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Research desciption - Nano Chem
Synthesis, characterisation and functionalisation of metal oxide nanocrystals
(Per-Olov Käll, Lars Ojamäe, Henrik Pedersen, Fredrik Söderlind, Christian Aulin)
The nanocrystal research is mainly focused on colloidal synthesis, characterisation, and bio-functionalisation of oxides of rare earths (e.g. Gd, Dy) and of d-block elements (e.g. Ti, Ru, Co).
The paramagnetic or superparamagnetic properties of Gd3+ and Dy3+ containing compounds make them highly interesting as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, to be used in vivo nanocrystalline gadolinium oxides have to be coated, “functionalised”, by bio-active molecules.
In this project we study the synthesis and bio-functionalisation of nanocrystalline rare earth oxides. Prepared materials are mainly characterised by XRD, TEM, FTIR, Raman, XPS. We also study prepared systems theoretically by quantum chemical modelling, (see also Computational Chemistry) In close cooperation with Kajsa Uvdal, Rodrigo M. Petoral Jr., Cecilia Vahlberg at Molecular Physics - IFM and Maria Engström at Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV) .
Nanocrystals of semiconducting or metallic oxides such as TiO2, RuO2, CoOx are of interest in connection with, for example, photo-catalysis and sensor science. At present we are studying the properties of such nanoparticles fundamentally by quantum chemical computations and experimentally as sensing materials in MISiCFET gas sensors, in collaboration with Prof. Anita Lloyd Spetz's group at S-SENCE at IFM.
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