Th. 3e cycle--Génie chim.--Toulouse--I.N.P., 1981. N°: 104.

Th. doct.-ing.--Nancy, I.N.P.L., 1978.

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Fluorescence intensity measurements have the potential to facilitate the diagnoses of many pathological conditions. However, accurate interpretation of the measurements is complicated by the distorting effects of tissue scattering and absorption. Consequently, different techniques have been developed to attempt to compensate for these effects.

Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) is a substance produced by the planktonic community that naturally blocks biologically damaging, ultraviolet radiation (UV; wavelengths = 280 to 400 nm). While a variety of planktonic species produce CDOM, investigations into the quality and quantity of their CDOM production are few. The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of CDOM produced by phytoplankton versus zooplankton. Typically, UV radiation breaks down CDOM. However, marine organisms sometimes produce CDOM that, when exposed to sunlight, increases its absorbance of UV radiation. The reasons for this anomaly and the source of this unusual CDOM are unclear. To test for distinctions among sources, filtered water samples from cultures of two marine phytoplankton, Gymnodinium sp. and Dunaliella sp., and a marine copepod, Tigriopus californicus were exposed to sunlight for intervals of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours. The maximal UVB radiation (wavelengths; λ = 280 to 320 nm) was 0.1699 J cm-2. Before and after sunlight exposures, CDOM sources were assessed by comparing absorbance spectra from 184 to 730 nm with detailed comparisons at wavelengths of 254, 305, 320, and 350 nm. Results are expressed as "absorption", which is the raw absorbance converted to the natural log. Before exposure to sunlight, CDOM from algal species had 5- to 8-times higher average absorption values across UV wavelengths than CDOM produced by Tigriopus. CDOM samples produced by phytoplankton were more susceptible to photochemical change than CDOM from Tigriopus. In response to sunlight, CDOM from Gymnodinium varied greatly, increasing in UV absorption in 2 out of 5 replicates but decreasing in absorption in the other replicates. In contrast, peak absorption at λ = 260 nm of CDOM from Dunaliella decreased directionally by an average of 76% in absorption and 75% in specific absorption, and this decrease in absorption was significant (p = 0.03). CDOM from Tigriopus significantly decreased in both absorption (all UV wavelengths, p < 0.01) and "specific absorption", which is absorption standardized per mg of dissolved organic carbon (λ = 320 nm; p < 0.03), but the magnitude of change was only 17%. Thus, photochemical responses of CDOM from the three planktonic sources demonstrated more, consistently less, and unchanged UV absorption. Phytoplankton biomass, which is greater than that of copepods at the next trophic level, likely produce more CDOM but because of greater variability in CDOM absorbance of UV both within and between algal sources, copepods may offer a more stable source of UV protection depending on sunlight exposure and their relative abundance. Definitive conclusions depend on future laboratory studies expanded to more planktonic organisms as well as in situ studies during oceanographic cruises to test the relative contributions of planktonic species.

