Nanomaterials offer unique properties not seen in their macroscopic kin. They can be used in printed electronics, as catalysts, and so much more. However, their diminutive size complicates materials processing techniques. They can easily aggregate become no longer useful. A solution to this is to use a polymeric surfactant such as nitrocellulose.Nitrocellulose is ideally suited for this role. Originally developed as an explosive, it is a cellulose derivative in which nitrate ester groups are formed along the backbone. It is capable of easily dispersing nanomaterials, allowing them to be more easily processed and used. For printed nanomaterials, nitrocellulose is especially useful as it is a superb film former, ensuring that the print is smooth and adheres well to the substrate. Once no longer in needed in dispersion, nitrocellulose’s energetic decomposition can be utilized to thermally affect the nanomaterials. This thesis will demonstrate the efficacy of nitrocellulose-based functional nanomaterial dispersions through three examples – each of which occupies a different area of research. First, a graphene-nitrocellulose ink will be demonstrated for the formation of a fully printed, flexible aptasensor platform. Next, the catalysis of nanoparticles of ammonium perchlorate will be demonstrated. And finally, both NC’s energetic and dispersant properties will be used to introduce a new way of activating printed liquid metal nanoparticles. These examples will demonstrate the ability of nitrocellulose to enable new directions for nanomaterial research.

Creator

• Wallace, Shay Goff

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-12gg-1669

Subject

• Nanoscience

Language

• en

Alternate Identifier

• etdadmin_upload_850636
• http://dissertations.umi.com/northwestern:15791

Keyword

• Liquid Metal
• Nitrocellulose
• Graphene

Date created

• 2021-01-01

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright