The primary subject of this thesis is the study of warm dense hydrogen by means of pulsed laser heating in the pressure region 1 to 2 Mbar and temperatures above the melting line, where a liquid-liquid phase transition from the insulating molecular fluid to a conducting atomic hydrogen fluid, so called plasma phase transition (PPT), was predicted to take place. The first evidence of the PPT under static compression is reported. The observations are in agreement with the negative slope phase line predicted by ab initio methods. / Physics

Due to its exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, graphene (one layer sheet of carbon atoms) has attracted a lot of attention since its discovery in 2004. The purpose of this research is to compare the Raman spectra of graphene with plasma treated graphene sheets which have been treated by changing the different parameters affecting the plasma treatment like gas flow, power and pressure and treatment time. The graphene we used for our high pressure studies are 4-5 layer CVD deposited graphene samples prepared by our collaborators in Dr. W. B. Choi’s group. First we report a Raman spectroscopy study of graphene on copper substrate at high pressures. Diamond anvil cell (DAC) was used to generate pressure. In situ Raman spectra were collected at pressures up to 10 GPa. The results indicate that the G band of graphene shifts with pressure significantly (about 5 cm-1/GPa) whereas the 2D band changes very little. The plasma treated samples were loaded into DAC. Raman spectrum was captured. Parts of the spectrum which were not related to the grapheme peak position were eliminated. The background was reduced. Peaks were found and fitted using FITYK software and the shift of each peak compared to its last position was observed when the pressure was increased. Next we studied plasma treated graphene samples treated with different partial pressure treatments under high pressure and compared them to each other using zirconia anvil cell with the same method.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-06-11T15:16:19Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Rosane de Paula Castro - 2018.pdf: 6915380 bytes, checksum: 2dd6980ad13f95405b57166fa1a2637c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-06-11T15:49:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Rosane de Paula Castro - 2018.pdf: 6915380 bytes, checksum: 2dd6980ad13f95405b57166fa1a2637c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-11T15:49:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Rosane de Paula Castro - 2018.pdf: 6915380 bytes, checksum: 2dd6980ad13f95405b57166fa1a2637c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This thesis presents the structure determination using single crystal x-ray crystallography of four drug candidates under ambient conditions of temperature and pressure, as well as submitted to high pressure. The crystallographic analysis of this type of compound allows to obtain the three-dimensional structure in an unambiguous way. This information is useful for the development process of new drugs in order to achieve the planned properties, such as the study of combinations of the drug with the excipients to be used to guarantee the rate of expected release of the drug in the human body and the optimization of interaction between the drug and the target. Furthermore during the process of drug manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry polymorphic phases may arise due to the application of pressure, which occurs during grinding and in the preparation of tablets, which may alter the bioavailability, solubility and stability of the medicament. Thus, identifying the conditions under which such modifications may occur guarantees the reliability of the final product. In this sense, the crystallization and crystallographic analysis of drug candidates developed by the Laboratório de Avaliação e Síntese de Substâncias Bioativas (LASSBio) of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) was carried out. The compounds analyzed were: LASSBio-1773 and LASSBio-1774, which have hypoglycemic activity, LASSBio-1606, with anti-inflammatory properties, and LASSBio-1735, which has been shown to be active against several types of cancer. For the compounds LASSBio-1774 and LASSBio-1606 X-ray diffraction at high pressures was also performed with Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), determining their unit cells and analyzing the effects of pressure on the crystalline arrangement. In both compounds reversible phase transitions were observed. The analysis of the structural changes for LASSBio-1774 due to pressure was performed with the aid of strain tensors. / Nesta tese serão apresentados os resultados de determinação estrutural por difração de raios X de monocristais de candidatos a fármacos em condições ambientes de temperatura e pressão, assim como submetidos à altas pressões. A análise cristalográfica desse tipo de composto permite obter a estrutura tridimensional de maneira inequívoca. Essa informação é útil para o processo de desenvolvimento de novos fármacos a fim de se alcançar as propriedades planejadas, tais como o estudo de combinações do fármaco com os excipientes a serem utilizados para garantir a taxa de liberação esperada do fármaco no corpo humano e a otimização da interação entre o fármaco e o