<p>Materials prepared on the nanoscale often exhibit many different properties compared to the same materials in their bulk-state. Interest in nanostructured materials has increased because of these properties in fields such as microelectronics, catalysis, optics and sensors. This increased interest in nanostructured materials calls for new and more precise fabrication techniques.</p><p>This thesis describes how to use the porous anodic aluminium oxide as a template for the fabrication of a variety of nanostructured materials. Palladium and copper nanoparticles were deposited along the pore walls in anodic aluminum oxide using electroless deposition and atomic layer deposition. In both cases, it was possible to control the size of the nanoparticles by carefully monitoring the deposition parameters. The thesis also describes how Prussian blue nanoparticles and nanotubes can be fabricated using the anodic aluminium oxide as a template. The deposition of Prussian blue was performed by a sequential wet-chemical method. By using atomic layer deposition, it was also possible to deposit thin films of amorphous Nb2O5 on the pore walls. When the template was removed by etching, freestanding nanotubes were obtained. The anodic aluminium oxide membrane was also used as a mask for high energy (MeV) ion irradiation of an underlying substrate. The tracks produced were etched away with hydrogen fluoride. In this way, it was possible to transfer the highly ordered porous pattern from the mask onto other oxides such as SiO2 and TiO2.</p><p>All fabricated structures were characterized using a variety of analysis techniques: scanning electron microscopy for evaluating sample morphology; transmission electron microscopy for better resolved investigations of the morphology; X-ray diffraction to assess crystallinity; energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the elemental composition and identify possible contaminants.</p><p>The general aim of the work described in this thesis has been to create a set of tools for use in the fabrication of a variety of nanostructured materials, whose dimensions composition can be tailored by selecting appropriate fabrication methods and parameters.</p>

Materials prepared on the nanoscale often exhibit many different properties compared to the same materials in their bulk-state. Interest in nanostructured materials has increased because of these properties in fields such as microelectronics, catalysis, optics and sensors. This increased interest in nanostructured materials calls for new and more precise fabrication techniques. This thesis describes how to use the porous anodic aluminium oxide as a template for the fabrication of a variety of nanostructured materials. Palladium and copper nanoparticles were deposited along the pore walls in anodic aluminum oxide using electroless deposition and atomic layer deposition. In both cases, it was possible to control the size of the nanoparticles by carefully monitoring the deposition parameters. The thesis also describes how Prussian blue nanoparticles and nanotubes can be fabricated using the anodic aluminium oxide as a template. The deposition of Prussian blue was performed by a sequential wet-chemical method. By using atomic layer deposition, it was also possible to deposit thin films of amorphous Nb2O5 on the pore walls. When the template was removed by etching, freestanding nanotubes were obtained. The anodic aluminium oxide membrane was also used as a mask for high energy (MeV) ion irradiation of an underlying substrate. The tracks produced were etched away with hydrogen fluoride. In this way, it was possible to transfer the highly ordered porous pattern from the mask onto other oxides such as SiO2 and TiO2. All fabricated structures were characterized using a variety of analysis techniques: scanning electron microscopy for evaluating sample morphology; transmission electron microscopy for better resolved investigations of the morphology; X-ray diffraction to assess crystallinity; energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the elemental composition and identify possible contaminants. The general aim of the work described in this thesis has been to create a set of tools for use in the fabrication of a variety of nanostructured materials, whose dimensions composition can be tailored by selecting appropriate fabrication methods and parameters.

