This thesis relates a technique for increasing the optical strength of NaCl and KCl single-crystal samples. The 1.06-μm pulsed laser damage thresholds were increased by factors as large as 4.6 for a bulk NaCl single-crystal sample. The bulk laser damage breakdown threshold (LDBT) of the crystal was measured prior to and after heat treatment at 800*C using a Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.06 μm. Bulk and surface LDBTs were also studied on samples annealed at 400° C. These samples showed differences in damage morphology on both cleaved and polished surfaces, and the cleaved surfaces had improved damage thresholds. However, neither the polished surfaces nor the bulk showed improved threshold at the lower annealing temperature.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

L'auto-assemblage dynamique est une méthode puissante pour accéder à des édifices moléculaires fonctionnels complexes. Son application à la construction de moteurs moléculaires par le biais de la maîtrise des échelles de temps ouvre la voie à des générations de nano-machines de plus en plus sophistiquées pouvant spontanément renouveler leurs composants ou les changer pour d'autres. La première partie de ce manuscrit est axée sur le design d’hélices d’oligoamides aromatiques qui peuvent s’enrouler le long d’un axe et glisser rapidement le long de celui-ci avant de se dérouler. Le second volet de cette thèse est consacré à la mise en évidence d’un mouvement qui est caractérisé pour la première fois à l’échelle moléculaire: le vissage. Le dernier axe de recherche développé dans ce manuscrit concerne la mise en évidence d’un intermédiaire cinétique de type foldaxane se transformant progressivement en un complexe hôte-invité 2:2 thermodynamiquement stable. / Dynamic self-assembly is a powerful method for fabricating complex, functional molecular structures. Its application to the construction of molecular motors through the control of timescales paves the way for new generations of nano-machines, in which sophisticated components can be spontaneously renewed or changed by others. The first part of this thesis focuses on the design of aromatic oligoamides that can slowly wind along an axis and shuttle along it before unfolding. The second chapter is devoted to the detection of a movement that is characterized for the first time at the molecular level: the screwing motion. The last line of research developed in this manuscript concerns the identification of a long-lived kinetic supramolecular by-product based on foldaxane architecture, which gradually transforms into a thermodynamically favored 2:2 host-guest complex.

Este trabalho documenta o processo de desenvolvimento de um software didático-interativo para síntese e visualização de estruturas cristalinas intitulado CrystalWalk (CW). Sua criação foi justificada inicialmente pela percepção, colhida junto a atores sociais, de deficiências nas ferramentas de ensino-aprendizagem relacionadas ao estudo de estruturas cristalinas de materiais. Posteriormente, um levantamento do estado da arte dos softwares cristalográficos existentes revelou oportunidades para o desenvolvimento de um novo software com preocupação eminentemente didática. Na especificação e elaboração do CW, foram preconizados os princípios do software livre, da acessibilidade e da democratização do conhecimento. Adotou-se o estado da arte de tecnologias e serviços para desenvolvimento de aplicações web interativas, tais como plataforma HTML5/WebGL, arquiteturas orientadas a serviços (SOA) e sistemas distribuídos responsivos, resilientes e elásticos. Para facilitar o entendimento e a síntese de estruturas cristalinas, foi proposto um inédito processo passo a passo baseado no conceito \"rede + motivo = estrutura cristalina\", que exige a participação ativa e consciente do usuário. Inseriu-se também uma ferramenta denominada \"narrativa didática\", por meio por meio da qual o usuário registra sequências de visualização acompanhadas de anotações e que podem ser compartilhadas múltiplas narrativas permitem atender a diferentes perfis de aprendizagem. Também foram incorporadas com sucesso funcionalidades didáticas eficazes para garantir plena acessibilidade aos recursos do CW e para aumentar seu alcance social, tais como o suporte à interação avançada e às tecnologias de interface de realidade virtual, o suporte à impressão 3D e a oferta de uma plataforma de publicação online. Na avaliação dos produtos gerados, o principal