Undergraduate Research Symposium

Anastasia Martinez

 My name is Anastasia Martinez, and I am a junior here at ASU. Currently I am pursuing a double major in Physics and Astronautics Engineering, with a minor in Astrophysics and Mathematics. Right now, I am doing research in the CXFEL Accelerator Lab with the ultrafast pulse lasers, and the Magnetometer Dark Matter lab here at ASU. I want one day to use my degrees and this research to work on the research of Dark Matter, as accelerators and magnetometers are two upcoming methods of detection. I am especially interested in how the topic of Dark Matter ties into quantum mechanics and string theory and already have some ideas I want to investigate. That is what I also plan to do my honors thesis in and hopefully my PhD. The reason I have the aerospace degree is because I promised myself that I am going to apply for the NASA astronaut's program every year after I turn 30, and will be working on space mission systems this summer. I am excited to participate in this event and I enjoy watching my friends present their research and really showing what the students here are capable of. I really look forward to meeting the judges and talking physics!

Research Advisor - Robert Kaindl 

Research Abstract - A state-of-the-art high power, ultrafast laser system has been commissioned as a pump source to trigger dynamic processes in natural, engineered, and quantum materials, as probed with the Compact X-ray Light Source (CXLS). Parametric and frequency mixing stages render the pulses widely tunable across the UV, visible, near-IR and mid-IR. This will enable researchers to conduct cutting-edge experiments, including biochemical dynamics during photosynthesis, human vision, molecular dynamics of synthetic catalysts, and light-driven phases in quantum materials. Additional characterization and integration with the design of FTIR spectrometers built in lab, will allow us to optimize and more precisely measure the tuned incoming light to ensure a successful experiment each time.

Annika Jorgensen 

Bio: My name is Annika Jorgensen I am a senior in Biophysics at ASU. I research sex-differentiated genes in Viral-mediated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. I plan to get a Master's at ASU Online in Biology with a Graduate Certificate in Computational Life Sciences with the goal of becoming a bioinformatic research scientist. Outside of school, I like to hike, rock climb, and do jigsaw puzzles.

Research Advisor(s): Dr. Melissa Wilson, Dr. Kenneth Buetow, Dr. Karen Taraszka Hastings

Research Abstract: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the second deadliest cancer worldwide and is increasing in prevalence in most countries. The majority of HCC cases worldwide are virally-mediated with around 50% mediated by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 25% mediated by hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCC also exhibits sex-differences with significantly higher incidence and worse prognosis in males. The mechanistic basis of these sex-differences is poorly understood. To identify genes and pathways that are sex-differentially expressed in viral-mediated HCC, we performed differential expression analysis on tumor vs. tumor adjacent samples that were stratified based on sex and viral etiology. We calculated the log fold change (logFC) for all genes between female tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue or male tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue. We then fit a linear regression to the log fold change of each gene between males and females. Top sex-differentially expressed candidates were identified as those with the greatest difference from the linear model. Genes showing the greatest difference between males and females included MUC13, and MAGEA6 for HBV-mediated liver cancer and CDHR2, IGF2, and H19 for HCV-mediated liver cancer. Each of these genes has a previous association with HCC including known roles in the formation of HCC (IGF2) associations with poor prognosis (MUC13, MAGEA6), and prior evidence of tumor to tumor-adjacent differential expression (CDHR2, H19,). Understanding genes and pathways with different expression levels in male and females may contribute to improved individualized therapeutic or diagnostic options for HCC.

Carlos Sarabia Cardenas

Bio: Carlos Sarabia Cardenas was born and raised in the greater Phoenix area and is graduating from ASU in May 2023. His research interests lie in the field of accelerator physics, particularly in the development of diagnostic techniques and advanced instrumentation.

Research Advisor: Siddharth Karkare

Research Abstract: Advances in photoinjector technology have given rise to applications such as XFELs, UED, and UEM. Brighter electron beams from the source increase pulse energies and photon lasing energies for XFELs, as well as an increase in coherence lengths at femtosecond timescales on the Ultrafast Electron technologies. Deeper investigations of the photoemission process have placed stringent requirements on electron sources for next generation electron accelerator technology, and certain novel photocathode sources have been identified as candidates to satisfy these required specifications. A cryogenically cooled 200 kV DC electron gun and accompanying cathode diagnostics beamline was developed and conditioned specifically to implement these novel photocathodes and provide diagnostics for their performance.

