Charge transfer salts of Tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) were synthesised and their electrical and magnetic properties were investigated. These salts show unusual electrical and magnetic behaviour in contrast to conventional organic compounds. These salts have crystal structures which in general consist of TCNQ radical ions stacked in chains, isolated from each other by the diamagnetic cations. They are thus regarded as "one-dimensional" electrical and magnetic systems. The ESR spectra of these salts are attributed to triplet excitons showing that the spin-spin and electronelectron correlation effects are important. In the ESR spectra (Chapter III) of some TCNQ salts dipolar splitting is observed confirming the spin-spin interaction. These triplet excitons are regarded as bound electron-hole pairs. The experimentally determined dipolar splitting tensors are presented in Chapter III and the intensity data in Chapter IV. A large number of fine structure lines are observed in the ESR spectra of Pyridinium-TCNQ and 4-Aminopyridinium-TCNQ apart from regular triplet exciton lines (Chapter III). These lines are attributed to the trapping of excitons on an extended formula finit (TCNQ2 )n. In Chapter IV the temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities are discussed in terms of Heisenberg antiferromagnetism and Pauli paramagnetism. In Chapter V temperature dependent behaviour of electrical conductivity is discussed in terms of an exciton band model, the lattice structure of the salts and one-dimensional lattice consisting of defects giving rise to high and low conducting segments. Low temperature electrical and magnetic phases are discussed (Chapters IV and VII) in terms of a band and hopping mechanisms.In Chapter VI self consistent field calculations are made with reference to the tight binding one electron band theory using simplified Roothaan equations considering CNDO approximations. Theoretical results are related to experimental band gaps, spinspin interactions and charge alteration.

No description available.

Orientador: Eudes Borges de Araújo / Resumo: Foram preparados filmes finos, de Ferrita de Bismuto (BiFeO3), considerado um dos principais multiferróico que são classes de materiais que apresentam ferroeletricidade e ferromagnetismo simultaneamente. Os filmes foram preparados por um rota química chamada de Sol-gel modificado, variando-se a quantidade de % de mol do Bismuto, depositados em substratos de platina Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si(100), variando-se a temperatura de cristalização entre 400°C a 600°C, com o objetivo de eliminar algumas fases indesejadas encontradas na literatura. Alguns filmes finos passaram pelo tratamento térmico em atmosférica de O2, com o intuito de diminuir a condutividade, causada pelas vacâncias de oxigênio no material. Pelos resultados obtidos foi possível conseguir filmes finos sem as fases indesejadas e com condutividade não tão alta, sendo possível realizar análises elétricas. Assim, tornou-se possível analisar o comportamento da permissividade, impedância e condutividade em função do campo aplicado e da temperatura. Com tais resultados mostra-se a indicação de polarização iônica nestes filmes. Eles apresentam uma energia de ativação parecida com filme finos encontrados na literatura. Além disso, também mostra que o comportamento das propriedades físicas são os mesmos quando varia a temperatura e o campo. / Abstract: Bismuth Ferrite (BiFeO3) thin films were prepared, considered one of the main multiferroic that are classes of materials that present ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism simultaneously. The films were prepared by a chemical path called modified sol-gel, varying the amount of Bismuth mol percentage, deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si(100) platinum substrates, varying the crystallization temperature between 400 °C to 600 °C, with the aim of eliminating some unwanted phases found in literature. Some thin films underwent the thermal treatment in atmospheric O2, in order to reduce the conductivity, caused by the oxygen vacancies in the material. By the results obtained, it was possible to obtain thin films without the undesired phases and with not so high conductivity, being possible to perform electrical analysis. This way it was possible to analyze the behavior of the permissiveness, impedance and conductivity in function of the applied field and temperature. With these results, it is shown an indication of ionic polarization in these films. They have an activation energy similar to thin films found in literature. It is also shown that the behavior of the physical properties are the same when temperature and the field change. / Mestre

