Nanocrystals are an important field of study in the 21st century. Crystallites that are nanometers in size have very different properties from their bulk analogs because quantum mechanical effects become dominant at such small length scales. When a crystallite becomes small enough, the quantum confinement of electrons in the material manifests as a size-dependence of the nanocrystal's properties. Electrical and optical properties such as absorbance, surface plasmon resonance, and photoluminescence are sensitive to the size of the nanocrystal and proffer an array of technological applications for nanocrystals in such fields as biological imaging, laser technology, solar power enhancement, LED modification, chemical sensors, and quantum computation.The synthesis of size-controlled nanocrystals is critical to using nanocrystal in applications for their size-dependent properties. The development of nanocrystal synthesis techniques has been its own entire field of study for two decades or more, and several successes have established novel, utilitarian protocols for the mass-production of nanocrystals with controlled size and very low polydispersity. However, the experimental successes are generally poorly understood and no theoretical framework exists to explain the dynamics of these processes and how to better control or optimize them. It is the goal of this thesis to develop novel theories of nanocrystal synthesis processes to describe these phenomena in theoretical detail and extract meaningful correlations and driving forces that provide the necessary insight to improve the technology and enhance our understanding of nanocrystal growth. Chapter 4, 5 and 6 comprise all the novel research conducted for this thesis, with Chapters 1, 2 and 3 serving as necessary background to understanding the current state of the art. In Chapter 4, we develop a quantitative describe of the process of size focusing, in which a population of polydisperse nanocrystals, which are useless for applications, can be made more monodisperse by the injection of new crystallizable material. We derive mass balance equations that relate the rate of new-material generation to changes in the growth patterns of the nanocrystals. Specifically, we determine that only when the rate of crystal-material production is sustained at a high level can size focusing occur and a monodisperse sample of nanocrystals be produced. Quantitative criteria are provided for how high the rate of production must be, and the quantitative effects on the nanocrystal size distribution function for various magnitudes of the production rate. The effect of the production rate on every facet of the size distribution function is evaluated analytically and confirmed numerically. Furthermore, through comparison of the theory to experimental data, it is determined that a typical nanocrystal synthesis accidentally correlates two variables that are critical to the phenomenon of size focusing. The unknowingly correlated variables have frustrated experimental investigations of the same insights we provided with theory. We recommend a new synthesis protocol that decouples the critical variables, and thus permit the quantitative control of nanocrystal size and polydispersity through theoretical relations, which can also be generalized for the a priori design and optimization of nanocrystal synthesis techniques. In Chapter 5, a theoretical investigation of the growth of surfactant-coated nanocrystals is undertaken. The surfactants create a layer around the nanocrystal that has different transport properties than the bulk solution, and therefore has a strong effect on diffusion-limited growth of nanocrystals. This effect of a surfactant layer is investigated through the lens of the LSW theory of Ostwald ripening as well as through the lens of our own theory of size focusing from Chapter 4. The quantitative effect of a surfactant layer on the various growth processes of spherical nanocrystals is determined, with the result that size focusing can potentially be enhanced by the choice of an appropriate surfactant for a particular nanocrystal material. In addition to the kinetic studies of Chapter 4 and 5, a thermodynamic investigation of surfactant-coated nanocrystals is conducted in Chapter 6, with the goal of understanding the process known as "digestive ripening". In digestive ripening, a population of polydisperse gold nanocrystals is exposed to a strongly binding surfactant, at which point the nanocrystals spontaneously shrink and become highly monodisperse. Different surfactants and different crystal materials can exhibit digestive ripening. Those same materials also have the capacity to be digested further from nanocrystals into molecular clusters that eliminate all crystalline material in favor of surfactant-crystal coordination. The outstanding question is, why does the spontaneous digestive ripening process appear to make large nanocrystals shrink to small nanocrystals, but it does not force small nanocrystals to shrink further to molecular clusters? We construct a full Gibbs free energy model, which we minimize under multiple constraints to obtain quantitative relations for what thermodynamic properties (such as the surfactant binding energy and the crystal-solvent surface energy) govern the existence and size-dependence of a thermodynamically stable nanocrystal. Through our model, we determine that a finite-size nanocrystal is only stable