Electrophoretic displays (EDPs) are an attractive low power technology for small to large area displays. Such display technology has seen a surge of research interest with the launch of successful e-readers in the market place, owing to their lower power consumption and paper-like quality. This work aims to look at the influence of shape on the electrophoretic mobility of particles for such devices. Crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) precursor particles with a narrow size distribution were produced by non aqueous dispersion polymerisation utilising a pump-feed method. To produce shape anisotropic particles an adapted version of the dynamic swelling method for polar media was chosen. Suitable monomers were screened by the use of Hansen solubility theory to find monomers which interact with PMMA but not the solvent. It was found that 2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAm) were two such suitable monomers, methyl methacrylate (MMA) was also used as a control series.It was found that cluster-like particle morphologies could be produced by the MMA system by the inclusion of small quantities of crosslinking monomer. This was due to precipitation of higher molecular weight polymer segments to the seed particle surface. The cluster-like morphology could be enhanced by use of a polar crosslinking monomer and by sequential reactions. For the polar system, it was found that the reactions with pure monomer were unclean, due to the solubility mismatch of the monomer and the solvent system. This was overcome by a copolymerisation with MMA. The system showed different particle morphologies could be produced by varying the polar monomer content. In one case a sample of pure dumbbell-like particles could be produced. These dumbbell-like particles are thought to be chemical as well as shape anisotropic owing to monomer composition. EPD evaluation for the particles was undertaken and showed that all particles can become highly charged in low dielectric constant media, but that the shape anisotropic particles are prone to adsorption to the cell walls and electrodes.The work outlined in this thesis shows the first reporting of shape anisotropic polymeric particles produced in low dielectric constant solvents system.

Yes / The synthesis of nucleobase-containing polymers was successfully performed by RAFT dispersion polymerization in both chloroform and 1,4-dioxane and self-assembly was induced by the polymerizations. A combination of scattering and microscopy techniques were used to characterize the morphologies. It is found that the morphologies of self-assembled nucleobase-containing polymers are solvent dependent. By varying the DP of the core-forming block, only spherical micelles with internal structures were obtained in chloroform when using only adenine-containing methacrylate or a mixture of adenine-containing methacrylate and thymine-containing methacrylate as monomers. However, higher order structures and morphology transitions were observed in 1,4-dioxane. A sphere-rod-lamella-twisted bilayer transition was observed in this study. Moreover, the kinetics of the dispersion polymerizations were studied in both solvents, suggesting a different formation mechanism in these systems. / University of Warwick, Swiss National Science Foundation, EPSRC, Birmingham Science City, Advanatfe West Midlands (AWM), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Science City Research Alliance, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)

No / Cd3P2 quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized in both aqueous and high boiling point surfactant solutions via a gas-bubbling method. The synthesized QDs exhibit photoluminescent wavelengths spanning across the visible red to the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Two types of shell materials, SiO2 nanobeads and PS micro-spheres, have been employed to encapsulate the Cd3P2 QDs which provide protecting layers against physiological solutions. The coating layers are proven to enhance the optical and chemical stability of Cd3P2 QDs, and make the fluorescent particles capable of sustaining long-term photo-oxidation. To demonstrate the applicability of the bio-labelling, the fluorescent composite particles (PS@QDs, SiO2@QDs) were injected into a culture medium of colorectal carcinoma (LoVo) cells. The results demonstrated that the PS@QDs exhibited a brighter fluorescence, but the SiO2@QDs provided a better photostability which consequently led to long-term cancer cell detection as well as a much lower release of toxic Cd2+ into the PBS solutions.

