Os polímeros condutores intrínsecos são materiais isolantes ou semicondutores que, quando submetidos a um processo de dopagem, passam a apresentar condutividade próxima à metálica. Dentre os polímeros condutores sintetizados mais estudados está a poli(anilina), (PANI), que apesar de ter sido sintetizada pela primeira vez há aproximadamente 150 anos, continua sendo objeto de estudo de muitos grupos de pesquisa por todo o mundo até hoje. Apesar das características atrativas da PANI (facilidade de preparação e dopagem, estabilidade química e baixo custo), ela é categorizada como um material insolúvel e infusível em condições normais, o que dificulta sua processabilidade e aplicabilidade. Em vista dessas características indesejáveis, muitos derivados da PANI, tais como PANIs substituídas, copolímeros e blendas, são preparados em busca de novos materiais mais solúveis e processáveis. A obtenção do PPSA, um copolímero alternado da PANI e do PPS, mostrou-se atraente devido à possibilidade desse material poder apresentar as propriedades desejáveis de ambos os homopolímeros, juntamente com uma maior solubilidade. Nesta tese, apresentar-se-á a preparação desse polímero bem como sua respectiva caracterização espectroscópica e térmica e a determinação da massa molecular pela técnica de espalhamento de luz. Um estudo do comportamento eletroquímico por voltametria cíclica combinada com técnicas \"in situ\": espectroscopia Raman Ressonante, UV-Visível e por microbalança eletroquímica a cristal de quartzo também será mostrado. / The intrinsic conducting polymers are insulating or semi-conducting materials that show conductivities similar to metals when submitted to a doping process. Polyaniline (PANI), synthesized for the first time 150 years ago, is still the subject of research of many groups in the world, being one of the most studied conductive polymers. Besides its attractive properties (easy synthesise and doping, chemical stability and low cost), PANI is an insoluble and infusible material in normal conditions, what makes its processability and applicability very difficult. In order to overcome these difficulties, many PANI derivatives, such as substituted PANIs, copolymers and blends have been prepared, searching for more soluble materials and processible. PPSA, an alternate copolymer of PANI and PPS, is an attractive alternative because this material can show interesting properties of both homopolymers, together with a higher solubility. In this thesis it will be shown the preparation of this copolymer, as well as its spectroscopic and thermal characterization, and the determination of its molar mass by light scattering. The electrochemical behavior, studied by cyclic voltammetry combined with \"in situ\" techniques such as Raman resonant spectroscopy, UV-VIS and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance, will also be shown.

Le développement de nouveaux matériaux pour augmenter les performances des capteurs biologiques est très important lorsqu'on sait que les signaux électriques constituent la base des évènements biologiques fondamentaux comme l’activité cérébrale, le battement du coeur ou la sécrétion hormonale. Ces signaux cellulaires sont souvent enregistrés avec des sondes qui nécessitent des modifications génétiques ou chimiques. Cependant, des signaux intrinsèques pourraient être exploités directement. Des matrices de microélectrodes extracellulaires (MEAs) et des transistors électrochimiques à base de polymères (OECTs) sont par exemple sensibles aux flux ioniques. Ils sont, de plus, non-invasifs et donnent des informations importantes sur l’activité cellulaire. Cependant, ils ne peuvent différencier les espèces ioniques impliquées dans les signaux pour l’obtention d’une image précise de l’activité électrique. Ce travail de thèse a ainsi consisté dans : le développement de polymères bivalents ion-sensibles et conducteurs électroniques, la démonstration de leur biocompatibilité avec des cellules bêta-pancréatiques, la fabrication de transistors OECTs intégrant ces matériaux et la preuve de concept de son applicabilité comme plateforme non-invasive pour la détection de flux ioniques. / The generation of novel materials to harness the power of biological sensors is extremely attractive because precisely configured electrical activities form the base of key biological events such as brain activity, heart beat or vital hormone secretion. Cellular signals are often recorded using probes that require genetic or chemical manipulation. Intrinsic signals offer the huge advantage to harness these properties without further transformations. Extracellular microelectrode arrays (MEAs) and polymer-based organic electrochemical transistor arrays (OECTs) rely on the movement of ions, are non-invasive and provide some information on cell activity. However, they cannot resolve fluxes of specific species as targeted ions to obtain a precise picture of cell/organ activity. In this context, this work has consisted on the development of multimodal ion-sensing polymers, demonstration of their biocompatibility to beta-cells, the engineer of original OECTs incorporating these materials and demonstration of their viability as non-invasive platform of electrical cell activity and specific ion fluxes.

