Cristais naturais de pumpelita Ca8Al8(Mg,Fe,Mn,Al)[(SiO4)4/(Si2O7)4/(OH)8(H2O, OH)4]), provenientes da mina de Brejui, município de Currais Novos, Rio Grande do Norte, foram investigados através das técnicas de termoluminescência (TL), absorção óptica (AO) e ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (EPR) com o intuito de entender os efeitos da radiação ionizante e de recozimento em altas temperaturas sobre estes cristais. As curvas TL obtidas apresentaram cinco picos, 90, 145, 220, 315 e 390 oC, após terem sido irradiadas para uma taxa de quecimento de 4 °C/s. A decomposição espectral da luz TL foi obtida para todos os picos e presentou uma emissão centrada em 575 nm e largura à meia altura de 75 nm e outras duas emissões menores em 470 nm e 660 nm indicando que o processo TL pode possuir mais de um centro de recombinação, independentemente das temperaturas dos picos. Em um segundo momento, foi investigado o efeito de diferentes tratamentos térmicos pré-irradiação (500, 600, 700, 800 e 900 °C) nas propriedades TL dos cristais. Somente a intensidade das emissões mostrou ser dependente da temperatura destes tratamentos térmicos, a posição dos quatro picos não foi alterada. Os picos em 220 e 390 °C apresentaram grande sensibilidade ao tratamento térmico. Uma análise termogravimétrica mostrou que entre 650 e 800 °C houve grande perda de massa envolvida num processo endotérmico, sugerindo uma provável mudança de estado. O espectro de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostra um sinal muito intenso que se estende de 1000 a 6000 Gauss e seis linhas típicas hiperfinas de Mn2+ entre 3000 e 4000 Gauss. O sinal EPR gigante é devido à interação dipolo (magnético) dipolo magnético) de Fe3+. Os espectros de AO de amostras recozidas em 600 °C, 700 °C e 900 °C mostram num resultado muito interessante, a banda em torno de 1060 nm, que, é devida a Fe2+ muda pouco com o tratamento térmico até 800 °C, mas, entre 800 °C e 900 °C a banda decresce. Nessa região de temperatura, ocorre a reação: Fe2+ temperaturae + Fe3+ Fe2+ perde um elétron e se torna Fe3+. Este processo é, também, responsável pelo aumento muito grande da intensidade EPR na região de g = 2,0, em amostras que sofreram recozimentos em temperaturas acima de 850 °C, Nestas temperaturas, a coloração da pumpelita é também afetada. Todos os picos TL sofrem fotoesvaziamento (bleaching), quando a amostra irradiada é exposta a luz UV. / Natural mineral of pumpellyite, one of the members of epidote group has been investigated. With chemical formula (Ca8Al8(Mg,Fe,Mn,Al)[(SiO4)4/(Si2O7)4/(OH)8(H2O, OH)4]), the sample here studied was collected from Brejui Mine, Currais Novos County, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The work was aimed to investigate its thermoluminescence (TL), color centers and electron paramagnetic properties. Annealing at high temperatures, heavy irradiation and UV irradiation techniques have been used. The physical properties of interest are due to the elements composing crystal structure such as Si, Al, Mg, Fe and Mn, however among about twenty elements that can be considered impurities; only Na, K and Cr participate. The TL glow curve obtained from 600 °C for one hour pre-annealed and then - irradiated sample has shown 90, 145, 220, 275 and 390 °C peaks. A heating rate of 4 °C has been used for TL read out. The lowest 90 °C peak is very unstable, however, it is by far the most sensitive one to the irradiation; at 50 Gy -dose its peak height is almost 100 times larger. Among others, the 315 °C peak grows faster. Heat treatments before irradiation increase the sensitivity of TL peaks slowly from 500 to 800 °C, but such increase becomes very large above 800 °C. For example the 390 °C peak sensitivity increases by a factor 100 on going from 500 C to 900 °C annealing. The spectral analysis of the emitted TL light has shown that there are 470, 575 and 600 nm bands indicating that there are at least three recombination centers. The 575 nm is by far the dominating one. The UV light bleaching has shown that all the TL peaks decay fast up to 10 minutes exposure and a residual TL is left after long time exposure. The optical absorption spectrum is characterized by four absorption bands in the visible region, one strong and broad band around 1060 nm and several in near IR region. The 1060 nm band is due to Fe2+ which around 850 900 °C annealing decreases indicating that Fe2+ liberates electrons leaving Fe3+. The EPR spectrum is dominated by Fe3+ spin spin interaction. Mn2+ six hyperfine lines superpose Fe line around g = 2,0. Under 850 900 °C heating, that broad Fe3+ lines becomes stronger and broader due to Fe2+ changing to Fe3+. The EPR intensity of 800 °C annealed sample and then irradiated to 1 kGy - dose increases with microwave power, but start saturation around 30 to 40 mW power.