Neste trabalho investigamos o tunelamento ressonante em estruturas de dupla barreira GaAs/(AlGa)As que foram fabricadas em mesas quadradas de tamanho lateral mesoscópico e macroscópico (&#8764 10&#956m &#215 10&#956m). Uma camada tipo &#948 com diferentes concentrações de Silício foi incorporada no centro do poço quântico. As características I(V) mostram algumas estruturas em posição de voltagem abaixo do pico de ressonância principal que são atribuídas a estados relacionados a impurezas. Tais estados localizados estão presentes no poço quântico com energias de ligação bem maiores do que um doador de Silício isolado. Estes estados de maior energia de ligação são atribuídos a pares de doadores distribuídos aleatoriamente. Em alguns dispositivos onde estados relacionados a impurezas podem ser identificados isoladamente na característica I(V), um efeito destacável pode ser observado. Um pica na característica I(V) aparece nas mais baixas temperaturas medidas (abaixo de 1K) quando o nível de Fermi no emissor se alinha com o estado localizado relacionado a impureza. Tal pico e atribuído a interação Coulombiana entre o elétron no sitio localizado e os elétrons no gás bidimensional (emissor). / We have investigated resonant tunneling in GaAs/(AlGa)As double barrier structures which have been fabricated into square mesoscopic and macroscopic size mesas (&#8764 10&#956m &#215 10&#956m) A &#948 layer with different concentrations of Silicon donors was incorporated at the centre of the quantum well. The I(V) characteristics show some features below the threshold for the main resonance that are due to impurity related state. Such localized states are found to be related to the presence of donor impurities in the vicinity of the quantum well with binding energies much higher than the single isolated hydrogen donor. These higher binding energy states are identified as being due to random pairs of shallow donors. In some devices where an isolated impurity related state can be identified in the 1(V characteristics a remarkable effect is observed. A peak appears at low temperatures (below 1K) in the 1(V) characteristics when the emitter Fermi level matches the localized state. Such feature is attributed to the Coulomb interaction between the electron on the localized site and the electrons in the Fermi sea of the 2DEG.

Esse trabalho descreve a caracterização térmica, estrutural e elétrica do sistema vítreo 50B203-(50-x)PbO-xLiF com x variando de 0,0 a 50,0. A técnica de calorimetria diferencial exploratória (DSC) foi utilizada na determinação das temperaturas características. A difratometria de raios x foi utilizada na detecção e identificação de fases cristalinas originadas durante a síntese ou durante o processo de aquecimento das amostras. As técnicas de espectroscopia Raman e Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) foram utilizadas na obtenção de informações estruturais da ordem a curto alcance em função da composição das amostras. A técnica de espectroscopia de impedância complexa foi utilizada na determinação das condutividades elétrica em função da quantidade de LiF e da temperatura. Amostras vítreas sem a presença de fases cristalinas foram obtidas para composições contendo no máximo 40moI % de LiF. Através da análise da medida de densidade, foi possível constatar que o aumento da quantidade de LiF leva a formação de uma estrutura mais aberta. A análise do espectro Raman das amostras vítreas mostrou que com o aumento da concentração de LiF, ocorre uma mudança significativa nas unidades estruturais borato presentes nas amostras. Na amostra vítrea contendo 40 mol% de LiF observou-se a existência de uma superunidade estrutural formada por diferentes unidades borato. Apesar dessa variação das unidades borato, as medidas de RMN do 11B mostraram que a razão entre as unidades trigonal B03 e tetraédrica B04 permanece praticamente constante em todo intervalo de composição analisada. A condutividade elétrica aumenta à medida que a concentração de LiF aumenta devido ao aumento do numero de portadores de carga. A 330°C uma condutividade de 3,55 x 10-5 S/cm foi medida para a amostra contendo 40 moI % de LiF. Utilizando as amostras contendo 40 e 45 mol% de LiF preparadas e caracterizadas durante a realização desse trabalho, foi possível construir um dispositivo para ser utilizado na demonstração do processo de condução elétrica em materiais vítreos condutores para alunos do ensino médio / This work describes the thermal, structural and electric characterization of 50B203-(50-x)PbO-xLiF glass system with x varying from 0,0 to 50,0. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique was used to determine the glass transition and the crystallization temperatures. The X-ray diffraction technique was used to detect and in the identification of the crystallized phases present on the glassy samples after the melt and during the heating. The Raman spectroscopy and the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques were used in order to verify the structural changes induced by the substitution of PbO by LiF on the anionic borate units and on the B03/B04 species ratio. The impedance complex spectroscopy technique was used to evaluate the variation of the electrical conductivity and activation energy as a function of the LiF content. Homogenous glassy sample containing less than 45 mol % of LiF without any trace of crystallization were obtained. The analysis of the Raman spectra shows that as the amount of LiF increases the concentration of anionic borate species changes and that these changes are an indicative of the formation of B-F bonds. However, according to the 11B NMR data, these structural rearrangement should be of such nature that the ratio sup>[3]B/[4]B is near1y invariant. As expected, the electrical conduction increases as the amount of LiF increases because the number of carriers increases. At 330°C; , the conductivity varies from 3.93 x 10-10 (S/cm) for the sample without LiF to 3.55 x 10-5(S/cm) for the sample containing 40 mol % of LiF. The activation energy (Ea) varied respectively from 1.55 eV to 0.97 eV. Using the glassy samples with 40 and 45 mol% of LiF, we could built a set up that can be used to demonstrate the electrical conduction process on glass materials to high school students

Realizamos crescimento de monocristal de Hexafluoreto de Fósforo e Potássio:KPF6 pelo método de crescimento em solução aquosa e o estudo das propriedades elétricas. Para isso foram feitas medidas, de solubilidade, tempo de incubação, espectroscopia dispersiva no infra-vermelho, difração de raios-X, condutividade elétrica e constante dielétrica no intervalo de temperatura de hélio líquido a 300&#176C. Foram detectadas três transições de fases estruturais em APROXIMADAMENTE 0&#176C, -14,4&#176C e 193&#176C e impurezas de CO-23, responsável pelo aumento da condutividade elétrica na região extrínsica. Na defermação do grupo PF6 durante a transição de fase estrutural em -14,4&#176C há surgimento de um dipolo elétrico com valor de 12,2x10-18ues.cm. E observamos o congelamento do grupo PF6 por volta de -41&#C / It was made the growth of a Potassium Hexafluophosphate: KPF6 monocrystal method of growth in aqueous solution and the study of its electrical properties. With this purpose, it was use of solubility, incubation time, dispersive espectroscopy on the infrared region, X-ray diffraction, electrical conductivity and dieletrical Constant in the range of temperature between liquid helium and 573K. It was detected three strutural phase transitions in 273K, 258,6K and 80K and impurities like CO-23. In the deformation of the PF6 group, during the structural phase transition in 258,6K, electrical dipole appears with a value 12,2.10-18ues.cm. It was observed the freezing of PF6 group near 232K

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a influência da adição de PbF2 em várias propriedades, de interesse geral e específico, de vidros oxifluoroboratos de chumbo. As amostras estudadas foram sintetizadas seguindo a fórmula 50BO1,5-(50-x)PbO-xPbF2 (BPP), com x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 e 30 (% catiônica), e usando o método convencional de fusão seguida de resfriamento rápido (quenching). A modificação da estrutura local destes vidros BPP, causada pela introdução do PbF2, foi avaliada por Espectroscopia no Infravermelho (FTIR). Além do mais, as implicações destas mudanças estruturais sobre as propriedades ópticas, térmicas e elétricas foram monitoradas através das técnicas de Absorção Óptica no Ultravioleta-Visível (UV-Vis), Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC) e Espectroscopia de