under two possible conditions: either the surfactant-crystal binding is stronger than the crystal-crystal binding and the system contains too few surfactants to form molecular clusters and thus "surfactant-lean" nanocrystals are created, or the surfactantsurfactant intermolecular interactions are sufficiently strong that the nanocrystal core is treated as a swollen micelle in a microemulsion and is stabilized by the surfactant tails' interactions. Quantitative equations are provided that establish what trends and values are expected for experimental results. The results are inconclusive: there is no evidence supporting either conclusion because the available experimental data is insufficient. More accurately, many thermodynamically critical parameters (like the crystal surface energy) are unknown and are practically immeasurable in experimental systems. Speaking generally, the evidence for the surfactant-lean condition is moderately better than the evidence for the microemulsion condition, but in both cases the evidence is insufficient to make a solid conclusion. We therefore use our quantitative results of the thermodynamic investigation to make recommendations to experimentalists as to what trends and what nanocrystal growth processes we expect to observe in either thermodynamic case. While our results are inconclusive in and of themselves, they will be used to highlight the exact thermodynamic driving forces of the experimental systems. We conclude by giving an overview of two new fields of study for theoretical descriptions of nanocrystal growth, specifically the growth of anisotropic nanocrystals and a practical theory for nanocrystal nucleation. Preliminary relations are constructed, with comments on what directions we expect the research to take and how the results would be useful in enhancing our understanding of nanocrystal growth behavior.

This thesis explores colloidal semiconductor nanocrystal solutions as a feedstock for creating thin film semiconductor materials through printing processes. This thesis will span the synthesis of nanocrystals, ligand exchange chemistry, solution phase characterization methods, thin film device fabrication, thin film characterization methods, and device characteristics. We will focus extensively relating the structure of nanocrystals in solution and in thin films to their chemistry, optical properties and electronic properties. By way of introduction, the origin and nature of semiconductor nanocrystals will be explored. This discussion will place semiconductor nanocrystals in their historical context, namely the oil-shocks of the 1970s. The interest in II-VI semiconductor materials stemmed from a desire find photochemical synthetic routes to reduce the use of fossil fuels. As a result, II-VI semiconductor nanocrystal are far more developed synthetically. Additionally, our understanding of II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals is couched in the language of solid state physics rather than chemistry. This will lead into a discussion of their electronic structure and the iterative nature of nanocrystal synthetic development and our theoretical understanding of nanocrystals. The first chapter will discuss nanocrystal synthetic methods in a broad context, finally narrowing in on the synthesis chosen for this work. Following a description of the synthesis, we will then describe the ligand chemistry and the reactions which may be performed in the ligand shell. The final sections of the chapter will describe the synthetic routes to the three nanocrystal materials used in the rest of this work, namely CdSe-CdCl2/PBu3, CdSe-CdCl2/NH2Bu, and CdSe/NH2Bu. The second chapter will introduce the crystal structure of II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals and describe how the structure is measured. This will lead in to a discussion of pair distribution function analysis of X-ray data and examples of its application to the solution phase structure of semiconductor nanocrystals. Some size dependent structural properties, namely stain, will be demonstrated by PDF. At the end evidence for surface reconstruction in solution as ligands are removed will be presented. In the final chapter, techniques for film formation and ligand dissolution with be presented. Annealing of films produces electronic and structural changes which can be observed in the absorbance spectrum, electron microscopy, and X-ray scattering. I propose a three phase annealing model which includes 1) reversible desorption of the organic ligands, 2) irreversible particle fusion, and 3 ripening of grains. The temperature at which ripening occurs depends sensitively on the sample content, which increase chloride concentration decreasing the temperature at which ripening occurs. The ripening process is found to correlate with a phase transition from zinc blende to wurtzite, which indicates that grain boundary mobility is an important part of the ripening process. Finally thin film transistors are characterized electronically. Fused grains show superior electron mobility as high as 25 cm2/(Vs) and on/off ratios of 10\up5 and less than 0.5 V hysteresis in threshold voltage without the addition of indium. Surprisingly, the ripened grains show poorer transport characteristics. The manuscript concludes by noting the importance of the sintering process in achieving conductivity in thin films and discussing future directions to build upon this work.