critério foi o atendimento às demandas dos atores sociais, que foram empoderados ao final do processo. O CW é a primeira plataforma a superar a maioria dos problemas apontados e das limitações encontradas nos instrumentos didáticos existentes sobre a temática deste trabalho, impactando positivamente o acesso e a democratização do conhecimento, por meio da construção coletiva, do estímulo à colaboração e da autonomia e independência tecnológicas. / This work documents the process of development of an educational interactive software for synthesis and visualization of crystal structures (crystallographic software) named CrystalWalk (CW). The development of CW was justified by educational problems that were the identified and defined from direct stakeholders inquiry process about the lack of proper didatic tools for teaching crystal structure topic in materials science and engineering disciplines. Further, an evaluation of the existing crystallographic softwares has shown opportunities for the development of a new software, focused on the educational approach. The process of development and implementation of CrystalWalk was guided by principles of free software, accessibility and democratization of knowledge, adopting state of art technologies for the development of interactive web applications, such as HTML5/WebGL, service oriented architecture (SOA) and responsive, resilient and elastic distributed systems. CW proposes an unprecedented step-by-step crystal structure creation approach, imparting the concept of lattice and motif through active and conscious user interaction. Additionally, a comprehensive set of didactic functionalities was also successfully implemented, as an online content publication platform for sharing interactive crystal structures, a \"didactic narratives\" tool that enables users to generate interactive classes based on predefined animated sequences as well the support for advanced interaction and virtual reality technologies as Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard, LEAP Motion, multi-touch devices and 3D printing technologies. Project deliverables were evaluated under action-research premises based on identified problems resolution and overall stake-holders acquired knowledge or empowerment . CW has successfully resolved most of the identified problems identified, empowering students, professors and researchers through positive impact in the democratization of knowledge and technological autonomy and independence.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar as estruturas cristalinas e moleculares de cocristais de 2,4,6-trinitrofenol, ou ácido pícrico, com diversas bases orgânicas, bem como estudar as interações intermoleculares existentes nesses cocristais para tentar estabelecer um padrão de comportamento na formação de ligações de hidrogênio e de preferências estruturais, com a finalidade de contribuir para o entendimento do empacotamento cristalino. Foram sintetizados os seguintes compostos: 1:1 picrato/8-hidroxiquinolina, 1:1 picrato/isonicotinamida, 1:1 picrato/2-azaciclononanona, 1:2 picrato/2-azaciclotridecanona, 1:1 picrato/morfolina, 1:1 picrato/1,3 dimetiluréia, 1:1 picrato/4-metil-morfolina-N-óxido, 1:2 picrato/3-picolina-N-óxido, 1:2 picrato/glicina e 1:1 picrato/prolina. Esses compostos foram caracterizados por análise elementar CHN, para a confirmação da estequiometria, pelos pontos de fusão, e para o cocristal de picrato/prolina foram registrados espectros de emissão na região entre 430 e 650 nm e o espectro de excitação na região entre 360 e 500 nm, onde foi observado que o composto é transparente na região acima de 500 nm, sendo portanto favorável aos experimentos de duplicação de radiação laser Nd/YAG (λ = 1.064 nm), uma vez que não absorve na região da radiação duplicada (λ =532 nm). A coleta de dados, a obtenção das intensidades dos feixes difratados pelos monocristais, para a determinação das estruturas cristalinas foi realizada em um difratômetro Enraf-Nonius CAD4 Mach 3. As intensidades observadas medidas foram convertidas em fatores de estrutura observados através da correção pelos fatores de Lp e de absorção. As estruturas foram determinadas utilizando os chamados Métodos Diretos e refinadas por cálculos sucessivos de Fourier-Diferença e mínimos quadrados. Ao final da determinação das estruturas dos dez cocristais pôde-se analisar um total de 50 ligações de hidrogênio do tipo O-H...O, N-H...O e C-H...O. Essas ligações de hidrogênio