Elena Ros

Bio: Elena Ros is an undergraduate Physics major in her third year at ASU. She is currently working on creating simulations for the CXFEL (Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser) project to optimize design parameters. Her research interests include condensed matter physics, laser science, and accelerator physics.

Research Advisor:William Graves, Samuel Teitelbaum

Research Abstarct:X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) are electron accelerators that can produce bright, coherent pulses of short-wavelength radiation with sub-picosecond pulse durations, with broad applications in biology, materials physics, chemistry and fundamental physics. The goal of the Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser (CXFEL) at Arizona State University is to create coherent x-ray radiation at a university-scale facility. Unlike conventional X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) the CXFEL will use an optical undulator instead of an undulator based on (static) electromagnets. Reducing the undulator from a mm-scale period to a micron scale period lowers the requirements on the electron beam energy, which in turn enables CXFEL to be a compact instrument relative to conventional XFELs which are kilometer-scale instruments. Simulating the interaction between the electron beam and the optical undulator is a necessary step for specifying the requirements of the drive laser for CXFEL and predicting the properties of the emitted radiation. The goal is to understand what parameters (undulator strength, incoming beam energy, overtaking angle, and interaction length) the incoming optical undulator will require to be able to create a seeded X-ray laser. This can be approached with a particle-in cell full-field simulation. Here, MITHRA, a full-wave FDTD solver software package, is employed for the simulation of the electron/radiation interaction in free electron lasers (FELs). MITHRA includes physics and the appropriate code to account for inverse Compton scattering, which is the basis of optical undulators. We have begun to adapt this code to the CXFEL instrument design to simulate the radiation/electron beam interactions to determine the viability of our optical undulator design to produce 1.24 nm wavelength (1 keV photon energy) radiation.

Hannah Nockideneh

Bio: I am Diné (Navajo) and a first-generation student. I am in my second year double majoring in Physics and Mathematics. I fell in love with physics through my culture where I saw it in the stories and ceremonies, then in high school when my math classes began to become more complex. I enjoy learning about quantum mechanics and electromagnetism. Outside of physics, I enjoy running and sewing.

Research Advisor: Richard Kirian

Research Abstract: To image single cells in a beam with X-ray free electron lasers, an in-vacuum triggered delivery system needs to be developed. Our prototype consists of a ceramic piezoelectric sample delivery system that uses a convergent gas-dynamic virtual nozzle to mechanically trigger the stream of particles using the “capillary squeeze” method. With this prototype method, we should see a more stable flow rate that will be compatible with biomolecular imaging experiments with LCLS, XFEL, CXLS.

Max Pezzelle

Bio: Max Pezzelle is a physics major and mathematics minor interested in gravity, cosmology, and quantum field theory. He defended his Barrett honors thesis on the classical double copy in fall 2022. He presented his thesis research at the 2022 APS Four Corners Conference. He is the spring 2023 Dean’s Medalist for the Department of Physics. In the fall he will begin attending graduate school at Brown University.

Research Advisor: Damien Easson

Research Abstract: The classical double copy is a map between exact solutions in general relativity and Abelian gauge theory. It has important implications for the relationship between gauge theory and gravity. Its original formulation, the Kerr-Schild double copy, concerns metrics that admit a Kerr-Schild decomposition and that are time-independent. In this work we show that the Kerr-Schild double copy holds in far greater generality than previously thought. We describe a new generalized procedure that maps all Kerr-Schild metrics to an Abelian gauge field. It relies on the fact that all such metrics admit at least one Killing vector. We give several examples of new solutions that admit a double copy structure. This new formulation also has the advantage that one can write down double-copy metrics of greater algebraic generality. We fill in a surprisingly empty gap in the literature by explicitly writing down for the first time an exact Petrov type II Kerr-Schild metric and interpreting it in the light of the double copy.

Rebecca Osar

Bio: I am a fourth year undergrad in the honors college, majoring in physics with a minor in Chinese. I have been involved in nuclear physics research with ASU’s Meson Physics group since 2019, and I am presenting the results of my work that have culminated in my honors thesis. I am also engaged in biophysics research with the Wadhwa Lab, studying bacterial motility. After graduation, I will pursue a Ph.D. in Physics.

Research Advisor: Michael Dugger

Research Abstract: In nuclear physics, there is a discrepancy between theory and experiment concerning the number of nucleon resonances. Current models predict far more states than have been observed. In particular, few searches have found excited nucleon resonances in energy ranges over 2.2 GeV in the K Lambda channel. To investigate this problem, efficiency-corrected yields of the reaction e p --> e K+ Lambda(1520) --> e K+ K- p in the center-of-mass energy range 2.1–4.5 GeV are constructed utilizing Jefferson Lab's CLAS12 detector. This poster presents the results of the analysis in the search for high-mass nucleon resonances in the K Lambda channel between 2.1–4.5 GeV.

