A resonant frequency cavity was used to determine the dielectric properties of various preparations of Azotobacter vinelandii ATTC 12837. It was found that the bacteria investigated did interact with microwave radiation in the absence of free water. The data presented here indicate that bacteria demonstrate frequency specific dielectric properties. The techniques employed in these experiments may also be used to determine microwave spectra of other species of bacteria in different physiological stages.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um dispositivo, denominado forno de indução eletromagnética (FIE), que permite trabalhar em altas temperaturas ~ 1900oC e com vácuo dinâmico equivalente a uma pressão parcial de oxigênio PO2 ~ 10-10 atm. Durante os experimentos de calibração do FIE, foram estudadas amostras de um composto binário de Y2O3 com 3% em mol de ZrO2, cujo pó foi obtido por mistura de óxidos. As amostras foram conformadas por prensagem uniaxial de 50 MPa, seguida de prensagem isostática a 350 MPa por 10 minutos e submetidas à sinterização em temperaturas superiores a 1800oC, resultando em transparência superior a 60% para comprimentos de onda em torno de 800 nm. Posteriormente, um composto quaternário de BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3 foi produzido por mistura de óxidos e calcinação a 1200oC. As amostras foram então conformadas seguindo a mesma metodologia da Y2O3, posteriormente sinterizadas entre 1250oC a 1400oC, com patamares de 1 h e 3 h. As amostras preparadas no FIE foram submetidas a uma pressão parcial de oxigênio de ~ 10-7 atm, enquanto outro conjunto de amostras foi sinterizado em um forno elétrico convencional (FEC) com atmosfera aberta para comparação. Foram realizadas caracterizações microestruturais aplicando-se as técnicas de difração de raios X, BET, EDX, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, além de caracterização elétrica por espectroscopia de impedância. Destas caracterizações verificou-se a obtenção de partículas do pó de BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3 com tamanho médio de 110 nm. O tamanho médio dos grãos nas microestruturas variou entre 4 e 30 &microm nas amostras fabricadas em FEC, enquanto nas amostras fabricadas em FIE o tamanho foi em torno de 250 nm. Para as amostras feitas no FEC, a resposta dielétrica dos grãos evidenciou o cumprimento da lei de Curie-Weiss conforme o modelamento bricklayer feito no programa Zview, porém foi observada anomalia dielétrica para medidas de permissividade em temperaturas maiores do que 96oC. O material feito no FIE não apresentou comportamento ferroelétrico no intervalo de temperatura estudado de -243 - 137oC, mas foi evidenciado um comportamento típico de material varistor. Considerando a relação entre as propriedades macro e microscópicas no modelo bricklayer, a ferroeletricidade e a variação da anomalia dielétrica são discutidas em função do tamanho de grãos para as amostras feitas no FEC. Com base no modelo de Pike para varistores, o comportamento varistor do material feito no FIE é discutido em função dos defeitos causados pela baixa pressão parcial de oxigênio ~ 10-7 atm. / In this work it has been developed a device, called electromagnetic induction furnace (EIF), which allow us to work at high temperatures ~ 1900oC and under dynamic vacuum equivalent to partial pressure of oxygen PO2 ~ 10-10 atm. During the calibration experiments of the EIF, it was studied a binary compound of Y2O3 with 3 mol% of ZrO2 which was obtained by mixing oxides. The samples were processed by uniaxial pressing 50 MPa followed by isostatic pressing at 350 MPa for 10 minutes and submitted to sintering at temperatures above 1800 oC, resulting in transparency greater than 60% for wavelengths around 800 nm. After, a quaternary compound of BaTi0.85Zr0.15O was produced by mixing oxides and calcination at 1200 oC. Then the samples were shaped according to the same methodology of the Y2O3 subsequently sintered between 1250oC to 1400 oC, with 1 h and 3 h baseline. The samples prepared in the EIF were submitted to oxygen partial pressure of ~ 10-7 atm, while another samples set was sintered in a conventional electric furnace (CEF) with open atmosphere for comparison. Microstructural characterizations were performed by applying the techniques of X-ray diffraction, BET, EDS, SEM, and electrical characterization by impedance spectroscopy. In these characterizations were obtained powder particles of BaTi0.85Zr0.15O3 with an average size of 110 nm. The average grain size in the microstructures ranged between 4 and 30 &microm in the samples fabricated in CEF, but in the samples manufactured in EIF the size has been around 250 nm. For samples made in the CEF, the dielectric response of the grains showed the fulfillment of the Curie-Weiss law according to the bricklayer model made in the Zview program, but was observed dielectric anomaly on measurements of permittivity at temperatures higher than 96 oC. The material made in EIF does not showed ferroelectric behavior in the studied temperature range -243 - 137 oC, but was shown a typical behavior of varistor material. Considering the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic properties in the bricklayer model, the ferroelectricity and the dielectric anomaly variation are discussed at function of the grain size for samples made in CEF. Based on the model of Pike for varistors, the varistor behavior of the material made in EIF is discussed in terms of defects caused by low oxygen partial pressure ~ 10-7 atm.

