The forces of interaction were measured between the siderophore azotobactin and the minerals goethite (FeOOH) and diaspore (AlOOH) in solution using force microscopy. Azotobactin was covalently linked to a hydrazide terminated atomic force microscope tip using a standard protein coupling technique. Upon contact with each mineral surface, the adhesion force between azotobactin and goethite was two to three times the value observed for the isostructural Al-equivalent diaspore. The affinity for the solid iron oxide surface reflected in the force measurements correlates with the specificity of azotobactin for aqueous ferric iron. Further, the adhesion force between azotobactin and goethite significantly decreases when small amounts of soluble iron are added to the system suggesting a significant specific interaction between the azotobactin and the mineral surface. Changes in the force signature with pH and ionic strength were fairly predictable when considering mineral solubility, the charge character of the mineral surfaces, the molecular structure of azotobactin, and the intervening solution. Molecular and quantum mechanical calculations which were completed to further investigate the interaction between azotobactin and iron/aluminum oxide surfaces, and to more fully understand the force measurements, also showed an increased force affinity for Fe over Al. Ab initio calculations on siderophore fragment analogs suggest the iron affinity can be attributed to increased electron density associated with the Fe-O bond compared to the Al-O bond; an observation that correlates with iron's larger electronegativity compared to aluminum. Attachment of the ligand to each surface was directed by steric forces within the molecule and coulombic interactions between the siderophore oxygens and the metals in the mineral. Chelating ligand pairs coordinated with neighboring metal atoms in a bidentate, binuclear geometry. Upon simulated retraction of azotobactin from each surface, the Fe-O(siderophore) bonds persisted into a higher force regime than Al-O(siderophore) bonds, and surface metals were removed from both minerals. Extrapolation of the model to more realistic hydrated conditions using a PCM model in the quantum mechanical calculations and water clusters in the molecular mechanical model demonstrated that the presence of water energetically favors and enhances metal extraction, making this a real possibility in a natural system. / Ph. D.

The research presented in this dissertation pertains to the evaluation of stiffness of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a multiscale framework and modeling of the interfacial mechanical behavior in CNT-polymer nanocomposites. The goal is to study the mechanical behavior of CNTs and CNT-polymer interfaces at the atomic level, and utilize this information to develop predictive capabilities of material behavior at the macroscale. Stiffness of CNTs is analyzed through quantum mechanical (QM) calculations while the CNT-polymer interface is examined using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. CNT-polymer-matrix composites exhibit promising properties as structural materials and constitutive models are sought to predict their macroscale behavior. The reliability of determining the homogenized response of such materials depends upon the ability to accurately capture the interfacial behavior between the nanotubes and the polymer matrix. In the proposed work, atomistic methods are be used to investigate the behavior of the interface by utilizing appropriately chosen atomistic representative volume elements (RVEs). Atomistic simulations are conducted on the RVEs to study mechanical separation with and without covalent functionalization between the polymeric matrix and two filler materials, namely graphite and a (12,0) Single Wall zig zag CNT. The information obtained from atomistic studies of separation is applicable for higher level length scale models as cohesive zone properties. The results of the present research have been correlated with available experimental data from characterization efforts.

Group 3 metal clusters are synthesized by laser vaporization in a pulsed cluster beam source and identified with laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The adiabatic ionization energies and vibrational frequencies of these clusters are measured using mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy. Their structures and electronic states are determined by combining the MATI spectra with quantum chemical calculations and spectral simulations. This dissertation focuses on the study of several small molecules, which include LaO2, La2, M2O2, M3O4, M3C2, and La3C2O, where M = Sc, Y, and La. Except for La2, these molecules exhibit strong ionic characters between the metal and oxygen or carbon atoms and can be described as [O-][La2+][O-], [M2+]2[O2-]2, [M8/3+]3[O2-]4, [M2+]3[C3-]2, and [La8/3+]3[C3-]2[O2-]. The interactions between the metal atoms form covalent bonds, which can be described by a triple bond in La2, a two-center two electron bond in M2O2, a three-center one electron bond in M3O4, and a three-center three electron bond in M3C2. In addition, the electron in the non-bonding highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is localized in the La 6s orbital in LaO2 and La3C2O. The ground states of these molecules are all in low electron-spin states with the spin multiplicities of 1 or 2. Although the ground electronic state of LaO2 is a linear structure, the excited quartet state of the molecule is determined to be a bent structure. M2O2 and M3O4 have the planar rhombic and cage-like structures, respectively; whereas M3C2 has a trigonal bipyramid structure. La3C2O is formed by oxygen binding with two La atoms of La3C2. Ionization removes a metal-based (n+1)s electron in all neutral molecules, and the resultant ions have similar geometries to those of the corresponding neutral states. In the case of La2, additional ionization of a La 5d electron is also observed.