Tyler Forgacs

Bio: Tyler Forgacs is a student at Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU), double majoring in Physics and Economics. His curiosity motivates him to understand how the world works quantitatively from an interdisciplinary, first principles approach.

Research Advisor: Anna Zaniewski

Research Abstract: X-ray beamlines are a vital resource that enables advanced research across diverse scientific fields, including material and life sciences. Despite beamlines' significant role in scientific studies, real-time measurements of beam shape and spatial distribution remain an ongoing challenge; this is especially problematic in experiments that require precise beam positioning and monitoring to ensure accuracy and reproducibility. To address this need, Advent Diamond has developed a real-time, in-beam imaging monitor with 2304 pixels. A near-mature prototype has been tested at the Brookhaven National Lab's NSLS-II synchrotron facility. Metal plates with thicknesses up to 13mm Al and 0.5mm Cu were used to attenuate the beam. Testing results show that the prototype successfully generates real-time imaging of x-ray beam cross-sections across a wide dynamic range. In this presentation, we will show recent data analysis from the testing, highlighting the performance and capabilities of Advent Diamond's in-beam imaging monitor.

Vishesh Kumar

Bio: Hi, my name is Vishesh Kumar. I have always had a strong interest in statistics and its applications in the natural sciences. This led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in Physics and Computational Math. During my undergraduate studies, I became fascinated with the idea of using statistical and machine learning techniques to tackle complex problems in physics. I have since taken several graduate-level courses in statistics and machine learning, where I gained a deeper understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts and how to use them efficiently to unlock the secrets of biology and physics. I have also completed a few small projects in which I applied machine learning algorithms to analyze experimental data and extract meaningful insights. My strong statistical background has allowed me to develop a unique perspective on how machine learning can be used to solve problems in physics. I am eager to continue exploring this intersection of physics and data science and hope to pursue a graduate career in this field.

Research Advisor: Steve Presse

Research Abstract: I propose a method for inferring the diffusion coefficient across a cellular membrane by tracking the movement of particles along the membrane. Inhomogeneous diffusion coefficients can occur due to a variety of factors such as the presence of membrane proteins, lipid rafts, the actin cortex, and lipid shells. Mapping the diffusion coefficient across the membrane can aid in the determination of various properties including protein-lipid composition, molecular crowding, and overall cell heterogeneity.

 Symposium YouTube Playlist 

Joshua Grumski-Flores 

Title: CORE Pair Spectrometer

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Dugger and Dr. Barry Ritchie

Abstract: CORE stands for the Compact Detector for Electron-Ion Collider. Many experiments possible with CORE require that the photon beam have well known intensity and energy distributions. This project involves designing a pair spectrometer for CORE. A pair spectrometer is a detector that uses the pair production reaction in order to determine the energy of a photon. The energy of the electron and positron created from the pair production reaction can be determined by using magnets and the Lorentz force. I will discuss simulations used to study an initial design for the pair spectrometer at CORE. 

 Carlos Sarabia Cardenas

Title: ASU Cryocooled DC Gun and Cathode Diagnostics

Faculty Advisor: Siddharth Karkare

Collaborators: Gevork S. Gevorkyan, Alimohammed Kachwala

Abstract: A critical measure of any electron beam is its brightness. The performance of X-ray Free Electron Lasers and Ultrafast Electron Microscopy is heavily dependent on the brightness of the electron source. Photocathodes are an excellent source of high-quality electron beams with a high brightness. An electron gun and cathode diagnostics beamline is currently under construction at ASU to be able to produce electron beams and measure their quality. One of the most important measurements will be of the emittance of the beam, which the brightness is strongly related to. This talk will touch on how the emittance will be measured in this beamline and some of the measurement resolutions.