Impedância (EI), respectivamente. As amostras vítreas foram também submetidas à ação de campos elétricos, observando-se um fenômeno de cristalização não espontânea da fase β-PbF2, mesmo abaixo da temperatura de transição vítrea. A partir de um estudo sistemático deste fenômeno, foi possível associar o seu desenvolvimento a um processo de redução: Pb2+ + e- → Pb+, atuando como força motriz da nucleação dos cristais. Esta reação catódica pôde ser validada após constatação, por Difratometria de raios X (DRX), da presença de Pb0 em amostras eletricamente tratadas durante tempos longos, o que implica supor a seguinte reação adicional: Pb+ + e- → Pb0. Por outro lado, para completude do processo de oxirredução, foi proposta a ocorrência da reação F- → e- + ½F2(g)↑ no ânodo. A validação desta reação foi obtida através de ensaios sistemáticos de cristalização com células eletroquímicas do tipo Pt,Ag/BPP/YSZ:PbF2/Ag,Pt, onde YSZ:PbF2. representa um compósito condutor iônico, o qual foi usado para garantir um controle, através de um mecanismo percolativo, do grau de liberdade da migração dos íons F- em direção ao ânodo. Completam esta investigação estudos elétricos no domínio do tempo, tendo sido possível estimar, para os processos de polarização ocorrentes durante a cristalização na interface material-eletrodo, capacitâncias características de reações eletroquímicas (~ 10-3 F), corroborando com a interpretação dada, neste trabalho, para a indução elétrica de cristalização nestes vidros. Por fim, em termos de características microestruturais, notou-se que a fase cristalina formada (β-PbF2) apresentou uma morfologia ramificada (dendrítica), o que é, de fato, típico de cristalização na presença de campo elétrico, o fenômeno passando por reações do tipo redox e envolvendo, segundo a literatura científica, processos eletroconvectivos nos sistemas estudados. / The influence of PbF2 addition in various properties, of general and particular interest, of lead oxyfluoroborate glasses was evaluated in this work. The studied samples were prepared by the melt-quenching technique following the formula 50BO1,5-(50-x)PbO-xPbF2 (BPP), with x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 cationic %. The BPP structural modification, caused by PbF2 introduction into the glass matrix, was evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the implications of these structural changes on the optical, thermal and electrical properties were monitored, respectively, through Ultraviolet-Visible Optical Absorption (UV-Vis), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Impedance Spectroscopy techniques. For the electric field-treated glassy samples, a non-spontaneous crystallization phenomenon was observed, resulting in β-PbF2 phase formation, surprisingly even below the glass transition temperature. From a systematic study, it was possible to associate the development of this phenomenon with a reduction process: Pb2+ + e- Pb+, which acts as the driving force for crystals nucleation. This cathodic reaction was validated after noting, through X-ray Difratometry (XRD), presence of metallic lead (Pb0) in those samples electrically treated during long times, what implies to infer the following additional reaction: Pb+ + e- → Pb0. On the other hand, for completeness of the redox process, occurrence of the anodic reaction F- → e- + ½F2(g)↑ was proposed. This reaction was validated through systematic crystallization experiments with electrochemical cells of type Pt,Ag/BPP/YSZ:PbF2/Ag,Pt, where YSZ:PbF2 represents composite-like mixtures used in order to guarantee a control, through a percolative mechanism, of the degree of freedom for fluoride migration towards the anode. This investigation is completed by electrical studies in the time domain, from which it was possible to estimate, for processes occurring at the material-electrodes interface, capacitance values (~ 10-3 F) which are characteristic of electrochemical reactions, in agreement with the interpretation given, in this work, for the electrically-induced crystallization in these glasses. Finally, in terms of (micro)structural aspects, it was noted that the formed crystalline phase (β-PbF2) appears with a branched (dendritic) morphology, what is usual during crystallization phenomena in presence of an electric field, these phenomena being likewise a result of redox-type reactions involving, according to scientific literature, electroconvective processes in the studied systems.

