eprintid: 33052 rev_number: 9 userid: 4537 dir: disk0/00/03/30/52 datestamp: 2017-09-29 00:10:49 lastmod: 2018-09-28 05:15:15 status_changed: 2017-09-29 00:10:49 type: thesis_degree metadata_visibility: show contact_email: kbr6@pitt.edu eprint_status: archive creators_name: Ricardo Figueroa, Karen B. creators_email: kbr6@pitt.edu creators_id: kbr6 title: INTERFACIAL INTERACTION OF GRAPHITIC MATERIALS WITH WATER AND DNA ORIGAMI NANOSTRUCTURES ispublished: unpub divisions: sch_as_chemistry full_text_status: public keywords: graphene, DNA Origami abstract: Over the last decade, graphene has gained a lot of interest because of its electrical, mechanical and overall intrinsic properties. The wettability of graphene is paramount in determining its other surface properties and consequently, its applications. On the other hand, DNA origami nanostructures can be synthesized in a wide-variety of shapes, sizes and dimensions. It has been used to pattern different surfaces and act as a template for the CVD growth of inorganic oxides. Research in this area may establish DNA origami as an attractive, low cost template for nanofabrication. This thesis focuses on the interfacial interaction of HOPG, exfoliated and CVD graphene with hydrophilic materials such as aqueous solutions and DNA origami nanostructures. Specifically, chapter 1 presents a comprehensive review of research involving our materials of interest. Chapter 2 reports the surfactant-free exfoliation of graphite in a weakly basic solution to obtain few layer graphene sheets. This work reversed the notion that organic solvents or ionic surfactants were needed for the exfoliation process. Chapter 3 depicts the deposition of DNA origami nanostructures onto HOPG. This work analyzed the interaction of ds-DNA with a clean and contaminated graphitic substrate and the CVD growth of SiO2 specifically on the DNA origami. Finally, chapter 4 reports the encapsulation and thermal stability of DNA origami under CVD graphene, demonstrating that it is possible to use graphene as a protection barrier for materials that may be prone to degradation or decomposition under harsh conditions. Understanding the interaction of carbon materials with hydrophilic components will be important for future applications, such as the fabrication of new sensors and electronic devices. date: 2017-09-28 date_type: published pages: 153 institution: University of Pittsburgh refereed: TRUE etdcommittee_type: committee_chair etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_name: Liu, Haitao etdcommittee_name: Star, Alexander etdcommittee_name: Laaser, Jennifer etdcommittee_name: Li, Lei etdcommittee_email: hliu@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: astar@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: j.laaser@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: lel55@pitt.edu etd_defense_date: 2017-07-20 etd_approval_date: 2017-09-28 etd_submission_date: 2017-08-09 etd_release_date: 2017-09-28 etd_access_restriction: 1_year etd_patent_pending: FALSE thesis_type: dissertation degree: PhD citation: Ricardo Figueroa, Karen B. (2017) INTERFACIAL INTERACTION OF GRAPHITIC MATERIALS WITH WATER AND DNA ORIGAMI NANOSTRUCTURES. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished) document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/33052/1/ETD_KarenRicardo_revisionsfinal.pdf