With the goal of improving chemical detection methods for buried improvised explosive devices (IED’s), the intention of this study is to show that functionalized nano-particles improve the sensing properties of a polymer applied to gas sensors. The approach was reinforcing the polymer, Nafion, with acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT’s). Ammonia was chosen as the analyte for its similarity to IED byproducts without the dangers of toxicity or explosion. Two sensor platforms were investigated: Quartz crystal microbalances (QCM’s) and microcantilevers (MC’s). Preliminary evaluation of treated QCM’s, via frequency analyzer, showed improvements in sensitivity and fast reversal of adsorption; and suggested increased stability. Tests with coated MC’s also supported the findings of QCM tests. Amplitude response of MC’s was on average 4 times greater when the Nafion coating contained CNT’s. Quantitative QCM testing with gas-flow meters showed that with CNT inclusion: the average number of moles adsorbed increased by 35% (>1.2 times frequency response); sensitivity improved by 0.63 Hz/ppt on average; although the detection threshold decreased marginally; but reusability was much better after extended exposures to concentrated ammonia. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

In this study the author investigates his interpretive practice as a conductor, revealing how interpretive operations occur not as discrete and isolated activities, but rather an intertwined cyclic process. The study was based on an experiment of the author conducting five scores on two different occasions separated in time by between one day and several months. The study design included extensive content analysis of over 30 hours of video in which more than 12,000 codes were applied and collated. The study design also included traditional texted research, autoethnographic writing (a 25,000-word practice journal), semi-structured interviews, the use of Sonic Visualiser, and the documentation of a range of score study methods which the author describes as ‘listening in silence'. Although there are numerous studies that compare different performances of the same piece, and consider the extent to which differences are intentional and/or creative, none has been undertaken by a conductor in the role of artist-researcher. The study develops what the author calls the ‘ethos of multiple interpretability', suggesting that a conductor can be ‘animated by' the belief that there is no single correct way to perform a work specified by a score.

Neste trabalho, desenvolvemos blendas de polímeros biodegradáveis e polímeros condutores com objetivo de avaliar o potencial destes materiais para uso em aplicações biomédicas. O polímero condutor polipirrol (PPY) e os polímeros biodegradáveis poli(-caprolactona) (PCL) e poli(3-hidróxido de butirato) (P3HB) foram escolhidos devido à comprovada biocompatibilidade apresentada por cada um destes três polímeros. O PPY foi sintetizado via polimerização em emulsão, utilizando-se o dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) como surfactante e o FeCl3 como oxidante e dopante. A morfologia do polímero obtido foi estudada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura e por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. O PPY se apresentou como agregado de partículas aproximadamente esféricas, com dimensões da ordem de 80 a 200nm. Verificamos que ocorre uma redução significativa do tamanho das partículas formadas, proporcionalmente ao aumento da concentração de SDS. Os ensaios de microanálise por energia dispersiva (EDS) e de espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (FTIR) demonstraram a incorporação de SDS ao PPY, o SDS atuando como contra-íon deste polímero. Isto está de acordo com os resultados de condutividade elétrica obtidos para o polímero sintetizado sem o SDS (1.9S/cm) e com 100mM de SDS (23.3S/cm). A seguir, foram preparadas as blendas, dispersando-se as partículas de PPY em matrizes poliméricas de PCL ou de P3HB, sendo a morfologia destas blendas estudada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Em blendas de PCL, as partículas de PPY localizam-se principalmente entre os esferulitos da matriz, devido ao processo de cristalização da PCL. Diferentemente, nas blendas de P3HB estas partículas agruparam-se em várias regiões, e não foram localizadas na superfície dos filmes produzidos. A condutividade elétrica obtida para as blendas de PCL e de P3HB, ambas contendo 15% de PPY, foi respectivamente, 20.8mS/cm e 5.5mS/cm. Esta diferença de valores encontrada, parece estar relacionada à formação de uma rede de partículas de PPY na matriz de PCL. Medidas do ângulo de contato da superfície das blendas de PCL e de P3HB mostraram que elas se tornam progressivamente mais hidrofílicas com o aumento da proporção de PPY. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que estas blendas podem ser biocompatíveis, justificando o prosseguimento de novos estudos envolvendo métodos de ensaio in vivo, para uma avaliação mais adequada. / Polymers blends making use of two biodegradable polymers, and a conductive one, were synthesized and characterized in the laboratory, aiming at the development of a new material that would combine adequate properties of biodegradability and electrical conductivity. As such, these blends would be suitable for making special devices to be used in biomedical applications. The well known conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPY), was synthesized, then blended with either poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB), both biodegradable, therefore biocompatible, polymers. PPY particles were obtained along the polymerization route, in which SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) acted as a surfactant and FeCl3 as the oxidizing and dopant agent. The PPY samples were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as spherical particles having 80-200nm in diameter; it was found that final particle size was inversely related to the concentration of SDS used in the synthesis pathway. The particles were further characterized by energy dispersive microanalysis (EDS) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), to demonstrate incorporation of the SDS into the PPY. SDS actually behaves as a counterion of the polymer, according to electrical conductivity results of polymer synthesized without SDS (1.9S/cm) or with 100mM SDS (23.3S/cm). This PPY polymer was then blended with either PCL or PHB matrices. The microstructure of the two resulting blends, as investigated by scanning electron microscopy demonstrates PPY particles mostly located within the interstices of spherulites in the PCL blends, whereas in P3HB blends, they formed irregular patches along the matrix. Electrical conductivity for blends containing 15% PPY were: 20.8mS/cm for PCL blends and 5.5mS/cm for P3HB blends. It can be concluded therefore, that these different values obtained for electrical conductivity were related to the particle distribution within the two matrices. Also, hydrophilic properties of the two blends, according to contact angle measurements, seem to correspond to the content of PPY.

Este trabalho apresenta a preparação e caracterização de blendas condutoras de colágeno e poli (o-etoxianilina) - POEA. Blendas, dopadas foram preparadas em pH 3,5, variando-se a concentração de POEA de 0 a 50%, e caracterizadas por técnicas de microscopia (ótica, eletrônica de varredura e de força atômica), condutividade elétrica (quatro pontas, duas pontas e AC), espectroscopia (UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman e dicroísmo circular), eletroquímica (microbalança de quartzo) e estabilidade térmica (TGA e DSC). Foram obtidos filmes auto-sustentáveis com boas propriedades mecânicas em condições otimizadas de preparação. As blendas desdopadas apresentaram morfologia globular, sendo que o tamanho dos glóbulos foi proporcional à quantidade de POEA adicionada. Após a dopagem, foram observados glóbulos menores sobre os anteriores, porém estes não apresentaram variação de tamanho com a quantidade de POEA adicionada. Estas blendas apresentaram propriedades semicondutoras, e observou-se que a condutividade aumenta com o aumento do conteúdo POEA adicionada. O mecanismo de condução foi caracterizado por saltos \"hopping\", sendo que os ajustes observados foram consistentes com o modelo de RFEB (Random Free Energy Barrier). As medidas de dicroísmo circular mostraram que colágeno induziu atividade ótica na POEA. Por meio da técnica de espectroscopia de Raman foram observadas interações específicas entre os componentes sendo proposto um modelo de interação entre eles. A blenda também apresentou atividade eletroquímica, demonstrando que este novo material apresenta propriedades únicas devido à combinação