Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Sendova, Mariana

Area of Concentration

Physics

Abstract

This compilation thesis seeks to illuminate the role of materials science and metrology in physics through four manuscripts focusing on processing and characterization. Three novel methodologies are developed: constant cooling rate cycles (CCR), brightness histogram surface area measurement (BHSAMA), rapid optical plasmonic transformation (ROPT).Additionally,novel measurement and analysis techniques are proposed to advance the characterization of glassy solids as well as general nanocomposite solids. The work herein advances the field by providing marked metrological improvements in the areas on nanoparticle and glassy solid characterization, both which have tremendous importance in materials applications. Furthermore, novel use for differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is examined in the realm of nanoparticle (NP) synthesis in solid-state matrices leading to uniqueoptical properties worthy of further exploration as well as a significant improvement in the time efficiency for effective NP synthesis. Thermal analysis of noncrystalline solid materials is expanded on through CCR by exploring more robust means of characterization to optimize the information extracted from collected DSC data. Several dopant varieties of aluminophosphate glasses are examined to display CCR in use outside of its established metrologicaltrace. NP characterization is enhanced via a birghtness histogram surface area measurement algorithm BHSAMA developed within the group. The algorithm allows for clear measurement of an NP’s surface area from a digital image while providing a well defined confidence interval to localize the measurand.

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