The research described in this dissertation mainly covers the development of novel technologies for co-crystallisation along with the discovering of plumbagin co-crystal and thermodynamic interrelationship between the co-crystal polymorphs. Co-crystallisation is a fast growing field in the area of crystal design and has shown potential advantages in the field of pharmaceutical. Currently, many research groups are working on the development of new technologies for the synthesis of pure and stoichiometrically controlled co-crystals. In present study, three novel technologies have been developed for co-crystallisation, which include microwave assisted co-crystallisation, spherical crystallisation and microwave assisted sub-critical water processing. The microwave assisted co-crystallisation is a slurry based technology where, effects of drug solubility and dielectric properties of the solvent were investigated using caffeine / maleic acid as a model co-crystal pair. The mechanism of co-crystallisation under microwave irradiation has been proposed. The co-crystals of plumbagin with improved solubility were obtained with the coformers such as hydroquinone, resorcinol and urea using microwave assisted co-crystallisation technique. The spherical crystallisation technology was developed for co-crystallisation of carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal pair and demonstrated its application for polymorphic control and as a potential technique for the purification of desired crystal form through surface energetic based separation. The thermodynamic interrelationship between Form I and Form II of carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal was studied using different thermodynamic tests. The results obtained suggest that the carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal polymorphs are monotropic. Microwave assisted sub-critical water processing has been explored as a green technology for the synthesis of co-crystals. Carbamazepine / saccharin co-crystal pair has been used as a model pair and effects of processing variables on the resulting crystal form and degradation of an API have been studied.

O titanato de estrôncio (SrTiO3) possui estrutura cristalina do tipo perovsquita. Materiais com este tipo de estrutura são utilizados para diversas aplicações, tais como, sensores, atuadores, em células a combustível de óxido sólido, entre outros. Devido as suas interessantes propriedades físicas, o SrTiO3 vem sendo intensamente estudado, em especial com a introdução de dopantes. Portanto, neste trabalho foi investigada a influência de diferentes teores de Ca (1; 2,5 e 5% mol) e Pr (0,025; 0,050; 0,075 e 1% mol) na microestrutura e propriedades elétricas e dielétricas do SrTiO3, assim como o material sem aditivos (puro). Os resultados mostram que após a sinterização do SrTiO3 puro, a microestrutura consiste de grãos poligonais com tamanho médio micrométrico, além de texturas lisas e rugosas. A condutividade elétrica das amostras sintetizadas sinterizadas a 1450 e 1500ºC é máxima para 2 horas de patamar. Apenas as amostras de SrTiO3 contendo 1% em mol de Ca apresentam fase única. O tamanho médio de grãos das amostras contendo 1% em mol de Ca é 10,65 ± 0,28 µm e para teores acima deste valor ocorre crescimento significativo dos grãos. As medidas de condutividade elétrica mostraram que as amostras contendo a adição de 1% em mol de Ca possuem maior condutividade dos grãos em relação ao material puro. Para as amostras contendo teores de até 0,075% mol de Pr, pode-se observar alguns grãos lisos e outros rugosos e não há variação considerável do tamanho médio de grãos. As amostras contendo menor teor de Pr (0,025% mol) apresentam maior condutividade dos grãos e contornos de grãos. As amostras de SrTiO3 sintetizado sinterizadas a 1450ºC/10 h apresentaram permissividade elétrica colossal em temperatura ambiente em altas frequências. / Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) exhibits cubic perovskite type crystalline structure at room temperature. Polycrystalline ceramics with this structure are potential candidates for a number of applications including sensors, actuators and in solid oxide fuel cells. Several properties of SrTiO3 are strongly dependent on addition of both donors and acceptors additives. Then, there is a growing interest for studying its properties as a function of type and concentration of additives. In this study, the effects of Ca (1, 2.5 and 5 mol%) and Pr (0.025 to 1 mol%) additions on microstructure and electric and dielectric properties of SrTiO3 were investigated. The microstructure of pure SrTiO3 consists of polygonal grains with average grain size in the micrometer range, and the electric conductivity is maximized after sintering for 2 h at 1450 and 1500ºC. Specimens containing 1 mol% Ca are single phase and the average grain size is 10.65 ± 0.28 µm, but for higher additive contents grain growth is observed. The electric conductivity of SrTiO3 with 1 mol% Ca is higher than that of the pure ceramic. Specimens containing Pr do not show significant grain growth, and the higher conductivity of grains and grain boundaries was achieved with 0.025 mol% Pr. Pure SrTiO3 sintered at 1450ºC for 10 h shows colossal dielectric permittivity (> 1.000) at room temperature, in contrast to specimens prepared with commercial powder (dielectric permittivity = 300), at high frequencies.

