Advanced micro-engineered platforms for novel device technologies

Rickard, Jonathan James Stanley (2018). Advanced micro-engineered platforms for novel device technologies. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

[img]
Preview
Rickard2018PhD.pdf
PDF - Accepted Version

Download (9MB)

Abstract

The objectives of this thesis are to explore, design, fabricate and implement the use of advanced micro-engineered platforms to be exploited as versatile, novel device technologies. An increasing number of technologies require the fabrication of conductive structures on a broad range of scales and large areas. Here, we introduce advanced yet simple electrohydrodynamic lithography for patterning conductive polymers directly on a substrate with high-fidelity. We illustrate the generality of this robust, low-cost method by structuring thin films via electric-field-induced instabilities, yielding well-defined conductive structures with a broad range of feature sizes. We show the feasibility of the polypyrrole-based structures for field-effect transistors, which might herald a route towards submicron device applications. We also demonstrate a miniaturised platform technology for timely, sensitive and rapid point-of-care diagnostics of disease-indicative biomarkers. Our micro-engineered device technology (MEDTech) is based on reproducible electrohydrodynamically fabricated platforms for surface enhanced Raman scattering enabling tuneable, high-throughput nanostructures yielding high-signal enhancements. These, integrated within a microfluidic-chip provide cost-effective, portable devices for detection of miniscule biomarker concentrations from biofluids, offering clinical tests that are simple, rapid and minimally invasive. Using MEDTech to analyse clinical blood-plasma, we deliver a prognostic tool for long-term outcomes, in the hospital or at the point-of-care.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
Goldberg Oppenheimer, PolaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Grover, LiamUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
School or Department: School of Chemical Engineering
Funders: None/not applicable
Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
T Technology > TP Chemical technology
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/8303

Actions

Request a Correction Request a Correction
View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year