Filtering by
- All Subjects: engineering
- All Subjects: Biosensors
- All Subjects: Microfluidics
- Creators: Goryll, Michael
The flexible x-ray detector technology was then extended to demonstrate the viability of a new technique to seamlessly combine multiple smaller flexible x-ray detectors into a single very large, ultimately human sized, composite x-ray detector for new medical imaging applications such as single-exposure, low-dose, full-body digital radiography. Also explored, is a new approach to increase the sensitivity of digital x-ray detectors by selectively disabling rows in the active matrix array that are not part of the imaged region. It was then shown how high-resolution, flexible, organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) technology can be used to selectively stimulate and/or silence small groups of neurons on the cortical surface or within the deep brain as a potential new tool to diagnose and treat, as well as understand, neurological diseases and conditions. This work also explored the viability of a new miniaturized high sensitivity fluorescence measurement-based lab-on-a-chip optical biosensor using OLED display and a-Si:H PiN photodiode active matrix array technology for point-of-care diagnosis of multiple disease or pathogen biomarkers in a low cost disposable configuration.
ranging from survey monitors used to supervise the generated radioactive waste at
nuclear power plants to personal dosimeters which measure the radiation dose
accumulated in individuals. This dissertation work will present two different types of
novel devices developed at Arizona State University for total dose sensing applications.
The first detector technology is a mechanically flexible metal-chalcogenide glass (ChG)
based system which is fabricated on low cost substrates and are intended as disposable
total dose sensors. Compared to existing commercial technologies, these thin film
radiation sensors are simpler in form and function, and cheaper to produce and operate.
The sensors measure dose through resistance change and are suitable for applications
such as reactor dosimetry, radiation chemistry, and clinical dosimetry. They are ideal for
wearable devices due to the lightweight construction, inherent robustness to resist
breaking when mechanically stressed, and ability to attach to non-flat objects. Moreover,
their performance can be easily controlled by tuning design variables and changing
incorporated materials. The second detector technology is a wireless dosimeter intended
for remote total dose sensing. They are based on a capacitively loaded folded patch
antenna resonating in the range of 3 GHz to 8 GHz for which the load capacitance varies
as a function of total dose. The dosimeter does not need power to operate thus enabling
its use and implementation in the field without requiring a battery for its read-out. As a
result, the dosimeter is suitable for applications such as unattended detection systems
destined for covert monitoring of merchandise crossing borders, where nuclear material
tracking is a concern. The sensitive element can be any device exhibiting a known
variation of capacitance with total ionizing dose. The sensitivity of the dosimeter is
related to the capacitance variation of the radiation sensitive device as well as the high
frequency system used for reading. Both technologies come with the advantage that they
are easy to manufacture with reasonably low cost and sensing can be readily read-out.
bandgap of 2.26 eV that is used in many applications in optoelectronic devices. Compared
to the two dimensional (2D) thin-film semiconductors, one-dimensional (1D)
nanowires can have different electronic properties for potential novel applications.
In this work, we present the study of ZnTe nanowires (NWs) that are synthesized
through a simple vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) method. By controlling the presence or
the absence of Au catalysts and controlling the growth parameters such as growth
temperature, various growth morphologies of ZnTe, such as thin films and nanowires
can be obtained. The characterization of the ZnTe nanostructures and films was
performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
(EDX), high- resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray
diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy and light scattering
measurement. After confirming the crystal purity of ZnTe, two-terminal diodes and
three-terminal transistors were fabricated with both nanowire and planar nano-sheet
configurations, in order to correlate the nanostructure geometry to device performance
including field effect mobility, Schottky barrier characteristics, and turn-on
characteristics. Additionally, optoelectronic properties such as photoconductive gain
and responsivity were compared against morphology. Finally, ZnTe was explored in
conjunction with ZnO in order to form type-II band alignment in a core-shell nanostructure.
Various characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy,
energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy , x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis
reflectance spectra and photoluminescence were used to investigate the modification
of ZnO/ZnTe core/shell structure properties. In PL spectra, the eliminated PL intensity
of ZnO wires is primarily attributed to the efficient charge transfer process
occurring between ZnO and ZnTe, due to the band alignment in the core/shell structure. Moreover, the result of UV-vis reflectance spectra corresponds to the band
gap energy of ZnO and ZnTe, respectively, which confirm that the sample consists of
ZnO/ZnTe core/shell structure of good quality.
Nanoscale confinement biogenetic silica template-based electrical biosensor assay offers the user the ability to detect and quantify the biomolecules. Diatoms have been demonstrated as part of a sensor. The sensor works on the principle of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. When specific protein biomarkers from a test sample bind to corresponding antibodies conjugated to the surface of the gold surface at the base of each nanowell, a perturbation of electrical double layer occurs resulting in a change in the impedance.
Diatoms are also a new source of inspiration for the design and fabrication of nanostructured materials. Template-directed deposition within cylindrical nanopores of a porous membrane represents an attractive and reproducible approach for preparing metal nanopatterns or nanorods of a variety of aspect ratios. The nanopatterns fabricated from diatom have the potential of the metal-enhanced fluorescence to detect dye-conjugated molecules.
Another approach presents a platform integrating biogenic silica nanostructures with micromachined silicon substrates in a micro
ano hybrid device. In this study, one can take advantages of the unique properties of a marine diatom that exhibits nanopores on the order of 40 nm in diameter and a hierarchical structure. This device can be used to several applications, such as nano particles separation and detection. This platform is also a good substrate to study cell growth that one can observe the reaction of cell growing on the nanostructure of frustule.
To achieve a sensing diameter of 1-2 nanometers, the diatom shells were used as substrates to perform ion-channel reconstitution experiments. The immobilized diatom shell was functionalized using silane chemistry and lipid bilayer membranes were formed. Functionalization of the diatom shell surface improves bilayer formation probability from 1 out of 10 to 10 out of 10 as monitored by impedance spectroscopy. Self-insertion of outer membrane protein OmpF of E.Coli into the lipid membranes could be confirmed using single channel recordings, indicating that nano-BLMs had formed which allow for fully functional porin activity. The results indicate that biogenic silica nanoporous substrates can be simulated using a simplified two dimensional geometry to predict the current when a nanoparticle translocates through a single aperture. With their tiered three-dimensional structure, diatom shells can be used in to form nano-lipid bilayer membranes and can be used in ion-channel reconstitution experiments similar to synthetic nanoporous membranes.
This report summarizes the development of a test stand used to measure the thrust or impulse of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT). Currently, there is a lack of accessible, cost-efficient methods for measuring thrust in the market due to the difficulties associated with developing a test stand for extremely low thrust outputs. Despite the difficulties, there is an ever-growing need to develop new methods of measuring thrust as the increased demand for small satellites has prompted investors from the government and private sectors to conduct further research into the development of better propulsion systems for space applications. A part of the developmental process of making propulsion systems is being able to test the thrust of these propulsion systems under vacuum conditions that simulate a space environment. This report details the research conducted on existing test stands as well as the process of designing, manufacturing, and testing a thrust measurement device.