Conducting polymer nanocomposites composed of metal oxides and polythiophene was synthesized by chemical polymerization in colloidal suspensions. The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of such nanocomposites have been studied. For these investigations films of nanocomposites were prepared by an electrophoretic deposition process. The deposition process was studied in greater detail and kinetic details were determined. The high voltage electrophoretic deposition process was combined with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Then the films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photocurrent spectroscopy.

A utilização de nanopartículas (NP) magnéticas em várias áreas da biomedicina e biotecnologia vem recebendo elevado destaque nos últimos anos, graças à versatilidade de aplicações tais como: reparo de tecidos, diagnósticos, imagens por ressonância magnética, tratamento contra o câncer, separação celular, transporte controlado de drogas, entre outras. Atualmente, as NP com potencialidade de aplicação em biomedicina baseiam-se principalmente em óxidos magnéticos de ferro, os quais apresentam comportamento superparamagnético a temperatura ambiente e baixa magnetização da ordem de 60 emu g-1. A utilização dos óxidos se baseia em duas razões principais: facilidade e versatilidade de modificação da superfície e funcionalização devido aos grupos hidroxila na superfície das NP e pela baixa toxicidade comparada às NP magnéticas metálicas. Biocompatibilidade e funcionalidade específica são obtidas geralmente pela incorporação de materiais paramagnéticas e/ou diamagnéticos na superfície das NP contribuindo para diminuir ainda mais o baixo valor de magnetização de saturação dos óxidos. Nesse contexto, é necessário o desenvolvimento de novos núcleos magnéticos com elevado valor de magnetização, próximos aos valores observados para ferro metálico (~200 emu g-1). Entretanto, esses valores são observados apenas em NP metálicos com elevada toxicidade. Assim, neste trabalho, NP magnéticas bimetálicas de FePt, CoPt e NiPt recobertas óxido de ferro ou ferritas de Co e Ni foram sintetizadas pelo processo poliol modificado combinado com a metodologia de crescimento mediado por semente. As NP obtidas apresentaram tamanho e distribuição de tamanho compatíveis para aplicações biomédicas e a magnetização de saturação dos diferentes sistemas foi intensificada quando comparada às de NP de óxidos magnético puros. Os surfactantes ácido oleico e oleilamina presentes na superfície das NP como sintetizadas foram substituídos por moléculas de APTMS (3-aminopropiltrimetoxisilano) resultando em sistemas de NP dispersáveis em água. Adicionalmente, moléculas de carboximetil-dextrana foram conjugadas com as moléculas de APTMS modificando a superfície das NP e levando a formação de sistemas de NP magnéticas biocompatíveis, com estabilidade em dispersões aquosa e resposta magnética melhorada. As NP sintetizadas apresentam, em resumo, grande potencialidade para diversas aplicações em biomedicina. / In recent years, the magnetic nanoparticles uses in many biomedical and biotechnological areas have received great attention due to their applications possibilities such as: tissue repair, diagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging, cancer treatment, cell separation, and controlled drug delivery, among others. Today, the magnetic nanoparticles applications are mainly based on magnetic iron oxides, which exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature and low saturation magnetization around 60 emu g-1. Magnetic oxide uses was based in two main reasons: easily and versatility of surface changes and functionalization due to hydroxyl groups present on the oxide nanoparticles surface, and low toxicity compared with the magnetic metallic nanoparticles. Biocompatibility and targetable functionalizations are generally obtained by paramagnetic and/or diamagnetic materials incorporations onto the nanoparticle surface contributing to decreases the already low oxide saturation magnetization. In this context, the development of new magnetic nuclei with high magnetizations values closed to the metallic iron values (~200 emu g-1) is required. However, this value is only generally observed in highly toxic metallic nanoparticles. Therefore, in this study, bimetallic magnetic nanoparticles of FePt, CoPt and NiPt coated with iron oxide and Ni- or Co-ferrites in a core-shell structure are synthesized by using the modified polyol process combined with the seed-mediated growth method. Obtained nanoparticles presented size and size distribution compatible for biomedical applications and the saturation magnetization of the different synthesized systems were enhanced compared with the pure magnetic oxide nanoparticles. Oleic acid and oleylamine present on the as-synthesized magnetic nanoparticles surface were properly changed by (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) molecules leading to water-dispersible magnetic nanoparticles system. In addition, carboxymethyl-dextran molecules were conjugated with the APTMS molecules changing the nanoparticles surfaces and resulting in biocompatible water-soluble magnetic nanoparticles systems with improved magnetic response. These synthesized biocompatible magnetic systems present a great potential for many biomedical applications.

