Electron Beam Chemical Vapor Deposition (EBCVD) is a process by which an electron beam is used to decompose adsorbed reagent molecules to produce a deposit. The primary electrons from the beam, and especially the secondary electrons emitted from the substrate, dissociate the adsorbed molecules. Important factors for the deposition process include the beam parameters and reagent gas composition. Simple structures are fabricated through utilization of the various scanning modes of an SEM. Fibers (pillar-like structures) can be deposited, and lines (wall-like structures) can be deposited easily. This investigation focuses on the process parameters controlling deposition rate and geometry for platinum and carbon fibers and lines in a modified SEM. Platinum deposition was performed using a system with a small diameter needle that supplied a localized flow of gas from an organometallic platinum compound. Carbon deposition was performed in the Environmental mode, in which the microscope chamber is filled with a specified pressure of reagent gas. Statistically designed experiments were performed for platinum fiber and line deposition. Analysis indicated that the beam current and deposition time were dominant factors in determining the deposition rate. The voltage also had a significant effect on fiber deposition. For platinum line deposition, the effects of the dwell time and line time were also studied. The line time had a significant effect on line height deposited per scan. Optimization analysis was performed, and results indicated that high voltage and high beam current led to higher aspect ratios. Medium voltage and low beam current were preferable for depositing minimal width lines (less than 200 nm). Low voltage and high beam current were preferable for maximum deposition rates. EDS and EELS performed for platinum deposits in a TEM indicated amorphous structure with no carbon detected. This differs significantly from previously reported results. Statistically designed experiments were performed for carbon line deposition. The voltage, beam current, and dwell/line time were studied. Increasing line time led to a significant increase in line height/scan and appeared to be a dominant factor. Lower beam currents appeared to favor higher deposition rates. TEM analysis indicated that carbon deposits were mostly amorphous.

In this study I assess spatial and temporal patterns of sediment deposition in Pecausett Pond, located along the tidal extent of the Connecticut River, in order to assess the role of tides in the transport and storage of sediment and associated contaminants within floodplain tidal ponds. Findings reveal that tidal ponds have significantly higher rates of sedimentation compared to neighboring marshes due to the fact that these ponds have more accommodation space and receive uninterrupted tidal exchange with the main river. Tidal tie channels introduce a pulse of suspended sediment and contaminants from the main river into these ponds each flood tide, with sedimentation rates fast enough to allow settling before the subsequent ebb tide can transport these sediments back to the main river (i.e. tidal pumping). Some studies performed on the tidal floodplain of the Connecticut River show high deposition rates and have attributed periods of high accumulation to anomalously high river discharge events. However, this project shows that tides are more likely the major mechanism responsible for transporting and storing sediment and associated contaminants at backwater sites located along the tidal floodplain. Deposition rates in this 3-4 m deep pond exceed 2 cm/yr. These rates are far too high to maintain equilibrium morphology for much longer. However, ground penetrating radar surveys from the study site reveal truncated stratigraphy common to erosional unconformities, which suggest that mechanisms for sediment remobilization and removal may exist. Periods of episodic erosion therefore may be helping to maintain the morphology in this shallow environment, and allow for the high rates of short-term deposition. Further, a sudden increase in percent inorganic potentially associated with the opening or clearance of the tie-channel is observed at a sediment depth approximately between 1.9 to 2.2 m. A radiocarbon date obtained below this transition is consistent with a significant drop in sedimentation prior to this tie-channel development. High rates of sedimentation in Pecausett Pond are therefore likely relatively recent phenomena, transpiring over the last few centuries following early colonization.

Quantifier la totalité des apports atmosphériques, notamment particulaires, est nécessaire pour mieux comprendre les cycles biogéochimiques en vue d'une gestion durable des écosystèmes forestiers. En effet, l'intensification des récoltes de bois-énergie induit une pression nutritive supplémentaire sur les forêts. Le but de ce travail est de combler les lacunes concernant le dépôt atmosphérique particulaire (taux de dépôt, composition minéralogique et chimique), ainsi que d'étudier son influence sur les cycles biogéochimiques forestiers. Pour ce faire, un échantillonnage de 2 ans a été mis en place dans 4 hêtraies de la moitié Nord de la France. Un développement métrologique a été nécessaire pour concevoir les capteurs hors et sous canopée et pour séparer les particules de la phase dissoute puis compartimenter le dépôt particulaire en fonction du modèle conceptuel organo-minéral établi dans cette étude. Les résultats obtenus valident ce modèle et montrent (i) un taux de dépôt annuel de 19±3 kg.ha-1.an-1 de minéraux peu solubles témoignant d'origines diverses, (ii) des flux de nutriments inférieurs à ceux des dépôts dissous et de l'altération des minéraux du sol mais qui contribuent à améliorer la fertilité des forêts, (iii) un captage supplémentaire induit par la canopée et (iv) une dissolution des particules minérales lors de leur transport atmosphérique qui enrichit les précipitations en nutriments. Un échantillonnage optimisé sur le long terme est indispensable pour confirmer et préciser les tendances observées, en particulier concernant les épisodes de très fort dépôt particulaire et le dépôt sous la canopée / Quantifying the little-known inputs of atmospheric particulate deposition (APD) is critically important for a sustainable management of forest ecosystems. Indeed, harvesting and subsequent nutrient losses are going to increase so as to meet the demand in renewable energy, including fuel-wood. This work aims at filling this gap by (i) describing the deposition rate, mineralogical and chemical compositions of APD and (ii) evaluating the influence of APD nutrient inputs on forest biogeochemical cycles. To do so, 4 beech stands in North French forests were equipped for a 4-week sampling. After a metrological development, samplers out of and below canopy were used for a 2-year sampling, as well as methods to separate APD from atmospheric dissolved deposition. These methods were conceived to separate the organic and mineral fractions of APD according to the conceptual model designed in this work. My results validated this model and indicated (i) a quite constant deposition rate of 19±3 kg.ha-1.year-1 of hardly soluble minerals over the North of France, made of various minerals suggesting heterogeneous sources of particles, (ii) nutrient inputs inferior to those of atmospheric dissolved deposition and soil weathering, but improving ecosystem fertility, (iii) an interception effect of the canopy, and (iv) the dissolution of mineral particles in the atmosphere which enriched atmospheric dissolved deposition in nutrients. Extending and optimizing the sampling would allow confirming and clarifying these results, especially concerning high atmospheric load periods and APD below canopy