Browsing by Subject "Physics"
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Item Defying Gravity: Design of a Hoverboard(2019) McGraw, Tyler; PhysicsThe primary method of transportation for most objects is currently one that relies on friction as the motive force, usually generated by wheels contacting the ground. Necessary contact with the ground for motion not only imposes numerous restrictions on movement but can also prevent traversal of difficult areas entirely. With the design of a hoverboard, there exists the potential for a greater amount of freedom in movement and maneuverability. Ideally such a hoverboard will be designed with the ability to lift at least a 150-pound load, consisting of either a person or cargo. To attempt a hoverboard design that fulfills these requirements as efficiently as possible, aerodynamic theory and mechanics of materials will be combined with a study of existing hoverboard designs and modem advancements in power storage and electric motors.Item Magnetism Of Fept Thin Films(2017) Alqhtany, Norah Hadi S; Lisfi, Abdellah; Physics; Master of ScienceMaterials with large magnetic anisotropy have received significant attention from the scientific community due to its advantages in technological applications. Equiatomic FePt has been identified as such a material which could possibly be a potential candidate for ultra- high density magnetic recording and other applications like permanent magnets. FePt thin films exhibit ordered L10 texture with high magnetocrystalline anisotropy and high saturation magnetization which seem lucrative for technological applications. This thesis presents an investigation of structural and magnetic properties of granular and epitaxial FePt films with L10 phase prepared by DC sputtering on different substrates (SrTiO3 and glass). X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy/Magnetic Force Microscopy (AFM/MFM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) were employed in characterization process. The measurements obtained from these equipment were significant in establishing the relationship between the microstructure and the magnetic properties of these films. The symmetry and magnitude of magnetic anisotropy has also been analyzed and discussed in detail.Item Magneto-Optics Kerr Effect Instrumentation(2015) Newman, Alexander; Seifu, Dereje; Aslan, Kadir; Physics; Master of ScienceProgress in science technology requires new tools to study novel magnetic thin films surfaces and interfaces. Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) instrument is an ideal tool to study nanometric magnetic thin films. MOKE instrument was built to study properties of epitaxial nanometric thin films deposited using magnetron sputtering system. The objective of this project is to build MOKE instrument to study tunneling magneto resistance (TMR) samples of (Fe /MgO/ Fe) on lattice-matched substrates of MgO (100) synthesized at several substrate temperatures. MOKE was used to determine surface magnetic anisotropy and magnetic symmetry of these novel materials. In addition to MOKE vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and torque magnetometer (TMM) were used to further study the overall magnetic properties of the TMR samples. Two fold magnetic symmetries was observed in all samples. It was more pronounced on samples synthesized at higher temperatures. The coercive filed was at its highest value for a sample synthesized at 1000C.Item Metal-Assisted And Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization: Application To Lysozyme Protein(2015) Mauge-Lewis, Kevin A.; Aslan, Kadir; Seifu, Dereje; Biology; Master of ScienceIn response to the growing need for new crystallization techniques that afford for rapid processing times along with control over crystal size and distribution, the Aslan Research Group has recently demonstrated the use of Metal-Assisted and Microwave-Accelerated Evaporative Crystallization MA-MAEC technique in conjunction with metal nanoparticles and nanostructures for the crystallization of amino acids and organic small molecules. In this study, we have employed the newly developed MA-MAEC technique to the accelerated crystallization of chicken egg-white lysozyme on circular crystallization platforms in order to demonstrate the proof-of-principle application of the method for protein crystallization. The circular crystallization platforms are constructed in-house from poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silver nanoparticle films (SNFs), indium tin oxide (ITO) and iron nano-columns. In this study, we prove the MA-MAEC method to be a more effective technique in the rapid crystallization of macromolecules in comparison to other conventional methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of the novel iCrystal system, which incorporates the use of continuous, low wattage heating to facilitate the rapid crystallization of the lysozyme while still retaining excellent crystal quality. With the incorporation of the iCrystal system, we observe crystallization times that are even shorter than those produced by the MA-MAEC technique using a conventional microwave oven in addition to significantly improved crystal quality.Item New UMBC/Los Alamos research on megafire smoke plumes clarifies what they contain, how