CREST-Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:Design of Ag Nanoparticles-Coated ZnO Nanoshells Substrate for the Detection of Contaminants in Water Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

科学与技术卓越研究中心博士后研究奖学金（CREST- prf）项目支持具有重大潜力的CREST中心研究人员，并为他们提供培训和研究经验，以拓宽视野，促进跨学科互动，并使他们在科学界处于领导地位。该CREST- prf项目与波多黎各马亚圭斯大学CREST生物医学、环境和可持续性应用纳米技术中心二期研究重点相一致。本研究的目的是开发一种廉价的材料，用于检测水污染物。这种新材料将由金属纳米颗粒组成，可以增强来自这些污染物的信号。建议的工作有可能定位一个新的研究人员开始一个独立的研究生涯，并成为一个有竞争力的教员。这项工作也有可能为西波多黎各公立学校的学生创造外展活动。该提案的目的是通过一种更便宜的方法开发一种表面增强拉曼散射（SERS）衬底，该衬底由Ag纳米颗粒涂覆ZnO纳米壳制成，并且能够向上缩放。SERS基板将用于检测水中出现的污染物，这是美国日益关注的环境问题。拟议的SERS基板将通过三步工艺生产，包括纤维素纤维的静电纺丝和ZnO纳米壳和Ag纳米颗粒的溅射沉积。这些都是众所周知的、成本较低的技术，可以大规模使用。SERS性能将被评估为银纳米颗粒尺寸、溅射时间和沉积后热处理温度的函数。在水中以微量水平检测新出现的污染物将有助于科学家在对人类健康和环境造成危险后果之前采取快速补救行动。因此，所提出的纳米结构作为SERS衬底将扩大检测水资源中新兴污染物痕量水平的领域。通过主持科学家的指导，申请人将有机会成为一名有竞争力的教师，并从事独立的研究事业。拟议的为波多黎各西部公立学校学生开展的外联活动将侧重于纳米技术的重要性以及它如何解决水污染等环境问题。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology-Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (CREST-PRF) track within the CREST program supports beginning CREST Center investigators with significant potential and provides them with training and research experiences that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions and establish them in positions of leadership within the scientific community. This CREST-PRF project is aligned with the research focus of the CREST Center for Nanotechnology Center for Biomedical, Environmental and Sustainability Applications – Phase II at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. The goal of this research is to develop an inexpensive material which will be useful in detecting water contaminants. The new material will be composed of metal nanoparticles that will enhance signals from these contaminants. The proposed work has the potential to position a new researcher to start an independent research career and become a competitive faculty member. The work also has the potential to create outreach activities for students in Western Puerto Rico public schools. The aim of the proposal is to develop a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate made of Ag nanoparticle coated ZnO nanoshells through a less expensive methodology capable of being scaled upwards. The SERS substrate will serve to detect emerging contaminants in water, an environmental problem of increasing concern in the U.S. The proposed SERS substrate will be produced in a three-step process that includes the electrospinning of cellulose fibers and the sputtering deposition of ZnO nanoshells and of Ag nanoparticles. These are well known, less expensive techniques that can be used at large scales. The SERS performance will be evaluated as a function of the Ag nanoparticles' size as a function of sputtering time and temperature during post-deposition heat treatment. The detection of emerging pollutants in water at trace levels will assist scientists in implementing quick remediation actions before dangerous consequences to human health and the environment occur. Thus, the proposed nanostructure as SERS substrate will expand the field of detecting trace levels of emerging pollutants in water resources. Through the host scientist's mentoring, the proposer will have an opportunity to be trained as a competitive faculty member and engage in an independent research career. The proposed outreach activities for students in public schools in Western Puerto Rico will focus on the significance of nanotechnology and how it addresses environmental issues such as water contamination.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.