The current study discusses the preparation and long-term performance of polymer composites used for various purposes under different ageing conditions. The first part deals with the preparation and characterization of polymer nanocomposites based on poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate) (EBA–13 and EBA–28 with 13 and 28 wt % butyl acrylate, respectively) and 2–12 wt % (0.5–3 vol %) of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (two types with different specific surface areas and different hydroxyl-group concentrations; uncoated and coated with, respectively, octyltriethoxysilane and aminopropyltriethoxysilane). The nanocomposite with EBA–13 showed better overall nanoparticle dispersion while EBA–28 resulted in poor dispersion, probably due to insufficiently high shear forces acting during extrusion mixing which were unable to break down nanoparticle agglomerates. The activity of hindered phenolic antioxidant (0.2 wt%) in all EBA nanocomposites was assessed by determining the oxidation induction time using DSC. The composites containing uncoated aluminium oxide nanoparticles showed a much shorter initial OIT than the pristine polymer with the same initial concentration of antioxidant, indicating adsorption of antioxidant onto the nanoparticle surfaces. Composites containing coated nanoparticles showed a significantly smaller decrease in the initial OIT, suggesting the replacement of hydroxyl groups with organic silane tails, decreasing the concentration of available adsorption sites on the nanoparticle surfaces. The decrease in OIT with increasing ageing time in dry air at 90 °C of the nanocomposites was slower than that of the unfilled pristine polymer, suggesting a slow release of antioxidant from adsorption sites. The EBA nanocomposites exposed to liquid water at 90°C showed faster decrease of OIT than samples exposed to dry or humid air. The migration rate of antioxidant was controlled by the boundary conditions in the case of ageing in humid air and liquid water. The antioxidant diffusivity was lower for the composites containing uncoated ND than for the composites containing ND coated with octyltriethoxysilane or aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The migration and chemical consumption of deltamethrin DM, (synthetic pyrethroid) and synergist piperonyl butoxide from molded polyethylene sheets was also studied. Deltamethrin and piperonyl butoxide are often used for food  storage and insect control purposes. DM showed no signs of crystallization and remained in a liquid state after being cooled to room temperature. Exposure of polyethylene compound sheets to liquid water (at 80 &amp; 95 °C), caused degradation and hydrolysis of the ester bond in the DM, present in the prepared material, and generated species containing hydroxyl groups. Liquid chromatography and infrared spectroscopy showed a significant migration of the active species in liquid water, whereas in air at 80 °C (60 and 80 %RH) the loss of DM and PBO was negligible over 30 days. The long-term performance of medium-density polyethylene stabilized with six different phenolic antioxidants (0.1 wt%) in aqueous chlorinated media at 70 °C was studied. The results were compared with data for previously studied solutions of antioxidants in squalane (a liquid, low molar mass analogue of polyethylene). A linear relationship was established between the time to reach antioxidant depletion in polyethylene tape samples and the time in squalane samples. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of drawn samples revealed the onset of surface oxidation and surface embrittlement in tape samples exposed beyond the time for antioxidant depletion. / <p>QC 20121109</p> / Cable insulation materials / Loss of deltamethrin and pipronyl butoxide from polyethylene / long-term performance of polyethylene in chlorine dioxide water

Als Graphen bezeichnet man eine einzelne freistehende Lage des Schichtkristalls Graphit. Im Gegensatz zur mechanischen Isolation von Graphit bietet die Züchtung auf Siliziumkarbid eine Methode zur großflächigen Herstellung von Graphen. Aufgrund der besonderen physikalischen Eigenschaften werden für Graphen viele verschieden Einsatzmöglichkeiten in diversen Bereichen prognostiziert. Mit seiner hohen Ladungsträgerbeweglichkeit ist Graphen besonders als Kanalmaterial für Feldeffekttransistoren (FET) interessant. Allerdings muss hierfür unter anderem ein geeignetes FET-Isolatormaterial gefunden werden. In dieser Arbeit wird eine detaillierte, theoretische Beschreibung der Graphen-FETs vorgestellt, die es erlaubt die steuerspannungsabhängige Hall-Konstante zu berechnen. Mit der dadurch möglichen Analyse können wichtige Kenngrößen, wie z. B. die Grenzflächenzustandsdichte des Materialsystems bestimmt werden. Außerdem wurden zwei Methoden zur Isolatorabscheidung auf Graphen untersucht. Siliziumnitrid, welches mittels plasmaangeregter Gasphasenabscheidung aufgetragen wurde, zeichnet sich durch seine n-dotierende Eigenschaft aus. Damit ist es vor allem für quasi-freistehendes Graphen auf Siliziumkarbid interessant. Bei der zweiten Methode handelt es sich um einen atomaren Schichtabscheidungsprozess, der ohne eine Saatschicht auskommt. An beiden Graphen- Isolator-Kombinationen wurde die neue Charakterisierung mittels der Hall-Datenanalyse angewandt.