Yes / The synthesis and self-assembly of thymine-containing polymers were performed using RAFT dispersion polymerization. A combination of microscopy and scattering techniques was used to analyze the resultant complex morphologies. The primary observation from this study is that the obtained aggregates induced during the polymerization were well-defined despite the constituent copolymers possessing broad dispersities. Moreover, a variety of parameters, including the choice of polymerization solvent, the degree of polymerization of both blocks and the presence of an adenine-containing mediator, were observed to affect the resultant size and shape of the assembly. / University of Warwick, National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

La capture du dioxyde de carbone (CO2) est devenu un enjeu mondial majeur et notre but est d’identifier des usages positifs du CO2, par exemple comme solvant alternatif pour la synthèse de polymères. La polymérisation en dispersion est un procédé industriel permettant de produire des particules de polymères avec une taille et une morphologie définies. L’utilisation du CO2 supercritique (scCO2) comme solvant pour ce type de polymérisation est toutefois limitée par l’existence et la disponibilité de stabilisants très solubles, peu chers et respectueux de l’environnement.Dans cette thèse, la synthèse de stabilisants hydrocarbonés est décrite. Jusqu’à récemment, l’utilisation de polymères fluorocarbonés ou à base de silicone était privilégiée car ces polymères présentent une bonne solubilité dans le scCO2. Cependant, ils demeurent coûteux et peu respectueux de l’environnement. Les stabilisants hydrocarbonés comme les poly(acétate de vinyle-stat-pivalate de vinyle) (P(VAc-stat-VPi)) constituent une alternative viable pour la polymérisation de la N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP) en dispersion dans le scCO2. Le but de cette étude est d’en étendre les potentialités à la polymérisation d’autres monomères comme le méthacrylate de méthyle (MMA). Une série de copolymères à blocs P(VAc-stat-VPi)-block-PNVP avec différentes masses molaires et compositions a été synthétisée par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée (RAFT/MADIX) et caractérisée par plusieurs techniques telles que la résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) et la chromatographie d’exclusion stérique (SEC).Les copolymères à blocs ont été testés pour la polymérisation en dispersion du MMA / Carbon capture has become a major global process and our aim is to make positive use of the captured carbon dioxide (CO2) as an alternative green solvent. Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) presents many advantages over other conventional solvents employed in polymer synthesis. It is nonflammable, has a very low toxicity and allows an easy recovery of the polymer. Dispersion polymerisation is a technique that provides polymer particles with defined morphology and size and it is therefore industrially relevant. However, the main limitation for using scCO2 as a solvent in this technique is the availability of highly CO2-soluble, environmentally friendly and affordable stabilisers. In this thesis the synthesis of hydrocarbon based stabilisers for dispersion polymerisation is explored. Until very recently, only fluorocarbon and silicone based polymers showed any significant solubility in scCO2 but these are expensive and not environmentally friendly. Hydrocarbon stabilisers constitute a viable alternative, however they have only worked successfully for one monomer system, NVP.1A range of P(VAc-stat-VPi)-block-PNVP block copolymers with different molar masses and molar ratios were synthesised using controlled radical polymerisation techniques (RAFT/MADIX) and characterised by different techniques (NMR, SEC) showing narrow dispersities. The NVP block was incorporated to act as an anchor to the growing polymer particles during dispersion. Solubility of the stabilisers was tested using a variable volume view cell.Finally, block copolymers of different DP of PNVP were tested in dispersion polymerisation of MMA