Materiais poliméricos podem exibir propriedades ópticas não lineares (ONL), o que motiva hoje em dia, muitas pesquisas para sua aplicação em dispositivos optoeletrônicos. Neste trabalho descreve-se a preparação do copolímero do tipo grupo lateral (\"side-chain\") formado pelos monômeros metacrilato de metila (MMA) e monômeros metacrilato de metila ligado a molécula disperso vermelho 13 (MMA-DR13). Como a atividade óptica não-linear de segunda ordem dos materiais poliméricos está diretamente ligada a sua polarização elétrica dipolar (alinhamento de dipolos), o presente trabalho investiga as propriedades do copolímero MMA-DR13 através de medidas de condução elétrica, correntes de despolarização estimuladas termicamente (CDET) e medidas eletroópticas. As medidas de condução elétricas feitas a diferentes temperaturas mostraram a ser dependentes do tipo substratos/eletrodos, da polaridade de tensão e atmosferas na qual foram realizadas as medidas. Nas medidas de CDET observou-se que aparecem mais de um pico de corrente em função da temperatura. As medidas do coeficiente eletroóptico r13 foram feitas em função da temperatura e do campo de polarização das amostras. Das medidas de r13 e de medidas de CDET conclui-se que o primeiro pico de corrente é associado a desorientação dipolar do grupo ONL. A falta de familiaridade com o copolímero MMADR13 e a dificuldade de se obter medidas com boa reprodutibilidade tornou difícil a sua caracterização deixando ainda vários aspectos não bem compreendidos. / Polymeric materials with nonlinear optical properties are attracting attention because of the interest of its application to NLO devices. In this work the side-chain copolymer MMA-DR13 having methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) and a monomer of methyl methacrylate attached to the disperse red 13 (MMA-DR13) was prepared. Since the optical nonlinear activity is related with dipolar electrical polarization the properties of MMA-DR13 copolymer was investigated by means of electric conduction measurements, thermally stimulated depolarization current (CDET) and electro-optical measurements. The dependence of the electro-optic coefficient, r13 on temperature and polarization field of samples were investigated. From the measurements it was found that the electric conduction on samples depends on the electrodes, voltage polarity and on measurement environment. Measurements of r13 and CDET allowed to conclude that the first peak of current is related to dipolar relaxation of the DR13 groups. The inexperience on handling the MMA-DR13 copolymer and the difficulty to obtain reproducible results impaired the characterization of the MMA-DR13 copolymer.

Este trabalho investigou a deposição dos filmes finos de ferritas de lantânio dopado com estrôncio e cobalto La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-δ (LSCF) através da técnica de spray pirólise empregando precursores inorgânicos e silício como substrato. Foram utilizados água e etanol na proporção de (3:1) como solvente na preparação da solução a ser aspergida. As deposições foram realizadas em diferentes temperaturas: 130ºC, 150ºC, 170ºC e 200ºC. Os filmes de LSCF antes e após o tratamento térmico foram analisados por difração de raios X (DRX) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). O spray de deposição dos filmes em função das soluções com diferentes proporções de etanol (0%, 50%, 75% e 100%) foi investigado utilizado uma câmera rápida de alta resolução e um laser com comprimento de onda 532 nm. Os resultados evidenciaram que a temperatura de ebulição do solvente e de deposição são parâmetros importantes na determinação da morfologia dos filmes. Maiores teores de etanol promovem um aumento nos valores do ângulo de cone e que a propriedade da tensão superficial exerce significativamente maior influência nos aspectos que envolvem a estrutura do spray, a atomização do líquido, formação de gotas e no ponto de ruptura das soluções Os resultados de DRX apresentaram a fase cristalina majoritária de LSCF após o tratamento térmico a 750°C por 2 horas e a fase secundária de La2O3. As imagens de MEV evidenciaram a formação de filmes para as distâncias de deposição de 120 mm, embora apenas na temperatura de 200°C apresentasse uma estrutura porosa antes e após o tratamento térmico. A presença de interdifusão e microporosidade foi observada para esse filme. Para as diferentes composições de LSCF nas condições de 120 mm e a 200°C, apenas as composições de La1-xSrxCo0,2Fe0,8 com x = 0,6, 0,9 e 0,7 apresentaram estrutura porosa após o tratamento térmico. O filme de La0,8Sr0,2Co0,2Fe0,8 apresentou maior condutividade iônica/elétrica e energia de ativação. A presença de fases secundárias (La2O3, SrO2 e La2CoO3) contribuiu para a redução da condutividade elétrica e iônica e a energia de ativação. / This work investigated the deposition conditions of thin lanthanum ferrite films doped with strontium and cobalt – La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-δ (LSCF) through