Cristais naturais de pumpelita Ca8Al8(Mg,Fe,Mn,Al)[(SiO4)4/(Si2O7)4/(OH)8(H2O, OH)4]), provenientes da mina de Brejui, município de Currais Novos, Rio Grande do Norte, foram investigados através das técnicas de termoluminescência (TL), absorção óptica (AO) e ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (EPR) com o intuito de entender os efeitos da radiação ionizante e de recozimento em altas temperaturas sobre estes cristais. As curvas TL obtidas apresentaram cinco picos, 90, 145, 220, 315 e 390 oC, após terem sido irradiadas para uma taxa de quecimento de 4 °C/s. A decomposição espectral da luz TL foi obtida para todos os picos e presentou uma emissão centrada em 575 nm e largura à meia altura de 75 nm e outras duas emissões menores em 470 nm e 660 nm indicando que o processo TL pode possuir mais de um centro de recombinação, independentemente das temperaturas dos picos. Em um segundo momento, foi investigado o efeito de diferentes tratamentos térmicos pré-irradiação (500, 600, 700, 800 e 900 °C) nas propriedades TL dos cristais. Somente a intensidade das emissões mostrou ser dependente da temperatura destes tratamentos térmicos, a posição dos quatro picos não foi alterada. Os picos em 220 e 390 °C apresentaram grande sensibilidade ao tratamento térmico. Uma análise termogravimétrica mostrou que entre 650 e 800 °C houve grande perda de massa envolvida num processo endotérmico, sugerindo uma provável mudança de estado. O espectro de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostra um sinal muito intenso que se estende de 1000 a 6000 Gauss e seis linhas típicas hiperfinas de Mn2+ entre 3000 e 4000 Gauss. O sinal EPR gigante é devido à interação dipolo (magnético) dipolo magnético) de Fe3+. Os espectros de AO de amostras recozidas em 600 °C, 700 °C e 900 °C mostram num resultado muito interessante, a banda em torno de 1060 nm, que, é devida a Fe2+ muda pouco com o tratamento térmico até 800 °C, mas, entre 800 °C e 900 °C a banda decresce. Nessa região de temperatura, ocorre a reação: Fe2+ temperaturae + Fe3+ Fe2+ perde um elétron e se torna Fe3+. Este processo é, também, responsável pelo aumento muito grande da intensidade EPR na região de g = 2,0, em amostras que sofreram recozimentos em temperaturas acima de 850 °C, Nestas temperaturas, a coloração da pumpelita é também afetada. Todos os picos TL sofrem fotoesvaziamento (bleaching), quando a amostra irradiada é exposta a luz UV. / Natural mineral of pumpellyite, one of the members of epidote group has been investigated. With chemical formula (Ca8Al8(Mg,Fe,Mn,Al)[(SiO4)4/(Si2O7)4/(OH)8(H2O, OH)4]), the sample here studied was collected from Brejui Mine, Currais Novos County, state of Rio Grande do Norte. The work was aimed to investigate its thermoluminescence (TL), color centers and electron paramagnetic properties. Annealing at high temperatures, heavy irradiation and UV irradiation techniques have been used. The physical properties of interest are due to the elements composing crystal structure such as Si, Al, Mg, Fe and Mn, however among about twenty elements that can be considered impurities; only Na, K and Cr participate. The TL glow curve obtained from 600 °C for one hour pre-annealed and then - irradiated sample has shown 90, 145, 220, 275 and 390 °C peaks. A heating rate of 4 °C has been used for TL read out. The lowest 