No description available.

CAETANO, Márcia de Windson Costa. Polimorfismo da Clorpropamida investigado através de Espectroscopia Vibracional. 2006. 141 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Física) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Física, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2006. / Submitted by Edvander Pires (edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-05-21T22:22:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_mwccaetano.pdf: 3508898 bytes, checksum: d30348bd90f71bc8902edd696cad9095 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edvander Pires(edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-05-22T19:39:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_mwccaetano.pdf: 3508898 bytes, checksum: d30348bd90f71bc8902edd696cad9095 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-22T19:39:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2006_dis_mwccaetano.pdf: 3508898 bytes, checksum: d30348bd90f71bc8902edd696cad9095 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Chlorpropamide (C10H13ClN2O3S, (1-[4-chlorobenzenesulphonyl]-3-propyl urea)) is a drug used to treat type II diabetes (non-dependent of insulin), especially when the diabetes can not be controlled by alimentary regimes. The polymorphism of this drug is widely documented exhibiting at least five crystalline forms. In this work, we present a vibrational study of four of these polymorphs by using Raman, infrared and near-infrared spectroscopies. The objective of this vibrational investigation is to correlate the vibrational modes with the possible crystalline structures, as well as, to evaluate these methods as a tool for identification and quality control of raw materials and formulated products. In order to provide a detailed characterization we also applied thermal analyses and x-ray powder diffraction techniques to identify the crystalline forms. Finally, the assignment of the bands observed in the vibrational spectra in terms of the normal vibrational modes was performed with the help the quantum mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory. These results allow us to investigate the conformational stability of chlorpropamide establishing correlations with the polymorphism of this drug. / A clorpropamida (C10H13ClN2O3S, (1-[4-chlorobenzenesulphonyl]-3-propyl urea)) é uma droga usada para tratar o diabetes tipo II (não dependente da insulina), em particular em pessoas cujo diabetes não pode ser controlada só pelo regime alimentício. O polimorfismo desta droga se encontra amplamente documentado exibindo, pelo menos, cinco diferentes formas cristalinas. Neste trabalho apresentamos um estudo de quatro destes polimorfos através das espectroscopias Raman, infravermelho e infravermelho próximo. O objetivo desta investigação vibracional é estabelecer correlações entre os modos vibracionais e as possíveis estruturas cristalinas, além de avaliar estes métodos como ferramentas para a identificação e controle de qualidade das matérias primas e produtos formulados. No intuito de prover uma caracterização detalhada também empregamos análises térmicas e difração de raios- X para a identificação prévia das formas cristalinas. Finalmente, a classificação das bandas observadas nos espectros vibracionais em termos dos modos normais de vibração da molécula foi realizada com a ajuda de cálculos computacionais baseados na teoria do funcional de densidade. Estes resultados também nos permitiram investigar a estabilidade conformacional da clorpropamida e estabelecer correlações com o polimorfismo da mesma.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A clorpropamida (C10H13ClN2O3S, (1-[4-chlorobenzenesulphonyl]-3-propyl urea)) à uma droga usada para tratar o diabetes tipo II (nÃo dependente da insulina), em particular em pessoas cujo diabetes nÃo pode ser controlada sà pelo regime alimentÃcio. O polimorfismo desta droga se encontra amplamente documentado exibindo, pelo menos, cinco diferentes formas cristalinas. Neste trabalho apresentamos um estudo de quatro destes polimorfos atravÃs das espectroscopias Raman, infravermelho e infravermelho prÃximo. O objetivo desta investigaÃÃo vibracional à estabelecer correlaÃÃes entre os modos vibracionais e as possÃveis estruturas cristalinas, alÃm de avaliar estes mÃtodos como ferramentas para a identificaÃÃo e controle de qualidade das matÃrias primas e produtos formulados. No intuito de prover uma caracterizaÃÃo detalhada tambÃm empregamos anÃlises tÃrmicas e difraÃÃo de raios- X para a identificaÃÃo prÃvia das formas cristalinas. Finalmente, a classificaÃÃo das bandas observadas