Ce travail de thèse porte sur la synthèse de nouveaux matériaux nanostructurés sous conditions extrêmes de pression et de température (P > 5 GPa et T > 1000 °C). Les matériaux que nous étudions sont basés sur un élément particulier : le bore. Ces matériaux présentent des propriétés uniques. D'une part, les allotropes du bore présentent des duretés élevées et une grande inertie chimique. D'autre part, les alliages du bore (ou borures métalliques) présentent des propriétés variées, de la thermoélectricité (HfB2) à la supraconductivité (MgB2). La synthèse en sels fondus est utilisée afin d'obtenir des systèmes nanostructurés comprenant deux composants : des nanoparticules cristallines d'environ 10 nm de borures métalliques (HfB2 ou CaB6) comprises dans une matrice de bore amorphe.Le traitement sous haute pression et température est le seul permettant de cristalliser la phase amorphe. La conservation de la nanostructure initiale est démontrée. Plusieurs nouveaux matériaux sont ainsi synthétisés : des nanocomposites borure/borate (HfB2/HfB2O5 ou CaB6/CaB2O4) ou borure/bore (HfB2/?-B ou CaB6/?-B), premiers membres de nouvelles familles de nanomatériaux. Un précurseur de bore amorphe nanostructuré synthétisé en sels fondus est ensuite utilisé. Il est cristallisé sous haute pression et haute température. En sus de la première occurrence de bore epsilon nanostructuré, deux nouvelles phases riches en bore sont obtenues, dont la structure est en cours de résolution. En somme, ce travail conduit à une nouvelle méthode de synthèse à la frontière entre la chimie des nanomatériaux et la physique des hautes pressions et températures, à l'origine de nouveaux nanomatériaux et structures. / In this PhD work, we develop a way to prepare new nanostructured materials under extreme pressure and temperature conditions (P > 5 GPa et T > 1000 °C). The studied materials are based on a specific element: boron. Indeed, these materials have unique properties. On the one hand, boron allotropes exhibit high hardness and chemical inertness. On the other hand, metal-boron alloys (metal borides) span a wide range of properties, from thermoelectricity (HfB2) to superconductivity (TiB2). We use the synthesis in molten salts to reach nanostructured systems with two components: crystalline boride nanoparticles (ca. 10 nm) embedded in an amorphous boron matrix. High pressure high temperature treatments on these systems enable crystallisation of the amorphous component into unique phases, thus yielding new nanomaterials: boride/borate (HfB2/HfB2O5 or CaB6/CaB2O4) or boride/boron (HfB2/β-B or CaB6/β-B) nanocomposites, representing the first members of new nanomaterials families. In a final step, a specific nanostructured amorphous boron precursor is synthesised in molten salts. It is crystallised under high pressure and temperature. In addition to the first nanostructured occurrence of the epsilon-boron phase, we report two new boron-rich phases, which structure is under resolution. All in all, a new synthetic route is developed at the frontier of nanomaterials chemistry and high pressure and temperature physics, leading to new nanomaterials and structures.

The major objective of this thesis is to systematically investigate the effect of hexagonal BN (h-BN) islands on electronic and vibrational properties of single wall carbon Nanotubes. All our investigation are based on first principle Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Our study is motivated by interesting metal-semiconductor transition recently found in periodically patterned graphene with h-BN islands. After reproducing the electronic band structure for pristine single wall zigzag carbon nanotubes (which shows metallic or semiconducting properties depending on their chirality), we investigated their electronic band structure in the presence of h-BN islands. The band structure depends not only on the defect concentration, but also on the pattern of the defect atoms. Our results also suggest that, if we start with a metallic /semiconducting mixture of ZSWCNTs, upon h-BN addition, the sample converts to fully semiconducting. This is a promising result for applications of CNTs in molecular electronics. Fundamental understanding of vibrational properties of nano electronics component is equally important in their applications especially in thermal management and thermoelectric applications. Defect engineering is one of the potential approach for tuning nanoelectronic devices for optimal thermal management and thermoelectric devices. In this work, I present a systematic investigation on how the group velocity and frequency of different phonon modes depend on various h-BN defect concentrations and defect patterns in ZSWCNTs. The study was extended to investigate the effect of hexagonal-C defects on the electronic and vibrational properties of zigzag single wall Boron Nitride nanotubes (ZSWBNNTs).