A method was developed to access the interior of light-guiding structures in order to exploit the enhanced sensing potential of the highly confined electromagnetic field distributions, located within the core of a waveguide. The work presented in this thesis explores therefore the possibilities of optical waveguide spectroscopy utilising transparent mesoporous thin-film waveguides deposited on top of athin gold layer. These multi-layer assemblies are employed in a prism-coupling attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) configuration. The angular read-out of the reflected light intensity allows label-free detection schemes with high sensitivity to changes of the dielectric environment in the case of the presence of analyte molecules within the probing region. This optical waveguide spectroscopy technique has been used to study the real-timediffusion of Ruthenium 535-bisTBA (N-719) dye into mesoporous nanocrystalline titaniumdioxide films. The porous films were prepared on top of gold substrates and prism coupling was used to create a guided wave in the nanocrystalline film. Dying was carried out by bring the film into contact with a 3 x 10-4 moldm-3 dye solution and using optical waveguide spectroscopy to monitor the change in both the refractive index and theextinction coefficient of the nanoporous layer as dye diffused into the porous network. Dyeuptake in a 1.27 μm film was slow with the refractive index of the film still increasing after 22 hours.

A caracterização dielétrica de um material pode ser usada como uma técnica não destrutiva para avaliar e monitorar sua qualidade, bem como no entendimento da relação estrutura-propriedade de um material, através de suas propriedades dielétricas em função da frequência, temperatura, composição química do material, dentre outros. Na literatura há escassez de trabalhos e dados de caracterização dielétrica de filmes a base de biopolímeros. Diante desse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento e a construção de uma instrumentação alternativa a equipamentos disponíveis no mercado, como analisadores de rede e de impedância, que pudesse ser utilizada para a caracterização dielétrica de filmes biodegradáveis a base de gelatina. Foi utilizado o método de placas paralelas na determinação da parte real da permissividade conhecida como permissividade relativa ou constante dielétrica (ε\'). O circuito utilizado para a instrumentação foi um oscilador astável com funcionamento baseado no amplificador operacional (741) chaveado pela carga de um capacitor de placas paralelas cujo dielétrico foi uma amostra de filme biodegradável. A partir dos valores da frequência de oscilação e geometria do capacitor, foi possível calcular a capacitância de cada amostra e, consequentemente obter os valores da permissividade relativa do filme, usando relações básicas bem estabelecidas. Os filmes de gelatina foram produzidos pela técnica de casting sendo utilizados como plastificantes o glicerol (G), o sorbitol (S) e suas misturas, na proporção (G:S) de 30:70, 50:50 e 70:30. Os filmes foram caracterizados quanto à umidade e cristalinidade. A permissividade relativa (ε\') dos filmes, determinada a temperatura ambiente, foi avaliada em função da frequência (5 a 50 kHz), tempo de armazenamento, do teor de umidade e tipo de plastificante. A instrumentação projetada e construída foi capaz de medir com precisão a permissividade relativa das amostras, sendo que essa propriedade diminuiu com o aumento da frequência para todos os filmes. Mantendo-se a frequência constante, não houve variação de ε\' para os filmes de gelatina, independente do plastificante, ao longo de um mês de armazenamento a 24 ± 3 °C. O efeito da umidade foi observado em frequências menores que 25 kHz, sendo que quanto maior o teor de umidade maior a permissividade relativa. O efeito do tipo de plastificante na permissividade relativa dos filmes foi observado a baixas frequências (5 kHz) e filmes plastificados com sorbitol apresentaram maiores valores de ε\'. Os filmes plastificados com maior teor de umidade apresentaram menor cristalinidade, portanto maior mobilidade molecular e consequentemente maior a permissividade relativa. / The dielectric characteristics of a material can be used as a non-destructive technique to evaluate and monitor the quality as well as the understanding of the structure-property of a material, through its dielectric properties as a function of frequency, temperature, chemical composition of the material, among others. In the literature there are few studies and data of dielectric characterization of films based on biopolymers. In this context, the objective of this research was the development and construction of an alternative instrumentation equipment on the market, such as network and impedance analyzers, which could be used for the dielectric characterization of