nos espectros vibracionais em termos dos modos normais de vibraÃÃo da molÃcula foi realizada com a ajuda de cÃlculos computacionais baseados na teoria do funcional de densidade. Estes resultados tambÃm nos permitiram investigar a estabilidade conformacional da clorpropamida e estabelecer correlaÃÃes com o polimorfismo da mesma. / Chlorpropamide (C10H13ClN2O3S, (1-[4-chlorobenzenesulphonyl]-3-propyl urea)) is a drug used to treat type II diabetes (non-dependent of insulin), especially when the diabetes can not be controlled by alimentary regimes. The polymorphism of this drug is widely documented exhibiting at least five crystalline forms. In this work, we present a vibrational study of four of these polymorphs by using Raman, infrared and near-infrared spectroscopies. The objective of this vibrational investigation is to correlate the vibrational modes with the possible crystalline structures, as well as, to evaluate these methods as a tool for identification and quality control of raw materials and formulated products. In order to provide a detailed characterization we also applied thermal analyses and x-ray powder diffraction techniques to identify the crystalline forms. Finally, the assignment of the bands observed in the vibrational spectra in terms of the normal vibrational modes was performed with the help the quantum mechanical calculations based on the density functional theory. These results allow us to investigate the conformational stability of chlorpropamide establishing correlations with the polymorphism of this drug.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Molecular polarizability plays a significant role in chemistry, biology, and medicine. Classical prediction of polarizability often relies on atomic-type specific polarizability optimized for training set molecules, which limits the calculations to systems of similar chemical environment. Although ab initio (AI) quantum mechanical (QM) methods are more transferable in predicting molecular polarizability, their high computational costs especially when used with large basis sets for obtaining quantitatively reliable results make them less practical. To obtain accurate QM polarizability in an efficient manner, we have developed a dual-level approach, where the polarizability (α) obtained from the efficient semiempirical QM (SE) method is corrected using a set of element-base atomic polarizabilities derived from the atomic dipole interaction model (ADIM) to reproduce the density functional theory (DFT) results. We have optimized the atomic polarizability correction parameters for CHON-containing systems using a small training set of molecules and tested the resulting SE-ADIM model on the neutral drug-like molecules in the QM7B database. SE-ADIM corrected AM1 showed substantial improvement with its relative percent error (RPE) compared to B3LYP reduced from 33.81% to 3.35%. To further test its robustness for larger molecules in broader chemical bonding situations, we applied this method to a collection of drug molecules from the e-Drug3D database. For the 1004 molecules tested, our SE-ADIM model, which only contains four empirical parameters, greatly reduces the RPE in AM1 polarizability relative to B3LYP from 26.8% to 2.9%. Error decomposition shows consistent improvements across molecules with diverse bond saturations, molecular sizes, and charge states. In addition, we have applied AlphaML, a promising machine learning (ML) technique for predicting molecular polarizability, to the e-Drug3D dataset to compare its performance with our SE-ADIM correction of AM1. We found SE-ADIM performs competitively with AlphaML bolstering our confidence in the value of our method. Errors distinct to AlphaML were also discovered. We found four molecules for which AlphaML predicts negative molecular polarizabilities, all of which were peroxides. In contrast, SE-ADIM has no such issue with these molecules or this chemical type. Finally, to improve performance of SE-ADIM when correcting AM1 molecular polarizability calculations for charged molecules, we introduce a charge dependent polarizability (CDP) enabled SE-ADIM. Training the CDP enabled SE-ADIM with a single additional parameter, B, we were able to reduce error in AM1 molecular polarizability calculations of charged molecules relative to B3LYP from 29.57% to 5.16%. By contrast, SE-ADIM without CDP corrected AM1 relative to B3LYP had an RPE of 8.56%. The most benefit of CDP was evident within negatively charged molecules where AM1 error relative to B3LYP fell from 32.20% to 3.77% while SE-ADIM without CDP enabled error for these same negative molecules was 10.06%.