Le regain d'attention des industriels pour les mémoires non volatiles intégrant des nanocristaux, illustré par l'introduction sur le marché de la Flexmemory de Freescale en technologie 90 nm, incite à poursuivre des études sur ce type de systèmes. Pour cela, nous avons mis au point des cellules mémoires élémentaires, à savoir des transistors MOS dont l'oxyde de grille contient une grille granulaire formée par un plan de nanocristaux de silicium (Si-ncx) stockant la charge électrique.Ce travail présente les principaux résultats issus de ces travaux, ceux-ci allant du procédé de fabrication à la caractérisation fine des dispositifs mémoires. Le parfait contrôle de l'élaboration de la grille granulaire de Si-ncx par implantation ionique à très basse énergie (ULE-IBS) est accompagné de caractéristiques « mémoires » répondant aux normes industrielles d'endurance et d'une discrimination des pièges responsables du chargement. Le stockage majoritaire par les Si-ncx est démontré, ce qui est essentiel pour la rétention de la charge. Nous avons développé une technique électrique permettant d'extraire à la fois la quantité de charge stockée par les Si-ncx mais également leurs principales caractéristiques structurales (taille, densité, position dans l'oxyde). Cette extension de la technique électrique de « pompage de charges », non destructive et in-situ permet de suivre l'état du composant en fonctionnement et de caractériser des pièges (e.g. les Si-ncx) pour la première fois au-delà de 3 nm de profondeur dans l'oxyde. Ces résultats ont été validés par des observations TEM. La résolution du pompage de charge étant le piège unique, nous avons alors couplé l'ULE-IBS avec la lithographie « Stencil » pour réduire latéralement le nombre de Si-ncx synthétisés. Cette technique nous permet pour le moment de contrôler la synthèse locale à la position désirée dans l'oxyde de « poches » de Si-ncx de 400 nm. La synthèse de « quelques » Si-ncx est envisagée à très court terme. Nous serons alors en mesure de fabriquer des mémoires à nombre choisi de nanocristaux (par SM-ULE-IBS), dont les propriétés structurales (taille, densité, position) et électriques (quantité de charge stockée) seront vérifiées par pompage de charge, offrant ainsi des outils puissants pour la fabrication et la caractérisation de mémoires à nombre réduit de nanocristaux, notamment pour des longueurs de grilles inférieures à 90 nm / The aim of this thesis has been to fabricate and electrically characterize elementary memory cells containing silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs), in other words MOSFET which insulating layer (SiO2) contains a Si-ncs array storing the electrical charge. We have shown that we perfectly control the synthesis of a 2D array of 3-4 nm Si-ncs embedded into the MOSFET oxide by low-energy ion implantation (1-3 keV) Reaching this goal implied two key steps: on the one hand develop a reliable MOSFET fabrication process incorporating the Si-ncs synthesis steps and on the other hand develop tools and methods for both memory window and Si-ncs array itself characterizations. We have developed an in-situ characterization technique based on the well-known charge pumping technique, allowing for the first time the extraction of traps depth (e.g. the Si-ncs array) further than 3 nm into the oxide layer leading to the characterization of both position of these Si-ncs into the SiO2 matrix and their structural properties (diameter, density). These results have been confirmed by EF-TEM measurements. Finally, we have worked on the improvement of controlled local synthesis of Si-ncs pockets by combining low-energy ion implantation and stencil lithography. We reduced the size of these pockets down to about 400 nm using this parallel, low cost and reliable technique and identified the limiting effect for the pockets size reduction. These results pave the way for memory cells containing a few Si-ncs with a well-defined position into the oxide and a well-controlled number of ncs

Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde, a hipertensão arterial é responsável por uma crise global de saúde pública, sendo as doenças cardiovasculares implicadas em aproximadamente 17 milhões de mortes/ano, das quais, 9,4 milhões ocasionadas por complicações provocadas pela hipertensão, como edema pulmonar. Quanto ao arsenal terapêutico disponível, a furosemida, potente diurético de alça, é amplamente utilizada em situações de controle e emergência relacionadas à hipertensão e ao edema pulmonar cardiogênico. Apesar do elevado índice de sua prescrição, esse fármaco pertence à classe IV do Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica (SCB), apresentando absorções intestinais erráticas e variáveis. Tais características representam desafio para o desenvolvimento de formas farmacêuticas orais. Assim, adoção de tecnologias inovadoras associadas à via de administração pulmonar pode permitir abordagem terapêutica alternativa, com elevado potencial de aplicação. Entre as tecnologias inovadoras, a obtenção de nanocristais de fármacos classes II e IV tem sido promissora. Nanocristais podem exibir desempenho in vivo superior quando comparados aos seus homólogos, na forma micronizada. Portanto, estratégias que permitam o desenvolvimento de medicamentos contendo furosemida, com maior eficácia e segurança, são de fundamental importância. Nesse sentido, a aplicação de tecnologia in silico, com propriedade preditiva, contribui para a racionalização de ensaios na pesquisa e no desenvolvimento de novas formas farmacêuticas. Objetivou-se, desse modo, a preparação e a caracterização físico-química de nanocristais de furosemida e sua avaliação in silico na absorção oral e pulmonar empregando ferramenta computacional. Os nanocristais foram obtidos por moagem à alta energia, utilizando movimentos simultâneos de revolução/rotação. A determinação da distribuição do tamanho e a morfologia foram realizadas por difração de raios laser e microscopia eletrônica de varredura, respectivamente. As possíveis interações e/ou alterações do estado cristalino do fármaco foram investigadas por calorimetria exploratória diferencial, termogravimetria diferencial, difração de raio X e espectroscopia Raman de baixo deslocamento. Quanto à solubilidade do nanocristal, foram realizados ensaios para a determinação do aumento na solubilidade de equilíbrio e da velocidade dissolução, utilizando os métodos shake flask e velocidade de dissolução intrínseca (VDI), respectivamente. A moagem à alta energia permitiu a obtenção de nanocristais com tamanho médio trinta vezes menor (231nm) do que o tamanho inicial, na escala micrométrica (7,1 µm). Os nanocristais apresentaram estabilidade térmica. Não foram observadas interações entre os excipientes e os nanocristais, que, entretanto, exibiram estrutura cristalina menos definida, o que indica parcial amorfização do nanocristal. A solubilidade de saturação dos nanocristais aumentou aproximadamente três vezes; como consequência, houve aumento na VDI em 2,2 vezes, 1,8 vezes e 3,8 vezes, quando comparado à VDI da furosemida micronizada em meio SGF, tampão 4,5 e SIF, respectivamente. Quanto às avaliações in silico dos nanocristais, sua absorção oral revelou moderada alteração no perfil farmacocinético. Quando foi utilizada a via de administração pulmonar, os nanocristais apresentaram maior desempenho quando comparada a via de administração oral; destacando-se o aumento na Fa% e na Cmáx e a acentuada diminuição no Tmáx. Em conclusão, a plataforma tecnológica obtida tem potencial aplicação no desenvolvimento de formas farmacêuticas inovadoras para administração pulmonar de furosemida. / According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is responsible for global public health crisis, being the cardiovascular diseases involved in approximately 17 million deaths a year, of these, 9.4 million occasioned by hypertension complications such as pulmonary edema. Regarding therapeutic arsenal available, Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic widely used in control and emergency situations related to hypertension and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Despite the high level of prescribing, this drug belongs a class IV drug, according to Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), exposing erratic and variable intestinal absorption. These characteristics represent a challenge for the development of oral dosage forms. Thus, adoption of innovative technologies associated with pulmonary route of administration may allow an alternative therapeutic approach, with high