La mélatonine est une neurohormone synthétisée au niveau de la glande pinéale durant la période nocturne chez l'ensemble des mammifères. Les sécrétions de cette hormone circulante par voie sanguine permette à tout système doté de récepteurs mélatoninergiques (MT1, MT2) de transmettre l'information de photopériode entrainant ainsi une adaptation aux périodes jour/nuit. La mélatonine est impliquée dans de nombreuses fonctions biologiques mais aussi dans diverses pathologies du système nerveux central tel que les troubles du rythmes circadien, l'anxiété, la dépression… A l'heure actuelle, il existe de nombreux ligands affins des ces récepteurs, cependant le manque de marqueurs sélectifs ralentit les recherches associées (pharmacologie). Partant de ce constat, nous avons conçu et synthétisé, selon deux approches différentes, des ligands fluorescents utilisant comme squelette de base, la structure de la mélatonine et certains analogues. Dans une première approche dite conventionnelle, les ligands mélatoninergiques sont associés à un fluorophore organique au moyen d'un bras espaceur et dans une seconde approche plus novatrice, le noyau indolique du ligand endogène est fusionné avec un pyrrole par analogie avec les fluorophores de types BODIPYs ®, puis dans une troisième partie, dérivée de la précédente, la mélatonine est fonctionnaliser par un hétérocycle azoté capable de chélater un atome de bore. Les évaluations pharmacologiques de ces composés ont montré de bonnes affinités de l'ordre du nanomolaire pour les récepteurs MT1 et MT2. Les études photophysiques ont confirmé la fluorescence induite par les fluorophores dans l'approche conventionnelle, et ont surtout montré l'existence de fluorescence par simple modification structurale de la mélatonine endogène. Les tests d'imagerie cellulaire ont également permis de valider ces méthodologies. / Melatonin is a main neurohormone synthesized in the pineal gland during the night in all mammals. Secretions of the blood circulating hormone through any system endowed melatoninergic receptors (MT1, MT2) transmit information leading to photoperiod and adaptation of the day / night periods. Melatonin is involved in many biological functions but also in various diseases of the central nervous system such as circadian rhythm disorders, anxiety, depression... Actually, there are many affinity receptors ligands, however, research on the pharmacology and the functionality of melatonin receptors suffers from the lack of selective probes for these two receptors. In order to overcome this scientific obstacle, we designed and synthesized fluorescent melatonin ligands according two different approaches. In a first conventional approach the melatoninergic ligands are tagged with an organic fluorophore via a linker. In a second approach more innovative, the indole ring of the endogenous ligand is fused with a pyrrole in order to obtain a structural analogy with the fluorophores BODIPYs types. In a third series derived from the previous one, melatonin is functionalized with a aza-heterocycle able to chelate a boron atom. Pharmacological evaluations of these compounds have shown nanomolar affinity for the receptors. Photophysical studies confirmed the fluorescence induced by the fluorescent dye in the conventional approach, and induced by simple melatonin structural modifications in the orthers. Preliminary cell imaging have also validated the methodologies.