[pt] Neste trabalho investigou-se a complexação entre o íon alumínio e ligantes como a adenosina 5-trifosfato, a fosfocreatina e aminoácidos pelas técnicas de titulação potenciométrica, espectroscopia Raman e cálculos teóricos em solução aquosa, para conhecer as características dos compostos formados. O estudo visou subsidiar o entendimento dos mecanismos de absorção e biodisponibilidade do alumínio. Tal compreensão poderia auxiliar as pesquisas clínicas relacionadas à prevenção e ao tratamento de doenças neurodegenerativas. O alumínio está presente na água e em vegetais, carnes, laticínios e aditivos alimentares. Soluções de nutrição parenteral, fórmulas infantis e medicamentos podem conter alumínio também. Em fluidos corporais, os nucleosídeos di e trifosfatos e os aminoácidos são bons ligantes para o íon alumínio. Biomoléculas da baixa massa molecular formam complexos que aumentam o pH de precipitação do íon e sua absorção gastrointestinal. Esta pesquisa analisou seis complexos formados com o íon alumínio em solução aquosa. Os compostos binários, tetraaquaadenosina5- trifosfato alumínio(III) e aquafosfocreatina alumínio(III), foram estudados por espectroscopia Raman e cálculos quantomecânicos. As análises dos complexos ternários, adenosina5-trifosfatodiaquacisteína aluminato(III), adenosina5-trifosfatotriaquametionina aluminato(III), aquacisteínafosfocreatina aluminato(III) e aquafosfocreatinametionina aluminato(III), envolveram ainda a potenciometria. Os cálculos computacionais usaram a teoria do funcional de densidade com o funcional híbrido (B3LYP), a base 6-311++G(d,p) e consideraram o efeito do solvente água pelo modelo de contínuo polarizável. Eles englobaram a obtenção de parâmetros geométricos, o cálculo do espectro Raman e a descrição da superfície de contorno do potencial eletrostático e do mapa do potencial eletrostático. No que tange os complexos binários, as análises ratificaram o comportamento bidentado da adenosina 5-trifosfato por um oxigênio do fosfato alfa e um oxigênio do fosfato beta. No complexo formado entre o íon alumínio e a fosfocreatina, o ligante atua como tridentado por um oxigênio do fosfato, um oxigênio do carboxilato e um nitrogênio. Os mapas do potencial eletrostático apontaram a presença de regiões neutras ao redor dos átomos e como as cargas totais das moléculas eram zero, elas devem ser solúveis em lipídios. Nos complexos ternários, os modos de coordenação da adenosina 5-trifosfato e da fosfocreatina adotados nos compostos binários se mantêm. A cisteína se comporta como bidentada por um oxigênio do carboxilato e um nitrogênio. Na espécie adenosina5-trifosfatotriaquametionina aluminato(III), a metionina atua como monodentada pelo oxigênio do carboxilato. A despeito da carga total negativa dos complexos, as moléculas não apresentam um potencial eletrostático tão negativo e possuem uma estrutura estável. Quatro outros sistemas ternários, o alumínio(III):adenosina 5-trifosfato:homocisteína, o alumínio(III):fosfocreatina:homocisteína, o alumínio(III):adenosina 5-trifosfato: penicilamina e o alumínio(III):fosfocreatina:penicilamina, foram examinados apenas por potenciometria. Ela mostrou a ocorrência de várias reações de complexação e diversos complexos são formados de acordo com o pH. Comumente, o alumínio(III) se torna insolúvel entre pH 2,5 a 5,5. Todavia, isso não ocorreu. Os resultados exibiram a variedade do comportamento dos ligantes na complexação com o íon alumínio. As pesquisas sugerem como podem estar formados alguns complexos nos organismos vivos. / [en] This thesis investigated complexation reactions between aluminum(III) and ligands such as adenosine 5-triphosphate, phosphocreatine and amino acids by potentiometry, Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations in aqueous solution, with the aim to know the proprieties of formed complexes. The study was important to improve the knowledge about absorption mechanisms and bioavailability of aluminum(III). This learning could help clinical researches about prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Aluminum is present in water and in vegetables, animal products and food additives. Parenteral nutrition solutions, infant formulas and medications also contain aluminum. In fluids, di- and triphosphate nucleosides