alvo. Além disso, durante o processo de produção na indústria farmacêutica, podem surgir fases polimórficas devido à aplicação de pressão, que ocorre durante a moagem e na preparação de comprimidos, podendo alterar a biodisponibilidade, solubilidade e estabilidade do medicamento. Assim, identificar as condições nas quais tais modificações podem ocorrer, garante a confiabilidade do produto final. Nesse sentido, no presente trabalho foram realizadas a cristalização e análise cristalográfica de candidatos à fármacos desenvolvidos pelo Laboratório de Avaliação e Síntese de Substâncias Bioativas (LASSBio) da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Os compostos analisados foram: LASSBio-1773 e LASSBio-1774, que possuem atividade hipoglicemiante, LASSBio-1606, com propriedade anti-inflamatória, e LASSBio-1735, que se mostrou ativo contra diversos tipos de câncer. Para os compostos LASSBio-1774 e LASSBio-1606 foi realizada também a difração de raios X em altas pressões, com a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC), determinando suas células unitárias e analisando os efeitos da pressão sobre o arranjo cristalino. Em ambos os compostos foram observadas transições de fase reversíveis. Para o LASSBio-1774 a análise das mudanças estruturais devidas à pressão foi realizada com o auxílio dos tensores de strain.

<p>In this thesis, volumetric, optical and vibrational properties of H₂O were studied at high pressures by combining techniques of Raman spectroscopy, interferometry and optical imaging. Pressures up to 7 GPa were generated in the diamond anvil cell (DAC), entering the stability fields of liquid water and ices VI, VII and VIII. </p><p>A new integrated system for Raman, interferometric and optical-imaging studies has been built up. Utilizing the interferometric patterns formed between closely-spaced diamond anvils, the system allowed the complete monitoring and control of <i>pVT</i>-conditions of studied ices, as well as the determination of their dispersive properties in the visible range using the Airy equation and Cauchy formulation. This setup and technique thus represent a novel tool for the precise determination of equations of state (EOSs) of transparent materials, including fluids and low-Z materials. </p><p>Data-sets on thermal pressure were obtained from heating/cooling experiments carried out on the liquid water and used for checking the mutual consistency between published EOSs. A <i>pVT</i>-EOS for ice VIII and room temperature isotherms for ices VI and VII at 300 K were derived by combined methods of interferometry and imaging. While the agreement with the available EOSs of ices VII and VIII is very good, some inconsistent EOSs of ice VI were identified in the present study.</p><p>The technique of micro-Raman spectroscopy was applied for the monitoring of phase transformations, identification of various ice phases and for studying the response of vibrational symmetry modes to varying conditions. Analysis based on the combination of the <i>pT</i>-dependencies of the vibrational frequencies with the <i>pVT</i>-EOSs showed that, in the studied ices, the implicit volume-driven contributions dominate over the explicit phonon effects in the total temperature-induced changes in vibrational frequencies. The results provide valuable insight on the anharmonic effects and interactions in these molecular solids.</p>

In this thesis, volumetric, optical and vibrational properties of H2O were studied at high pressures by combining techniques of Raman spectroscopy, interferometry and optical imaging. Pressures up to 7 GPa were generated in the diamond anvil cell (DAC), entering the stability fields of liquid water and ices VI, VII and VIII. A new integrated system for Raman, interferometric and optical-imaging studies has been built up. Utilizing the interferometric patterns formed between closely-spaced diamond anvils, the system allowed the complete monitoring and control of pVT-conditions of studied ices, as well as the determination of their dispersive properties in the visible range using the Airy equation and Cauchy formulation. This setup and technique thus represent a novel tool for the precise determination of equations of state (EOSs) of transparent materials, including fluids and low-Z materials. Data-sets on thermal pressure were obtained from heating/cooling experiments carried out on the liquid water and used for checking the mutual consistency between published EOSs. A pVT-EOS for ice VIII and room temperature isotherms for ices VI and VII at 300 K were derived by combined methods of interferometry and imaging. While the agreement with the available EOSs of ices VII and VIII is very good, some inconsistent EOSs of ice VI were identified in the present study. The technique of micro-Raman spectroscopy was applied for the monitoring of phase transformations, identification of various ice phases and for studying the response of vibrational symmetry modes to varying conditions. Analysis based on the combination of the pT-dependencies of the vibrational frequencies with the pVT-EOSs showed that, in the studied ices, the implicit volume-driven contributions dominate over the explicit phonon effects in the total temperature-induced changes in vibrational frequencies. The results provide valuable insight on the anharmonic effects and interactions in these molecular solids.