Christina Bell

Title: An On-chip Millimeter-Wave Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for Quantum Sensing and Computing

Faculty Advisor: Philip Mauskopf

Research Collaborators: Farzad Faramarzi, Ritoban Basu Thakur, Sasha Sypkens, Shibo Shu, Peter Day, Philip Mauskopf

Abstract: We describe the development of superconducting circuit elements required for a millimeter-wave Mach-Zehnder (MZI) interferometer operating at 75-110 GHz (W-band). These element include a wide-band superconducting quadrature hybrid, a superconducting diplexer and current-controllable superconducting transmission line phase shifters in an inverted microstrip geometry. The superconducting transmission lines are fabricated from NbN and are coupled to W-band waveguides using radial probes. These circuit elements can be exploited as a platform to investigate millimeter wave circuit quantum electrodynamics such as the entanglement of millimeter-wave photons and applications in quantum sensing and quantum computing. Another application of a full MZI circuit is in astronomical and cosmological surveys as a Fourier transform spectrometer.

Max Pezzelle 

Title: The Classical Double Copy

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Joseph Foy

Research Collaborators: Tucker Manton

Abstract: The classical double copy is a relationship found between solutions of general relativity and those of Yang-Mills theory. It offers a new method of constructing gravitational solutions from simpler theories. Here I give an overview of the Kerr-Schild double copy, which relates Kerr-Schild metrics to solutions of Maxwell’s equations, and describe several examples of it at work. I describe my current research goals to understand the double copy in a curved background and the double copy of a nonsingular black hole solution. In the former, I seek to understand the generalization of Kerr-Schild metrics to those with a curved background metric. In the latter, I describe my ongoing efforts to generalize a known nonsingular black hole solution to one with a nonzero angular momentum using the Newman-Janis transform and then to study its single copy gauge field.

Anna Costelle 

Faculty Advisor(s): Dr. Michael Dugger, Dr. Barry Ritchie

Collaborators: ASU Meson Physics Group and CLAS Collaboration

Title: Construction of Event Generators for Strangeness-Containing Final States

Abstract: Detector simulations have proven to be fundamental to the success of particle physics experimentation. A key aspect of their role is determining detection efficiencies. As more complicated events with several decay products are encountered, event reconstruction becomes increasingly difficult. Simulating the events provides a means of determining the efficiency of the detections and identifying missing components of the reconstruction. The first step in the simulation is to outline the kinematic information for each particle in the event. Then, an event generator program uses Monte Carlo techniques to generate all of the events required as input for the detector-simulation stage, with a defined energy distribution. In the work described here, events whose final states contain strange particles have been studied. Specifically, we begin by constructing an event generator for the interaction of a photon and proton, to produce a proton and phi meson, where the phi meson decays into two kaons, which both have nonzero strangeness. Ultimately, we wish to simulate experiments with Jefferson Lab Hall-D and the GlueX detector, generating more complex events involving the Cascade baryons, which each have a strangeness of -2, and searching for excited Cascade states that have been predicted but have yet to be observed.

Aashi Gurijala

Title: Modelling The Structure & Chemistry Of GaAs Oxides During Surface Energy Engineering (See) For Nano-bonding

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Nicole Herbots

Abstract: Si absorbs electromagnetic waves between 400 and 1100 nm while GaAs absorbs between 800 and 2000 nm. When Si and GaAs are integrated into a hetero-structure, to create a monolithic photo-voltaic converter, a.k.a tandem Si-GaAs- solar cell, the bonded Si/GaAs pair can absorb a larger spectrum of wavelengths more efficiently, leading to potentially photovoltaic conversion efficiency 30-40%. Native oxide removal is key for optimizing the conversion efficiency of photoelectric devices, because they interfere with electrical carriers transport.

The present work focuses on removing native oxides in air on GaAs(100) prior to bonding Si(100). The two semiconductors surfaces undergo Surface Energy Engineering (SEE) to remove native oxides and create so-called “precursor phases” *1, 2* planar at the nano-scale, to catalyze molecular cross-bonding between the two surfaces during contacting at the nano-scale (nano-contacting). To accomplish nano-contacting and nucleate two-dimensional complementary precursors phases on Si and GaAs, Si(100) and GaAs(100) undergo a chemical process design via SEE in a Class 10 chemical laminar flow hood in a Class 100 clean-room. The goal of SEE is removing native oxides, planarizing surfaces the nano-scale, by extending the width of atomic terraces from less than 2nm, to more than 20 nm, and nucleating complementary precursor phases, to create Si/GaAs heterostructures bonded at the molecular levels.