potential for application. Among the new technologies, those for obtaining nanocrystals of classes II and IV drugs have been a promising approach. Nanocrystals can exhibit in vivo higher performance when compared to their counterparts in micronized form. Therefore, strategies to develop medicines containing Furosemide, with greater efficacy and safety, are of critical importance. In this sense, the application of technology in silico, with predictive property, contributes to the rationalization of testing in research and development of new dosage forms. The objectives, as a result, were the preparation and the physicochemical characterization of Furosemide nanocrystals, and it\'s in silico evaluation on oral and pulmonary absorption using a computational tool. The nanocrystals were obtained using a high-energy milling technology under simultaneous revolution/rotation motion. The determination of the size distribution and morphology was performed using laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction and Low Shift Raman spectroscopy were performed to investigate possible interactions and changes in the crystalline state of the nanocrystals. To measure the increase in the equilibrium solubility and dissolution rate, the shake flask and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) methods were used respectively. The nanocrystals size appeared thirty times lower (231 nm) compared to the initial size (7,1 µm). The nanocrystals were stable with concern to its thermal characteristic not showing interactions between the excipients and the nanocrystals; however, they exhibited less defined crystal structure, indicating partial amorphization. The nanocrystals saturation solubility increased approximately three times. Consequently, 2.2, 1.8 and 3.8 folds increase were observed in IDR when compared to the Furosemide raw material in SGF, buffer 4.5 and SIF, respectively. The in silico nanocrystal studies revealed moderate changes in its oral absorption and pharmacokinetic profile. When the pulmonary route of administration was used, the nanocrystals showed higher performance compared to oral route administration; highlighting the increase in Fa % and Cmax and a significant decrease in Tmax. In conclusion, the technology platform obtained has potential application in the development of innovative dosage forms for Furosemide pulmonary delivery.

O polietileno de alta densidade utilizado neste trabalho foi obtido em escala industrial pela polimerização de eteno, gerado a partir do etanol de cana de açúcar. Este polímero é também chamado de biopolietileno (BPEAD), por ser preparado a partir de material oriundo de fonte natural. O BPEAD foi usado como matriz em compósitos reforçados por fibras de curauá em proporções em massa variando de 5 a 20%, 1 cm de comprimento. Óleo de mamona (CO), óleo de canola (CA), óleo de linhaça epoxidado (OLE) e óleo de soja epoxidado (OSE) foram usados na preparação dos compósitos (5, 10, 15 e 20%) visando atuação como agentes compatibilizantes, uma vez que o CO, CA, OLE e OSE têm cadeias hidrocarbônicas com afinidade pelo biopolietileno, e grupos hidroxilas com afinidades pelos grupos polares presentes nas fibras. Os compósitos foram caracterizados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC), Termogravimetria (TG), Análise Dinâmico-Mecânica (DMA) e propriedades mecânicas (impacto e flexão). Os resultados de impacto, flexão e DMA apresentados pelos compósitos mostraram que a incorporação dos óleos nas diferentes composições, principalmente CO, no geral levou a melhores propriedades quando comparados aos compósitos BPEAD/Fibra, indicando uma possível ação dos óleos como compatibilizante na interface fibra/matriz. O compósito BPEAD/15%CO/15%Fibra apresentou uma maior resistência ao impacto (280 J m-1) se comparado ao BPEAD (234 J m-1), indicando o efeito compatibilizante do CO. As propriedades de compósitos (BPEAD/5%CO, CA, OSE ou OLE/10%Fibra) reforçados com curauá (3mm), processados em misturador interno e termoprensados foram comparadas com aqueles processados por extrusão e moldados por injeção. A resistência ao impacto dos compósitos processados via extrusão BPEAD/CO (287 J m-1), CA (240 J m-1) ou OSE/Fibra (222 J m-1) foi maior quando comparada aos compósitos processados via misturador