Hydrogen has been considered as a potentially efficient and environmentally friendly alternative energy solution. However, one of the most important scientific and technical challenges that the “hydrogen economy” faces is the development of safe and economically viable on-board hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications, especially to the transportation sector. Ammonia borane (BH3NH3), a solid state hydrogen storage material, possesses exceptionally high hydrogen content (19.6 wt%).However, a fairly high temperature is required to release all the hydrogen atoms, along with the emission of toxic borazine. Recently research interests are focusing on the improvement of H2 discharge from ammonia borane (AB) including lowering the dehydrogenation temperature and enhancing hydrogen release rate using different techniques. Till now the detailed information about the bonding characteristics of AB is not sufficient to understand details about its phases and structures. Elemental substitution of ammonia borane produces metal amidoboranes. Introduction of metal atoms to the ammonia borane structure may alter the bonding characteristics. Lithium amidoborane is synthesized by ball milling of ammonia borane and lithium hydride. High pressure study of molecular crystal provides unique insight into the intermolecular bonding forces and phase stability. During this dissertation, Raman spectroscopic study of lithium amidoborane has been carried out at high pressure in a diamond anvil cell. It has been identified that there is no dihydrogen bond in the lithium amidoborane structure, whereas dihydrogen bond is the characteristic bond of the parent compound ammonia borane. It has also been identified that the B-H bond becomes weaker, whereas B-N and N-H bonds become stronger than those in the parent compound ammonia borane. At high pressure up to 15 GPa, Raman spectroscopic study indicates two phase transformations of lithium amidoborane, whereas synchrotron X-ray diffraction data indicates only one phase transformation of this material. Pressure and temperature has a significant effect on the structural stability of ammonia borane. This dissertation explored the phase transformation behavior of ammonia borane at high pressure and low temperature using in situ Raman spectroscopy. The P-T phase boundary between the tetragonal (I4mm) and orthorhombic (Pmn21) phases of ammonia borane has been determined. The transition has a positive Clapeyron slope which indicates the transition is of exothermic in nature. Influence of nanoconfinemment on the I4mm to Pmn21 phase transition of ammonia borane was also investigated. Mesoporus silica scaffolds SBA-15 with pore size of ~8 nm and MCM-41 with pore size of 2.1-2.7 nm, were used to nanoconfine ammonia borane. During cooling down, the I4mm to Pmn21 phase transition was not observed in MCM-41 nanoconfined ammonia borane, whereas the SBA-15 nanocondfined ammonia borane shows the phase transition at ~195 K. Four new phases of ammonia borane were also identified at high pressure up to 15 GPa and low temperature down to 90 K.