Afin de parvenir à des rendements élevés, les cellules solaires à couches minces de silicium doivent présenter une forte absorption de la lumière. Dans ce travail, nous proposons d'utiliser des nanoparticules et nanostructures métalliques comme nouvelle approche pour piéger la lumière au sein de cellules solaires à couches minces de silicium. Les propriétés optiques spécifiques des nanoparticules métalliques sont une conséquence de l'apparition d'un phénomène de résonance dans leur spectre d'absorption et de diffusion, connu sous le nom de résonance de «plasmon localisé de surface» (LSP : localized surface plasmons). Pour des particules suffisamment petites (<50nm), l'absorption LSP est accompagnée par une forte augmentation du champ électromagnétique à l'intérieur et au voisinage des nanoparticules, La première partie de ce travail est motivée par l'exploitation de ce renforcement du champ électromagnétique, Dans cette approche, l'objectif est de confiner la lumière dans la couche active des cellules solaires. La seconde approche est basée sur la diffusion de la lumière par des nanoparticules métalliques de diamètre supérieur à 50 nm ou par des nanostructures métalliques. La section efficace de diffusion d'une nanoparticule métallique augmente rapidement avec son diamètre et atteint un maximum à l'excitation LSP. Dans ce travail, des nanoparticules de diamètres supérieur à 50 nm et des nanostructures métalliques ont été incorporées dans la partie inférieure de cellules solaires en silicium amorphe ou microcristallin / In order to achieve high efficiencies, thin-film silicon solar cells need an efficient light absorption. In this thesis, we discuss new approaches based on metal nanoparticules and metal nanostructures for light trapping in thin-film silicon solar cells, The specific optical properties of metallic nanoparticles are a consequence of the appearence of a resonance in their absorption and scattering spectra, know as the localized surface plasmon( LSP) resonance. For sufficiently small particles (<50 nm), the LSP absorption is accompanied by a strong enhancement of the electromagnetic field inside and in the surrounding of the nanoparticles. The first part of this work is motivated by the utilization of this enhanced electromagnetic field. In this approach, we target to confine the light in the active layer of thin-film silicon solar cells, The second approach is based on the light scattering of large metal nanoparticles or nanostructures. The scateering cross section of metallic nanoparticules increases rapidly with their diameter and experiences a resonance at the LSP excitation. Therefore, large metal nanoparticules and metal nanostructures were integrated at the back side of thin-film silicon solar cells

Moisture diffusion studies were performed using unidirectional (UD) tape and quasiisotropic (QI) woven 5-harness satin fabric, carbon fibre reinforced (CFR) epoxy composite materials. Firstly the moisture constants, (i.e. diffusion coefficient, D[x], and equilibrium moisture content, M[max]) were experimentally derived at 70&deg;C and 85% relative humidity (%RH), for the two CFR materials. To investigate moisture absorption as a function of %RH test coupons were conditioned to differing equilibrium moisture levels viz., 70&deg;C/60%RH, 70&deg;C/75%RH, 70&deg;C/85%RH, and 70&deg;C/95%RH. Also oven dry (OD) and as-received (AR) tests were performed for baseline comparison. The effect of moisture absorption on the mechanical behaviour was investigated; lamina properties were studied by measuring tension, compression, shear (inter/intralaminar) strength and stiffness of the UD material. This comprehensive set of testing provided quantitative relationships between moisture content and mechanical properties. The quasi-isotropic lay-up was then utilised to investigate multi-directional laminate lay-ups using open hole tension and compression testing. The experimental data showed that the uptake of moisture in both the materials studied was described well by Fick's Second Law and the properties most affected by moisture ingress were matrix-dominated properties. More specifically, the transverse tensile strength, F[t][2] was most affected by the ingress of moisture, with a near 50% reduction in strength when conditioned to equilibrium moisture content at 70&deg;C/95%RH. Such information is a necessary prerequisite if improved design procedures are going to be developed in the future. The initial phase of testing produced mechanical property/moisture relationships that were employed to predict the strength and stiffness of the material containing specific moisture gradients through-the-thickness (TTT). To be able to predict mechanical properties with different moisture distribution, firstly moisture distribution TTT of the material was modelled using an analytical solution to Fick's Second Law. Then moisture content was considered on a ply-by-ply basis TTT of the laminate; reductions were applied to each individual ply property dependent on the moisture content using the experimentally derived relationships, essentially applying environmental knock-down factors (KEKDF'S) to each individual ply. Classical Laminate Analysis (CLA) was then performed using the Max Stress failure criteria in order to predict the overall laminate failure. A second phase of mechanical testing was then performed to validate these predictions. The mechanical property predictions compared well to the experimental data showing similar reductions in strength for a given profile of moisture in the laminate. The predicted strengths also fell within the measured standard deviation of the experimental data in a significant proportion of the results.

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