and amino acids are good ligands for aluminum(III). Low molecular mass biomolecules form complexes which increase the pH of precipitation of the metal ion and its gastrointestinal absorption. This study analyzed six complexes with aluminum ions in aqueous solution. The binary compounds tetraaquaadenosine 5-triphosphate aluminum(III) and aquaphosphocreatine aluminum(III) were studied by Raman spectroscopy and quantum mechanical calculations. The analysis of the ternary complexes adenosine5-triphosphatediaquacysteine aluminate(III), adenosine5’- triphosphatetriaquamethionine aluminate(III), aquacysteinephosphocreatine aluminate(III) and aquaphosphocreatinemethionine aluminate(III) also involved potentiometry. Computational calculations used density functional theory with the hybrid functional B3LYP and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set regarding water solvent effects by the polarizable continuum model. They included the assessment of geometrical parameters, Raman spectrum calculations and the description of electrostatic potential contour surfaces and mapped electrostatic potential. Regarding the binary complexes, analyses confirmed the bidentate behavior of adenosine 5-triphosphate through one oxygen of the phosphate beta and one oxygen of the phosphate gamma. In the complex that formed between aluminum(III) and phosphocreatine, the ligand behaved as a tridentate, coordinated through one oxygen in the phosphate, one oxygen in the carboxylate and one nitrogen in the guanidine group. The electrostatic potential maps pointed out the presence of neutral regions around atoms and, as the total charge of these molecules was zero, they should be soluble in lipids. In the ternary complexes, the coordination modes of adenosine 5-triphosphate and phosphocreatine adopted in binary compounds remained. Cysteine behaved as a bidentate ligand through one carboxylate oxygen and nitrogen. In the adenosine5- triphosphatetriaquamethionine aluminate(III) species, methionine acted as a monodentate ligand via the carboxylate oxygen. Despite the negative net charge of the complexes, they did not exhibit a negative electrostatic potential and had stable structures. The four other ternary systems, aluminum(III):adenosine 5- triphosphate:homocysteine, aluminum(III):phosphocreatine:homocysteine, aluminum(III):adenosine 5-triphosphate:penicillamine and aluminum(III): phosphocreatine:penicillamine, were examined only by potentiometry. The results showed the occurrence of various complexation reactions, and several complexes are formed depending on the pH. Commonly, aluminum(III) becomes insoluble between pH 2.5 to 5.5. However, this did not occur. These results bring to light the multiplicity of ligand behaviors in complexation with aluminum(III). This research also suggests that some complexes may be formed in living organisms.

Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) are produced by alloying together a “chalcogen” element” (S, Se or Te) with other elements, generally from group V (Sb, As) or group IV (Ge, Si) to form covalently bonded solids. A variety of stable non-crystalline materials can be prepared in bulk, fiber, and thin film forms using melt-quenching, vacuum deposition, and other less common techniques. Being amorphous semiconductors, ChGs exhibit a variety of photo-induced phenomena when irradiated with proper light and therefore find a wide range of technological applications (optical data storage, telecommunications, IR optics, etc). As research in this field is strongly driven by the needs of high-tech industry, physical properties related to the applications are more systematically investigated than the atomic structure, which is ultimately related to the macroscopic properties. A shortcoming of not having yet established microstructure-properties relations in ChGs is the lack of a strategic design of new materials for specific applications. The present study is a systematic investigation of properties for various families of ChGs using experimental techniques that probe structure (near infrared Raman scattering, x-ray and neutron diffraction, EXAFS), dynamics (IR-Photon correlation spectroscopy), thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry) and glass morphology (scanning electron