Link to the University of Pittsburgh Homepage
Link to the University Library System Homepage Link to the Contact Us Form

Dendrimers on Substrates: Interfacial Interactions, Domain Formation and Physical Intermixing

Xu, Fengting (2005) Dendrimers on Substrates: Interfacial Interactions, Domain Formation and Physical Intermixing. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

[img]
Preview
PDF
Primary Text

Download (6MB) | Preview

Abstract

Dendrimers are three-dimensional, globular, highly-branched macromolecules made up of a focal point surrounded by repetitive units all enclosed by a terminal group 'shell'. Both their chemistry and size (in the range about ~1 - ~10 nm) are precisely tailorable and some dendrimers are known to readily form monolayers on technologically useful substrates. For these reasons they are of interest both scientifically and practically in the context of nanostructure and ultra-thin film studies. This dissertation focuses on three interrelated issues: 1) interfacial interactions (the role of dendrimer monolayers in mediating the properties of subsequently deposit thin films), 2) submonolayer dendrimer domain formation, and, 3) physical intermixing between dendrimer domains and metal overlayers. In the dendrimer mediation section, the effects of dendrimer monolayers on thin metal overlayers, subsequently deposited by physical vapor deposition, are studied focusing on tribomechanical behavior and molecule-metal reactions. Dendrimer monolayer mediation of Cu and Cr overlayer films is found to dramatically influence nanoscratch mechanisms in these systems. Physical intermixing of metal atoms with dendrimer molecules to form a nanocomposite with distinct properties (rather than chemical interaction, grain size effects, etc.) is proposed as the probable explanation for these observations. In the domain formation section, a simple aerosol spray process is developed and used to prepare thin dendrimer-containing liquid layers from which submonolayer dendrimer domains form during the evaporation of solvent. An understanding of the relevant physical interactions (e.g., dewetting, boundary energy, long-range repulsion, dendrimer-substrate and dendrimer-dendrimer bonding, domain thermal stability, etc.) which control the form and coverage-dependent evolution of experimentally observed domains is developed. The importance of electrostatic interaction revealed in this section motivated a study of charge patterning by scanning probe microscopy methods in granular materials (Appendix A). Finally, submonolayer dendrimer domain patterns with uniform monolayer thickness are used as heterogeneous substrates for the deposition of Au overlayers. Direct evidence is found for the extent and type of physical intermixing of non-reaction Au with dendrimer monolayer domains by atomic force microscopy based step-height and force measurements as a function of Au thicknesses.


Share

Citation/Export:
Social Networking:
Share |

Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Xu, Fengtingfex1@pitt.eduFEX1
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairBarnard, John Ajbarnard@pitt.eduJBARNARD
Committee MemberGellman, Andrew J.ag4b@andrew.cmu.edu
Committee MemberNettleship, Iannettles@pitt.eduNETTLES
Committee MemberLeonard, John P.jleonard@engr.pitt.edu
Committee MemberYang, Judith C.jyang@engr.pitt.eduJUDYYANG
Date: 14 October 2005
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 7 July 2005
Approval Date: 14 October 2005
Submission Date: 29 June 2005
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Swanson School of Engineering > Materials Science and Engineering
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Atomic Force Microscopy; Dendrimers; Nanotribology
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-06292005-152610/, etd-06292005-152610
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:49
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:45
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8221

Metrics

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics


Actions (login required)

View Item View Item