they move, and their potential impacts(UMBC News, 2023-04-21) Fraser, AdrianaItem Nickel Films For Flexible And Transparent Electrodes In Potential Flexible Applications(2017) Derbeshi, Rola Mohammed; Lan, Yucheng; Physics; Master of ScienceTransparent highly flexible electronics are highly demanded for modern technology applications such as solar cells, lightning displays, and wearable requirements. In this project, nickel based flexible and transparent electrodes (FTEs) were investigated. The continuous, holey, and lacey nickel electrodes were fabricated as nickel films from a polycrystalline target and various polyimide substrates using DC sputtering. The electrical resistance and resistance ratio (R/R0) of the prepared nickel electrodes were characterized under various experimental conditions, such as bending, stretching and twisting. Their physical properties were also characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer. microscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer. It was found that the electrical resistance increases in either quadratic (second order polynomial) or exponential trend in the three types of electrodes under bending. During stretching, the resistance increases polynomially, exponentially or linearly with strain rate. The same electrical behavior was observed under twisting. These fabricated nickel films are magnetic and can be used for several FTE applications in the future.Item Nickel Films For Flexible And Transparent Electrodes In Potential Flexible Applications(2017) Derbeshi, Rola Mohammed; Lan, Yucheng; Physics; Master of ScienceTransparent highly flexible electronics are highly demanded for modern technology applications such as solar cells, lightning displays, and wearable requirements. In this project, nickel based flexible and transparent electrodes (FTEs) were investigated. The continuous, holey, and lacey nickel electrodes were fabricated as nickel films from a polycrystalline target and various polyimide substrates using DC sputtering. The electrical resistance and resistance ratio (R/R0) of the prepared nickel electrodes were characterized under various experimental conditions, such as bending, stretching and twisting. Their physical properties were also characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer. microscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer. It was found that the electrical resistance increases in either quadratic (second order polynomial) or exponential trend in the three types of electrodes under bending. During stretching, the resistance increases polynomially, exponentially or linearly with strain rate. The same electrical behavior was observed under twisting. These fabricated nickel films are magnetic and can be used for several FTE applications in the future.Item Physics, 3D Printing and the World Around Us(2018) Potocko, Alexander; PhysicsIt is argued that the printing press is one of the most revolutionizing inventions that humanity has ever developed (Kreis). It spread information both quickly and accurately, and connected people across hundreds of miles to the same, standardized information. Scientists could compare experiments, validate results, and publish nationally all because of one machine. It raised the literacy standards immensely and encouraged reading, writing, and learning to all people (Kreis). Look forward 500 years and technology has pushed civilization forward to the point where paper printing is generally accepted as a commodity. Even further, printing itself has become an entire new industry due.to the invention of the three dimensional (3D) printer. Printing has both literally and figuratively taken on a new dimension. It's no longer just about getting words on paper, but getting a design in the computer. Just like the original printing press, it is possible that the ramifications from this rising science and art have not even been fully discovered. With all that said, what are the limits, possibilities, and future of 3D printing? Will there be another revolution that we can't see coming? The following paper will explore these areas and take a deep dive into what 3D printing is, its properties, and future as an industry.Item Plasma Synthesis And Characterization Of Iron- Hydroxide Nanomaterials(2018) SHAMAKI, AYSHA; Lan, Yucheng; Physics; Master of ScienceIn this project, iron hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized by a plasma solution method from iron aqueous solutions. The experimental conditions, pH values of solutions, voltage strengths, and synthesis temperatures were systematically studied. The phase of the produced hydroxide powders was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and selected area electron microscopy. The crystalline size of the powders was calculated from the measured X-ray diffraction patterns and measured from transmission electron microscopic images. The morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman scattering, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The band-gap of the synthesized nanoparticles was measured as 3.1 – 3.3 eV and explained in their microstructures. The synthesized nanoparticles show paramagnetic at room temperatureItem Structural And Magnetic Properties Of Electrochemically Grown Cobalt Nanowires(2017) Alotaibi, Shuaa