microscopy). Particular emphasis is given on binary and pseudo-ternary ChGs, which are the basis of more complex multi-component glasses, such as As-Se, Sb-Se, As-Te, Ge-S, Ge-S-AgI, As-Se-AgI, As-Se-Ag, As-S-AgI, As-S-Ag etc. over a wide glass composition range. The binary systems are known for their significant optical properties while the Ag-doped glasses belong to the class of superionic conductors. Although some of these glass-forming systems have been extensively studied in the literature, several details concerning the atomic arrangement are still not fully understood, partly due to that some of these glasses are phase separated at the microscale; a fact that is usually overlooked in related studies. In the present study, using high-resolution off-resonant Raman conditions and a more elaborate analysis of the Raman spectra, in conjunction with thermal and morphological data, we have been able to obtain a better understanding of atomic structure and to advance structure-properties relations for both the homogeneous and phase separated glasses. / Μια κατηγορία υαλωδών υλικών, γνωστή ως χαλκογονούχες ύαλοι αρχίζει να κερδίζει σημαντικό έδαφος στον τομέα των εφαρμογών λόγω των φωτονικών ιδιοτήτων που διαθέτουν. Ως χαλκογονούχες ύαλοι θεωρούνται οι υαλώδεις ενώσεις στις οποίες ένα τουλάχιστον περιέχει ένα από τα στοιχεία χαλκογόνων S, Se, και Te. Η ανάμιξη των στοιχείων αυτών με στοιχεία όπως Sb, As, Ge, Si, κλ.π. οδηγεί στο σχηματισμό σταθερών ομοιοπολικών υαλωδών ενώσεων. Το γεγονός ότι οι χαλκογονούχες ύαλοι είναι άμορφοι ημιαγωγοί έχει ως αποτέλεσμα την εμφάνιση πλήθους φωτο-επαγόμενων φαινομένων όταν οι ενώσεις αυτές ακτινοβοληθούν με φως κατάλληλου μήκους κύματος (συγκρίσιμο με το ενεργειακό τους χάσμα). Οι φωτο-επαγόμενες αλλαγές απορρέουν από τις αλλαγές οι οποίες επέρχονται στην ατομική δομή του υλικού (φωτο-δομικές αλλαγές). Τα φωτο-επαγόμενα φαινόμενα είναι εκμεταλλεύσιμα σε πλήθος τεχνολογικών εφαρμογών, για παράδειγμα στην οπτική αποθήκευση πληροφορίας (DVD), σε οπτικά που λειτουργούν στο υπέρυθρο, στις τηλεπικοινωνίες κλπ. Καθώς η έρευνα πάνω στο εν λόγω επιστημονικό πεδίο καθορίζεται σε μεγάλο βαθμό από τις ανάγκες για βιώσιμες τεχνολογικές εφαρμογές, οι φυσικές ιδιότητες, οι οποίες σχετίζονται άμεσα με τις εφαρμογές, έχουν μελετηθεί εντατικότερα και πιο συστηματικά από την ατομική δομή η οποία είναι κατά βάση υπεύθυνη για τα φωτο-επαγόμενα φαινόμενα. Αυτό έχει ως μειονέκτημα την απουσία συσχετισμών μεταξύ μικροσκοπικών και μακροσκοπικών ιδιοτήτων με αποτέλεσμα την απουσία στρατηγικού σχεδιασμού νέων λειτουργικών υλικών με τις επιθυμητές ιδιότητες. Η παρούσα διατριβή περιλαμβάνει μια συστηματική μελέτη διαφόρων οικογενειών χαλκογονούχων υάλων με τη χρήση πειραματικών τεχνικών οι οποίες διερευνούν την ατομική δομή (σκέδαση Raman, περίθλαση ακτίνων-X και νετρονίων, EXAFS), τις θερμικές ιδιότητες (διαφορική θερμιδομετρία σάρωσης) και την μορφολογία των υάλων (ηλεκτρονική μικροσκοπία σάρωσης). Ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δόθηκε σε δυαδικά και ψευδο-δυαδικά συστήματα χαλκογονούχων υάλων τα οποία συμπεριλαμβάνουν As-Se, Sb-Se, As-Te, Ge-S, Ge-S-AgI, As-Se-AgI, As-Se-Ag, As-S-AgI, As-S-Ag κλπ. για μεγάλο εύρος συστάσεων της κάθε οικογένειας. Τα δυαδικά συστήματα είναι γνωστά για τις εξαίρετες οπτικές τους ιδιότητες ενώ οι ύαλοι με προσμίξεις Αργύρου ανήκουν στην κατηγορία των υπεριοντικών υάλων με αρκετά υψηλές ιοντικές αγωγιμότητες που χαρακτηρίζονται από μικροσκοπικό διαχωρισμό φάσεων σε συγκεκριμένες συγκεντρώσεις του Αργύρου. Παρά το γεγονός ότι ορισμένα από τα προαναφερθέντα άμορφα υλικά έχουν κατ’ επανάληψη μελετηθεί στο παρελθόν, ακριβείς πληροφορίες σχετικά με την ατομική δομή τους δεν είναι διαθέσιμες, εν μέρει εξ’ αιτίας της ελλιπούς πειραματικής προσέγγισης και εν μέρει λόγω του μικροσκοπικού διαχωρισμού φάσεων που χαρακτηρίζει τις υάλους με πρόσμιξη Αργύρου, γεγονός το οποίο συχνά αμελείται σε προγενέστερες μελέτες. Στην παρούσα διατριβή, χρησιμοποιώντας τη φασματοσκοπία σκέδασης Raman υψηλής ανάλυσης και μακριά από συνθήκες συντονισμού, σε συνδυασμό με θερμικά και μορφολογικά δεδομένα των υάλων, κατέστη δυνατό να αποκτηθεί μια πιο σφαιρική γνώσης σχετικά με την ατομικής κλίμακας δομή των υάλων και να προαχθούν συσχετισμοί δομής-ιδιοτήτων τόσο για ομοιογενή όσο και για ανομοιογενείς υάλους.