interno BPEAD/CO (114 J m-1), CA (123 J m-1) ou OSE/Fibra (110 J m-1). A análise de DMA também mostrou que o compósito BPEAD/5%CO/10%Fibra preparado por extrusão/injeção apresentou maior módulo de armazenamento (E´) a 30°C de 1660 MPa, enquanto que o compósito processado via misturador interno apresentou E´ de 1219 MPa. Comparando as propriedades mecânicas dos compósitos processados por extrusão/injeção com a dos processados por misturador interno Haake/termoprensagem, conclui-se que extrusão/injeção é um processo mais eficiente para a preparação de compósitos de fibras curtas. O presente estudo também avaliou o potencial de aplicação de nanocristais de celulose (NCC) em filmes baseados em BPEAD. NCCs foram obtidos a partir da hidrólise ácida da fibra de curauá, e foram utilizados (3, 6 e 9 %) na preparação de filmes de BPEAD, visando à obtenção de nanocompósitos. Os nanocompósitos reforçados com nanocristais de curauá foram processados por extrusão, também usando CO (3, 6 e 9%), visando avaliar a ação do mesmo como agente de dispersão de NCC na matriz apolar de BPEAD. A partir dos resultados obtidos para estes filmes, a porcentagem de NCC foi fixada em 3%, e 3% como porcentagem de óleo vegetal, por terem sido estas as condições que levaram ao melhor conjunto de resultados. Além de CO, OSE e OLE também foram usados e, além do processamento extrusão, extrusão/termoprensagem também foi considerado, a fim de comparar as propriedades obtidas nos dois processamentos. Os filmes foram caracterizados por calorimetria exploratória diferencial, termogravimetria, DMA, ensaio de tração, MEV e reologia. A análise de DMA mostrou que a presença de NCC leva a um material mais rígido, e o uso de óleos vegetais na preparação de filmes, levou a uma distribuição mais homogênea dos NCCs na matriz de BPEAD e a uma melhor adesão na interface, evidenciando o efeito compatibilizante dos óleos. As propriedades óticas dos nanocompósitos indicaram que a presença dos óleos levou a filmes menos opacos, para ambos os tipos de processamentos usados. Com relação aos diferentes processamentos usados na preparação dos filmes baseados em BPEAD, óleos e nanocristais, o melhor conjunto de resultados, com destaque para aqueles obtidos no ensaio de tração, foram resultantes do processamento via extrusão/termoprensagem, indicando que este processamento deve favorecer a dispersão de NCCs na matriz de BPEAD. Os resultados desse trabalho apontaram para boas perspectivas para o uso de nanocristais de celulose em filmes baseados em BPEAD (ou PEAD), utilizando óleos vegetais como compatibilizantes e também mostraram que é possível obter melhorias nas propriedades dos nanocompósitos através de processos mais adequados para a escala industrial, como a extrusão. No presente estudo, contribuiu-se para com o desenvolvimento de materiais que, dentre outras propriedades, na sua produção, utilização e substituição, ocorra menor emissão de CO2 para a atmosfera, comparativamente a outros materiais. / The high-density polyethylene used in this work was obtained on an industrial scale by polymerization of ethylene derived from sugar cane ethanol. This polymer is also called biopolyethylene (HDBPE), as it is a material derived from a renewable resource. HDBPE was used as a polymer matrix in composites reinforced by curaua fibers containing 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%, 1-cm long. Castor oil (CO), canola oil (CA), epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and epoxidized soybean linseed oil (ESO) were used in the preparation of composites (5, 10, 15 e 20 wt%) aiming to act as a coupling agent, since CO, CA, ESO and ELO have hydrocarbon chains with affinity for polyethylene and hydroxyl groups that can interact with polar groups on the fibers. The composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetryc analysis (TG), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and mechanical properties (flexural and impact strength). The results of impact, flexural strength and DMA presented by composites showed that the incorporation of oils in various compositions, particularly CO, in general has led to improved properties when compared to the composite HDBPE/Fiber, thus indicating a possible action of the oil as a compatibilizer in the fiber/matrix interface. The