Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Nicolas Large
The University of Texas at San Antonio, USA
Keynote: Computational nanoplasmonics: Success and challenges
Biography:
Nicolas Large obtained a dual Ph.D. in 2011 in Nanophysics from the University of Toulouse, France and in Advanced Materials from the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastián, Spain, where he was co-supervised by Profs J. Aizpurua and A. Mlayah. He later worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. P. Nordlander at Rice University in Houston (2012-2014), and in with Prof. G.C. Schatz at Northwestern University in Chicago area (2014-2016). He is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at San Antonio and has published over 30 papers in high impact journals.
Abstract:
Although Plasmonics has emerged as a research field less than 20 years ago, a lot has been achieved from the experimental side but also from the theoretical point of view. Plasmonic nanoparticles and nanostructures of any size and any shape can now be synthesized or fabricated routinely and physical effects such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), cathodoluminescence (CL), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), second harmonic generation (SHG), plasmon-enhanced chemistry, or plasmonic heating can now be observed and used experimentally to design and guide the realization of future and novel nanotechnologies. Yet, computational plasmonics that complements, strengthens, and drives the experimental research faces its own challenges and also possess its own success stories. Here I will bring in perspective some of the most recent successful aspects of computational plasmonics in optical and electron spectroscopies (SERS, CL, EELS), photonic applications (optical nanoswitch), physics of hybrid systems (plasmon-exciton and plasmon-vibration interactions). I also will highlight several major challenges that remain and actively drive the plasmonic community to develop novel numerical tools and models.
- NanoPhysics | Environment, Health and Safety Issues | Applications of Nanotechnology | Nanotechnology in Automotive Industries
Location: Phoenix, USA
Chair
Jamal Zeinalov
Atomic Works, Canada
Session Introduction
Jose Ramirez
University of Calgary, Canada
Title: Enhancing fast settling of oil emulsions in wastewater by in situ production of iron based nanoparticles
Biography:
Jose Ramirez is current student of master in Chemical Engineering and research assistant in the Dr. Nassar Group for Nanotechnology Research at University of Calgary (Canada). He is a recognized speaker in Mexico, CEO of the Mexican company TECAM (Environmental Technologies of Mexico) and Director of Projects of the company Cplantae. Both of them are recognized companies related to wastewater treatment by the application of Nano and biotechnology. He has been recognized by the President of Mexico in 2016 due to his contributions to the care of environment.
Abstract:
Oil emulsions in wastewater treatment represent a challenging issue faced by several industries in order to achieve the environmental regulations with a minim operational cost. Oil and gas, automotive and food industries are the main ones which require cost effective processes for oily wastewater. Oil emulsions are hard to be separated especially due to surfactants interactions. Employing a nanotechnology approach, a pilot plant has been constructed in an automotive industry facility in Mexico for wastewater treatment. The process consists in the in situ iron based nanocrystals which inactivate the interactions of the surfactant between oil and water. As a consequence, a fast settling occurs. Serial separation unit operations such as settling, filtration, adsorption and microfiltration achieves a total remove of suspended solids, color and odor of the water. The constructed pilot plant allows to keep recycling the 80% of the water during engine washing processes. The produced nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FTIR and textural properties were analyzed by BET. The crystal domain size of the particle could vary between 5 to 20 nm and it can be modified by the operation of the automatized system. Softening of the water was also reported during the physicochemical process.
Biography:
Jamal Zeinalov is a Founder of Atomic Works, a software development company specializing in simulation platforms for nanomaterials. He has over 10 years of experience in “Scientific and engineering simulation software development fields” and holds a Doctorate degree in Aerospace Engineering. His research interests include “Material characterization and properties at nanometer to micrometer scale, advancement of size and time scale of molecular simulations, development of field force potential and bond formation simulations, nanomaterial simulations for metallic, ceramic, carbon based and biochemical applications
Abstract:
Coating deposition process and the mechanics associated with substrate interactions are an increasingly important subject of research that promises to deliver a plethora of improved material properties for a wide range of applications. The surface topology of the substrate plays an important role in the boundary layer formation and the associated mechanical and thermal properties. The simulation of this process on nanometer to micrometer scale allows for a better understanding and prediction of the material composition and properties at the interface. This works examines the variability in coating/substrate interactions, compound formation rates, bond formation on nanometer to micrometer scale under variable substrate surface topology. The simulation takes advantage of hybrid multi-scale simulation methodology to produce large-scale models that maintain high fidelity at the substrate/coating interface. The simulation study has shown significant correlation between the substrate surface topology and orientation as well as deposition droplet size and incident angle during the deposition process and the mechanical properties and chemical composition of the substrate/coating interface. The study has identified the most significant topology groups and their correlation with deposition compound size and incidence angle for deposition process of metallic compounds.
Khumblani Mnqiwu
Vaal University of Technology, South Africa
Title: Copper sulfide nanoparticles from cyclohexylamine-N-dithiocarbamates ligand
Biography:
Khumblani Mnqiwu is currently pursuing his MTech in Chemistry at Vaal University of Technology. For his BTech and MTech studies, he was awarded an NRF bursary because of his excellent academic achievements in his under-graduate studies.
