concentrations were used to control CZTS composition. It was found that CZTS initially forms by the nucleation of Cu₂₋ₓS with subsequent...
The mixed electronic and ionic conductivity of perovskite oxides has enabled their use in diverse applications such as automotive exhaust catalysts, solid oxide fuel cell cathodes, and visible light photocatalysts. The redox chemistry at the surface of perovskite oxides is largely dependent on the oxidation state of the metal cations...
Colloidal lead selenide nanoparticles (PbSe NPs) were synthesized using a microwave-assisted continuous flow reactor. Rapid heating of precursors was performed in the microwave reaction zone to initiate nucleation and was followed by an oil bath growth zone. In this study we have evaluated the effect of the nucleation temperature on...
An adiabatic calorimeter operating over the range 5 to 300 K has
been automated. Instrumentation includes computer controlled data
acquisition, a low-thermal emf multiplexer for switching low-level dc
signals, and automatic analog shield controls. Temperature
measurements are made with platinum and germanium resistance
thermometers, and the thermometer resistances are determined...
The design, development, and utilization of a direct shear test
apparatus is presented in this thesis. The effectiveness of the
device for determining the friction angle stress state parameter is
studied. Two materials, alumina and uranium dioxide, were tested.
Alumina microspheres were employed in the initial experiments
to simulate the...
In this case, the student is a senior partner in Corporate Planning Group (CPG), a strategy-consulting firm. The principals of National Systems, Inc. (the company) have retained CPG to develop a 5-year strategic marketing program to (1) strengthen current markets and (2) develop new markets for the company’s line of...
Roots are considered to be the major production site of amino acids that appear in the xylem sap of conifers. The carbon skeleton of amino acids is derived from photosynthetically reduced carbon dioxide while the nitrogen is derived from the inorganic forms taken up by the roots. An experiment was...