La pollution causée par le rejet industriel de métaux lourds a engendré la mise en place de réglementations concernant les concentrations en eaux de surfaces de ces polluants fortement toxiques. Des appareillages permettant la quantification des métaux lourds existent d'ores et déjà mais présentent de nombreux inconvénients comme leur coût, l'emploi d'un personnel qualifié ou encore des mesures différées dues à des échantillonnages spécifiques. L'électroanalyse représente, dans le domaine de la détection des métaux lourds, une des alternatives les plus prometteuses à ce jour.Les travaux présentés portent donc sur la mise au point d'un dispositif complet d'électroanalyse, tenant compte des problèmes de spéciation liés à la présence de la matière organique, permettant la quantification de deux métaux lourds fortement relargués par l'industrie : le plomb et le nickel. / Heavy metals industrial wastes involved the establishment of regulations concerning those toxic pollutants concentrations in surface water. Devices allowing heavy metals quantification already exist. Unfortunately, they revealed some gaps as their price, the need for qualified employees or even deferred results because of specific sampling procedures. Nowadays, in the heavy metals detection field, electroanalysis appears as a promising alternative. The work here discussed concerns the study of a global electroanalysis equipment, taking into account speciation issues related to organic matter presence, allowing heavy metals quantification in industrial runoffs of lead and nickel.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / James H. Edgar / Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently been envisioned for electronic, optoelectronic, and nanophotonic applications due to its strong anisotropy and unique properties. To realize these applications, the ability to synthesize single crystals with large size and low defect density is required. Furthermore, a detailed mechanistic understanding of hBN growth process is helpful for understanding and optimizing the synthesis technique for high quality crystals. In this dissertation, the production of large-scale, high-quality hBN single crystals via precipitation from metal solvents, including Ni-Cr and Fe-Cr, was demonstrated. The use of Fe-Cr mixture provides a lower cost alternative to the more common Ni-Cr solvent for growing comparable crystals. The clear and colorless crystals have a maximum domain size of around 2 mm and a thickness of around 200 μm. Detailed characterizations demonstrated that the crystals produced are pure hBN phase, with low defect and residual impurity concentrations. The temperature-dependent optical response of excitons showed that the exciton-phonon interaction in bulk hBN is in the strong-coupling regime. A new growth method for monoisotopic hBN single crystals, i.e. h¹⁰BN and h¹¹BN, was developed, by which hBN single crystals were grown using a Ni-Cr solvent and pure boron and nitrogen sources at atmospheric pressure. The chemical bonding analysis revealed that the B-N bond in h¹¹BN is slightly stronger than that in h¹⁰BN. The polariton lifetime in our monoisotopic hBN samples increases threefold over the naturally abundant hBN, and the isotopic substitution changes the electron density distribution and the energy bandgap of hBN. The ability to produce crystals in this manner opens the door to isotopically engineering the properties and performance of hBN devices. Atomistic-scale insights into the growth of hBN were obtained from multiscale modeling combining density functional theory (DFT) and reactive molecular dynamics (rMD). The energetics and kinetics of BN species on Ni(111) and Ni(211) surfaces were calculated by DFT. These DFT calculations data were subsequently used to generate a classical description of the Ni-B and Ni-N pair interactions within the formulation of the reactive force field, i.e., ReaxFF. MD simulations under the newly developed potential helped reveal the elementary nucleation and growth process of an hBN monolayer - nucleation initiates from the growth of linear BN chains, which further evolve into branched and then hexagonal lattices. In the end, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the thermodynamic preference of hBN geometries varying from triangle to hexagonal can be tuned by B to N molar ratios, and gas phase N₂ partial pressure, which is also supported by quantum mechanics calculations. The modeling confirms that the nitrogen species indeed plays an important role in dictating sizes and edge terminations of hBN sheets.