Tag: Jim Hutchison

Nanoparticles! 

Presenter(s): Makenna Pennel − Chemistry

Faculty Mentor(s): Jim Hutchison, Kenyon Plummer

Oral Session 2S

Research Area: Materials Science

Funding: Hutchison Lab, Alden Research Award

Whether we realize it or not, the emerging field of nanoengineering is continually revolutionizing the world around us. From smartphones to sunscreen, engineered nanoparticles are everywhere in our day-to-day lives. Scientists are constantly discovering new properties and applications—the possibilities of this incredibly small realm seem endless! This talk will feature a general introduction to the fascinating world of nanoparticles, in addition to a brief overview of my research on the topic in regard to metal oxides. Currently my work revolves around synthetic and mechanistic inquires, with emphasis on particle morphology and plasmon tunability. Some of the goals: improving the novel synthetic approach for metal oxide nanoparticles developed by the Hutchison Lab here at the University of Oregon, and creating new structures with enhanced optical properties. These are ongoing interests of mine, but significant progress has been made in both cases. Microscope images of things that are 7 nanometers wide will abound!

A Flux Story: Harnessing the Power of a Continuous Growth Synthesis to Study the Formation of Indium Oxide Nanocrystals

Presenter(s): Makenna Pennel

Faculty Mentor(s): Jim Hutchison & Kenyon Plummer

Poster 25

 Session: Sciences

Nanoparticles have led to incredible technological advances and continue to revolutionize the world around us. In order to pursue novel forms and enhanced synthetic control of these particles, however, we need a fundamental understanding of the growth processes involved. The concept of flux— in this context, the rate at which new material (monomer) adds to a growing particle— is one factor that has remained elusive with traditional synthetic routes. Using a novel slow-injection, continuous growth method developed by the Hutchison lab, we were able to study flux and its influence on the morphology (appearance) of indium oxide nanocrystals, as visualized with transmission electron microscopy. It was found that high flux conditions resulted in relatively branched particle morphologies, while relatively lower flux resulted in cubic particles. We tested several growth mechanisms to explain these observations in the context of different temperatures, and from these experiments, developed a model for nanocrystal growth involving diffusion of monomer across the crystal surface and attachment at reactive edge sites. Our group then utilized this model and the principles of flux to alter the morphology of preexisting particles. The importance of flux during nanoparticle growth, as demonstrated in this study, has far-reaching synthetic implications and should be a consideration in future inquiries.