the spray pyrolysis technique using inorganic precursors and silicon as a substrate. Water and ethanol were used in the proportion (3:1) as solvent in the preparation of the solution to be sprinkled. The depositions were carried out at different temperatures: 130°C, 150°C, 170°C and 200°C. The films of LSCF were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy before and after thermal treatment. The XRD results showed the obtainment of crystalline phase of LSCF after thermal treatment at 750°C/2hours and secondary phase of La2O3. The sprays of solutions with different proportions of ethanol (0%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were analyzed using a fast high-resolution camera and a laser with a wavelength of 532nm.The results showed those deposition temperature and solvente boiling points are important parameters to determine the thin morphology Higher ethanol levels promote an increase in the cone angle values and that the property of the surface tension exerts significantly greater influence on issues involving the structure of the spray, the atomization of the liquid, the droplets formation and the breaking point of the solutions. The XRD results showed the obtainment of majority crystalline phase of LSCF after thermal treatment at 750°C/2 hours with the presence of secondary phase of La2O3. The SEM images showed formation of films for the distance of 120 mm, although only at the temperature of 200°C it presents porous morphology before and after thermal treatment. The presence of interdiffusion and microporosity was observed for this film. For different LSCF compositions under the conditions of 120 mm and 200°C, the films of La1-xSrx Co0,2Fe0,8 with x = 0,6; 0,9 and 0,7 presented porous morphology after thermal treatment. Otherwise, the film of La0,8Sr0,2Co0,2Fe0,8 showed the highest ionic/electrical conductivity. The presence of secondary phase (La2O3, SrO2 and La2CoO3) evidenced by XRD promoted a decrease in ionic/electrical conductivity and in the activation energy.

The importance of studying the physico-chemical properties of nano-dimensional materials has gained significant attention in the fields of semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, materials science, and atmospheric chemistry owing to the differences in physical properties between macro- and nano-dimensional solids. Nonetheless, direct studies of physical properties of materials at nanoscale is limited in part due to their inherent size constraints and experimental limitations. However, development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) led to the implementation of methods to characterize a wide range of physical properties, including – but not limited to – mechanical properties, electrical properties, viscoelastic properties, and surface tension. Herein, the dissertation focuses on AFM-based method development for characterization of atmospheric particles as well as understanding the relationship between structure and physical properties of organic solids at both macro- and nano-dimensions. In the atmospheric chemistry realm, the combined aerosol effect on the climate and environment has significant uncertainty in part due to lack of direct characterization of their physico-chemical properties. The difficulty in assessing the physical and chemical properties arises due to the presence of diversified aerosol sources, which in turn influences the size, morphology, phase states and chemical compositions. Sea spray aerosols (SSAs) are the second-largest source of aerosols in the atmosphere. Studying SSAs – especially in submicrometer-dimensions – requires high-resolution microscopy techniques such as AFM. AFM can be used for imaging of individual aerosols, quantifying organic volume fraction for core-shell morphologies, measuring water uptake, quantifying surface tension of individual droplets, and measuring mechanical and viscoelastic properties of materials. Herein, we employed AFM-based morphology and force spectroscopy studies to correlate the 3D morphology, phase state, and viscoelastic properties of selected single-component chemical systems found in sea spray aerosol (SSA). We established a quantitative framework toward differentiation of the solid, semisolid and liquid phase states of individual particles by utilizing both relative indentation depth (RID) and viscoelastic response distance (VRD) data obtained from the force−distance plots. Moreover, we established a semi-quantitative and quick phase assessment by measuring the aspect ratio (AR) that refers the extent of particle spreading as a result of impaction. Overall, the established AFM-based quantitative and semi-quantitative phase identification method can be utilized to assess the phases of aerosols irrespective of chemical identity. Next, we investigated the factors that may control the electrical and mechanical properties of pharmaceutical and organic semiconducting materials in nano- and macro-dimensions. Understanding the structure-property