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Optoelectronic Applications For Bio-Based Materials

McMaster, Michael S
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3457-7313
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155257775382127

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Physics.
Recently, bio-based materials are increasingly considered to replace traditional components for opto-electronic applications as part of a massive effort to reduce our carbon footprint. This thesis describes opto-electronic applications developed for two classes of bio-based materials, a bio-based epoxy and bacterial cellulose mats, and it also describes the dielectric investigation of thermoplastic polyurethane composites with improved properties for sensing applications. Specifically, a series of bio-based epoxy resins with similar chemical structure to petroleum derived diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA), are considered as a replacement for energy capacitive storage applications. Also applications were developed for bacterial cellulose, a bio-based 3D matrix of cellulose fibers produced by a bacterial culture. Ultra-thin (<1 μm thick) bacterial cellulose mats were produced and shown to have antireflective properties for silicon wafers suggesting antireflective applications for silicon based solar cells. Bacterial cellulose has an interesting and complex geometry consisting of entwined, crystalline, cellulose nanofibers. Also, electro-optical switchable window devices were fabricated with bacterial cellulose mats filled with liquid crystals as the electro-optical component. Additionally, the bicontinuous network of nanpores is an interesting environment for studying liquid crystal physics. Dynamic light scattering and broadband dielectric spectroscopy were employed to study the liquid crystal relaxations for the composites give insight into the fundamental liquid crystal physics of the system. Lastly, thermoplastic polyurethane composites using different ratios of carbon nanostructure and graphene nanoplatelet inorganic fillers were investigated for mechanical and dielectric properties. Composites with 0.5 weight percent of filler were considered for temperature sensing applications. Additionally, composites with 2.0 weight percent of filler we shown to have an extremely high capacitance-pressure sensitivity for a stress range of 0.1~1.3 MPa, implying potential applications in prosthetics and wearable electronics. In conclusion, we propose novel applications for advanced bio-based and composite materials for reducing carbon consumption, and introduce motifs to futher improve future devices.
Kenneth Singer (Advisor)
Ica Manas-Zloczower (Committee Member)
Rolfe Petschek (Committee Member)
Charles Rosenblatt (Committee Member)
193 p.
Physics
Antireflection AR, Bio-Based, Liquid Crystal LC, Thermoplastic Polyurethane TPU, Epoxy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McMaster, M. S. (2019). Optoelectronic Applications For Bio-Based Materials [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155257775382127

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McMaster, Michael. Optoelectronic Applications For Bio-Based Materials. 2019. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155257775382127.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McMaster, Michael. "Optoelectronic Applications For Bio-Based Materials." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155257775382127

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case155257775382127
482
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.