L’hydrogénation catalytique du CO2 est considérée comme l’une des voies de valorisation les plus prometteuses pour la production du méthanol. Cette synthèse, souvent accompagné par une formation de CO, a fait l’objet de nombreuses études dans la littérature. Cependant, les résultats obtenus sur des catalyseurs à base de Cu et de ZnO ont démontré que cette réaction n’est pas aussi simple qu’elle y paraissait. Il y a encore beaucoup de controverses et d’interrogations sur la nature des sites actifs et sur les différentes étapes réactionnelles mises en jeu lors de la réaction. L’objectif de ce travail est d’apporter des éléments de compréhension sur la nature des sites actifs et leur rôle sur l’activation du CO2 et de H2. L’étude sur des catalyseurs modèles (mélanges mécaniques et matériaux préparés par coprécipitation) a permis de mettre en évidence un effet de synergie entre Cu et ZnO lié à des phénomènes de migration. Ce travail a montré que la production de méthanol est étroitement liée à la création d’une phase oxyde de type CuxZn(1-x)Oy (lacunaire en oxygène) induit par un effet de Kirkendall à l’interface Cu-ZnO, favorisant l’épandage de l’hydrogène. Différents modèles mathématiques ont été développés afin de déterminer la concentration des contacts entre Cu et ZnO. Les résultats obtenus ont démontré qu’il est possible de corréler directement l’activité du catalyseur avec la concentration de contacts et que cela peut permettre ainsi de prédire la composition chimique idéale du catalyseur pour un design de matériau donné. L’expertise complète de la relation design-activité a permis le développement de matériaux Cu-ZnO de type cœur-coquille 100% sélectif en méthanol. / The catalytic CO2 hydrogenation is considered to be one of the most promising methods for methanol production. This synthesis, often accompanied by a CO formation, had been the subject of many studies in the literature. However, the results obtained on Cu and ZnO based catalysts demonstrated that the reaction is not as simple as it appear to be. There is still a lot of controversies and interrogations concerning the nature of the active sites and the different reactional steps involved during the reaction. The objective of this work is a better understanding of the nature of the active sites and their role on CO2 an H2 activation. A study on model catalysts (mechanical mixtures and materials prepared by coprecipitation) allowed to demonstrate that the synergetic effect between Cu and ZnO linked to a migration phenomenon. This work showed that the methanol production was closely linked to the CuxZn(1-x)Oy oxide phase creation (with oxygen vacancies) induced by a Kirkendall effect on Cu-ZnO interface, thereby promoting the hydrogen spillover. Different mathematical models were developed to determine the concentration of contacts between Cu and ZnO. The results obtained demonstrated that it is possible to directly correlate the catalyst’s activity with the concentration of contacts between Cu and ZnO, which in turn allowed predicting optimal catalyst chemical composition for a particular design of a material. The full expertise of the design-activity relationship allowed the development of Cu-ZnO core-shell type materials with a 100% selective to methanol.

