​

​

 

The experimental part of my Ph.D. aimed to synthesis and characterization of Nano/Biomaterials and thin films with focus on developing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). It a relatively new spectroscopy technique with promising features under extensive research these days. The basics can be found HERE.

 

-Design: Before start running experiments, you need to have the right tools. My experimental researches needed chambers operating at vacuum and low pressure while providing appropriate ports for laser-induced plasma, sample loading and aerosol entrance. For the aerosol chamber, I used SolidWorks, AutoCAD and ANSYS to design the detailed geometric dimensions and tolerances (GD&T) and analyze the fluid dynamics inside the vacuum chamber. The other chamber was designed for the funded collaboration with SunEdison Semiconductor Ltd. for characterization silicon wafers and thin films.  

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Microscopy Techniques: Going to micro and nano scale is not possible unless you have the appropriate tools. I have used Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and ellipsometry for characterizing the morphology and topology of nanoparticles and thin films respectively.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

-Spectroscopy Techniques: "Do not judge a book by its cover" This idiom can be used once you put both microscopy and spectroscopy in the same context! While microscopy techniques give you information regarding morphology and structure of your samples, they do not provide much about the intrinsic properties. This is the place that spectroscopy techniques become necessary. I tried to use multiple spectroscopic techniques specially LIBS for various applications from nanoparticles, thin films in semiconductors up to biological samples.