Investigation of short-range surface forces to develop self-organizing devices by Steven M. Tobias.

Force spectra from atomic force microscopy were used to verify surface energy components of indium tin oxide and mesocarbon microbeads. These materials were selected based on spectroscopic and thermodynamic parameters to be used in self-organizing devices. Estimates for surface energy were based on the van der Waals contribution described by Lifshitz theory and the polar contribution described by electron donor and acceptor components. This new type of device assembly process can be self-organizing based on the principle of like particle attraction and dissimilar particle repulsion. A thin insulting barrier could be inserted at the interface between two different types of particles, enabling junction formation. The criteria necessary to create a device based on surface energy components was specified.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Tobias, Steven M., 1980-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yet-Ming Chiang.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/30259

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/30259