Grâce aux plasmons de surface des nanoparticules métalliques et aux propriétés optiques et électroniques des quantum dots (QDs), les nanostructures QD/métal suscitent beaucoup d'intérêt. Cependant, bien que prometteurs, les hybrides QD/or colloïdaux n'ont été que rarement obtenus.Nous avons mis au point la première méthode de synthèse généralisée conduisant à des structures hybrides cœur/coque/coque QD/SiO2/Au (appelées QDs dorés). Tout d'abord, les QDs hydrophobes sont encapsulés individuellement dans des billes de silice par émulsion inverse. Les nanoparticules obtenues sont ensuite recouvertes d'une coque d'or continue via un processus de dépôt en solution. Les épaisseurs de silice et d'or peuvent être ajustées indépendamment aux dimensions voulues. Nous avons montré que les QDs dorés individuels à base de QDs CdSe/CdS à coque épaisse possèdent une émission stable et poissonienne à température ambiante et sont très photostables. Cette nouvelle structure se comporte comme un résonateur plasmonique avec un facteur de Purcell élevé (~6), en très bon accord avec les simulations.Nous présentons également des auto-assemblages de QDs hydrophobes en superparticules (SPs). Un choix judicieux de QDs donne aux SPs des propriétés exceptionnelles telles qu'une émission de fluorescence intense, non-clignotante et multicolore. Des SPs multifonctionnelles peuvent aussi être obtenues en associant des nanocristaux magnétiques et fluorescents. La croissance d'une coque de silice sur les SPs a permis d'augmenter leur stabilité et nous avons démontré que cette couche de silice pouvait être recouverte d'une coque d'or pour améliorer la photostabilité et la biocompatibilité de ces SPs. / Due to the surface plasmons in metallic nanostructures and the exceptional optical and electrical properties of colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), QD/metal hybrid nanostructures attract much attention. However, although these structures are very promising, colloidal single QD/gold hybrids have rarely been synthesized.We managed to develop for the first time a generalized synthetic route to synthesize a QD/SiO2/Au core/shell/shell hybrid structure (golden QDs). First, hydrophobic QDs are individually encapsulated in silica beads via reverse microemulsion. The obtained QD/SiO2 nanoparticles are then coated with a continuous gold nanoshell using a solution deposition process. The thicknesses of the silica and the gold layers can be tailored independently to various dimensions. We showed that single golden thick-shell CdSe/CdS QDs provide a system with a stable and poissonian emission at room temperature and a high photostability. This novel hybrid golden QD structure behaves as a plasmonic resonator with a strong (~ 6) Purcell factor, in very good agreement with simulations. We also present the self-assembly of hydrophobic QDs into colloidal superparticles (SPs). With a fine choice of QDs, SPs could indeed possess outstanding properties including non-blinking fluorescence, high fluorescence intensity and multi-color emission. Multi-functional SPs could also be obtained by mixing fluorescent or magnetic nanocrystals. The subsequent growth of a silica shell on the SPs allowed an enhancement of their stability and we demonstrated this silica shell could itself be covered by a gold nanoshell to further improve the SPs photostability and biocompatibility.

Lanthanide-based nanoparticles are of interest for optical displays, catalysis, telecommunication, bio-imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, multimodal imaging, etc. These applications are possible partly because the preparation of lanthanide-based nanoparticles has made tremendous progress. Now, nanoparticles are routinely being made with a good control over size, crystal phase and even shape. Despite the achievements, little attention is given to the fundamental physical chemistry aspects, such as crystal structure, architecture, cation exchange, etc. The results of the study on the crystal structures of LnF3 nanoparticles show that the middle GdF3 and EuF3 nanoparticles have two crystal phases, which has then been tuned by doping with La3+ ions. However, the required doping level is very different from the bulk. While the results for the bulk are well explained by thermodynamic calculations, kinetics is actually responsible for the results of the undoped and doped GdF3 and EuF3 nanoparticles. The attempt to make LnF3 core-shell nanoparticles led to the finding of cation exchange, a phenomenon that upon exposure of LnF3 nanoparticles to an aqueous solution containing Ln3+ ions, the Ln3+ ions in the nanoparticles are replaced by the Ln3+ ions in the solution. The consequence of the cation exchange is that LnF3 core-shell nanoparticles are unlikely to form in aqueous media using a core-shell synthesis procedure. It has also been verified that nanoparticles synthesized using an alloy procedure do not always have an alloy structure. This means that the core-shell and alloy structure of nanoparticles in the literature may not be true. The investigation of the architecture of nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous media is extended to those synthesized in organic media. The dopant ion distribution in NaGdF4 nanoparticles has been examined. It has been found that they don’t have the generally assumed statistical dopant distribution. Instead, they have a gradient structure with one type of Ln3+ ions more concentrated towards the center and the other type more concentrated towards the surface of the nanoparticles. With the understanding of these physical insights, lanthanide-based core-shell nanoparticles are prepared using the cation exchange. These core-shell nanoparticles containing a photoluminscent core and a paramagnetic shell are promising candidates for multimodal imaging. / Graduate