biodegradable films based on gelatin. The method of parallel plates was used to determine the real part of permittivity known as relative permittivity or dielectric constant (ε\'). The circuit used for the instrumentation was an astable oscillator operation based on operational amplifier (741) switched by the load of a parallel plate capacitor whose dielectric was a sample of the biodegradable film. From the values of the oscillation frequency and geometry of the capacitor, it was possible to calculate the capacitance of each sample and thus obtaining values of the relative permittivity of the film, using well established basic relationships. Gelatin films were produced by casting technique being used as plasticizer glycerol (G), sorbitol (S) and mixtures thereof, in proportion (G:S) 30:70, 50:50 and 70:30. The films were characterized for moisture and crystallinity. The relative permittivity (ε\') of the films, determined at room temperature, was evaluated as a function of frequency (5-50 kHz), storage time, moisture content and type of plasticizer. The designed and constructed instrumentation was able to accurately measure the relative permittivity of the samples, being that this property decreased with increasing frequency for all films. Keeping constant frequency, there was no variation in ε\' for the gelatin films, independent of the plasticizer over one month of storage at 24 ± 3 °C. The moisture effect was observed at frequencies lower than 25 kHz, how bigger the moisture content the higher the relative permittivity. The effect of the plasticizer type in relative permittivity of the films were observed at low frequency (5 kHz) and plasticized films with sorbitol have higher ε\' values. The plasticized films with higher moisture content exhibit lower crystallinity, hence larger molecular mobility and consequently higher the relative permittivity.

La dispersion des nanotubes de carbone (NTC) dans le polyfluorure de vinylidène (PVDF) est un grand défi pour avoir de meilleures propriétés diélectriques. Les hybrides, titanate de baryum (BT)-NTC, ayant une structure particulière sont révélés être efficaces pour l'amélioration de la dispersion de NTC dans la matrice de polymère et la réduction du seuil de percolation du matériau composite. Cette thèse vise à atteindre une haute performance diélectrique du composite via la conception de charges ayant une structure favorable ainsi que l'étude exhaustive de l'interaction entre les NTC et la matrice de polymère semi-cristallin.Dans le chapitre 1, un bref revu de l'état de l'art sur le contexte général des matériaux diélectrique est introduite ainsi les progrès récents dans ce domaine sont présentés pour mieux comprendre les composites et leurs application.Dans le chapitre 2, nous préparons deux types d'hybrides avec deux structures différentes. Les premiers hybrides sont préparés par un dépôt chimique en phase vapeur (CVD). Les BT forment le noyau de ces hybrides et les NTC croient dessus (H-NTC-BT). Les deuxième hybrides sont préparées par réaction hydrothermale où NTC sont revêtus par les BT (H-BT-NTC). Par la suite, nous préparons des composites avec une matrice de PVDF renforcés par les deux types d'hybrides déjà synthétisés cela en coulant la solution puis par extrusion-injection. En outre, les méthodes de caractérisation de la morphologie, des propriétés thermiques, diélectriques et la cristallisation sont également introduites dans ce chapitre.Dans le chapitre 3, les comportements diélectriques de H-NTC-BT/PVDF sont étudiés en détails. Une augmentation dramatique de la permittivité diélectrique est observée après le traitement thermique. Ce changement peut être dû à la réorganisation du réseau conducteur de NTC et la recristallisation de PVDF. Par la modélisation et la caractérisation expérimentale, Nous déduisons que cette augmentation significative de la permittivité diélectrique après le traitement thermique est dû au rétrécissement de la distance de NTC dans des couches amorphes voisine de PVDF d'un côte et au polymorphe β à l'interface NTC-PVDF d'un autre.Dans le chapitre 4, la dispersion des NTC dans la matrice du composite PVDF est étudiée par la conception de différentes structures. Tout d'abord, une comparaison du seuil de percolation de H-NTC-BT/PVDF calculé et celui déterminé expérimentalement est menée pour mieux comprendre la morphologie de H-NTC-BT. Ensuite, deux comparaisons sont menées:- La première compare les facteurs de transformation de la dispersion des NTC dans les composites H-NTC-BT/PVDF et NTC/PVDF cela en mesurant de la conductivité AC dans les différentes couches de ces composites.