foram analisadas geometricamente em relação às distâncias e ângulos de ligações, e também foram nomeadas e classificadas pelo método Graph-set. Através destas análises pode-se chegar a uma comparação entre as estruturas e a padrões comuns em relação às ligações intermoleculares existentes. Observa-se que as ligações de hidrogênio do tipo O-H...O mais fortes são aquelas formadas entre o grupo doador e os oxigênios fenólicos receptores do picrato. As distâncias d(H...O) das ligações de hidrogênio correspondentes a O-H...O (oxigênio fenólico) estão concentrados na região entre 1,51 e 1,82 Å, e os ângulos <OHO concentram-se na região entre 161 e 171º. As distâncias d(O...O) estão compreendidas entre 2,48 e 3,1 Å. Para as ligações O-H...O (oxigênio do grupo nitro) as distâncias d(H...O) estão entre 2,41 e 2,54 Å e ângulos <OHO na região entre 100 e 121º. Também é observado que as distâncias d(O...O) estão compreendidas entre 2,78 e 3,04 Å, mas predominantemente estão na faixa entre 2,4 e 2,55 Å. Para as interações do tipo N-H...O, observa-se que as distâncias d(H...O) estão em um intervalo entre 1,85 e 2,52 Å; e em relação aos ângulos <NHO, estão distribuídos no intervalo entre 121 e 171º. Um intervalo bastante largo é observado em relação as distâncias d(N...O), que estão compreendidas entre 2,6 e 3,2Å. Para as interações do tipo C-H...O, observa-se que as distâncias d(H...O) tem uma leve tendência crescente em função do aumento do ângulo <CHO, e encontram-se no intervalo entre 2,96 e 3,61 Å. / The objective of the present work is to determine the crystalline and molecular structures of 2,4,6 trinitrophenol (picric acid ) cocrystals, with several organic bases, as well as to study the intermoleculares interactions existent in those cocristals in order to establish a pattern of behaviour in the formation of hydrogen bonds and structural preferences, with the purpose of contributing for the understanding of crystalline packing. Was synthesized the following compounds: 1:1 picrate/8-hidroxiquinoline, 1:1 picrate/isonicotinamide, 1:1 picrate/2-azacyclononanone, 1:1 picrate/morfoline, 1:1 picrate/1,3 dimethylurea, 1:1 picrate/ 4-methyl-morfoline-N-oxide, 1:2 picrate/3-picoline-N-oxide, 1:2 picrate/glycine, 1:1 picrate/proline. Those compositions were characterized by elemental analysis (CHN) for the stoichiometry confirmation, melting points and, for the picrate/proline cocrystal, the emission and excitation spectra were recorded. It was observed that this compound is transparent above 500 nm, being therefore suitable to experiments of Nd/YAG laser radiation duplication (λ = 1.064 nm), since it does not absorb at the wavelength of the duplicated radiation (λ = 532 nm). Data collection for crystalline structure determination\'s was accomplished in an Enraf-Nonius CAD4 Mach 3 diffractometer. The observed intensities were transformed into structure factors observed through Lp and absorption corrections. The structures were determined using the direct method and refined by successive Fourier-difference calculations and least-square analysis. At the end of this determination some hydrogen bonds, O-H ...O, N-H ...O and C-H ...O could be analyzed. Those hydrogen bonds were geometrically analysed with relation to bond distances and angle, and they were also nominated and classified by the Graph-set method. Through these analyses it was possible a comparison among the structures and to common patterns in relation to intermolecular bonds. It was observed that the stronger hydrogen bonds are those formed between the donor group and the phenolic picrate oxygen. The O-H ...O (phenolic oxygen) distances d(H ...O) are concentrated in range 1.51 and 1.82 Å, and angles <OHO are concentrated between 161 and 171Å. The distances d(O...O) are between 2.48 and 3.1 Å. The distances of hydrogen bonds O-H ...O (nitro group oxygen), d(H ...0), are in the range 2.41 and 2.54 Å and angles <OHO between 100 and 121º. It is also observed that distances d(O ...O) lie between 2.78 and 3.04 Å. but predominantly they are in the interval between 2.4 and 2.55 Å. For interactions of the type N-H ...O. it is observed that distances d(H ...O) are between 1.85 and 2.52 Å, and angles <NHO, are between 121 and 171º. A quite wide area is observed with relation to the distance d(N ...O), that lie between 2.6 and 3.2 Å. For interactions of the type C-H ...O. it is observed that distances d(H ...O) increase in function of the angle <CHO; they lie between 2.96 and 3.61 Å.