The aim of this work was to synthesise water-soluble QDs using different precursors and stabilizers and to determine the toxicity of the synthesized QDs by in vivo imaging. Experiments were performed on water-soluble QDs (MPA-CdTe, MPA-CdTe/ZnS, MSA-CdTe, MSA-CdTe/ZnS, GSH-CdTe, GSH-CdTe/ZnS, TGA-CdTe, TGA-CdTe/ZnS, GSH-ZnSe and GSH-ZnSe/ZnS ) and toxicity was measured. Synthesized QDs were characterized by high intensity (fluorescence spectroscopy), FWHM and zeta potential (ZS Zetasizer) were selected due to their suitability for this task. The toxicity of QDs was determined by the MTT assay on the cell line HEK 293. The experiments show that a core/shell structure is less toxic than a core structure. The results indicate that the toxicity of our synthesized QDs is the lowest for MPA-CdTe (core structure) and MPA-CdTe/ZnS (core/shell structure).

La miniaturisation des systèmes a montré qu’à l’échelle nanométrique, les matériaux possèdent des propriétés différentes de leur état massif. Aujourd'hui, la synthèse d’objets de taille nanométrique est en parfaite adéquation avec les systèmes biologiques pour des applications médicales. La possibilité pour les chimistes de combiner dans un même « nano-objet » différent types de matériaux aux propriétés complémentaires a ouvert la voie au développement de nanoparticules multifonctionnelles pour des applications biologiques. C’est dans ce domaine, en utilisant les propriétés remarquables des terres rares que le LPCML de l’Université de Lyon en collaboration avec le laboratoire MATEIS de l’INSA de Lyon a pu mettre au point des nanoparticules hybrides multifonctionnelles ayant une structure cœur/coquille en combinant un cœur inorganique d’oxyde de lanthanide protégé par une coquille organique composée de polysiloxanes. L’utilisation d’un cœur d’oxyde de terre rare permet de disposer à la fois d’outils de détection (optique avec Eu et Tb, IRM avec Gd, Dy et Ho ou en scintigraphie avec Ho) et d’agent thérapeutique avec Gd et Ho. Après avoir longuement étudié les propriétés comme agent de contraste et de thérapie par capture neutronique du gadolinium, nous nous sommes intéressés aux propriétés atomiques de l’holmium qui après irradiation neutronique émet des rayonnements  et - potentiellement intéressants pour un traitement en curiethérapie. Le travail de thèse présenté ici rend compte de l’étude réalisée d’une part sur les propriétés optiques et magnétiques de ces nanoparticules hybrides à base d’oxyde de terre rare et d’autre part sur les possibilités d’applications médicales avec l’utilisation d’holmium. / The everlasting search for the miniaturization of the processes has shown that at the nanometer scale materials exhibit different properties than from the bulk. Today, the synthesis of nano-sized objects is in perfect harmony with biological systems for medical applications. The opportunity for chemists to combine into a single nano-oject different kind of materials with complementary properties has opened the way for the development of multifunctional nanoparticles for biological applications. In this area, using the remarkable properties of rare earths, LPCML laboratory from Lyon University in collaboration with MATEIS laboratory from INSA-Lyon was able to develop multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles with a core/shell structure by combining an inorganic rare earth oxide core coated by a polysiloxane shell. The using of a lanthanide in the core enables the combination of detection tools (optical with Eu and Tb, MRI with Gd, Dy and Ho or scintigraphy with Ho) and therapeutic agents with Gd and Ho. After having studied the properties of gadolinium as a contrast and neutron capture therapeutic agent, we were interested in atomic properties of holmium after neutron irradiation which emits  and - radiations, potentially interesting for scintigraphic imaging and brachytherapy. The thesis presented here reports studies on the one hand on optical and magnetic properties of these hybrid nanoparticles and on the other hand the possibilities of medical applications by using holmium-based particles.