Βασικός στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η αποσαφήνιση του τρόπου της διεπιφανειακής εναπόθεσης του νικελίου στην επιφάνεια της τιτάνιας, η οποία λαμβάνει χώρα στη διεπιφάνεια “τιτάνιας / ηλεκτρολυτικού διαλύματος”. Ο στόχος αυτός επιτεύχθηκε μέσω μιας κατάλληλης θεωρητικής και υπολογιστικής επεξεργασίας δεδομένων, που προέρχονται από την εφαρμογή ηλεκτροχημικών και φασματοσκοπικών τεχνικών, την εκτέλεση πειραμάτων προσρόφησης, καθώς επίσης και σε ab – initio υπολογισμούς για την εξακρίβωση της δομής των συμπλόκων εσωτερικής σφαίρας τα οποία σχηματίζονται και των συγκεντρώσεών τους στη διεπιφάνεια. Δείγματα βιομηχανικής τιτάνιας (Degussa, P 25) πλούσιας σε ανατάση χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για το σκοπό αυτό. Η μελέτη πραγματοποιήθηκε για μια ευρεία περιοχή παραμέτρων εμποτισμού και πιο συγκεκριμένα τιμές pH, ιονικής ισχύος και συγκέντρωσης του υδατικού συμπλόκου [Ni(H2O)6]2+ στο διάλυμα. Μεταβάλλοντας τις παραμέτρους αυτές ρυθμίστηκε η επιφανειακή συγκέντρωση των ιόντων Ni(II). Χρησιμοποιήθηκε μια πληθώρα μεθοδολογιών στηριγμένες σε δεδομένα εναπόθεσης, μετρήσεις τιμών pH, ποτενσιομετρικές τιτλοδοτήσεις μάζας και πειράματα μικροηλεκτροφόρησης σε συνδυασμό με φασματοσκοπία διάχυτης ανάκλασης (DRS). Ο συνδυασμός όλων των παραπάνω φαίνεται πως υποδεικνύει το σχηματισμό μονοπυρηνικών / ολιγοπυρηνικών συμπλόκων εσωτερικής σφαίρας κατά την εναπόθεση των ιόντων [Ni(H2O)6]2+ στη διεπιφάνεια “τιτάνιας / ηλεκτρολυτικού διαλύματος”. Η μοντελοποίηση της διαδικασίας εναπόθεσης η οποία βασίστηκε στα προαναφερθέντα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα, αποκάλυψε την ακριβή δομή αυτών των επιφανειακών συμπλόκων και κατέστησε δυνατό τον προσδιορισμό της κατανομής των εναποτιθέμενων ειδών και ειδικότερα των σχετικών τους συγκεντρώσεων για διάφορες τιμές της επιφανειακής συγκέντρωσης Ni(II). Στο συμπαγές τμήμα της διεπιφάνειας “τιτάνιας / ηλεκτρολυτικού διαλύματος” σχηματίζονται τρία μονοπυρηνικά σύμπλοκα εσωτερικής σφαίρας: ένα μονο - υποκατεστημένο, δι - υδρολυμένο σύμπλοκο πάνω από τις ακραίες οξο - ομάδες ανταλλάσοντας ένα υδατικό υποκαταστάτη με ένα επιφανειακό άτομο οξυγόνου (διαμόρφωση TiO), ένα δι - υποκατεστημένο, δι - υδρολυμένο σύμπλοκο πάνω από δύο ακραίες γειτονικές οξο - ομάδες ανταλλάσοντας δύο υδατικούς υποκαταστάτες με δύο επιφανειακά άτομα οξυγόνου (διαμόρφωση TiO - TiO) και ένα δι - υποκατεστημένο μη υδρολυμένο σύμπλοκο πάνω από μία ακραία και μία γεφυρωμένη οξο - ομάδα (διαμόρφωση Ti2O - TiO). Επιπρόσθετα, σχηματίζονται ένα διπυρηνικό και ένα τριπυρηνικό σύμπλοκο εσωτερικής σφαίρας κατά την εναπόθεση των ιόντων [Ni(H2O)6]2+ στο συμπαγές τμήμα της διεπιφάνειας “τιτάνιας / ηλεκτρολυτικού διαλύματος”. Στην πρώτη περίπτωση η θέση υποδοχής συμπεριλαμβάνει μία γεφυρωμένη και δύο ακραίες οξο - ομάδες (διαμόρφωση Ti2O-TiO—TiO), ενώ στη δεύτερη περίπτωση δύο γεφυρωμένες και τρεις ακραίες οξο - ομάδες (διαμόρφωση Ti2O-TiO—TiO—TiO-Ti2O). Η διαμόρφωση TiO κυριαρχεί σε όλο το εύρος της περιοχής επιφανειακών συγκεντρώσεων το οποίο μελετήθηκε. Η συνεισφορά των διαμορφώσεων TiO - TiO και Ti2O - TiO είναι επίσης σημαντική σε πολύ χαμηλές τιμές επιφανειακής συγκέντρωσης Ni(II), μειώνεται όμως σε μεγάλο βαθμό καθώς αυτή αυξάνεται. Οι σχετικές επιφανειακές συγκεντρώσεις των διαμορφώσεων Ti2O-TiO--TiO και Ti2O-TiO—TiO--TiO-Ti2O αρχικά αυξάνουν με την επιφανειακή συγκέντρωση Ni(II) και μετά μένουν πρακτικά σταθερές. Η προαναφερθείσα κατανομή των εναποτιθέμενων ειδών στη διεπιφάνεια εξηγήθηκε με τη χρήση στερεοχημικών όρων. Επιπρόσθετα, η δομή των επιφανειακών συμπλόκων εσωτερικής σφαίρας και η κατανομή αυτή είναι σε γενική συμφωνία με εκείνες οι οποίες προβλέφθηκαν με την εκτέλεση