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Boron nitride (BN) is a compound formed by covalent bonds between boron and nitrogen atoms. In the crystalline phase it can be found in different structures, such cubic (c-BN), simgle hexagonal (h-BN), wurtzite (w-BN) and rhombohedral (r- BN). Similarly to graphite h-BN can form two dimensional structures, which can be cut to form tubes. Otherwise, c-BN has hardness similar to diamond, which is retained up to 2000 °C while diamond turns into to graphite at about 900 °C. These properties make BN a promissor material for nanoelectronics in a hot environment. Here, we investigate structural and electronic properties of BN nanotubes. Our study is directed not only to BN nanotubes in the pristine form (no defects), but also when topological defects (vacancies) and dopant impurities (Carbon) are present. The first principles calculations are based on the density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation term. The calculations were performed using the SIESTA computer code using gaussian functions to expand the Khon-Sham orbitals. We observe that C impurities have low formation energies when compared to vacancies have high formation energies. All the pristine BN nanotubes studied are non magnetic semiconductor with a band gap energy around 3.5 eV, which is almost independent of the tube chirality and diameter. Carbon impurities introduce localized electronic levels into the band gap while vacancies give magnetic moments to the BN nanotubes. Calculations for complex defects (carbon impurities and vacancies) show that the formation of these complex defects have lower formation energies when compared to the sum of the formation energies for isolated defects, indicating that these defects have higher probability of occurring. Double vacancies have formation energies close to those for single vacancies and in the equilibrium geometry, occurs a reconstruction where a pentagon-octagon-pentagon (5−8−5) structure is present. In the optimal geometry dangling bonds are not present and the magnetic moment is zero, but non-spin-polarized electronic levels are present in the band gap. / O nitreto de boro (BN) é formado por ligações covalentes entre B e N. Na fase cristalina pode ser encontrado nas diferentes estruturas: cúbica (c-BN), hexagonal (h-BN), wurtzita (w-BN) e romboédrica (r-BN). Similar ao grafite, o h-BN pode formar estruturas bidimensionais (planos ou camadas), as quais podem ser cortadas formando tubos. O c-BN tem uma dureza semelhante à do diamante, que é mantida até 2000 °C, enquanto que o diamante se desfaz em grafite a cerca de 900 °C. Estas propriedades fazem do BN um material promissor para nanoeletrônica em ambientes abrasivos. Neste trabalho, estudamos as propriedades estruturais e eletrônicas de nanotubos de BN. Nosso estudo é dirigido não só para os nanotubos de BN na forma pristina (sem defeitos), mas também quando defeitos topológicos (vacâncias) e impurezas (carbono) estão presentes. Os cálculos de primeiros princípios são baseados na teoria do funcional da densidade (TFD) com a aproximação do gradiente generalizado para o termo de troca-correlação (AGG). Utilizamos o código computacional SIESTA com funções gaussianas para expandir os orbitais de Khon-Sham. Observamos que as energias de formação para impurezas de carbono (C) são menores que para vacâncias. Os nanotubos de BN na fase pristina estudados são semicondutores não magnéticos com um gap de energia de cerca de 3,5 eV e praticamente independente do diâmetro e da quiralidade do tubo. Impurezas de carbono introduzem níveis eletrônicos localizados no gap enquanto que vacâncias geram momentos magnéticos para os nanotubos de BN. Cálculos para defeitos complexos (impurezas de C e vacâncias) mostram uma menor energia de formação quando comparados com defeitos isolados, indicando maior probabilidade de ocorrer. Vacâncias duplas têm energias de formação similares as de vacâncias simples e na geometria de equilíbrio ocorre uma reconstrução onde uma estrutura pentágono-octógono-pentágono (5−8−5) está presente. Não existem ligações pendentes e o momento magnético é zero, mas níveis eletrônicos de spin não polarizados estão presentes no gap.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-08-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:43:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 otto_jcs_dr_botib.pdf: 560145 bytes, checksum: 1e3798a7bac3b3ad5d2b4cd9e8c709a3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A expansão da atividade florestal no Brasil tem levado a exploração cada vez maior de solos considerados pobres do ponto de vista nutricional. A necessidade de adubações de correção e/ou manutenção envolve considerável custo de produção, o qual é incorporado ao custo final do produto. Os relatos de deficiências do micronutriente Boro (B) nestas situações têm levado a realização de muitos trabalhos com o objetivo de conhecer melhor os mecanismos envolvidos na absorção e retranslocação deste nutriente, assim como a avaliação de materiais que possam apresentar variabilidade genética quanto à resposta a sua deficiência. O grupo CAGEN em parceria com a empresa Fibria desenvolveu este projeto que visa a busca de SNPs em genes relacionados à absorção e translocação de B. em Eucalyptus. Como resultado da procura de SNPs, nos genes BOR1 e Sorbitol dehydrogenase foram encontrados um total de 54 SNPs sendo que, no gene BOR1, foi localizado 35 SNPs, e destes, 16 foram encontrados em exons e 19 em introns. Distribuídos da seguinte forma, 13 no “primer” B9 e destes dois em exons, 11 no “primer” B10 com sete localizados em exons e 11 encontrados no “primer” B11 com sete deles em exons, das mutações encontradas no gene BOR1, 69% ou 24 do total de 35 SNPs foram substituições por transição e 31% ou 11 dos 35 foram substituições por transversão. Dos 16 SNPs encontrados em exons, dois deles foram encontrados no “primer” B9, sete no “primer” B10 e sete no “primer” B11. Quanto a classificação