• About
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Institutional Repository Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Institutional Repository Home
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    All of Institutional RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartmentThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartment

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Biomimetic Synthesis of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

    Sewell, Sarah Lynn
    : https://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/etd-12082006-103125
    http://hdl.handle.net/1803/15213
    : 2006-12-13

    Abstract

    Current approaches to the synthesis of metal oxides generally require harsh conditions. In contrast, many biological processes can produce intricate metal oxide nanostructures under ambient conditions. For example, the diatom Cylindrotheca fusiformis forms reproducible nanostructures from silicic acid using species specific peptides known as silaffins. Herein, we report that the R5 peptide a bioinspired analogue derived from the NatSil protein in C. fusiformis can form titanium dioxide (TiO2) in a concentration dependent manner from the non-natural substrate, titanium bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide (TBALDH). Additionally, the polypeptide poly-L-lysine (PLL) acts as a template for the biomimetic synthesis of TiO2. Furthermore, non-peptide based biomimetic templates have been investigated. Amine terminated PAMAM and PPI dendrimers are effective mimics of silaffins and other silica precipitating polyamines. By varying the concentration of cations in solution, the size of the resulting silica nanoparticles can be controlled. Furthermore, the scope of dendrimer mediated metal oxide formation has been expanded to include titanium dioxide (TiO2), a photocatalyst, and crystalline á-germanium dioxide (GeO2), a blue photoluminescent material.
    Show full item record

    Files in this item

    Icon
    Name:
    thesis.pdf
    Size:
    10.85Mb
    Format:
    PDF
    View/Open

    This item appears in the following collection(s):

    • Electronic Theses and Dissertations

    Connect with Vanderbilt Libraries

    Your Vanderbilt

    • Alumni
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • International Students
    • Media
    • Parents & Family
    • Prospective Students
    • Researchers
    • Sports Fans
    • Visitors & Neighbors

    Support the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries

    Support the Library...Give Now

    Gifts to the Libraries support the learning and research needs of the entire Vanderbilt community. Learn more about giving to the Libraries.

    Become a Friend of the Libraries

    Quick Links

    • Hours
    • About
    • Employment
    • Staff Directory
    • Accessibility Services
    • Contact
    • Vanderbilt Home
    • Privacy Policy