New Ways to Look through Nanopores

In this thesis, we have introduced palladium zero-mode waveguides (Pd ZMWs) as a valuable tool for biophysics research and have showcased several applications thereof. We started by using them as single-molecule sensors for free translocations of fluorophores, proteins, and voltage-driven translocations of DNA. By studying salt-gradient driven...

The Development and Stability of Palladium-based Thin Films for Hydrogen-related Energy Applications

Hydrogen has been contemplated as a desirable energy source of the future with enormous possibilities to create a carbon-neutral society. Since palladium (Pd) readily absorbs hydrogen even at low pressure and room temperature, Pd and its alloys are suitable for hydrogen production, purification, storage, gas sensors, and fuel cell catalyst....

Multiscale Structure-Performance Relationships in Supported Palladium Catalysis for Multiphase Hydrogenations

The performance of heterogeneous catalysts in multiphase reactions in general is governed by different types of extrinsic and intrinsic structural effects on all length scales, i.e., on the macro- (m to cm), meso- (mm to µm), and microlevel (nm). This PhD research, with a catalysis-engineering approach, focused on several of these multiscale...

Spark Discharge Generated Nanoparticles for Hydrogen Storage Applications

One of the largest obstacles to the large scale application of hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles is the absence of hydrogen storage methods suitable for application on-board of these vehicles. Metal hydrides are materials in which hydrogen is reversibly absorbed by one or more metals or combinations of metals with non-metallic elements. Due to...