90 °C peak is very unstable, however, it is by far the most sensitive one to the irradiation; at 50 Gy -dose its peak height is almost 100 times larger. Among others, the 315 °C peak grows faster. Heat treatments before irradiation increase the sensitivity of TL peaks slowly from 500 to 800 °C, but such increase becomes very large above 800 °C. For example the 390 °C peak sensitivity increases by a factor 100 on going from 500 C to 900 °C annealing. The spectral analysis of the emitted TL light has shown that there are 470, 575 and 600 nm bands indicating that there are at least three recombination centers. The 575 nm is by far the dominating one. The UV light bleaching has shown that all the TL peaks decay fast up to 10 minutes exposure and a residual TL is left after long time exposure. The optical absorption spectrum is characterized by four absorption bands in the visible region, one strong and broad band around 1060 nm and several in near IR region. The 1060 nm band is due to Fe2+ which around 850 900 °C annealing decreases indicating that Fe2+ liberates electrons leaving Fe3+. The EPR spectrum is dominated by Fe3+ spin spin interaction. Mn2+ six hyperfine lines superpose Fe line around g = 2,0. Under 850 900 °C heating, that broad Fe3+ lines becomes stronger and broader due to Fe2+ changing to Fe3+. The EPR intensity of 800 °C annealed sample and then irradiated to 1 kGy - dose increases with microwave power, but start saturation around 30 to 40 mW power.

Die Elektronenspinresonanz (ESR) untersucht die im quasistatischen Magnetfeld resonante Absorption eines an die Probe angelegten Mikrowellenmagnetfeldes. Es wurde das System Yb1-w A1-w (Rh1-x Cox)2 (Si1-y Gey) 2 mit A=La, bzw. Lu, sowie das System YbIr2Si2 mittels ESR untersucht. Unter Kondo-Wechselwirkung vieler Leitungselektronen mit einem lokalen 4f-Moment des Kondo-Ions bildet sich ein nicht-magnetisches Grundzustands-Singlett, was zur Abschirmung des magnetischen Moments führt. YbRh2Si2 ist das erste Schwere-Fermionen-System mit Kondo-Ionen, das ohne Dotierung zusätzlicher ESR-Sonden ein ESR-Signal unterhalb der Kondo-Temperatur aufweist. Es zeigt sich, dass das ESR-Signal nicht mittels gängiger ESR-Theorien konsistent beschrieben werden kann. Die Messungen, die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit angestellt wurden, flossen in die Entwicklung von weiterführenden Theorien (z.B. [1], [2]) ein. Die Temperaturabhängigkeit des ESR-g-Faktors konnte damit erfolgreich beschrieben werden, womit erstmals der Nachweis einer Kondo-Wechselwirkung in Kondo-Gitter-Systemen mittels ESR gelang. Ferner konnte die Bedeutung von ferromagnetischen Fluktuationen für eine kleine, beobachtbare Linienbreite beschrieben werden. Der ESR-Methode ist somit die Kondo-Spindynamik direkt zugänglich. Dieser Zugang ist neu und einzigartig, denn andere Methoden (NMR, inelastische Neutronenstreuung) charakterisieren die Kondo-Spindynamik auf indirekte Weise. [1] P. Wölfle und E. Abrahams. Phenomenology of esr in heavy-fermion systems: Fermi-liquid und nicht-fermi-liquid regimes Phys. Rev. B, 80(23): 235112, 2009. [2] B. I. Kochelaev, S. I. Belov, A. M. Skvortsova, A. S. Kutusov, J. Sichelschmidt, J. Wykhoff, C. Geibel und F. Steglich. Why could electron spin resonance be observed in a heavy fermion kondo lattice? Eur. Phys. J. B, 72(4): 485, 2009.