Les propriétés catalytiques des nanoparticules métalliques peuvent être améliorées par effet d’alliages. La synthèse en solution par voie colloïdale permet de préparer des nanoalliages homogènes en taille, en forme et en composition chimique, de structure ordonnée, désordonnée ou cœur-coquille. La nucléation et la croissance des nanoalliages de Pt-Pd sont étudiées ici par microscopie électronique en transmission, en condition standard, puis in situ dans une cellule liquide formée par des feuilles d’oxyde de graphène. La cinétique de croissance des nanoalliages de Pt-Pd correspond à l’incorporation directe des monomères en solution, compatible avec un processus limité par la réaction de surface, sans phénomène de coalescence, contrairement à la croissance du Pt pur. La structure théorique à l’équilibre des nanoalliages de Pt-Pd est déterminée par des simulations Monte Carlo. La structure la plus probable correspond à une surface riche en Pd et à une sous couche atomique riche en Pt, stable à des températures élevées. L’effet de l’adsorption de gaz oxydants ou réducteurs sur la forme des nanoparticules, est étudié in situ par microscopie environnementale sous pression de quelques mbar, dans un porte objet environnemental. On observe des changements de formes sous oxygène, dus au développement de facettes d’indices plus élevés. La réactivité des nanocubes de Pd@Pt est étudiée pour l’oxydation du CO en fonction du recouvrement de Pt à la surface. La réactivité maximale pour un faible recouvrement est interprétée par une baisse de l’énergie d’adsorption du CO liée au désaccord paramétrique entre le Pt et le Pd et à la modification de la structure électronique du Pt lié au Pd. / The catalytic properties of metal nanoparticles can be improved by the alloying effect. Nanoalloys homogeneous in size, shape and chemical composition can be prepared with the colloidal synthesis method, with an ordered, random or core-shell chemical structure. Nucleation and growth of colloidal Pt-Pd nanoalloys were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in standard conditions and in situ with the aid of a graphene oxide liquid cell. The growth kinetics of homogeneous Pt-Pd nanoalloys corresponds to the direct incorporation of the monomers in solution. It was compatible with a process limited by the surface reaction, without coalescence (Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner mechanism). On the contrary, coalescence occurs during the growth of pure Pt nanoparticles. The theoretical structure of Pt-Pd nanoalloys is determined by Monte Carlo simulations. The most stable structure corresponds to a Pd surface and Pt subsurface layer, which is stable up to high temperatures. The effect of adsorption of oxidizing or reducing gasses on the shape of pure Pd nanocubes and core-shell Pd@Pt nanocubes is studied in situ by TEM with an environmental cell. The observed changes in a few mbar of oxygen are due to the development of higher index facets. The CO oxidation reaction is used to compare the reactivity of homogeneous Pt-Pd nanoalloys and core-shell Pd@Pt nanocubes with increasing coverage of Pt at the surface. A maximal reactivity is attained for a low coverage. The effect is interpreted by a decrease in adsorption energy of CO, due to electronic effects originating from the lattice mismatch between Pt and Pd and the mixed Pt-Pd bonds.

The aim of this work was to synthesise water-soluble QDs using different precursors and stabilizers and to determine the toxicity of the synthesized QDs by in vivo imaging. Experiments were performed on water-soluble QDs (MPA-CdTe, MPA-CdTe/ZnS, MSA-CdTe, MSA-CdTe/ZnS, GSH-CdTe, GSH-CdTe/ZnS, TGA-CdTe, TGA-CdTe/ZnS, GSH-ZnSe and GSH-ZnSe/ZnS ) and toxicity was measured. Synthesized QDs were characterized by high intensity (fluorescence spectroscopy), FWHM and zeta potential (ZS Zetasizer) were selected due to their suitability for this task. The toxicity of QDs was determined by the MTT assay on the cell line HEK 293. The experiments show that a core/shell structure is less toxic than a core structure. The results indicate that the toxicity of our synthesized QDs is the lowest for MPA-CdTe (core structure) and MPA-CdTe/ZnS (core/shell structure).

Conducting polymer nanocomposites composed of metal oxides and polythiophene was synthesized by chemical polymerization in colloidal suspensions. The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of such nanocomposites have been studied. For these investigations films of nanocomposites were prepared by an electrophoretic deposition process. The deposition process was studied in greater detail and kinetic details were determined. The high voltage electrophoretic deposition process was combined with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Then the films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photocurrent spectroscopy.