Um die Wirtschaftlichkeit von Solarkraftwerken zu verbessern, sollte geprüft werden, inwieweit eine geschmolzene Mischung aus Natriumchlorid und Aluminiumchlorid als Wärmetransportflüssigkeit in Frage kommt. Aufgrund der Hydrolyseempfindlichkeit solcher Schmelzen kommt es durch Einwirkung von Wasser zur Bildung von Chlorwasserstoff sowie Aluminiumoxidchloriden, die in einem geschlossenen System zu einem Druckanstieg bzw. Ausfällungen führen können. Der Gesamtdruck über schwach basischen NaCl-AlCl3-Schmelzen wird durch eine hohe HCl-Löslichkeit herabgesetzt, sodass aus der Bilanz heraus ein Hydrolysegrad von ca. 50 % angenommen werden kann. Für die wassermengenabhängige Verfolgung des Druckes diente eine statische Methode mit einem Drucksensor. Der Oxidgehalt wurde voltammetrisch durch Titration mit TaCl5 und die HCl-Löslichkeit durch eine Elutionsmethode ermittelt. Für Informationen zum Lösungszustand der Hydrolyseprodukte wurden 1H- und 27Al-NMR-Spektren von hydrolysierten Schmelzen aufgenommen.

No description available.

Les stents urétéraux et les sondes de néphrostomie sont constitués de silicone ou de polyuréthane thermoplastique (TPU). Afin de limiter les risques infectieux lors de leur implantation, une modification topographique par création de pores permettrait de limiter l’adhésion des bactéries et de former des réservoirs pour une libération in situ de substances antiinfectieuses. Ce travail vise à préparer des surfaces en polymère ayant un motif poreux tubulaire ordonné. Une réplication en deux temps à partir de surfaces ordonnées poreuses d’oxyde d’aluminium (PAAO) préparées par 2 méthodes (double anodisation douce et double anodisation dure/douce) a été mise en œuvre pour reproduire le motif initial sur des surfaces en silicone et TPU. Pour le moule intermédiaire trois matériaux ont été testés (acrylonitrile butadiène styrène, polystyrène et résine polyacrylate). Les surfaces ont toutes été caractérisées par des techniques microscopiques et spectroscopiques. Les surfaces en PAAO préparées par double anodisation douce possédaient des pores d’environ 50 nm de diamètre et 100 nm de profondeur, alors que celles obtenues après mise au point de la méthode dure/douce étaient de taille supérieure, d’environ 125 nm de diamètre et ayant des profondeurs de quelques centaines de nanomètres. La surface du moule intermédiaire est constituée de picots. Une adhésion latérale de ceux-ci a été observée pour certaines conditions. La meilleure réplication du motif a été obtenue pour le TPU. Les surfaces ainsi obtenues pourront être utilisées et optimisées lors de l'étude ultérieure de l'adhésion du biofilm. / Ureteral stents and nephrostomy catheters are made of silicone or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). A topographical modification creating an ordered porous surface could limit the infectious risks during their implantation, by reducing bacterial adhesion and creating a loading platform from which anti-infectious compounds could be released.In this work, a two-steps replication method was used to create ordered porous polymer surfaces (silicone or TPU) using porous anodic aluminium oxide (PAAO) as master template. The PAAO surfaces were prepared by double mild or double hard/mild anodization. Three intermediate mould materials were tested (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene, polyacrylate resin). The polymer material (silicone or TPU) was then moulded onto the intermediate mould surfaces that possessed freestanding pillar arrays, to imprint pores. The obtained surfaces were characterized by microscopic and spectroscopic methods. The initial PAAO surfaces prepared by double mild anodization possessed pores of about 50 nm diameter and 100 nm depth, whereas those prepared after development of the double hard/mild anodization method were bigger, of about 125 nm diameter and several hundred nanometers deep. The intermediate mould structure possessed freestanding arrays, but instabilities (lateral adhesion) were noted for certain conditions. The best pattern replication was observed for TPU. In conclusion, these novel porous polymeric surfaces could be optimized and tested for an anti-biofilm effect.

