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

卓越研究中心在科学和技术博士后研究奖学金（CREST-PRF）的CREST计划内的轨道支持开始CREST中心研究人员具有显着的潜力，并为他们提供培训和研究经验，将拓宽视野，促进跨学科的互动，并建立他们在科学界的领导地位。该CREST-PRF项目与波多黎各马亚圭斯大学CREST生物医学、环境和可持续发展应用纳米技术中心第二阶段的研究重点保持一致。这项研究的目的是开发一种廉价的材料，这将是有用的检测水污染物。这种新材料将由金属纳米颗粒组成，可以增强这些污染物的信号。拟议的工作有可能定位一个新的研究人员开始独立的研究生涯，并成为一个有竞争力的教师。这项工作也有可能为西波多黎各公立学校的学生开展外联活动。该提案的目的是开发一种表面增强拉曼散射（Sers）基板的银纳米粒子涂覆的ZnO纳米壳通过一个较便宜的方法能够被放大。Sers衬底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。提出的Sers衬底将在三步过程中生产，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性能将作为Ag纳米颗粒的尺寸的函数进行评估，该尺寸作为沉积后热处理期间溅射时间和温度的函数。 检测水中痕量的新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，提出的纳米结构作为Sers基底将扩大检测水资源中痕量污染物的领域。通过主办科学家的指导，提议者将有机会被培训为一个有竞争力的教师，并从事独立的研究生涯。拟议的外展活动，在西部波多黎各公立学校的学生将集中在纳米技术的重要性，以及它如何解决环境问题，如水污染。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得的支持，通过评估使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

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.