ημιεμπειρικών κβαντομηχανικών υπολογισμών για την εναπόθεση του Ni στο TiO2. Το μοντέλο εναπόθεσης το οποίο αναπτύχθηκε περιέγραψε πολύ καλά τις adsorption edges, τις τιτλοδοτήσεις “πρωτονίου - ιόντος” και τις ισόθερμες εναπόθεσης, ενισχύοντας επιπλέον την αξιοπιστία και ορθότητά του. / The main goal of this work is the elucidation of the mode of interfacial deposition of nickel on the surface of titania, which takes place in the “titania / electrolytic solution” interface. This goal was achieved through the use of several methodologies combined with spectroscopic techniques, as well as ab – initio calculations in order to determine the structure of the inner sphere complexes formed as well as their relative interfacial concentrations. Samples of titania (Degussa, P 25) rich in anatase were used for this purpose. The study was performed over a quite wide range of impregnation parameters namely pH, ionic strength and concentration of the [Ni(H2O)6]2+ aqua complex in the solution. By changing these parameters, the Ni(II) surface concentration was regulated. Several methodologies based on deposition data, pH measurements, potentiometric mass titrations and microelectrophoresis have been used in conjunction with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. These suggested the formation of mono - nuclear / oligo - nuclear inner sphere complexes upon deposition of the [Ni(H2O)6]+2 ions at the “titania / electrolytic solution” interface. The modelling of the deposition process based on the aforementioned experimental results revealed the exact structure of these surface complexes and allowed the determination of their relative concentrations at various values of Ni(II) surface concentration (interfacial speciation). Three mono-nuclear inner sphere complexes are formed at the compact layer of the “titania / electolytic solution” interface; one mono - substituted, di - hydrolyzed complex above the terminal oxo - groups by exchanging one water ligand with a surface oxygen atom (TiO configuration), a di - substituted, di - hydrolyzed complex above two terminal adjacent oxo - groups by exchanging two water ligands with the two surface oxygen atoms (TiO-TiO configuration) and one di - substituted, non - hydrolyzed complex above one terminal and one bridging adjacent oxo - groups ( Ti2O-TiO configuration). One binuclear and one three - nuclear complex are formed, in addition, at the compact layer. In the first case the receptor site involves one bridging and two terminal oxo- groups (Ti2O-TiO--TiO configuration) whereas in the second case the receptor site involves two bridging and three terminal oxo - groups (Ti2O-TiO--TiO--TiO-Ti2O configuration). The TiO configuration predominates in the whole range of the surface concentration studied. The contribution of the TiO-TiO and Ti2O-TiO configurations is also important at very low Ni(II) surface concentration, but this contribution is rapidly decreased as the Ni(II) surface concentration increases. The relative surface concentrations of the Ti2O-TiO--TiO and Ti2O-TiO--TiO--TiO-Ti2O configurations initially increase with the Ni(II) surface concentration and then remain practically constant. The aforementioned interfacial speciation was explained in stereochemical terms. Moreover, the structure of the inner sphere surface complexes and the interfacial speciation are in general agreement with those predicted by performing semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations of the deposition process. The deposition model developed has described the ‘adsorption edges’, the ‘proton–ion titration curves’ and the deposition isotherms well, further corroborating its validity.