Salaf; Ozturk, Birol; Physics; Master of ScienceIndividual cobalt nanowires have been grown using Directed Electrochemical Nanowire Assembly (DENA) method from simple salt solutions. Square wave AC potentials were utilized in the nanowire growth and nanowire diameters were tuned by changing AC voltage frequency and the solution concentration. It was observed that the diameter of the nanowire decreased with increasing AC voltage frequency and decreasing solution concentration. The structural and the magnetic characterization of the nanowires have been conducted using methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM). Results showed that the nanowires are crystalline with cubic crystal structure. The hysteresis loops showed that the saturation magnetization of the cobalt nanowires resemble that of bulk cobalt (~1400 e.m.u/cm3). As a potential application, these cobalt nanowires were successfully utilized as tips in Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) imaging.Item Thermal Stability Of Data Storage Magnetic Devices(2015) Adusei, Paa Kwasi; Lisfi, Abdellah; Dickens, Corey; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Master of ScienceData is of great importance to man and needs to be stored reliably such that it can be called upon and used at any time. Man has progressed over the years from relying on the brain as a data storage system to magnetic recording systems. Magnetic data storage consists of non-volatile memories (longitudinal or perpendicular recording media) where the information is stored. The perpendicular recording system has become the popular choice in recent times due to its ultra-high storage capacity. In this work we study magnetic thin film of Cobalt ferrite with in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropies as longitudinal and perpendicular media respectively. Different types of magnetic characterization were performed on the samples of interest through VSM and torque measurements. This study shows that films with perpendicular anisotropy are more magnetically stable than those with in-plane anisotropy due to their slow magnetic relaxation. The slow relaxation process is promoted through the demagnetizing field induced by the measurement geometry, which considerably reduces the irreversible magnetic susceptibility making perpendicular recording more suited for magnetic data storage.Item Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells(2017) Alseadi, Anwar Abdulaziz; Lisfi, Abdellah; Physics; Master of ScienceWith the increasing global energy consumption and diminishing fossil fuels, various renewable and sustainable energies have been harvested in past decades and related devices have been fabricated. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are the most efficient third-generation solar cells to harvest solar energy into electricity directly. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) based DSSCs were invented in 1988 and have attracted more and more attention since then because of low-cost and high efficiency. TiO2 nanoparticles are one kind of popular anode materials of DSSC because of stability, abundance, environment safety, non-toxicity, and excellent photovoltaic properties. In the project, TiO2 nanoparticles with different crystallographic sizes were produced by ball-milling. Physical properties of the produced TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and Raman scattering. TiO2-based DSSCs were fabricated and their photovoltaic performances were tested. The effects of TiO2 layer thickness, crystallographic size, and microsphere fillings were investigated. The project enriched our understanding of TiO2-based DSSCs.Item Tunneling Magnetoresistance In Iron (Fe) / Topological Insulator / Iron (Fe).(2017) Aryee, Dennis; Seifu, Dereje; Physics; Master of ScienceTri-layer thin films of iron (Fe) with topological insulator (TI) as a buffer, Fe/TI/Fe was synthesized using magnetron DC/RF sputtering on MgO (100) substrate at a substrate temperature of 100°C with Bi2Te3. The topological insulator, used as a buffer layer is Bi2Te3. The multilayered samples thus produced were studied using an in-house built magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) instrument, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and torque magnetometer (TMM). Further analysis was made by probe measurements and Physical Property Measurements System (PPMS) to measure electrical conductivity properties. This system that is Fe/TI/Fe on MgO (100) substrate is a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) structure and used in magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices. TMR effect is a phenomenon whereby MTJs have applications such as magneto-resistive random access memory (MRAM), magnetic sensors, and logic devices. The purpose of this research is to measure the magnetic anisotropy of Fe/TI/Fe structural properties and correlate it to magneto-resistance. In this thesis, results from MOKE, VSM, MFM, TMM, and magnetoresistance measurements will be presented with study on Fe/ Bi2Te3 /Fe /MgO(100) synthesized at 100°C. In this structure Fe/TI/Fe each Fe layer is 50 nm thick and the TI is 5mm.Item UMBC’s Zhibo Zhang to clarify atmospheric dust’s role in climate with NSF grant(UMBC News, 2022-12-01) Hansen, Sarah