L’ensemble de l’étude in vivo réalisée sur souris porteuses de glioblastome U87 démontre la faisabilité du ciblage magnétique pour accumuler les magnétoliposomes superparamagnétiques, ou MFLs, au niveau du glioblastome, tout en préservant le reste du tissu cérébral sain. L’étude révèle que le bénéfice apporté par l’action d’un gradient de champ magnétique produit par un aimant extracorporel repose sur un effet EPR (« enhanced permeation and retention » effect) amplifié. Les résultats sont étayés par la combinaison de plusieurs techniques (IRM, RPE, microscopie confocale de fluorescence, microscopie électronique). Concernant les mécanismes de transport empruntés par les magnétoliposomes pour atteindre les cellules tumorales, la voie d’endocytose non spécifique s’apparentant à un processus de macropinocytose est pressentie. Dans l’optique d’une application thérapeutique par hyperthermie, la capacité d’échauffement des magnétoliposomes a été pour la première fois explorée. Les résultats prouvent un comportement thermique des magnétoliposomes compatible avec les conditions d’un traitement par hyperthermie. Enfin, dans le cadre d’une étude portant sur le développement de cancers mécano-induits, l’application des magnétoliposomes a été élargie un autre organe non étudié à ce jour, le côlon. Ces travaux illustrent la problématique de la vectorisation magnétique au sein d’un organe situé dans une région interne de l’organisme. / First, the in vivo study on U87-glioblastoma bearing mice demonstrates the ability of magnetic targeting to accumulate magnetic-fluid-loaded liposomes (MFLs) into glioblastoma while sparing the rest of the healthy brain tissue. The enhancement of liposome local concentration by applying a magnetic field gradient produced by an external magnet is based on an amplified EPR effect (“enhanced permeation and retention” effect). The results were supported by combining several techniques (MRI, ESR, confocal fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy). The investigations concerning the mechanisms of transport of the magnetoliposomes to reach the tumor cells suggest a non-specific endocytose pathway, presumably macropinocytosis. Secondly, in the context of a therapeutic application by hyperthermia the heat capacity of MFLs was explored. The results showed that the thermal behaviour of the magnetoliposomes depends on the containment state of the iron oxide nanocrystals and is compatible with the conditions of hyperthermia treatment. Finally, as part of a study concerning the development of mechanically induced cancers, application of MFLs was extended to target another organ not yet studied: the colon. This work especially illustrates the potential and related limits of magnetic targeting towards an organ located in an inner region of the body.

A liquid Cooled below its normal freezing temperature is known as a supercooled liquid. On further cooling, supercooled liquids crystallize to thermodynamically stable, ordered structures. Alternatively, if the cooling rate is fast enough, the crystallization may be avoided altogether. Below a particular temperature during rapid cooling the liquid will solidify into a disordered, amorphous phase -also known as the glassy phase of matter. This particular temperature is termed the ”glass transition temperature” (Tg). Unlike a crystalline solid, a glass is neither a thermodynamically stable phase nor does it possess long range molecular ordering. Very slow structural relaxation (in the time scale of ∼ 100 s) is always present in the glassy phase. Thus, this phase is often referred to as a metastable phase of matter. Experimental and theoretical studies related to the behavior of supercooled liquids are the subject matter of many investigations for the last few decades [1]. These studies find their applications in diverse fields such as geology, cryopreservation, glaciology and atmospheric science. However, properties of supercooled liquids and the corresponding amorphous phase are not completely understood at present, particularly for hydrogen bonded (H-bonded) systems. This thesis concerns both the crystallization and the glass formation process of H-bonded systems. The systems of interest are water, the commonly accepted universal solvent, and the aqueous binary mixture of glycerol and water. The technique of molecular probing is often used to study the cooperativety and rotational diffusion of supercooled liquids and for determination of the glass transition temperature. For the present set of work, a molecular probe technique called spin probe ESR is extensively used. Electron paramagnetic resonance or electron spin resonance (EPR/ESR) measures the electronic energy level separation and is well known for the high sensitivity. All of the systems studied in the present set of work are diamagnetic. This issue is circumvented by dissolving paramagnetic spin probe molecules, which are usually organic free radicals with one N-O group, into the systems. Spin probes are added in very low concentrations (~10-3M) to minimize the effect on the host system and also to avoid mutual interactions between them. The unpaired electron delocalized in the direction of the N-O bond serves as the paramagnetic center required for an ESR experiment. The splitting of electron energy level due to the external magnetic field (Zeeman splitting) can give rise to resonance absorption of