composite HDBPE/15%CO/15%Fiber had a higher impact strength (280 J m-1) compared to HDBPE (234 J m-1), indicating the compatibilizer effect of CO. The properties of composites (HDBPE/5%CO, CA, ESO or ELO/10%Fiber) reinforced with curaua (3mm) and prepared using an internal mixer (Haake) followed by thermopress molding were compared with those prepared by extrusion and was molded by injection. The properties of composites (HDBPE/5%CO, CA, ESO or ELO/10%Fiber) reinforced with curaua (3mm), prepared using an internal mixer (Haake) followed by thermopress molding were compared with those prepared by extrusion and molded by injection. The impact strength of composites processed via extrusion HDBPE/CO (287 J m-1), CA (240 J m-1) or OSE / fiber (222 J m-1) was higher when compared to composites processed via internal mixer HDBPE/CO (114 J m-1), CA (123 J m-1) or OSE/Fiber (110 J m-1). DMA analysis also showed that the composite HDBPE/5%CO/10%Fiber prepared by extrusion/injection showed higher storage modulus (E\') at 30°C of 1660 MPa, while the composite processed by internal mixer presented an E\' of 1219 MPa. Comparing the mechanical properties of the composites

Une suspension aqueuse de nanocristaux d'amidon de maïs cireux est obtenue par hydrolyse acide de grains d'amidon (longueur:40-60nm, largeur:15-30nm, épaisseur:5-7nm). Le premier objectif de la thèse est l'optimisation de la préparation de ces nanocristaux par la mise en place d'un plan d'expériences. Leur structure moléculaire est ensuite étudiée par dégradation enzymatique, et leur modification chimique de surface est envisagée. Le deuxième objectif est l'utilisation de ces nanocristaux comme charge de renfort dans une matrice polymère. Deux polymères naturels ont été choisis: le latex de caoutchouc naturel et l'amidon thermopalstique. Les nanocomposites, mis en oeuvre par casting, sont caractérisés en termes de propriétés morphologiques, structurales, barrière et mécaniques.

<p>The principles of dye-sensitized solar cells were studied and are outlined in this thesis. An overview of the basic steps needed to create a DSC isfollowed by detailed experimental information on how to assemble the solar cells that were fabricated in this project. They were based on synthesizednanocrystalline ZnO thin films sensitized by chlorophyll a as well as isolated photopigments from spinach leaves. The nanocrystals werestudied using XRD, and it was confirmed that three different methods of synthesis resulted in ZnO crystals of a few nanometers. The solar cellswere assembled with Au electrodes in a sandwich configuration and their photovoltaic properties were measured. Overall light-to-electricity conversionwas low with the highest efficiency being 0.21 %. An astonishingly low efficiency of 0.0003 % was noted for a thin film which was not thermallytreated, and it is suggested that heat-treatment is of great importance. It was also found that photopigments from spinach can be extractedeasily and used as molecular sensitizer without any demanding purification steps.</p>

The use of size and shape tunable quantum confinement nanocrystals has many potential applications for use in semiconductors, optics and sensors. The synthesis of lead sulfide (PbS) and copper indium diselenide (CuInSe���) nanoparticles are of particular interest for use in semiconductor, optoelectronics and bio-medical applications. The continuous synthesis of lead sulfide (PbS) and copper indium diselenide (CuInSe���) nanocrystals was undertaken in this work. Quality colloidal nanocrystal synthesis requires three components: precursors, organic surfactants and solvents. The synthesis of the nanocrystals can be thought of as a nucleation event, followed by a subsequent growth period. Both the nucleation and growth rates were found to be dependent upon factors such as temperature, growth time, and precursor concentration. For a continuous flow system the residence time (at nucleation and growth conditions) was also found to be important. In order to separate the nucleation and growth events, injection techniques were employed to achieve rapid nucleation of nanocrystals with final size dictated by the growth temperature and/or residence time through the growth zone of the reaction system. Experimental parameters to investigate