Anlagen zur Herstellung von Synthesegas (CO·H2) aus kohlenstoffhaltigen Rohstoffen werden durch hohe Temperaturen bis zu 1600 °C und Drücken bis zu 50 bar beansprucht und benötigen daher Schutz durch eine feuerfeste Ausmauerung. Zur Steigerung der Effizienz und Lebensdauer solcher Vergasungsanlagen ist die Entwicklung neuer keramischer Hochtemperaturwerkstoffe erforderlich. Solch ein Material stellt eine Al2O3-reiche Gießmasse dar, welche durch den gezielten Einsatz verschiedener ZrO2- und TiO2-Gehalte optimiert wurde. Es hat sich gezeigt, dass bereits durch die Zugabe geringer Mengen an ZrO2 bzw. TiO2 sowohl die Temperaturwechselbeständigkeit als auch die Korrosionsbeständigkeit von Al2O3 gegenüber Kohleschlacken erheblich verbessert werden kann, was auf die Ausbildung einer Spinell-Schutzschicht während des Korrosionsvorgangs zurückzuführen ist.

Olefins have enjoyed many uses in a wide variety of industries, from car manufacturing to energy production. Energy consuming processes of catalytic dehydrogenation, turning paraffins into olefins, has been commercialised since the early 20th century, while catalytic oxydehydrogenation of paraffins to olefins is still in prototype stages. The conflict between kinetic and thermodynamic yield constraints, has delayed the commercialisation of this process. The solution to achieving the relevant process route is exploitation of the right catalyst at moderate temperatures and pressures. Co5MgAlO is studied under atmospheric pressure and 350°C temperature, to dehydrogenate propane and butane to olefins using oxygen as a reactant. Thermodynamic models showing how many reaction routes are possible under atmospheric pressure were explored. Experimental results for butane to air at ratio of 1:0.8 and 1:1.2 hydrocarbons to air gave better selectivity of 1-butene which was more than 12%. When compared with propane at similar reaction ratios the reaction favoured CO2 at selectivity of more than 95%. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering)

Une nouvelle méthode « one pot » de synthèse et de mise en forme continue d’oxydes métalliques nanostructurés, résultat d’un couplage original entre la chimie sol-gel et le procédé d’extrusion réactive, a été développée. A notre connaissance, il n’existe pas de littérature concernant l’extrusion réactive massique d’oxydes métalliques, ce sujet se situe donc aux frontières des connaissances de tels systèmes chimiques. Nous nous sommes tout d’abord intéressés à la synthèse et la mise en forme d’aluminosilicates amorphes à porosité hiérarchique (micro/méso/macroporeux) à caractère zéolitique. Les extrudés obtenus présentent d’excellentes propriétés texturales (surface spécifique supérieure à 800 m2/g, volume poreux supérieur à 0,6 cm3/g). De plus, ils présentent une acidité exacerbée, comparée à un aluminosilicate standard. Leur activité, évaluée par isomérisation du méta-xylène et par déshydratation du méthanol, est supérieure à une référence contenant de la zéolite Y (pour une activité à iso-masse). Nous nous sommes également intéressés à la synthèse d’extrudés de boehmite. Nous avons tout d’abord cherché à adapter une réaction de co-précipitation de sels d’aluminium au procédé. Dans un deuxième temps, nous nous sommes tournés vers la synthèse en masse de boehmite par hydrolyse/condensation d'alcoxydes d'aluminium (sans solvant). Cette dernière réaction s'est révélée très intéressante tant au niveau de la validation du procédé d’extrusion réactive (intensification de procédé, intégration thermique) que du point de vue de la texture poreuse des produits formés. / A new one pot method for the synthesis and shaping of nanostructured metal oxides, based on the coupling of sol-gel chemistry and reactive extrusion process, was developed. To our knowledge, no literature is to be found about this topic so this work is situated at the frontier of such chemical systems’s knowledge. First, we worked on the synthesis and shaping of amorphous aluminosilicates with hierarchical porosity (micro/meso/macroporous) and zeolitic feature. Extrudates were obtained, those solids show fine textural properties (specific surface area above 800 m2/g, porous volume above above 0.6 cm3/g). Furthermore, they demonstrate increased acidity properties compared to standard amorphous aluminosilicates. Their catalytic activities were appraised by m-xylene isomerization and methanol dehydration and were found to be actually better than a catalyst with zeolite Y (for an activity calculed at iso-weight). Then we worked on the synthesis and shaping of boehmite (γ-AlOOH). First, we tryed to adapt an aluminium salts based co-precipitation reaction to our process. Afterward, we change the chemical reaction to aluminium alkoxides hydrolysis/condensation (without solvent). This later reaction was especially interesting, both in the validation of the reactive extrusion process (process intensification, thermal integration) as well as in the products textural properties.