- La deuxième compare trois types de composites de PVDF renforcés par des hybrides ayant la même fraction volumique de NTC et BT mais des structures différentes. L'effet de ces différentes structures de ces hybrides est étudié en comparant leurs propriétés diélectriques.Pour finir une conclusion générale est présentée dans le chapitre 5 ainsi les perspectives prévues pour les travaux futurs. / The dispersibility of carbon nanotube (CNT) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is always a big challenge for the high dielectric property. Barium titanate (BT)-CNT hybrids with the special structure are proved to be effective for improving the dispersion of CNT in the polymer matrix and reduce the percolation threshold of the composite. This thesis aims to achieve high dielectric performance of composites via designing fillers with the favorable structure as well as comprehensively study the interaction between CNT and semi-crystalline polymer matrix.In chapter 1, we provide a general introduction about dielectric material's background knowledge. Meanwhile the development including recent breakthroughs and their applications for the dielectric field are also provided in this chapter.In chapter 2, we prepare two hybrids with different structures. The first hybrids are prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. It is with the structure of BT as a core and CNTs growing outsides (H-CNT-BT). The second hybrids are prepared by hydrothermal reaction where BT particles coats outside CNT (H-BT-CNT). Meanwhile, we fabricate hybrids reinforced PVDF matrix composites by solution casting plus extrusion-injection way. Additionally, methods for characterization involving morphology, thermal and dielectric properties as well as crystallization are also introduced in this chapter.In chapter 3, the dielectric behaviors of H-CNT-BT/PVDF are studied concretely. A dramatic increment on dielectric permittivity is observed after the thermal treatment. This change may result from the reformation of CNT's conductive network and the behavior of PVDF's re-crystallization. By modeling work and experimental characterization, the shrinkage of the neighboring CNT's distance in PVDF's amorphous layers and the induced β polymorph at the CNT-PVDF interface may cause the significant increment in dielectric permittivity after the thermal treatment.In chapter 4, the CNT's dispersibility in PVDF matrix composites is studied by designing different structures. Firstly, a comparison between calculated and experimental percolation threshold of H-CNT-BT/PVDF is conducted for studying the morphology parameters of H-CNT-BT. Afterwards, two comparisons are conducted: one is between H-CNT-BT/PVDF and CNT/PVDF. The processing factors for the CNT's dispersibility are discussed via measuring the different layer's AC conductivity. The other is among three hybrids reinforced PVDF composites. The hybrids structure's effect the CNT's dispersibility is discussed via comparing the dielectric property of the composites with the same volume fraction of CNT and BT but different structures.In chapter 5, a general conclusion is formed according to the works and the perspective is provided for the improvement of the future work.

O titanato de estrôncio (SrTiO3) possui estrutura cristalina do tipo perovsquita. Materiais com este tipo de estrutura são utilizados para diversas aplicações, tais como, sensores, atuadores, em células a combustível de óxido sólido, entre outros. Devido as suas interessantes propriedades físicas, o SrTiO3 vem sendo intensamente estudado, em especial com a introdução de dopantes. Portanto, neste trabalho foi investigada a influência de diferentes teores de Ca (1; 2,5 e 5% mol) e Pr (0,025; 0,050; 0,075 e 1% mol) na microestrutura e propriedades elétricas e dielétricas do SrTiO3, assim como o material sem aditivos (puro). Os resultados mostram que após a sinterização do SrTiO3 puro, a microestrutura consiste de grãos poligonais com tamanho médio micrométrico, além de texturas lisas e rugosas. A condutividade elétrica das amostras sintetizadas sinterizadas a 1450 e 1500ºC é máxima para 2 horas de patamar. Apenas as amostras de SrTiO3 contendo 1% em mol de Ca apresentam fase única. O tamanho médio de grãos das amostras contendo 1% em mol de Ca é 10,65 ± 0,28 µm e para teores acima deste valor ocorre crescimento significativo dos grãos. As medidas de condutividade elétrica mostraram que as amostras contendo a adição de 1% em mol de Ca possuem maior condutividade dos grãos em relação ao material puro. Para as amostras contendo teores de até 0,075% mol de Pr, pode-se observar alguns grãos lisos e outros rugosos e não há variação considerável do tamanho médio de grãos. As amostras contendo menor teor de Pr (0,025% mol) apresentam maior condutividade dos grãos e contornos de grãos. As amostras de SrTiO3 sintetizado sinterizadas a 1450ºC/10 h apresentaram permissividade elétrica colossal em temperatura ambiente em altas frequências. / Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) exhibits cubic perovskite type crystalline structure at room