das propriedades dos materiais que o formam. / This work presents the preparation and characterization of conducting collagen and poly (o-ethoxyaniline) - POEA blends. Doped blends were prepared in pH 3,5, varying the POEA concentration from 0 to 50%, and characterized by microscopy (optical, electronic scanning, and atomic force), electric conductivity (four probes, two probes, and AC), spectroscopy (UV-Vis, FTIR, Raman, and circular dichroism), electrochemical (quartz crystal microbalance), and thermal analysis (TGA and DSC) techniques. Freestanding films with good mechanical properties were obtained under optimized conditions. De-doped blends presented globular morphology, with globules size proportional to the added POEA. After the doping process, smaller globules were observed, but no variation on the globules size was observed with the POEA content in the blend. The blends presented semiconducting properties with the conductivity increasing proportionally to the POEA content. The conducting mechanism was dominated by hopping jumps, consistent with the RFEB (Random Free Energy Barrier) model. The measurement of the circular dichroism showed that the collagen induces optical activity in the POEA. the use of the Raman spectroscopy technique revealed specific interactions between the components and a model of interaction was proposed. The blend presented also electrochemical response demonstrating that this new material presents unique properties due to the combination of the properties of its true components.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um estudo sistemático dos mecanismos de difusão responsáveis pelo switching de resistência em memórias resistivas. Essas memórias possuem estrutura semelhante a de um capacitor, a qual sofre uma transição de resistência induzida pela aplicação de um campo elétrico. A transição é provocada pela formação de filamentos condutivos no interior da matriz semicondutora. Os filamentos podem ser constituídos por metal originado de um dos eletrodos (ECM) ou por regiões do óxido deficientes em oxigênio (VCM), geradas pela difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio. Dispositivos de TiO2 foram construídos e sua resposta elétrica foi adquirida através de medidas elétricas do tipo I-V para diferentes metais de eletrodo. Técnicas de análise por feixe de íons, como retroespalhamento Rutherford por micro-feixe e perfilometria com reação nuclear ressonante, foram usadas para detalhamento dos processos de difusão. Constatou-se uma dependência do comportamento elétrico em função do método de deposição da camada semicondutora, sua espessura e os parâmetros da medida de tensão. No caso do filamento ser composto por átomos de metal, espectros de micro-RBS foram adquiridos para identificar a sua estrutura no interior do óxido. Ainda, observaram-se bolhas na superfície do eletrodo superior dos dispositivos com difusão de vacâncias de oxigênio após o tratamento elétrico. Nesse mesmo contexto, foi medida a difusividade e energia de ativação da difusão de oxigênio em filmes finos de TiOy. / In this work we developed a systematic study of diffusion mechanisms which are responsible for resistance switching in resistive memories. The structure of these memories is similar to a capacitor which suffers resistance transition induced by electrical field. The transition is caused by the formation of conductive filaments inside the semiconductor matrix. The filaments may be constituted by metal from one of the electrodes (ECM) or by oxygen deficient areas (VCM), generated from oxygen vacancies diffusion. Devices of TiO2 have been built and its electrical response was acquired through electrical measurements (I-V) for different electrode metals. Ion beam techniques such as micro-probe Rutherford Backscattering and Nuclear Reaction Profiling were used to detail the diffusion processes. It was observed a dependence in the electrical behaviour with the semiconductor layer deposition method, its thickness and bias measurement parameters. In the case which filaments are composed by metal atoms, measurements of micro-RBS were performed to identify its structure inside the oxide. Also, bubbles have been observed over the surface of top electrode in devices with oxygen vacancies diffusion after the electrical treatment. In this context, it was measured diffusivity and activation energy for oxygen diffusion in thin TiOy films.