L’hydrogène est un des moyens envisageables pour réduire les émissions des gaz à effet de serre. Celui-ci est un carburant très abondant, et sa combustion est très énergétique que le pétrole (3 fois supérieure au pétrole). L’un des obstacles de son utilisation est son stockage. Le stockage à l’état solide présente de gros avantages en termes de capacité volumique (i.e. 100 à 200 g/L) et de sécurité. L’hydrure de magnésium MgH2 est le candidat qui présente les meilleurs résultats en termes de capacité massique (7,6 %wt.). Cependant, il est défavorisé par des cinétiques d’hydruration lentes et une température d’utilisation élevée (i.e. hydrure très stable).Nous nous sommes intéressés aux intermétalliques riches en magnésium TR-M-Mg (TR = Nd, Gd et M = Cu, Ni). Nous avons mis en évidence 3 nouvelles compositions : NdNiMg5, GdCuMg4 et GdCuMg12. Un traitement post-fusion à 700°C pendant une semaine suivi d’un refroidissement lent à 6°C / h jusqu’à 300°C permet d’obtenir ces phases. Seule la première composition a pu faire l’objet d’une étude complète. Elle présente un ordre antiférromagnétique à 12 K et sa capacité réversible de stockage est de 2,8 wt.%. Un échantillon presque pur pour la phase GdCuMg12 a pu être obtenu (a = 9,9721(8) Å et c = 7,775(6) Å et G.E. P4/m). Dans le cas de GdCuMg4, les mêmes conditions expérimentales nous ont permis d’obtenir un échantillon presque pur. Sa structure n’a pas encore pu être déterminée. / Hydrogen is one of the means to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions. This is a very abundant fuel and its combustion is highly energetic (3 times more than petrol). An obstacle to its use is its storage. Storage in the solid state has significant advantages in terms of volume capacity (100 to 200 g/L) and safety. Magnesium hydride MgH2 is the candidate who shows the best results in terms of specific capacity (7,6 %wt) . However, it is disadvantaged by slow hydrogenation kinetics and high temperature use (very stable hydride). We are interested in intermetallic magnesium rich RE-TM-Mg (RE = Nd, Gd and TM = Cu, Ni). We highlighted three new compositions: NdNiMg5, GdCuMg4 and GdCuMg12. A post- fusion treatment at 700°C for one week followed by slow cooling at 6°C / h up to 300°C allows to obtain these phases. Only the first composition has been the subject of a comprehensive study. It has an antiferromagnetic ordering at 12 K and reversible storage capacity of 2,8 %wt. An almost pure sample for GdCuMg12 phase could be obtained (a = 9,9721(8) Å, c = 7,775(6) Å and space group: P4 / m). In the case of GdCuMg4, the same experimental conditions allowed us to obtain a nearly pure sample. Its structure has not yet been determined

Structural studies of peptides has relevance for various applications, like, in de novo design of proteins, in designing better catalysts for organic synthesis, in structure based drug design, in the design and construction of synthetic protein mimics and in building novel materials via supramolecular self assembly. Crystal structure determination of peptides is expected to provide information about their static structure, mode of aggregation, solvation and hydrogen bond interactions of the sequences in the solid state. Comparison and analysis of the related structures from the database analysis could provide information about sequence dependent conformational features, which eventually would act as precursor for de novo protein design. Self assembling processes are common throughout nature and technology. Living cells self assemble, and understanding life will therefore require