temperature. Polycrystalline ceramics with this structure are potential candidates for a number of applications including sensors, actuators and in solid oxide fuel cells. Several properties of SrTiO3 are strongly dependent on addition of both donors and acceptors additives. Then, there is a growing interest for studying its properties as a function of type and concentration of additives. In this study, the effects of Ca (1, 2.5 and 5 mol%) and Pr (0.025 to 1 mol%) additions on microstructure and electric and dielectric properties of SrTiO3 were investigated. The microstructure of pure SrTiO3 consists of polygonal grains with average grain size in the micrometer range, and the electric conductivity is maximized after sintering for 2 h at 1450 and 1500ºC. Specimens containing 1 mol% Ca are single phase and the average grain size is 10.65 ± 0.28 µm, but for higher additive contents grain growth is observed. The electric conductivity of SrTiO3 with 1 mol% Ca is higher than that of the pure ceramic. Specimens containing Pr do not show significant grain growth, and the higher conductivity of grains and grain boundaries was achieved with 0.025 mol% Pr. Pure SrTiO3 sintered at 1450ºC for 10 h shows colossal dielectric permittivity (> 1.000) at room temperature, in contrast to specimens prepared with commercial powder (dielectric permittivity = 300), at high frequencies.

Monolithic materials are not meeting the increasing demand for flexible, lightweight and compact high energy density dielectrics. This limitation in performance is due to the trade-off between dielectric constant and dielectric breakdown. Insulating polymers are of interest owing to their high inherent electrical resistance, low dielectric loss, flexibility, light weight, and low cost; however, capacitors produced with dielectric polymers are limited to an energy density of ~1-2 J/cc. Polymer nanocomposites, i.e., high dielectric particles embedded into a high dielectric breakdown polymer, are promising candidates to overcome the limitations of monolithic materials for energy storage applications. The main objective of this dissertation is to simultaneously increase the dielectric permittivity and dielectric breakdown without increasing the loss, resulting in a significant enhancement in the energy density over the unmodified polymer. The key is maintaining a low volume content to ensure a high inter-particle distance, effectively minimizing the effect of local field on the composite's dielectric breakdown. The first step is studying the particle size and aspect ratio effects on the dielectric properties to ensure a judicious choice in order to obtain the highest enhancement. The best results, as a combination of dielectric constant, loss and dielectric breakdown, were with the particles with the highest aspect ratio. Further improvement in the dielectric behavior is observed when the nanoparticles surface is chemically tailored to tune transport properties. The particles treatment leads to better dispersion, planar distribution and stronger interaction with the polymer matrix. The planar distribution of the high aspect ratio particles is essential to limit the enhancement of local fields, where minimum local fields result in higher dielectric breakdown in the composite. The most significant improvement in the dielectric properties is achieved with chemically-treated nano TiO2 with an aspect ratio of 14 at a low 4.6 vol% loading, where the energy density increased by 500% compared to pure PVDF. At this loading, simultaneous enhancement in the dielectric constant and dielectric breakdown occurs while the dielectric loss remains in the same range as that of the pristine polymer.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the dielectric properties of fuel oils and their ethanol mixtures in the THz spectral region. We presented frequency dependent absorption coefficients, refractive indices, and dielectric constants calculated from the measurements of pure and mixtures of fuel oils. As the mixing ratio changes, meaningful shifts were observed in refractive index and absorption coefficient of the mixtures. For pure liquids, we used Debye model which provides a good estimate for the dielectric parameters of pure liquids in microwave region and also in the THz region. Bruggeman model, which is used for describing the interaction between liquids in binary mixtures, did not work for ethanol mixtures of gasoline within our assumptions. However, these mixtures were modeled successfully with a modified Debye model in which the mixture behavior was described with a basic contribution approach. The results suggest that there is no strong interaction between the ethanol and the molecules in the gasoline. We concluded that this new approach offers a simple and useful method to determine the concentration of ethanol in gasoline with 3% (by volume) maximum error.