Abstract:
Dithiocarbamates have been the major breakthrough in the synthesis of high quality, defect free and monodispersed nanoparticles. This is possible due to their strong chelating capabilities with transition metal ions. It was reported that ligand properties of the metal complexes used as precursor could be used in the modification of the size and shapes of nanoparticles. The well passivated nanoparticles have found lot of credential in many fields for their interesting potential application in biology. In this study cyclohexylamine-N-dithiocarbamate ligand and its Cu complex [Cu(S2CNC6H12)2] were synthesized. The complex was then thermolysed in HDA and TOPO to give HDA and TOPO-capped CuS nanoparticles by varying concentration of the capping molecules. The absorption spectra showed localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) and quantum confinement effect for all samples. While TEM micrographs showed well dispersed isotropic particles for sample prepared in high concentration of HDA and anisotropic particles for sample prepared in low concentration of HDA. This was an opposite for samples prepared in TOPO. These particles were then tested against bacterias, gram negative and gram positive which showed enhanced activity in comparison to the complexes alone.
Lun Dai
Peking University, China
Title: Detailed optical properties of monolayer MoS2 synthesized on H-BN
Biography:
Lun Dai has completed her PhD at Peking University, China. She is Director at Institute of Condensed Matter and Material Physics, School of Physics. She has published more than 100 SCI papers, which are cited by SCI papers for more than 3500 times.
Abstract:
Monolayer MoS2 with fascinating mechanical, electrical and optical properties has generated enormous scientific curiosity and industrial interest. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), an insulating isomorph of graphene with boron and nitrogen atoms occupying the two nonequivalent sub-lattices is relatively inert and expected to be free of charged surface states and dangling bonds. Moreover, h-BN possesses a smaller lattice mismatch (1.4%) with MoS2. Therefore, using h-BN as substrate may provide a possibility of investigating intrinsic properties of monolayer MoS2. In this work, we have devised and realized a high-yield and convenient method to synthesize monolayer MoS2 directly on h-BN flakes via a dual-temperature-zone atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Compared with that grown on SiO2/Si substrate, the monolayer MoS2 grown on h-BN exhibits enhanced photoluminescence (PL) and Raman signals as well as the smaller intensity ratio of E2g to A1g. Besides, its A1g Raman mode exhibits clear stiffening, whereas its E2g mode exhibits a negligible shift. We have calculated the PL intensity as function of both the h-BN thickness and the PL wavelength based on light ray propagation in multilayer structure. The theoretical analysis and experimental results suggest that the improved optical property of monolayer MoS2 on h-BN results mainly from the weaker doping effect from the h-BN substrate, rather than the optical interference effect suggested previously.
Biography:
Suresh Vidyasagar is working as a Research Scholar in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engg at Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India. His research interest includes Nanomaterials.
Abstract:
The main advantages of "Metal Matrix Nano Composites (MMNCs)" include excellent mechanical performance, good wear resistance, low creep rate, etc. The method of fabrication of MMNCs is quite a challenge, which includes processing techniques like Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), etc. The objective of the present work is to fabricate aluminium based MMNCs with the addition of small amounts of yttrium using Spark Plasma Sintering and to evaluate their mechanical and microstructure properties. Samples of 2024 AA with yttrium ranging from 0.1% to 0.5 wt% are fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The mechanical property like hardness is determined using Vickers hardness testing machine. The metallurgical characterization of the samples is evaluated by Optical Microscopy (OM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Unreinforced 2024 AA sample is also fabricated as a benchmark to compare its properties with that of the composite developed. It is found that the yttrium addition increases the above mentioned properties to some extent and then decreases gradually when yttrium wt% increases beyond a point between 0.3 and 0.4 wt%. High density is achieved in the samples fabricated by spark plasma sintering when compared to any other fabrication route and uniform distribution of yttrium is observed.
Thapelo Mofokeng
Vaal University of Technology, South Africa
Title: Synthesis and characterization of alanine-capped water soluble zinc sulfide nanoparticles
Biography:
Thapelo Mofokeng is pursuing his Master’s degree in Department of Chemistry with concentration in Nanotechnology at Vaal University of Technology. His research interest includes “Synthesis of nanoparticles, their toxicity and application in catalysis and biological systems”. More specifically his work examines amino acid-capped metal sulfide nanoparticles and their toxicity for biological imaging.
Abstract:
Semiconductor nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention due to their size depended photophysical and photochemical properties. They possess application in various fields such as light emitting diodes, photoconductors, catalysis, optical sensors and in novel biomolecular applications like DNA detection etc. Zinc sulfide is one such material having application in various field relating to solar energy conversion and biological applications. It is well known that semiconductor nanoparticles are themselves highly unstable like fluorescent probes in biological labelling and diagnostics, hence semiconductor nanoparticles must be water-soluble. For this reason, a new direction of biological surface modification of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles with antibodies and peptides received more attention lately. In the present work, we have synthesised ÊŸ-alanine passivated ZnS nanoparticles. ÊŸ-Alanine, an amino acid, is used as a capping agent in a view to increase the dispersion ability of the nanoparticles. Herein, we report on the optical and morphological properties of ZnS nanoparticles as a function of temperature. The employed synthetic method successfully yielded water soluble ZnS nanoparticles with quasi-spherical shape morphology. Temperature varied from slightly above temperature to about 90°C. The synthesized zinc sulfide nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) spectrophotometer and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrophotometer. The prepared ZnS nanoparticles show effective photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue dye under visible light irradiation for their probable application in waste water treatment.