the size, shape, and composition of synthesized nanocrystals included injection temperature, growth temperature, residence time, and concentration of organic surfactants. Size tunability was accomplished for both PbS and CuInSe��� nanocrystals where particle sizes less than 10 nm were achieved and the resulting nanocrystal compositions were found to be at the approximate stoichiometric ratios for both PbS and CuInSe���. The materials used for the process tubing and pumps were found to be important as chlorinated reaction byproducts were found to react with the stainless steel tubing and pump heads. Post processing was also found to be important in order to remove any possible reaction by-products and residual precursors from the surface of synthesized nanocrystals. When at least one dimension of the nanocrystal approaches the exciton Bohr radius, the bandgap for the nanocrystal increases. UV-VIS spectroscopy was used to optically characterize synthesized PbS nanocrystals from our continuous flow synthesis. The absorption spectra for the particles demonstrated an absorption onset showing a large blueshift compared to that of bulk PbS. The blueshift matches closely with literature reports of the quantum confinement effect that would be desired when synthesizing PbS nanoparticles at diameters that are less than the PbS exciton Bohr radius of 18 nm. / Graduation date: 2013

The principles of dye-sensitized solar cells were studied and are outlined in this thesis. An overview of the basic steps needed to create a DSC isfollowed by detailed experimental information on how to assemble the solar cells that were fabricated in this project. They were based on synthesizednanocrystalline ZnO thin films sensitized by chlorophyll a as well as isolated photopigments from spinach leaves. The nanocrystals werestudied using XRD, and it was confirmed that three different methods of synthesis resulted in ZnO crystals of a few nanometers. The solar cellswere assembled with Au electrodes in a sandwich configuration and their photovoltaic properties were measured. Overall light-to-electricity conversionwas low with the highest efficiency being 0.21 %. An astonishingly low efficiency of 0.0003 % was noted for a thin film which was not thermallytreated, and it is suggested that heat-treatment is of great importance. It was also found that photopigments from spinach can be extractedeasily and used as molecular sensitizer without any demanding purification steps.

The research presented has been focused on understanding the surface effects on the optical and electronic properties of some metallic and semiconductor nanomaterials. When the particle sizes are on the nanometer length scale, a large fraction of atoms in the particles are on the surface. The bonding of the surface atoms being unsaturated could cause trapping and introduce defects that interact with the excited electrons. The effect of the surface on the optical and electronic properties of some semiconductor and metallic nanoparticles is investigated. When the size and shape of nanomaterials change, both the electron density of the excited electrons on the surface and the electronic structure change. Therefore, it becomes important to understand how these changes affect the electronic motion in the particles in order to exploit their full potential in a variety of applications. Semiconductor nanoparticles studied include cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium sulfide (CdS). Effect of changing CdSe shape and size on optical and electronic properties has been investigated and the ability for the CdS nanoparticles to show optical gain (stimulated emission) in solution at room temperature is reported. Effect of surface phonon contribution on the exited electron relaxation in copper nanoparticles is investigated. For the particles size smaller than the mean free path of the electrons in the metal, electron-surface phonon coupling becomes an important factor (contribution) for hot electron relaxation. In the thesis presented, it is shown for the first time the size depended electronic relaxation in copper nanoparticles. Fluorescence due to surface plasmon field enhancement is observed for copper nanoparticles to be million times stronger than the fluorescence observed from bulk copper.