Ethan Duncan

Title: Presolar Grain Isolation: A Novel Development Using Focused Ion Beam (FIB)

Faculty Advisor:  Dr. Maitrayee Bose

Abstract: We present a new methodology of isolating presolar grains by performing FIB milling in Acfer 094 meteorite. We want to develop a technique to isolate presolar grains in meteorites using focused ion beam (FIB) milling for future nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) measurements. The NanoSIMS instrument uses a primary ion beam to blast a given sample surface, extracts secondary ions, and separates these ions into their mass/charge ratio, allowing isotopic measurements. We plan to use the O- ion beam on the NanoSIMS for isotopic measurements, which can be as small as ~100 nm. Presolar silicate grains are in the size range between ~90-300 nm and exist in the meteorite surrounded by meteoritic silicates. Isotopic measurements of the presolar grains will likely be a diluted because of the surrounding grains. We proved that the current FIB instrumentation cannot be used to prepare presolar grains for NanoSIMS analysis. In the future, we want to use the new instrumentation (Focused Ion Beam – Helios G4UX) with a superior Pt dispenser to be installed to try this technique.

Shefali Prakash & Srivatsan Swaminathan

Title: Designing A Portable Chemosensor To Measure An Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker, Methylglyoxal (MGO), in Human Blood Plasma

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Nicole Herbots

Abstract: Just in the United States of America, nearly 5.8 million individuals suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). AD results in difficulty with memory and learning, and a continuous degeneration of mental functions. Currently, there is no cure for AD. Monitoring AD’s progression is critical to designing an individualized treatment plan to improve patients’ quality of life and prognosis. Recently, a new biomarker for AD was identified. This biomarker is an enzyme, called Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1). It performs the conversion of proteins into methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO is the organic compound directly linked to neural destruction via cerebral thrombosis (i.e. formation of blood clots in the brain, a.k.a stroke), brain overstimulation, and the breakdown of a carbohydrate known as glycocalyx. The breakdown of glycocalyx results in an accumulation of the well-known beta-amyloid plaques characteristic of AD. When VAP-1 activity increases beyond normal levels, MGO levels in the plasma increase, as does a patient’s risk for AD. Therefore, monitoring MGO level in patients’ blood can potentially track AD and aid in personalizing treatment options.

Presently there is no portable device to measure MGO levels in blood plasma, or MGO plasma bio-sensor. Such an MGO bio-sensor needs to be cheap, and highly accurate. The present work proposes a simple design for a portable colorimetric-based chemosensor that first, separates plasma from blood, and then accurately quantifies MGO levels, for use by patients at home, or by doctors at the point-of-care and in the field. The sensor is composed of three parts. First, a microfluidic chip separates the plasma from the rest of the blood. Next, a colorimetric reaction occurs between the MGO in the separated blood plasma and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) and citrate-capped gold nanoparticles(AuNP), which are each on two separate slides. Finally, an optical cage system (OCS) quantifies the concentration of MGO in the plasma via an LED and photodiode.

Emily Luffey

Title: Properties of Chromatin Extracted by Salt Fractionation from a Cancerous and Non-cancerous Esophageal Cell Line

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Ros

Abstract: The National Institute of Health estimates that approximately 38.4% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes. While cancer is mostly viewed as a genetic disease characterized by genetic markers and expression of mutant proteins, there is considerable evidence that there is more to cancer than somatic mutations. For example, the first signature looked for by a pathologist is grossly aberrant cell nuclei. It has been shown that the more abnormal a particular cell nucleus is, the more aggressive a particular form of cancer is. A major variable in the overall nuclear structure is chromatin compaction and structure. We compared chromatin compaction and structure for two esophageal cell lines, EPC2 (non-cancerous) and CP-D (cancerous) by using a combination of salt fractionation and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and found significant differences in the chromatin morphology of cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. We anticipate that our results will help to gain insight into the mechanisms of phenotypic change in cells from normal to cancerous.

Thilina Balasooriya & Wesley Peng

Title: Fast and Furious, Accurate Blood Analysis" (FFABA) For XRF on Homogeneous Thin Solid Films (HTSF) from Blood Drops 

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Nicole Herbots

Abstract: A recurring problem in comprehensive blood analysis and diagnostics is that measuring more than one component requires large volumes (2 -10 mL), often daily and sometimes on the hour in critical care. A coating combining hyper- and super-hydrophilic properties has been created to flatten and solidify blood droplets into uniform thin solid films in less than 5 minutes. Once a planar homogeneous thin solid film from a blood drop is achieved, each blood component can be analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) in less than 20 minutes provided an adequate substrate configuration is used via a desktop or hand-held compact XRF analyzer specifically designed for fast blood analysis. Using µL sized blood drops yields an accuracy better than 10%. HemaDropâ„¢ can solidify blood droplets in less than 5 minutes in various temperatures and humidity conditions by creating Homogeneous Thin Solid Films (HTSFs) without any phase separation. 

