No description available.

No description available.

In the research described in this thesis, two molecular layers were successfully anchored on carbon surfaces (pyrolyzed photoresist films, PPFs) sequentially through two independent approaches. The first molecular layer, styrene, was covalently bonded on PPF surfaces via the method of reduction of in situ generated diazonium ions. The resulting molecular films were characterized by AFM measurements, and catechol and ferrocyanide voltammetry. The second molecular layer, ferrocene-thiol, was anchored on top of the first molecular layer through the method of thiol-ene reaction, which is an effective method for building up multilayers through layer-by-layer assembly. As ferrocene is an electrochemically active species, quantitative surface coverage was calculated according to the amount of surface-bound ferrocene through electrochemical measurements. Finally, molecular junctions were fabricated by depositing metal top contacts based on the molecular layers through electron-beam evaporation and the electronic characteristics of these molecular junctions were investigated.

abstract: "Sensor Decade" has been labeled on the first decade of the 21st century. Similar to the revolution of micro-computer in 1980s, sensor R&D; developed rapidly during the past 20 years. Hard workings were mainly made to minimize the size of devices with optimal the performance. Efforts to develop the small size devices are mainly concentrated around Micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) technology. MEMS accelerometers are widely published and used in consumer electronics, such as smart phones, gaming consoles, anti-shake camera and vibration detectors. This study represents liquid-state low frequency micro-accelerometer based on molecular electronic transducer (MET), in which inertial mass is not the only but also the conversion of mechanical movement to electric current signal is the main utilization of the ionic liquid. With silicon-based planar micro-fabrication, the device uses a sub-micron liter electrolyte droplet sealed in oil as the sensing body and a MET electrode arrangement which is the anode-cathode-cathode-anode (ACCA) in parallel as the read-out sensing part. In order to sensing the movement of ionic liquid, an imposed electric potential was applied between the anode and the cathode. The electrode reaction, I_3^-+2e^___3I^-, occurs around the cathode which is reverse at the anodes. Obviously, the current magnitude varies with the concentration of ionic liquid, which will be effected by the movement of liquid droplet as the inertial mass. With such structure, the promising performance of the MET device design is to achieve 10.8 V/G (G=9.81 m/s^2) sensitivity at 20 Hz with the bandwidth from 1 Hz to 50 Hz, and a low noise floor of 100 ug/sqrt(Hz) at 20 Hz. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2013

abstract: This thesis presents approaches to develop micro seismometers and accelerometers based on molecular electronic transducers (MET) technology using MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) techniques. MET is a technology applied in seismic instrumentation that proves highly beneficial to planetary seismology. It consists of an electrochemical cell that senses the movement of liquid electrolyte between electrodes by converting it to the output current. MET seismometers have advantages of high sensitivity, low noise floor, small size, absence of fragile mechanical moving parts and independence on the direction of sensitivity axis. By using MEMS techniques, a micro MET seismometer is developed with inter-electrode spacing close to 1μm, which improves the sensitivity of fabricated device to above 3000 V/(m/s^2) under operating bias of 600 mV and input acceleration of 400 μG (G=9.81m/s^2) at 0.32 Hz. The lowered hydrodynamic resistance by increasing the number of channels improves the self-noise to -127 dB equivalent to 44 nG/√Hz at 1 Hz. An alternative approach to build the sensing element of MEMS MET seismometer using SOI process is also presented in this thesis. The significantly increased number of channels is expected to improve the noise performance. Inspired by the advantages of combining MET and MEMS technologies on the development of seismometer, a low frequency accelerometer utilizing MET technology with post-CMOS-compatible fabrication processes is developed. In the fabricated accelerometer, the complicated fabrication of mass-spring system in solid-state MEMS accelerometer is replaced with a much simpler post-CMOS-compatible process containing only deposition of a four-electrode MET structure on a planar substrate, and a liquid inertia mass of an electrolyte droplet encapsulated by oil film. The fabrication process does not involve focused ion beam milling which is used in the micro MET seismometer fabrication, thus the cost is lowered. Furthermore, the planar structure and the novel idea of using an oil film as the sealing diaphragm eliminate the complicated three-dimensional packaging of the seismometer. The fabricated device achieves 10.8 V/G sensitivity at 20 Hz with nearly flat response over the frequency range from 1 Hz to 50 Hz, and a low noise floor of 75 μG/√Hz at 20 Hz. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2014

