Investigation of the emission properties of quantum dot-thermoresponsive polymer nanocomposite hydrogels with temperature /

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Juriani, Ameet Rajkumar
Other Authors: Meissner, Kenith E. (Thesis advisor), Fink, Rainer (Thesis advisor)
Format: Thesis eBook
Language:English
Published: [College Station, Tex.] : [Texas A&M University], [2011]
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to OAK Trust copy
Description
Abstract:This thesis presents a novel method for the preparation of quantum dot-thermoresponsive polymer nanocomposite hydrogels. The quantum dots (QD's) were synthesized in a microwave reactor using a high temperature organometallic synthesis procedure. The initial hydrophobic surface layer on the QD's was coated with an amphiphilic polymer to enable phase transfer from non-polar solvent to water followed by physical immobilization of the QD's in the thermoresponsive polymer hydrogel by photopolymerization. Their temperature dependent emission properties were investigated as a function of concentration of the incorporated QD's. The resultant temperature dependent changes in the position of the peak emission wavelength of the QD-polymer nanocomposite hydrogels were found to be due to the change in the physical environment causing increased interaction between the embedded amphiphilic polymer coated QD's and/or due to aggregation of QD's. This change in peak emission position was found to be reversible in the temperature range from 29 to 37 °C.
Item Description:"Major Subject: Biomedical Engineering"
Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created 2011-08-09 15:09:44).
Electronic resource.
Physical Description:1 online resource.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references.