Molecular Crystallization Directed By Nanoparticles And Nanopatterns

MOLECULAR CRYSTALLIZATION DIRECTED BY NANOPARTICLESAND NANOPATTERNS byLI LIAugust 2013Advisor: Dr. Guangzhao MaoMajor: Materials Science and EngineeringDegree: Doctor of PhilosophyThis dissertation focuses on nanoparticle/nanopattern-induced molecularself-assembly and crystallization. We propose a universal strategy to synthesizeorganic/inorganic hybrid nanostructures using inorganic nanoparticles andnanoparticle arrays to induce organic crystalline compound nucleation andcrystallization. The nanoconfinement effect will be addressed to study molecularcrystallization by changing nanoparticle size, curvature and separation distance.Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the main characterization tool to investigatethe topography of the hybrid nanostructures and the nucleation andcrystallization process. The proposed work will contribute to the understanding ofseed mediated nucleation and crystallization, molecular ordering undernanoconfinement and hybrid nanomaterials.