LE3 .A278 2006

2006

Williams, Peter

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Physics

Physics

Using the process of laser ablation, spherical gold nanoparticles suspended in a liquid, whose size can be varied between 2 and 10 nanometers in diameter, and whose dispersion can be limited, were synthesized and characterized for use in single molecule conductivity measurements. Particle size control was demonstrated using varying laser fluence and solutions of -cyclodextrin. The control methods worked as expected but failed to exlude populations of large particles, prompting the trial of centrifigation as a method of removing these particles. The centrifuging process was effective in one instance, but could not be repeated in a subsequent trial. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was an effective, but time consuming method of particle characterization. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was attempted as an alternate characterization method. DLS analysis producing number-weighted size distributions matches TEM data the closest, however this analysis is not possible for the highly polydisperse samples produced. Only intensity-weighted distributions can be produced, from which no conclusions about DLS correlation to TEM were drawn.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:504