Ces travaux de thèse portent sur la synthèse de particules hybrides à partir de pigments inorganiques pour la formulation d’encres électrophorétiques colorées. Les pigments doivent répondre à un cahier des charges spécifique à ce type d’application. Ils doivent avoir une taille sub-micronique, une faible densité et un haut indice de réfraction afin d’exalter les phénomènes de diffusion. Les pigments bleus et cyan de structure spinelle CoAl2O4 et NiAl2O4 ont été synthétisés par voie Pechini. Dans les deux cas, des phénomènes de démixtion influençant la couleur ont été observés. Cependant, de par la différence de rayon ionique entre le Co2+ et le Ni2+ (rCo2+ < rNi2+), les origines en sont différentes. Dans le premier cas il a fallu éliminer les ions Co3+ stabilisés en site [6] pour obtenir une phase pure où la majorité des ions cobalt occupent les sites [4]. Dans le second cas l’ajout d’ions Al3+ a été nécessaire pour stabiliser une phase spinelle pure en présence de lacunes cationiques et d’ions Ni2+ occupant partiellement les sites [4] et [6]. Ensuite, nous avons développé des pigments magenta et jaunes de structure olivine explorant la solution solide LiCoxNi1-xPO4. Dans ces composés, l’étude des transitions électroniques corrélées à la structure et à l’environnement des ions chromophores Ni2+ et Co2+ en site [6] a permis de montrer des champs cristallins proches et un effet néphélauxétique presque identique. Finalement l’analyse de l’état de valence du chrome dans les structures de type rutile SnxCr1-xO2 a permis de synthétiser des pigments violets. Dans un second temps, la surface des pigments a été modifiée avec des chaines silanes de type n-trimethoxysilane afin de favoriser la dispersion des pigments dans un milieu apolaire. Puis les pigments modifiés ont été polymérisés dans l’Isopar G par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée par les nitroxydes avec du méthacrylate de méthyle afin de diminuer la densité globale des particules hybrides et ainsi obtenir des encres stables. L’étude de l’influence des conditions expérimentales a été effectuée sur chaque pigment afin de formuler des encres colorées et chargées sans ajout de contrôleur de charge. La réalisation d’un dispositif électrophorétique à deux couleurs bleu et blanc a finalement pu être développé. / This work deals with the hybrid particles synthesis, using inorganic pigment for the coloured electrophoretic inks formulation. To comply with this type of application, pigments must have a sub-micrometer size, a low density and a high refractive index in order to exalt the diffusion phenomena. Blue and cyan spinel structure pigments CoAl2O4 and NiAl2O4 have been synthesized by Pechini process. In both these oxides, steric and electronic effects allowed stabilizing pure phases with enhanced colouring effects. In the case of CoAl2O4, we have to avoid the occurrence of Co3+ (LS) whereas for NiAl2O4, excess of Al3+ is necessary to get pure phases with nanosized crystallites. Then, magenta and yellow olivine structure pigments have been developed with the exploration of the solid solution LiCoxNi1-xPO4. In these compounds, the study of the electronic transitions combined with Ni2+ and Co2+ chromophores ions structure and environment in [6] site leads to comparable crystal field and so an almost similar nephelauxetic effect for both ions. Finally, the investigation of the valence state and the environment of chromium in rutile type structure Sn1-xCrxO2 allowed the synthesis of purple pigments. In a second part, the pigment surface has been modified with n-trimethoxysilane chains to improve the pigment dispersion in apolar media. Then, modified pigments have been polymerised in Isopar-G by nitroxyde mediated radical polymerisation with methyl methacrylate to decrease the hybrids density and to obtain stable inks. The impact of the experimental conditions has been studied on each pigments in order to formulate coloured and charged inks without any charge control agent. A two-colour electrophoretic device (blue/white) has been finally tested.

La synthèse de particules polyuréthane par organo-catalyse dans le dioxyde de carbone supercritique a été étudiée. Des réactions modèles ont été préalablement conduites et suivies par spectroscopie infrarouge in situ dans le CO2 supercritique afin d'identifier les catalyseurs organiques de réaction d'uréthanisation les plus efficients. Une série de polymères siliconés CO2-phile, porteurs de la fonction organo-catalytique en bout de chaîne (organo-catasurfs), a ensuite été préparée et testée dans le CO2 supercritique pour la polymérisation en dispersion de polyuréthane. / The organocatalysed synthesis of polyurethane particles in supercritical carbon dioxide has been studied. Model reactions were first carried out in supercritical CO2 and monitored by in situ infrared spectroscopy in order to indentify the most efficient catalysts for the urethanisation reaction. A series of CO2-philic silicone polymers, end-functionalised with the organocatalytic group (organocatasurfs), were then synthesised and tested in supercritical CO2 for the dispersion polymerisation of polyurethane.