HTSFs can be analyzed in air or a vacuum because they are in the solid-state, and then analyzed using desktop X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), as well as Ion Beam Analysis (IBA). However, XRF analysis by Smart.Elements™ simulations have been found to be inaccurate (100% error) for trace elements in blood like Fe and some blood electrolytes. Our new algorithm, Fast Hand Held Analysis of XRF - FHHAX1, is being deployed via a new mobile app called FFABA1 (Fast and Furious, Accurate Blood Analysis). The goal of the FHHAX algorithm is to perform rapid (<10 min), accurate (< 5% error ), and reliable (< 7% error ) blood analysis. Accuracy and reliability are achieved using four built-in proprietary calibration HTSF’s (1) provided on every HemaDrop™ collection slides. There are three collection wells(1) on each slide, allowing three measurements per test, using each 2-10 µL, and determine blood electrolytes, iron and heavy metal elements, FFABA(1) is designed to provide fast interpretative results in medical laboratory format for medical practitioners in mobile app format. In the future, it will be expanded to web-based and PC-based formats.

Footnotes:
1-Patents in Preparation with Arizona State University ABOR, and AZ Technology Entreprises/Skysong Communications (2020), Patent Agent: Patricia Stepp

1-Patents Pending Nicole Herbots, Yash Pershad, Harshini Thinakaran (2016), with Thilina Balasooriya, Nikhil Suresh, Wesley Peng, Patent Pending (2020), assigned to SiO2 Innovates LLC, MicroDrop Diagnostics"

Chase Hanson

Title: Electronic properties of 2D van der Waals magnets

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Antia Botana

Abstract: Based on first-principles calculations, the evolution of the electronic and magnetic properties of transition metal dihalides MX2 (M= V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X, Y = Cl, Br, I) is analyzed from the bulk to the monolayer limit. A variety of magnetic ground states is obtained as a result of the competition between direct exchange and superexchange. We aim to show how structural symmetry-breaking plays a crucial role in the electronic properties of 2D magnetic materials with an analysis to Janus TM dihalides MXY.

Nikhil Suresh

Title: HemaDrop: A Novel Elemental Composition Technology for Microliter-size Blood Droplets via Solid State Techniques

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Nicole Herbots

Abstract: Blood diagnostic tests require ~7 mL of blood, taking hours for results. Repeated testing can cause Hospital-Acquired Anemia. Accurate blood testing methods with smaller blood volumes and shorter analysis time are needed.

µL-sized blood drops can be rapidly solidified via Super- and Hyper-Hydrophilic HemaDrop™ coatings to yield reproducible Homogeneous Thin Solid Films (HTSFs). HTSFs are investigated for accuracy in measuring electrolytes and heavy metals. Calibration using Balanced Saline Solution allows for the conversion of atomic % into mg/dL, the main metric in blood diagnostics. Compositions from Ion Beam Analysis and X-ray Fluorescence are compared to measure blood composition reproducibly and accurately. Relative error analysis shows that reproducibility to 10% error and accuracy to within 1% error can be attained. The damage curve method extracts elemental composition while accounting for possible IBA damage, which is found to be negligible.

Sydney Olson

Title: Van der Waals Interacting 2D Mo(Sx,Te1-x)2 Slab on Bulk Al2O3 Substrate

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Arunima Singh

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 and MoTe2 find attractive applications in numerous fields such as nano-electronics, catalysis and sensing. Solid-solutions of 2D MoS2 and MoTe2 offer the possibility of a systematic design of the electronic structure as a function of the chalcogen percentage, x, in the solid solution.  In this work, we study the substrate-assisted stabilization of Mo(Sx,Te1-x)2 phases on Al-terminated sapphire. A cluster-expansion hamiltonian fit to first-principles simulations were used to find the ground state Mo(Sx,Te1-x)2 phases adsorbed on Al-terminated sapphire. We find that the nearest-neighbor distances of the surface sites of the Mo(Sx,Te1-x)2 phases to the sapphire substrate are larger than 2.5 Angstroms, indicating a weak van der Waals interaction between the substrate and the solid-solutions. To analyze the relationship between the ratios of S to Te in the solid-solution and binding strength to the substrate, we study the interface structure i.e. the near-interface atoms, their nearest neighbors and the distance between the nearest neighbors. We further develop heuristic measures for identifying chemisorption and physio-sorption at the interface for a particular 2D material and substrate interface.