La pression est un paramètre physique qui modifie les interactions structurales, électroniques et magnétiques dans les matériaux. Créer une très haute pression permet donc la synthèse de nouveaux matériaux, comme par exemple des supraconducteurs ayant des valeurs de température critique record. Ces pressions peuvent être générées au moyen d’une cellule à enclume de diamant (DAC) qui peut comprimer un matériau jusqu’à des pressions de plusieurs centaines de GPa. Il est cependant difficile de caractériser les propriétés magnétiques de matériaux à l’intérieur d’une DAC à cause du très faible volume occupé par l’échantillon et des contraintes techniques. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons d’utiliser une technique de magnétométrie optique fondée sur la résonance de spin électronique de centres colorés NV du diamant. Ces centres NV sont fabriqués à la surface d’une des deux enclumes de la DAC et sont ainsi au contact de l’échantillon magnétique à caractériser.Dans un premier chapitre, nous rappelons le fonctionnement de la DAC et décrivons les techniques de mesures magnétiques développées pour la physique des hautes pressions. Nous présentons ensuite le principe de la magnétométrie à centres NV et l’appliquons à la mesure de l’aimantation d’un micro-aimant à pression ambiante. La sensibilité de cette mesure atteint celle des magnétomètres à SQUID. Le troisième chapitre discute de la façon dont les contraintes mécaniques modifient la résonance de spin du centre NV, et détaille la manière dont cet effet se combine avec celui dû à un champ magnétique externe. La possibilité de découpler les deux effets nous permet d’observer la transition de phase magnétique du fer autour de 15 à 30 GPa dans le quatrième chapitre. Enfin, le dernier chapitre décrit le contexte et les enjeux liés à la synthèse d’hydrures supraconducteurs à haute température critique. Nous montrons ensuite qu’il est possible de détecter optiquement une phase supraconductrice à l’intérieur d’une DAC en utilisant les centres NV pour observer l’effet Meissner de MgB2 à une pression de 7 GPa et avec une température critique de 30 K. / Pressure is a physical variable that alters structural, electronic and magnetic interactions in all materials. Reaching high pressure is thus a way to create new materials such as superconductors with record critical temperatures. High pressures can be enabled through the use of diamond anvil cells (DAC), which can attain pressures of several hundred of GPa. It is however quite a challenge to measure magnetic properties of materials inside a DAC because of the very small sample volume available and of technical constraints. In this PhD thesis, we demonstrate the use of a magnetometry method based on the electronic spin resonance of NV centers in diamond. These NV centers are fabricated directly on top of one of the DAC anvils, which places them in contact with the magnetic sample.In the first chapter, we describe how the DAC works and we present the different ways of probing magnetic properties that have been developed for high pressure conditions. We then explain the operating principle of NV magnetometry and use this method to measure the magnetization of a micro-magnet at ambient pressure. The sensitivity of this measure is comparable to that of SQUID magnetometry. In the third chapter, we discuss how mechanical constraints modify the spin resonance of the NV center, and describe how this effect combines with the influence of an external magnetic field. By decoupling these two effects, we can observe the magnetic phase transition of iron around 15 to 30 GPa, which is displayed in the fourth chapter. Finally, the last chapter briefly presents the context and stakes associated with the synthesis of superconducting superhydrides with high critical temperature. We perform an optical detection of a superconducting phase inside a DAC with NV centers through the observation of the Meissner effect in MgB2 at a pressure of 7 GPa and with a critical temperature of 30 K.

Récemment, sous des pressions de plusieurs gigapascals, de nouveaux hydrures ont été synthétisés avec des propriétés étonnantes potentiellement porteuses de ruptures technologiques pour le stockage de l’hydrogène ou la supraconductivité. Plusieurs superhydrures sont étudiés expérimentalement et simulés par DFT dans cette thèse. Les diagrammes de phases en pression de LiBH4 et NaBH4, deux composés d’intérêt pour le stockage de l’hydrogène, sont explorés par diffraction de rayons X, spectroscopie Raman et infrarouge jusqu’à des pressions de 300 GPa sans observer de décomposition. L’insertion d’hydrogène dans NaBH4 donne le super-hydrure NaBH4(H2)0.5. Pour éclaircir l’interprétation de la supraconductivité record à 200 K trouvée dans H2S sous pression, le super-hydrure H3S a été synthétisé à partir des éléments S et H. Les résultats de diffraction semblent en désaccord avec l’interprétation communément admise qu’H3S en phase Im-3m est responsable de cette supraconductivité et laisse la porte ouverte à d’autres interprétations. Enfin, les super-hydrures CrHx avec x=1, 1.5 et 2 ont également été synthétisés à partir des éléments et caractérisés par diffraction de rayons X. Si ces hydrures correspondent bien àceux qui avaient été prédits numériquement, l’absence des stoechiométries plus élevées est discutée. Pour mesurer les températures de supraconductivité calculées dans les superhydrures MHx, une cellule à enclumes de diamant miniature permettant une détection de l’effet Meissner a été développée. / Recently, under pressures of several gigapascals, new hydrides have been synthesised with striking properties that may herald technological breakthroughs for hydrogen storage and superconductivity. In this PhD thesis, several superhydrides have been studied experimentally and simulated by DFT. The pressure phase diagrams of LiBH4 and NaBH4, two compounds of interest for hydrogen storage, have been explored thanks to X-ray diffraction and Raman and infrared spectroscopy up to pressures of 300 GPa without observing any decomposition. The insertion of hydrogen inside NaBH4 generates the superhydride NaBH4(H2)0.5. To refine the interpretation of the record superconductivity found in H2S under pressure at 200 K, the superhydride H3S has been synthesised from S and H elements. The results of the diffraction study seem to be at odds with the commonly accepted interpretation that Im-3m H3S is responsible for the superconductivity observed and leaves the door open to other interpretations. Finally, CrHx hydrides with x = 1, 1.5 and 2 have also been synthesised from the elements and characterised by X-ray diffraction. Although these hydrides do correspond to the ones that had been numerically predicted, the absence of the expected higher stoichiometries is discussed. To measure the superconductivity temperatures calculated for MHx hydrides, a miniature diamond anvil cell which allows the detection of a Meissner effect has been developed.