relationship of materials, especially in the nano-dimension, is necessary for proper drug design and development of organic semiconducting materials. In this context, cocrystals provide a means to modulate the physico-chemical properties of organic solids. For example, the modulation of the mechanical properties is important in the pharmaceutical industry for improving the tabletability. The mechanical properties may be affected by packing arrangement, interaction strength and type, and atomic and chemical composition. Herein, we report the influence of alkane and alkene functional groups on the mechanical properties of organic solids based on salicylic acid (SA). The approach affords both isostructural and polymorphic solids. The isostructural alkane functional solid exhibits a two-fold larger Young’s modulus (YM) compared to the cocrystal with the alkene, where the YM refers to the stiffness of the material. Here, the higher YM values are attributed to the presence of a bifurcated weak C-H···O interactions involving the alkane and neighboring SA molecules. On the other hand, in the case of alkene polymorphisms, molecular packing with column arrangement shows higher YM values compared to the herringbone arrangements. Thus, functional groups and crystal arrangements influence the stiffness of the solid organic cocrystals. Moreover, we report the modulation of mechanical properties of salicylic acid (SA) through cocrystallization by variation of propane and butane functionality with bipyridine coformers. We show that the variation of propane and butane functionality in bipyridine coformer with salicylic acid leads to synthesis of cocrystal and salt-cocrystal, respectively. The AFM nanoindentation study revealed that the Young’s modulus values follow the order salicylic acid < cocrystal << salt-cocrystal. The highest Young’s modulus values of the salt-cocrystal, among the studied systems, are attributed to the presence of strong N+–H···O– and O–H···O– interactions. On the other hand, higher Young’s modulus values of the propane-based cocrystal compared to the macro-dimensional salicylic acid are attributed to the stronger O–H ···N hydrogen bonding. Thus, homologous alkane functional groups can influence the mechanical properties of the organic solid crystals. Additionally, in situ solid-solid polymorphic phase transformation and nucleation of a metastable and elusive polymorph of SA cocrystals in combination with 4,4’-bipyridine were studied. Understanding the solid-solid phase transformations and nucleation mechanisms are important for proper control over the parameters associated with the synthesis of targeted crystalline solids with desired crystal structure. Using in situ powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) data we showed that the Form II polymorph transforms to Form I over time. AFM imaging and nanoindentation techniques were utilized to follow and quantify in real-time the solid-solid polymorphic transformation of the metastable Form II to the thermodynamically stable Form I on a single crystal basis. AFM in situ single crystal data revealed that the metastable Form II has a rod-shaped morphology and relatively high elasticity (Young’s modulus), which transforms to prism-shaped nanocrystals of much smaller sizes with significantly reduced elasticity. The AFM imaging reveals that the single crystals on the order of 80-150 nm to undergo catastrophic changes in morphology that are consistent with cracking and popping owing to a release of mechanical stress during the transformation. The nucleation mechanism for the polymorphic transformation is not spatially localized and occurs over the entire crystal surface. The higher mechanical properties of the metastable Form II is due to the presence of the additional interlayer C-H···O interactions. Furthermore, we have studied the electrical properties of boron-based cocrystals. More specifically, cocrystallization of a nonconductive 2,4-difluorophenylboronic ester catechol adduct of a 4,4’-bipyridine (BEA) host with two aromatic semiconducting guests (pyrene and tetrathiafulvalene) generated conductive cocrystals with variable charge carrier mobilities. Charge carrier mobilities of the cocrystals with either pyrene or tetrathiafulvalene were measured using conducting probe AFM (CP-AFM). The incorporation of π-rich aromatic guests through face-to-face and edge-to-face π-contacts results in electrically conductive cocrystals. The cocrystal with tetrathiafulvalene as a guest shows approximately 7 times higher charge carrier mobility than the cocrystal with pyrene. Overall, the current dissertation demonstrates the AFM-based method development and applications towards materials characterization to measure the morphological, electrical, mechanical, and phase-states at both nano- and macro-dimensions. The high spatial precision of the methods developed enables us to better understand the controlling factors for materials design and processing across nano- and macro-dimensions.