The Amination of Metal Nanoshell Precursors and the Effect on Nanoshell Growth
Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Johal, Malkait
Keywords
Nanoshells, Chemistry, Plasmon Resonance
Area of Concentration
Chemistry
Abstract
Metal nanoshells are a new form of optically active nanoparticle with a tunable optical polarizability capable of spanning the visible to the midinfrared region of the spectrum. Nanoshells have found utility in a variety applications ranging from photo-oxidation inhibition in photoluminescent polymer films, optically triggered drug delivery systems, optomechanical materials, whole blood immunoassays, Raman sensors that can be optimized to specific pump laser wavelengths, and thermal ablative therapy for cancer. Despite the many advances in nanoshell-based technologies, nanoshell synthesis is a multi-step process possessing many parameters that have yet to be optimized. A critical step in nanoshell fabrication is the functionalization of the silica core with amines. It is believed that the extent of amine coverage detennines the continuity of the resulting metal shell. This study therefore examines the resultant surface coverage of amines on these silica cores, the size of the functionalized cores, and the quality of the resultant nanoshell after reacting the cores with different concentrations of aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APTES)--the amine precursor solution. These studies found that increasing the amount of APTES does increase the surface concentration of amines, does not increase the size of the functionalized core, and does provide for a higher quality nanoshell to be formed.
Recommended Citation
Carpenter, Shannon, "The Amination of Metal Nanoshell Precursors and the Effect on Nanoshell Growth" (2005). Theses & ETDs. 3499.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3499
Rights
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.