Synthesis and aerosol-phase treatments of environmental and materials nanoparticles

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. September 2011. Major: Chemistry. Advisor: Jeffery T. Roberts. 1 computer file (PDF); x, 128 pages.The synthesis of silicon nanoparticles using a non-thermal RF plasma system is explored followed by in-air oxidation of these particles. The oxidation process is monitored over a period of 1 month using FTIR, XPS and EELS. The results show a complex relationship between the rate of oxidation and the degree to which the surface bound hydrogen has been desorbed. Additionally, the synthesis of natural gas soot followed by aerosol-phase heating under various system pressures with different oxygen partial pressures is explored. The pressure of the synthesis system in tandem with the furnace temperature are shown to affect the growth of the graphene crystallites contained within the synthesized particles. FTIR, Raman, and TEM are used in this analysis