an understanding of self assembly. Supramolecular chemistry has become an area of intense research, partly inspired by biological ensembles in nature, such as collagen and enzymes or protein assemblies in general. Understanding, inducing, and directing such self assembling processes are key to unraveling the progressive emergence of complex matter. Most of the drugs available today have a broad spectrum of action in that they can act on more than one receptor and the mechanism of action of these drugs are poorly understood. Homology modeling of receptors and docking studies with drug molecules (both peptides and non-peptides) would result in a better understanding of the mechanism of drug-receptor binding thus resulting in the design of more specific and effective drugs. This thesis reports the results of X-ray crystallographic studies of ten molecules listed below (Ter: terephthalic acid) and the molecular model of cholecystokinin type 1 receptor (CCK1R). The abbreviations used for the sequences are given in parenthesis. Boc-Gly-Dpg-Gly-Leu-OMe (GDGL), C24H44N4O7 Boc-Val-Ala-Leu-Dpg-Val-Ala-Leu-Val-Ala-Leu-Dpg-Val-Ala-Leu-OMe (VAL14), C78H14 2N14O17 MeO-Leu-Ter-Leu-OMe (LTeL), C22H32N2O6 MeO-DLeu-Ter-DLeu-OMe (DLTeDL), C22H32N2O6 MeO-Ile-Ter-Ile-OMe (ITeI), C22H32N2O6 MeO-Aib-Ter-Aib-OMe (UTeU), C18H24N2O6 Tyr-Aib-Tyr-Val (YUYV), C27H36N4O7 Tyr-Aib-Ala (YUA), C16H23N3O5 Z-Gly-Gly-Val (ZGGV), C17 H23 N3 O6 DL-4-benzamido-N, N-dipropylglutaramic acid (proglumide), C18 H26 N2 O4 Results from the Dpg containing peptide sequences helped to further the understanding of conformational preferences of this residue. The crystallographic studies on the peptide sequence, which forms a supramolecular triple helix and four pseudopeptide sequences, which adopt supramolecular ladder conformations has provided substantial information on the role of non covalent interactions in supramolecular self assembly. Crystal structure of a Gly-Gly containing tripeptide and database analysis has provided insights into the conformations adopted by this segment in peptides and proteins. The docking of the crystal structure of proglumide, an antagonist of CCK1R has led to the understanding of the mechanism of its interaction with CCK1R.

Systematic synthetic investigations of the quaternary systems Ag - Bi - Q - X (Q = S, Se; X = Cl, Br) led to a variety of quaternary phases that exhibit considerable structural diversity with increasing complexity. These include Ag1.2Bi17.6S23Cl8, AgBi4Se5Br3 and numerous members of the homologous double series Agx(N+1)Bi2+(1-x)(N+1)Q2+(2-2x)(N+1)X2+(2x-1)(N+1) denoted (N, x)P. N represents the order number of a given homologue and x is the degree of substitution of Bi by Ag with 1/2 <= x <= 1. Their structures are built up from two alternating types of modules denoted A and B that are stacked parallel to (001). In module A, rows of edge-sharing [MZ6] octahedra (Z = X and/or Q); M = Ag and/or Bi) running parallel to [010] alternate along [100] with parallel chains of paired monocapped trigonal prisms around Bi atoms. The module type denoted B represents NaCl-type fragments of varying thickness. It is defined by the number N of octahedra within the chain of edge-sharing octahedra running diagonally across it in the (010) plane of the structure. The thickness of module B for current members of the series extends from N = 0 to N = 7. All structures exhibit Ag/Bi disorder in octahedrally coordinated metal positions and Q/X (Q = S, Se; X = Cl, Br) mixed occupation of some anion positions. Some of these compounds are narrow gap semiconductors.

Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, Beziehungen zwischen den kristallchemischen Eigenschaften und dem beobachteten anomalen Verhalten im spezifischen elektrischen Widerstand (nicht-magnetischer Kondo-Effekt) aufzuzeigen und zusammenhängend zu interpretieren. Verbindungen, an denen dieser Effekt beobachtet wurde, werden aus einem Übergangs-, oder Actinidmetall mit je einem Vertreter der 15. (Pniktogene) und 16. Gruppe (Chalkogene) des Periodensystems gebildet und kristallisieren im PbFCl-Strukturtyp. Da zu ternären Actinidmetall-Pniktid-Chalkogeniden (z.B. ThAsSe, UPS) nur sehr wenige chemische und kristallographische Informationen existieren, wurden in dieser Arbeit umfassende Untersuchungen zur Kristallchemie ternärer Phasen aus den Systemen M-Pn-Q (M = Zr, Hf, La-Ce; Pn = As, Sb; Q = Se, Te durchgeführt. Der Schwerpunkt lag dabei auf der strukturellen Lokalisierung der beobachteten Widerstandsanomalie und der Erarbeitung chemisch-physikalischer Eigenschaftsbeziehungen. Die Darstellung der untersuchten ternären Phasen in Form von Einkristallen gelang über exothermen Chemischen Transport mit Jod. Da die erhaltenen Kristalle bis zu mehreren Millimetern groß sind, konnten an ein und demselben Kristallindividuum sowohl die stoffliche Charakterisierung (EDXS, WDXS, ICP-OES, LA-ICP-MS, CIC) und die strukturelle Charakterisierung, als auch die Messung der physikalischen Eigenschaften erfolgen. Es konnte u.a. gezeigt werden, dass ZrAs1,4Se0,5 und HfAs1,7Se0,2 ein ähnlich ungewöhnliches Verhalten im temperaturabhängigen elektrischen Widerstand zeigen, welches bereits an Thorium-Arsenid-Seleniden und Uran-Phosphid-Sulfiden beobachtet wurde. Desweiteren gelang es den beobachteten Verlauf im elektrischen Widerstand, mit seinem Minium bei etwa T = 15 K, auf intrinsische strukturelle Merkmale in der anionischen Arsen-Teilstruktur zurückzuführen. / The aim of this work was, to evaluate and interpret a relationship between the crystal-chemical properties and the observed unusual behavior in the electrical resistivity (non-magnetic Kondo-effect). Compounds, which show such an effect, are formed by a transition- or actinide-metal with both a group 15 element and a group 16 element of the periodic table. All these compounds crystallizing in the PbFCl type of structure. Because of less crystallographic and chemical information about actinide-metal-pnictide-chalcogenides (i.e. ThAsSe, UPS), intensive investigation were made concerning the crystal-chemistry of ternary phases of the systems M-Pn-Q (M = Zr, Hf, La-Ce; Pn = As, Sb; Q = Se, Te. Our studies were focused on the structurally localization of the observed anomaly in the electrical resistivity and the evaluation of chemical-physical relations of properties. The synthesis of the investigated ternary phases was realized by exothermically Chemical Transport with iodine as transport agent. The dimension of the synthesized crystals allowed a chemical (EDXS, WDXS, ICP-OES, LA-ICP-MS, CIC) and structurally characterization, as well as a determination of the physical properties on one large single crystal. It could be shown, that ZrAs1,4Se0,5 and HfAs1,7Se0,2 reveal a similar unusual behavior in the temperature dependent electrical resistivity, as it was observed in thorium-arsenide-selenides and uranium-phosphide-sulphides. In conclusion, the non-magnetic Kondo-effect, which was found in the low-temperature range (about 15 K), arises from structurally features of the anionic sublattice with arsenic.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal