Mount Allison Chemistry Department

Research Interests

Our research is focused on the self-assembly of nanoparticles into surface patterns that are useful in a variety of materials applications. Through the design and synthesis of nanoparticles and molecular amphiphiles (often biological lipids) we aim to elucidate the rules for generating nanoparticle patterns at fluid interfaces (air-water and oil-water interfaces). The films we generate will be explored for their potential use in a variety of applications: as platforms for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, surface plasmon-based sensors, catalysis, biocompatible and/or self-cleaning surface treatments, energy storage devices, and liquid crystal devices.

In general our approach centers around the use of surface and interfacial phenomena to drive the organization and assembly of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of gold, which can have interesting optical and catalytic properties depending on their size and shape, are synthesized in the lab and used for model studies, with the long-term goal of applying our assembly methods to a wide variety of nanoparticles (such as nano-wires/tubes/rods, magnetic particles, and semiconducting “quantum dots”). The assembly of nanoparticles at pre-defined interfaces on the Langmuir balance is then studied as a function of surface concentration (pressure) and temperature. We perform both structural (AFM, EM) characterization, as well as electro-optical characterization (UV-Vis-NIR, epi-fluorescence, etc.) to understand the resulting properties of our films. This fundamental characterization is required prior to optimization of these films for a specific application.



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Academic Staff

	Dr. Vicki Meli
	BSc, PhD (McGill)
	Assistant Professor

	Office:	Barclay 121
	Phone:	(506)364-2363
	Email:	vmeli@mta.ca
	Discipline:	Physical Chemistry
	Research Area:	Interfacial and Surface Chemistry, Nanostructured Materials


Research Interests Our research is focused on the self-assembly of nanoparticles into surface patterns that are useful in a variety of materials applications. Through the design and synthesis of nanoparticles and molecular amphiphiles (often biological lipids) we aim to elucidate the rules for generating nanoparticle patterns at fluid interfaces (air-water and oil-water interfaces). The films we generate will be explored for their potential use in a variety of applications: as platforms for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, surface plasmon-based sensors, catalysis, biocompatible and/or self-cleaning surface treatments, energy storage devices, and liquid crystal devices. In general our approach centers around the use of surface and interfacial phenomena to drive the organization and assembly of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of gold, which can have interesting optical and catalytic properties depending on their size and shape, are synthesized in the lab and used for model studies, with the long-term goal of applying our assembly methods to a wide variety of nanoparticles (such as nano-wires/tubes/rods, magnetic particles, and semiconducting “quantum dots”). The assembly of nanoparticles at pre-defined interfaces on the Langmuir balance is then studied as a function of surface concentration (pressure) and temperature. We perform both structural (AFM, EM) characterization, as well as electro-optical characterization (UV-Vis-NIR, epi-fluorescence, etc.) to understand the resulting properties of our films. This fundamental characterization is required prior to optimization of these films for a specific application.

Recent Publications "The Wetting of Gold and Silicon Nanoscale Arrays" M.–V. Meli, R. B. Lennox. Langmuir, 23, 1619-1622 (2007). "Surface Plasmon Resonance of Gold Nanoparticle Arrays Partially Embedded in Quartz" M.–V. Meli, R. B. Lennox. Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 111, 3658-3664 (2007). "Coupling of the Plasmon Resonance of Chemically Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles to Local Order in Thermotropic Liquid Crystals" G. M. Koenig Jr., M.–V. Meli, J. J. de Pablo, N. L. Abbott. Chemistry of Materials, 19, 1053-1061 (2007).


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