This licentiate thesis presents developments of nanocalorimetry systems tailored for use under extreme conditions such as high pressure, intense magnetic fields, and low temperature. Nanocalorimetry is a powerful approach to study strongly correlated systems like superconductors, heavy fermions, and quantum materials with non-trivial magnetic or electronic properties, materials with emergent magnetic orders, as well as quasicrystals. Introducing high pressure or magnetic fields as tuning parameters in specific heat measurements at low temperatures can enhance the understanding of underlying physical properties of such materials. The key component of calorimeters is the thermometer. A thin-film thermometer based on a composite ceramic metal oxide has been developed. It shows high sensitivity and negligible magnetoresistance over a broad temperature range. Two different nanocalorimeters are fabricated starting from an existing nanocalorimeter design, a high-pressure nanocalorimeter and a calorimeter for sample rotations in high magnetic fields. The high-pressure nanocalorimetry setup involves a nanocalorimeter built on a robust substrate combined with a diamond anvil cell, a gasket sandwich with electric leads, and an optical setup for pressure detection through ruby fluorescence spectroscopy. The high-field nanocalorimeters are fabricated on SiNx membranes for specific heat measurements down to 30 mK. Miniaturization is performed to extend their use for angular-dependent measurements in high magnetic fields, so far used up to 41 T. Reducing the calorimeter platform size in both calorimeters is achieved by a method of plasma etching performed after device fabrication. Specific heat measurements of Eu-doped GdCd7.88 quasicrystals and GdCd6 approximant systems are performed in fields up to 12 T. The preliminary results show the presence of spin-glass behavior in the quasicrystals and an antiferromagnetic transition in the approximant crystals at low temperatures.

Mechanical pressure offers unique control over the energy landscape of chemical reactions, opening up pathways that are inaccessible through conventional thermochemistry. We hypothesize that the reduced dimensionality defines the conformational space of the high-pressure reaction, giving rise to new selectivity that is unavailable in 3D systems. Here, we demonstrate this concept through the pressure-controlled topochemical polymerization of the diacetylene molecule deca‐3,5‐diyn‐1‐amine (DDA) incorporated in the two-dimensional (2D) perovskite [DDA]2PbBr4. Compression at 3 GPa drives the first topochemical polymerization through 1,2 addition, forming a polyene product at room temperature. The reaction is initiated by the mechanical bending of the linear DDA molecule, a mechanism fundamentally different from the 1,4-addition in 3D solids. Importantly, pressure hinders the second 1,2-addition by disfavoring the gauche conformation between the remaining acetylene groups, allowing for the selective formation of polyene versus polyacene products. We characterize the reaction mechanisms and products using spectroscopies (Raman, X-ray photoelectron, ultraviolet-visible), X-ray diffraction and density-functional theory simulations. These results highlight the important role of dimensionality in high-pressure chemistry, and offers a new paradigm for creating low-dimensional functional materials.