Controlled synthesis and characterization of templated, magneto-responsive nanoparticle structures

Magnetic fluids are colloidal dispersions of magnetic nanoparticles that are stable with respect to gravitational and moderate magnetic fields because of their small particle size, and to unbounded aggregation due to their surface coatings. The interaction between individual magnetic nanoparticles in a suspension is negligible even under applied magnetic fields. However, when they are incorporated into composite structures they act in concert to provide the desired magnetic response. The dynamic response of such composite structures can be exploited in a wide range of applications including high energy absorption scenarios. The goal of this thesis was to use magnetic nanoparticles as building blocks to create 3D magneto-responsive nanostructures and manipulate their behavior in the presence of an external magnetic field for various applications. Two approaches were followed to create composite structures. In the first approach, rigid magnetic chains composed of magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized. The layer-by-layer technique was used to coat polystyrene beads with magnetic nanoparticles to create novel core-shell structures. The behavior of these structures under an applied magnetic field was modeled and the results were verified experimentally.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Singh, Harpreet, Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• T. Alan Hatton and Paul E. Laibinis.

• Chemical 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/1721.1/37581

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37581