[pt] Neste trabalho estudamos o transporte eletrônico em nano- estruturas de átomos e moléculas. Utilizando o método das funções de Green, abordamos o problema das interações elétron-elétron e elétron-fônon e seus efeitos na condutância do sistema. Apresentamos um estudo detalhado do regime onde essas duas interações são simultaneamente importantes e mostramos que elas produzem novos efeitos nas propriedades do sistema. Mostramos que no regime de bloqueamento de Coulomb, o desdobramento de Rabi devido á interação elétron-fônon produz um novo efeito na condutância, que denominamos de tunelamento Rabi ressonante assistido por fônons. No regime de Kondo esse desdobramento é responsável por um novo fenômeno, o efeito Kondo de carga não inteira. / [en] In this work we study the electronic transport in atomic and molecular structures. By using the Green´s function method, we address the problem of the electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions and their effects on the conductance of the system. We present a detailed study of the regime where these two interactions are simultaneously important and show that they produce new effects on the properties of the system. In the Coulomb blockadge regime, the Rabi splitting due to the electron- phonon interaction produces a new effect in the conductance of nanosystem, which we called Rabi-assisted ressonant tunneling. In the Kondo regime, this splitting is responsible for a new phenomena, the non integer-charge Kondo effect.

No description available.

abstract: The instrumentational measurement of seismic motion is important for a wide range of research fields and applications, such as seismology, geology, physics, civil engineering and harsh environment exploration. This report presents series approaches to develop Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) enhanced inertial motion sensors including accelerometers, seismometers and inclinometers based on Molecular Electronic Transducers (MET) techniques. Seismometers based on MET technology are attractive for planetary applications due to their high sensitivity, low noise floor, small size, absence of fragile mechanical moving parts and independence on the direction of sensitivity axis. By using MEMS techniques, a micro MET seismometer is developed with inter-electrode spacing close to 5 μm. The employment of MEMS improves the sensitivity of fabricated device to above 2500 V/(m/s2) under operating bias of 300 mV and input velocity of 8.4μm/s from 0.08Hz to 80Hz. The lowered hydrodynamic resistance by increasing the number of channels improves the self-noise to -135 dB equivalent to 18nG/√Hz (G=9.8m/s2) around 1.2 Hz. Inspired by the advantages of combining MET and MEMS technologies on the development of seismometer, a feasibility study of development of a low frequency accelerometer utilizing MET technology with post-CMOS-compatible fabrication processes is performed. In the fabricated accelerometer, the complicated fabrication of mass-spring system in solid-state MEMS accelerometer is replaced with a much simpler post-CMOS-compatible process containing only deposition of a four-electrode MET structure on a planar substrate, and a liquid inertia mass of an electrolyte droplet. With a specific design of 3D printing based package and replace water based iodide solution by room temperature ionic liquid based electrolyte, the sensitivity relative to the ground motion can reach 103.69V/g, with the resolution of 5.25μG/√Hz at 1Hz. By combining MET techniques and Zn-Cu electrochemical cell (Galvanic cell), this letter demonstrates a passive motion sensor powered by self-electrochemistry energy, named “Battery Accelerometer”. The experimental results indicated the peak sensitivity of battery accelerometer at its resonant frequency 18Hz is 10.4V/G with the resolution of 1.71μG without power consumption. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2016

[pt] Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados da produção e caracterização de novos dispositivos orgânicos eletroluminescentes (OLEDs), que podem ser divididos idealmente em três grupos. O primeiro composto pelos OLEDs que utilizam os distirilbenzenos (DSBs) como camada eletroluminescente. Os DSBs são sistemas utilizados em química supramolecular como pontes para transferência de carga. No segundo colocamos os OLEDs baseados em 2; 6 - bis(dietanolamina) - 4; 8 - dipiperidinopirimida (5; 4-d) pirimidina (DIP), que é uma droga amplamente conhecida e utilizada no tratamento de doenças cardiovasculares, que por possuir uma intensa fluorescência despertou a curiosidade para investigarmos a possibilidade da sua utilização com camada eletroluminescente. A utilização do DIP como camada eletroluminescente resultou em um OLED com a maior luminância dos grupos estudados, 1500 cd/m2. O terceiro grupo é formado por OLEDs que utilizam moléculas de calixarenos ([Al . 1]3+ e [Zn . 1]2+ onde 1 = 8- oxiquinolinacalix[4]areno) como camada transportadora de elétrons e eletroluminescente. Foram estudados dois sistemas calixarenos, o primeiro sistema é coordenado com alumínio (calix[Al]3+) e o segundo coordenado com zinco (calix[Zn]2+). O sistema calix[Al]3+ apresentou uma interessante propriedade de cooperação entre o anel central calix e um grupamento quinolina coordenado com Al. Utilizando este mecanismo de sinergia produzimos um OLED sintonizável, o qual varia o pico de sua banda de eletroluminescência de 510 nm pra 470 nm em função da tensão aplicada. Desta forma a cor da luz emitida pelo dispositivo pode ser variada com continuidade do azul (X=0,26 : Y=0,33 coordenadas CIE) até o verde claro (X=0,18 : Y=0,25).Todos os sistemas orgânicos foram analisados de um ponto de vista térmico através da analise de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC), com a qual determinamos sua temperatura de transição vítrea (Tg). Com o auxilio de medidas eletroquímicas, estabelecemos um procedimento experimental simples e rápido para determinar os níveis energéticos HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) dos materiais orgânicos estudados na forma de filmes. Enfim, através da caracterização elétrica foi possível determinar o tipo de injeção de portadores que governa os dispositivos bem como o modelo que controla o transporte de cargas no interior dos OLEDs. / [en] In this work the results of the production and characterization of new organic electroluminescent devices (OLEDs) are presented and discussed. The work can be ideally divided in three parts. The first is composed by the OLEDs that use the distyrilbenzene (DSBs) compounds as electroluminescent layer. The DSBs are systems used in supramolecular Chemistry as bridges for load transfer. This is the first time that they are used in small molecule OLEDs. The second part deals with OLEDs based on dipyridamole (2; 6-bis(diethanolamino) - 4; 8 - dipiperidinopyrimido (5; 4-d)pyrimidine) (DIP) molecule, which is a very well known anti-platelet drug thoroughly used in the treatment of hearth diseases that for possessing an intense fluorescence woke up our curiosity in order to investigate the possibility of its use as electroluminescent layer. The use of DIP as electroluminescent layer resulted in a particular OLED with the highest luminance of the investigated devices, about 1500 cd/m2. Finally, the third part involves OLEDs that use calixarenes molecules [Al . 1]3+ and [Zn . 1] 2+ (1 = 8- oxyquinolinecalix[4]arene) as electroluminescent and electron transporting layer. In this work were studied two calixarenes systems: the first system is coordinated with aluminum (calix[Al]3+) and the second one is coordinated with zinc (calix[Zn]2+). The first one presented an interesting cooperation property among the central calix ring and the quinolina group coordinated with the Al metal. Using this synergic mechanism we were able to produce a tunable OLED, which electroluminescent emission varies continuously from 510 nm to 446 nm as a function of the applied bias voltage. All the organic compounds used in this work were analyzed from a thermal point of view through a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), in order to determine their transition glass temperature (Tg). By using electrochemistry measurements it was possible to establish a systematic and simple experimental procedure to determine the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) energy levels of the organic materials studied in the form of films. Finally, through the electrical characterization it was possible to determine the type of carrier injection that governs the fabricated devices as well as the model that controls the carrier transport inside the OLEDs.

abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs), or low-temperature liquid salts, are a class of materials with unique and useful properties. Made up entirely of ions, ILs are remarkably tunable and diverse as cations and anions can be mixed and matched to yield desired properties. Because of this, IL/water systems range widely—from homogeneous mixtures to multiphasic systems featuring ionic liquid/liquid interfaces. Even more diversity is added when particles are introduced to these systems, as hard particles or soft-matter microgels interact with both ILs and water in complex ways. This work examines both miscible ionic liquid/water mixture and two-phase, immiscible ionic liquid/water systems. Extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are utilized in conjunction with physical measurements to inform theoretical understanding of the nature of these systems, and this theoretical understanding is related to practical applications—in particular, the development of a low-temperature liquid electrolyte for use in molecular electronic transducer (MET) seismometers, and particle self-assembly and transport at ionic liquid/liquid interfaces such as those in Pickering emulsions. The homogenous mixture of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide and water is examined extensively through MD as well as physical characterization of properties. Molecular ordering within the liquid mixture is related to macroscopic properties. These mixtures are then used as the basis of an electrolyte with unusual characteristics, specifically a wide liquid temperature range with an extremely low lower bound combined with relatively low viscosity allowing excellent performance in the MET sensor. Electrolyte performance is further improved by the addition of fullerene nanoparticles, which dramatically increase device sensitivity. The reasons behind this effect are explored by testing the effect of graphene surface size and through MD simulations of fullerene and a silica nanoparticle (for contrast) in [BMIM][I]/water mixtures. Immiscible ionic liquid/water systems are explored through MD studies of particles at IL/water interfaces. By increasing the concentration of hydrophobic nanoparticles at the IL/water interface, one study discovers the formation of a commingled IL/water/particle pseudo-phase, and relates this discovery to previously-observed unique behaviors of these interfaces, particularly spontaneous particle transport across the interface. The other study demonstrates that IL hydrophobicity can influence the deformation of thermo-responsive soft particles at the liquid/liquid interface. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemical Engineering 2016