Integrated Nanostructured Systems

The top image shows photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles with emission color that depends on the nanoparticle size. The bottom images are transmission electron micrographs (TEM images) of two particles, in which the crystal planes of silicon atoms are visible.

Synthesis and application of nanoparticles; application of chemical engineering science (chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, transport phenomena) to understand and improve processes by which these materials are prepared.

In recent years, the Swihart group has developed new methods of preparing photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles and of modifying their surfaces for potential applications in optoelectronics (LEDs, solar cells), bioimaging and bioassays. We have developed new detailed models of the kinetics of silicon nanoparticle nucleation and aerosol dynamics simulations of silicon nanoparticle formation. In collaboration with others, we have recently developed solution phase approaches to synthesizing a variety of anisotropic semiconductor nanocrystals (rods, crosses, tetrapods, etc.) and hybrid nanoparticles containing epitaxially oriented domains of different inorganic materials. We have also developed methods of producing gold and silver nanoshells on polystyrene beads. We continue to develop and apply new aerosol (gas-phase) methods of nanoparticle synthesis, including laser-driven, flame-based, and spray pyrolysis processes.

Reactor systems for aerosol synthesis of nanoparticles. Aerosol instrumentation for measurement of particle size distribution of nanomaterials.

"Formation of ZnTe Nanowires by Oriented Attachment" Yong, K.-T.; Sahoo, Y.; Zeng, H.; Swihart, M. T.; Minter, J. R.; Prasad, P. N. Chem. Mater.; (Communication); 2007; 19(17); 4108-4110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm0709774

"Quantum Rod Bioconjugates as Targeted Probes for Confocal and Two-Photon Fluorescence Imaging of Cancer Cells" Yong, K.-T.; Qian, J.; Roy, I.; Lee, H. H.; Bergey, E. J.; Tramposch, K. M.; He, S.; Swihart, M. T.; Maitra, A.; Prasad, P. N. Nano Lett.; 2007; 7(3); 761-765. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl063031m

"Synthesis of Tellurium Dioxide Nanoparticles by Spray Pyrolysis" Zhang, H.; Swihart, M. T. Chem. Mater.; 2007; 19(6); 1290-1301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm062257n

"Shape Control of CdS Nanocrystals in One-Pot Synthesis" Yong, K.-T.; Sahoo, Y.; Swihart, M. T.; Prasad, P. N. J. Phys. Chem. C.; 2007; 111(6); 2447-2458. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp066392z

"Control of the Morphology and Size of PbS Nanowires Using Gold Nanoparticles" Yong, K.-T.; Sahoo, Y.; Choudhury, K. R.; Swihart, M. T.; Minter, J. R.; Prasad, P. N. Chem. Mater.; 2006; 18(25); 5965-5972. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm061771q

"Propionic-Acid-Terminated Silicon Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Characterization" Sato, S.; Swihart, M. T. Chem. Mater.; 2006; 18(17); 4083-4088. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm060750t

"Growth of CdSe Quantum Rods and Multipods Seeded by Noble Metal Nanoparticles" Yong, K.-T.; Sahoo, Y.; Swihart, M.T.; Prasad, P.N. Advanced Materials; 2006; 18; 1978-1982. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.200600368

"Anisotropic Growth of PbSe Nanocrystals on Au-Fe₃O₄ Hybrid Nanoparticles" Shi, W.; Sahoo, Y.; Zeng, H.; Ding, Y.; Swihart, M.T.; Prasad, P.N. Advanced Materials; 2006; 18, 1889-1894. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.200600685

"A General Approach to Binary and Ternary Hybrid Nanocrystals" Shi, W.; Zeng, H.; Sahoo, Y.; Ohulchanskyy, T. Y.; Ding, Y.; Wang, Z. L.; Swihart, M.; Prasad, P. N. Nano Lett.; 2006; 6(4); 875-881. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl0600833

"Shape Control of PbSe Nanocrystals Using Noble Metal Seed Particles" Yong, K.-T.; Sahoo, Y.; Choudhury, K. R.; Swihart, M. T.; Minter, J. R.; Prasad, P. N. Nano Lett.; 2006; 6(4); 709-714. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl052472n

"Organically Capped Silicon Nanoparticles with Blue Photoluminescence Prepared by Hydrosilylation Followed by Oxidation" Hua, F.; Erogbogbo, F.; Swihart, M. T.; Ruckenstein, E. Langmuir; 2006; 22(9); 4363-4370. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la0529106

"Efficient Surface Grafting of Luminescent Silicon Quantum Dots by Photoinitiated Hydrosilylation" Hua, F.; Swihart, M. T.; Ruckenstein, E. Langmuir; 2005; 21(13); 6054-6062. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la0509394

"Laser-Driven Aerosol Synthesis of Nickel Nanoparticles" He, Y.; Li, X.; Swihart, M. T. Chem. Mater.; 2005; 17(5); 1017-1026. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm048128t

"Gold Nanoshells on Polystyrene Cores for Control of Surface Plasmon Resonance" Shi, W.; Sahoo, Y.; Swihart, M. T.; Prasad, P. N. Langmuir; 2005; 21(4); 1610-1617. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la047628y

"Aqueous Ferrofluid of Magnetite Nanoparticles: Fluorescence Labeling and Magnetophoretic Control" Sahoo, Y.; Goodarzi, A.; Swihart, M. T.; Ohulchanskyy, T. Y.; Kaur, N.; Furlani, E. P.; Prasad, P. N. J. Phys. Chem. B.; 2005; 109(9); 3879-3885. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la047628y

"Detailed Kinetic Modeling of Silicon Nanoparticle Formation Chemistry via Automated Mechanism Generation" Wong, H.-W.; Li, X.; Swihart, M. T.; Broadbelt, L. J. J. Phys. Chem. A.; 2004; 108(46); 10122-10132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp049591w

"Surface Functionalization of Silicon Nanoparticles Produced by Laser-Driven Pyrolysis of Silane followed by HF-HNO3 Etching" Li, X.; He, Y.; Swihart, M. T. Langmuir; 2004; 20(11); 4720-4727. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la036219j

"Luminescent Silicon Nanoparticles Capped by Conductive Polyaniline through the Self-Assembly Method" Li, Z. F.; Swihart, M. T.; Ruckenstein, E. Langmuir; 2004; 20(5); 1963-1971. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la0358926

"Thermochemistry of Silicon-Hydrogen Compounds Generalized from Quantum Chemical Calculations" Wong, H.-W.; Alva Nieto, J. C.; Swihart, M. T.; Broadbelt, L. J. J. Phys. Chem. A.; 2004; 108(5); 874-897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp030727k

"Process for Preparing Macroscopic Quantities of Brightly Photoluminescent Silicon Nanoparticles with Emission Spanning the Visible Spectrum" Li, X.; He, Y.; Talukdar, S. S.; Swihart, M. T. Langmuir; 2003; 19(20); 8490-8496. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la034487b