Conducting polymer coating is the new developing area in the field of advanced textiles. In this project the rheological behaviour of paste containing conducting polymer was studied during formulation to coating application. The literature study is done by keeping all the contents of project in mind and a wide area of conductive polymer, coating methods, binder system and rheology modifier is covered. The rheological behaviour of different fluid containing newtanion and non-newtanion behaviour is discussed for better understanding of the project working. Polyester fabric was coated by knife coating method. In paste formulation, the chemicals used were polyurethane binder with two HEUR based rheology modifiers. A lot of experiments were performed to determine the right amount of rheology modifier alone or in combination for paste formulation and coating application and interesting findings were observed during the experimental work which had been justified in results and analysis. After application, the coated fabric was checked for resistivity. / Program: Magisterutbildning i textilteknologi

As propriedades protetoras à corrosão dos polímeros condutores, especialmente da poli(anilina) (PANI), têm sido amplamente explorada. Entretanto, o mecanismo pelo qual esta proteção é efetuada ainda não foi completamente elucidado. Evidências mostram que a habilidade protetora à corrosão da PANI está ligada à formação de um par galvânico entre o polímero e o metal. Neste trabalho, foi feito um estudo sobre a formação de um par galvânico entre a PANI e diferentes substratos metálicos (zinco, ferro, níquel e cobre) em meios ácidos e neutros. Medidas de potencial de circuito aberto mostram que há a possibilidade de formação de um acoplamento galvânico e medidas de corrente galvânica mostram que há uma corrente galvânica fluindo entre todos os pares PANI-metal. Durante este trabalho, foi sintetizada uma suspensão à base de epóxi e PANI, a qual foi eletroforeticamente depositada sobre um eletrodo de ferro. Medidas de potencial de circuito aberto e impedância em uma solução aquosa de ácido sulfúrico mostraram que o revestimento à base de PANI protegeu o substrato metálico em questão através da formação de um par galvânico entre o metal e o polímero. / The corrosion protection properties of conducting polymers, especially poly(aniline) (PANI) ones, have been widely exploited. However, the mechanism by which this protection is made has not been completely cleared yet. Evidences show the ability of PANI\'s corrosion protection is connected to the building of a galvanic couple between the polymer and the metal. In this work, a study about the building of a galvanic couple between PANI and distinct metallic substrates (zinc, iron, nickel and copper) in acid and neutral environment was done. Measurements of open circuit potential showed the possibility of the building of a galvanic coupling and measurements of galvanic current showed the flux of a galvanic current between all the couples PANI-metal. In the course of this work, a suspension based on epoxy and PANI was synthesized and electrophoretically depositated on a iron electrode. Measurements of open circuit potential and impedance in a aqueous sulfuric acid solution showed that the revestiment based on PANI protected the metallic substrate by the building of a galvanic couple between the metal and the polymer.

Epsilon-near-zero materials are an emerging class of nanophotonic materials which engender electromagnetic field enhancement and small phase variation due to their approximate zero permittivity. These quasi-static fields facilitate a number of unique optical properties such as supercoupling, subwavelength confinement, and enhanced light-matter interactions, which has made epsilon-near-zero media a rapidly expanding field of optical physics. Contemporary methods of realizing a system with zero permittivity rely on microwave cavities/waveguides or complex metal-dielectric metamaterials; however, both techniques require advanced fabrication and their operational wavelength is fixed relative to their geometric and optical parameters. It remains an open and substantial challenge to realize an epsilon-near-zero material at pertinent wavelengths, particularly near- and mid-infrared, with tunable/dynamic properties. The focus of this thesis is the exploration of transparent conducting oxides for the development of epsilon-near-zero nanophotonic phenomena and applications. Transparent conducting oxides have an inherent low permittivity, in addition to simple fabrication and tunable optical properties, making them exceptionally promising. Application of transparent conducting oxide films for highly confined modes, nonlinear/ultrafast optics, and strongly coupled systems are discussed.