Physics: Recent submissions
Now showing items 1-20 of 26
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Investigation of 2D polymer thin films in 3D structures involving Crumpling, Origami, Kirigami and Adhesion
(North Dakota State University, 2024)This dissertation delves into the fascinating world of thin films and their ability to transform into three-dimensional (3D) structures. One can simply crush a sheet of paper into a ball to make a 3D object a faster, yet ... -
Applying theoretical frameworks from cognitive psychology to assess faculty professional development and student reasoning in physics
(North Dakota State University, 2024)Understanding human behavior and reasoning is essential for developing successful instruction. Discipline-based education researchers have examined how students learn, informing the development of successful instructional ... -
Biophysical Characterization of Living Cells and Membrane Receptors by Atomic Force Spectroscopy
(North Dakota State University, 2021)Cellular biomechanics and cellular communication via receptor-ligand interactions play an important role in controlling cell development and maintaining cellular functions. Atomic force spectroscopy (AFM) technique has ... -
Lattice Gas and Lattice Boltzmann Methods for Fluctuating Systems, Barrier Coatings, and Overrelaxation
(North Dakota State University, 2022)In the field of computational fluid dynamics, lattice gas and lattice Boltzmann methods are powerful simulation methods derived from kinetic theory. These methods are renowned for their simplicity of implementation and ... -
Synthesis of Small Silicon Carbide Nanocrystals in Low Pressure Nonthermal Plasma
(North Dakota State University, 2021)Nanoparticles have attracted much attention because of their unusual physical properties. This work represents original, incipient research into small crystalline silicon carbide nanoparticles synthesized in a low-pressure ... -
Fundamental Studies of Interfacial Forces Acting on Thin Films
(North Dakota State University, 2021)A thin film is a material that is many orders of magnitude thinner than it is long or wide. They are commonly found in many forms and have been adapted to a wide variety of uses. The art of origami uses thin films(sheets ... -
Osmotic Swelling Behavior of Ionic Microgels
(North Dakota State University, 2020)This dissertation studies the thermodynamic and structural properties of aqueous dispersions of ionic microgels – soft colloidal particles composed of cross-linked polymer gels that swell in a good solvent. Starting from ... -
The Thiol-ene Encapsulation and Photo-physical Characterization of Colloidal Silicon Nanocrystals Synthesized with Si6H12 Using Non-thermal Plasma Reactor
(North Dakota State University, 2021)Silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) are nanometer-sized semiconducting materials. Their small size endows them with unique photophysical properties. Efficient photoluminescence (PL) from silicon nanocrystal (SiNC) composites has ... -
Single-Molecule Studies of Intermolecular Kinetics Using Nano-Electronics Circuits
(North Dakota State University, 2020)As science and medicine advance, it becomes ever more important to be able to control and analyze smaller and smaller bioparticles all the way down to single molecules. In this dissertation several studies aimed at improving ... -
Excited State Dynamics in 1D Thermoelectric Materials
(North Dakota State University, 2020)Here, nonadiabatic computations are used to study the thermoelectric effect and evaluate electron relaxation rates in lead telluride nanowires. κ_e = 1/τ_el is defined as the electron relaxation rate. It is directly ... -
A Density Functional Theory and Many Body Perturbation Theory Based Study of Photo-Excited Charge Separation in Doped Silicon Nanowires with Gold Leads: Toy Models for the Photovoltaic Effect
(North Dakota State University, 2020)We analyze a toy model for p-n junction photovoltaic devices by simulating photoexcited state dynamics in silicon nanowires. One nanowire is approximately circular in cross section with a diameter of d = 1.17 nm. The other ... -
Inspection of Excited State Properties in Defected Carbon Nanotubes from Multiple Exciton Generation to Defect-Defect Interactions
(North Dakota State University, 2020)Covalent SP3-hybridization defects in single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been prevalent in recent experimental and theoretical studies for their interesting photophysical properties. These systems are able to act ... -
Multi-Scale Simulation Methods of Crosslinked Polymer Networks and Degradation
(North Dakota State University, 2018)Crosslinked thermoset polymers are used heavily in industrial and consumer products, as well as in infrastructure. When used as a protective coating, a thermoset's net-like structure can act as a barrier to protect an ... -
Computational Modeling of Polymer Crowding: Influence of Solvent Quality and Dimensionality on Conformations
(North Dakota State University, 2018)The structure and function of polymers in confined environments, e.g., biopolymers in the cytoplasm, are affected by macromolecular crowding. To explore the influence of solvent quality and dimensionality on conformations ... -
Free Energy Minimization and Multicomponent, Multi-Phase Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Van Der Waals Fluid Mixtures
(North Dakota State University, 2018)In this thesis, we develop a general framework for the lattice Boltzmann method to simulate multiphase systems with an arbitrary number of components. Theoretical expectations are easily visualized for binary mixtures, so ... -
Guiding Self-Assembly of Functionalized Nanoparticles by Computational Modeling of Effective Interactions
(North Dakota State University, 2018)Nanoparticles have attracted much attention because of their unusual physical properties, which allow them to be used in many practical applications. The self-assembly of nanocrystals into crystalline arrays can be facilitated ... -
A Novel Macroscopic Technique to Measure the Nanomechanics of Durable Multifunctional Nanosheets
(North Dakota State University, 2017)In the recent advancement of nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown promise and potential for a wide variety of applications due to their excellent mechanical, electrical, and optical properties. A network of ... -
Properties of Reinfoced Carbon Nanotube and Laser-Crystallized Silicon Films
(North Dakota State University, 2016)Flexible electronics are anticipated to be one of the next technological advancements of electronic devices. The enhanced durability, light-weight nature, and conformity of flexible electronics are desired properties in a ... -
Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Thin Films: Processing Measurement and Methodology
(North Dakota State University, 2016)As society advances to desire smaller, faster, and cheaper electronics along with stronger materials, the search for novel materials continues. Thin films made from single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer a possible ... -
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Modeling of Mixed Lipid Membranes and their Interaction with Macromolecules
(North Dakota State University, 2015)Mixed lipid membranes play a crucial role in numerous cellular processes and pharmaceutical applications. Fully understanding the interactions between membranes and biomacromolecules is not possible without gaining insight ...