das mutações em sinônimas e não sinônimas, dos 16 SNPs, 12 (75%) apresentaram mutações sinônimas e quatro (25%) apresentaram mutações não sinônimas, destas três ocorreram nos SPNs encontrados no primer B10 e uma no primer B11. Como resultado da procura de SNPs no gene da Sorbitol dehydrogenase, foi... / The Brazil forestry expansion has increased the poor nutritional soils exploitation. The need for fertilizers correction and / or maintenance involves considerable production costs, which is incorporated into the final product price. The reports about boron (B) micronutrient deficiencies in these situations have led to realization of many works for better understand the mechanisms involved in nutrients uptake and retranslocation, as well as the materials evaluation that may present genetic variability for response to their disability. CAGEN group in partnership with Fibria Company idealized this project for search SNPs in genes related to Boron absorption and translocation in Eucalyptus. On gene BOR1, was found 35 SNPs of which, 16 were found in exons and 19 in introns, of which, 13 in B9 primer with two of these in two exons, 11 in B10 primer with seven of these located in exons and 11 found in B11 primer with seven of them in exons. From gene mutations found in BOR1, 69% or 24 SNPs were transitional substitutions and 31% or 11 were transversion substitutions. Of the 16 SNPs found in exons, two of them were found in B9 primer, seven in B10 primer and seven in B11 primer. Mutations were classified as synonymous and non-synonymous, being that of 16 SNPs, 12 (75%) had synonymous mutations and four (25%) had non-synonymous mutations, in these, three occurred in SPNs found in B10 and one in B11 primer. From gene mutations found in sorbitol dehydrogenase, was found 19 SNPs, of these, seven were found in exons, 10 in introns and two in UTRs regions, one at 3' UTR and one another at 5' UTR. Their distribution was, eight in B1 primer and, of these, one in a 3' UTR region, five in exons and two in introns. In B2 primer were found 11 SNPs, two being located in exons, eight in introns and one in 5' UTR. Of the seven SNPs found in... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Dans le cadre de la fabrication de pièces structurales pour l’industrie aéronautique, de nouveaux matériaux composites à matrice céramique sont envisagés par le motoriste Safran. Lors de l’utilisation dans des environnements sévères de combustion, et sous chargement mécanique, la matrice pourra s’endommager par fissuration et la capacité du matériau à s’auto-protéger sera réduite. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont pour but d'identifier les mécanismes prépondérants de ruine de ce type de matériaux composites en fonction de différentes sollicitations thermiques, mécaniques et environnementales. Une démarche multi-échelle a été adoptée, de manière à considérer les phénomènes à une échelle microscopique (chaque constituant) et macroscopique (synergie entre les constituants au sein du matériau). Le comportement en oxydation/corrosion du matériau composite et de chacun de ses constituants a été caractérisé puis modélisé pour être extrapolé à des environnements de combustion. Différents domaines de protection du matériau ont ainsi été mis en évidence. Dans cette même optique, le comportement thermomécanique des constituants matriciels et du composite a fait l’objet d’essais de fluage pour déterminer les paramètres d’une première modélisation, et analyser les dégradations associées. En couplant les différents résultats obtenus, il est ainsi possible d’évaluer la criticité des différents phénomènes de ruine. Des scenarii de ruine sont donc présentés. / To design and manufacture CMC structural components for aeronautics, Safran develops a new CMC grade, provided to resist severe combustion environments. Understanding this new composite material damaging and failure mechanisms is essential: environmental conditions, mechanical loading, and matrix damages, can lead to a decrease in its self-protective properties. The aim of this work is to identify prevailing high temperature degradation mechanisms of those MI SiC/SiC CMCs, depending of different thermal, mechanical and environmental stresses. To fulfill that outcome, a multi-scale approach was considered, by examining phenomena from single constituents to complex composite architecture (effects of constituents’ synergy). High temperature oxidation/corrosion behaviors of the composite material and each of its constituents were characterized, and modeled to meet representative combustion environment. Different operating areas of efficient self-protection of the composite material were therefore highlighted. In the same perspective, themomechanical behaviors of both matrix constituents and composite were experimentally explored, enabling the determination of behavior laws. Related degradations in the composite material were also analyzed. Crossing all results, it was thereby possible to evaluate kinetics and criticality of failure mechanisms: different damaging scenarios are thus proposed, depending on environmental conditions.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:53:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

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