Rodolfo Cantu Email and Phone Number

Using Raman Spectroscopy to image the location of long Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) grown via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Iron nanoparticles were manually dispersed on a silicon substrate where reactive hydrocarbon gases reacted and grew long multiwalled and single walled carbon nanotubes primarily via tip-growth mechanisms. The peak intensity of related Raman-active frequencies associated with long single walled carbon nanotubes were used in conjunction with a MATLAB curve-fitting function to image the mapped scan. The radial breathing mode of the CNTs was also utilized to determine a diameter estimate.

Worked on the fabrication and characterization of magnetic micromagnets for use in actuation of an elastomer-based soft actuator. Planned the fabrication of cantilever and beams made from a magnetorheological elastomer with imbedded micro controls to be actuated magnetically

Fabricated various ceramic control samples for acoustisonic characterization to be incorporated into a selective laser flash sintering (SLFS) process.

As a student researcher in the Home to Texas Program, I worked at an organization that fought for the rights of abused children, while gathering data on the effects of COVID-19 on McAllen, Texas.