energy if exposed to a microwave of appropriate frequency. There is also a magnetic coupling (hyperfine) between the spin of the unpaired electron and nuclear spin of the nearby nitrogen atom. The hyperfine coupling splits each electron energy levels, to the first order, symmetrically into three levels. The transitions between these levels -subject to appropriate selection rules -give rise to the ESR spectrum [2]. The spectral shape in a magnetic field sweep ESR experiment appears complex if randomly oriented spin probes are dispersed in an amorphous or polycrystalline solid matrix. The high degree of mobility in probe molecules, present in a liquid solution, can average out the individual anisotropy of magnetic tensors to get a spectrum of three equally spaced liens. Experiments can be performed spanning a spin probe reorientation timescale of 10-7-10-12 s typically in the temperature range of 4.2 -300K. In chapter one we have given a brief overview of the supercooled liquids and the phase transitions related to the present work. Particular emphasis has been given to the dynamical features of the supercooled liquid close to its glass transition temperature and their classification based on the degree of ’fragility’ [3]. Brief general introductions of the systems studied in each of the following chapters are also provided. Then, the details of ESR spectroscopy and a quantum mechanical picture of the method of spin probe ESR have been discussed [4]. A separate section has been devoted to the numerical and analytical methods used to analyze the spectrum to extract information related to the spin probe dynamics [5]. The chapter concludes with a description of the ESR spectrometer. In chapter two we have studied the glass transition and dynamics of the supercooled water by the method of spin probe ESR. The vitrification has been done by direct exposure of the bulk water sample, doped with the spin probe TEMPOL, to the liquid helium flow. The vitrified matrix turns into the ultraviscous liquid above the putative glass transition temperature of ~136 K which further transforms to cubic ice (Ic) above TX ~150 K. The supercooled fraction of water, along with the spin probes which are treated as impurities by the crystallized surroundings, remain trapped inside the veins or triple junctions of the ice grains which serve as the interfacial reservoir of impurities in a polycrystalline ice matrix. The spectra for the entire temperature range have been analyzed with the help of in-depth computation by modelling the reorientation of TEMPOL in terms of the jump angle θs and the rotational correlation time τ [5]. This model, based on a homogeneous mobility scenario of the spin probe, works nicely except in the temperature range of 140-180 K. Dynamical heterogeneity (DH) is apparent in this temperature range and a more mobile (fast) component, as compared to the one corresponding to the very slow dynamics of TEMPOL at lower temperatures (slow), is observed. The relative weight of the fast and the slow component changes with temperature and above ~180 K the entire spectrum changes into the motionally narrowed triplet. The temperature dependence of the slow component of τ shows a change in slope at a temperature close to the putative glass transition temperature of water. The fast component of τ exhibits a fragile, i.e. non-Arrhenius character at high temperature with a crossover to a strong, i.e. Arrhenius behavior below ~225 K, close to the hypothesized fragile-to-strong crossover (FSC) for water at TFSC ~228 K. The breakdown of the Debye-Stokes-Einstein (DSE) law is observed when the τ values are combined with the available viscosity data of water to evaluate the DSE ratio, paralleling the SE breakdown which has recently been observed in nanoconfined water [6]. The dynamical heterogeneity is thought to be closely associated with the static structural heterogeneities of supercooled water. The existence of large scale structural fluctuations spanning a range of low-and high-density phases of liquid water have been associated with the heterogeneous dynamics sensed by TEMPOL. Motivated by the Arrhenius like behavior of the slow component, it has been identified with the low density liquid (LDL). The fragile nature of the fast component at high temperature may be identified with that of the high density liquid (HDL) which is the predominant fraction in liquid or weakly supercooled water [6]. Chapter three reports the studies on freezing and dynamics of the supercooled water trapped inside the veins of a polycrystalline ice matrix by dissolving spin probes TEMPO and TEMPOL into it. When a millimolar spin probe aqueous solution is cooled below the freezing point of water, the spin probes -driven by the mechanism described above migrate to the liquid environment inside the ice veins. Local concentration of the probe molecules inside the veins can go up to 1-10 M [7]. Bulk crystallization is evident in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies whereas the liquid environment of the spin probe below the bulk freezing is confirmed by its narrow triplet ESR spectrum. A sudden collapse of this narrow triplet into a single broad line indicates the freezing of the trapped water fraction which usually happens well below the DSC freezing point for both the probes. The spin probe detected freezing point of this interstitial water is found to be largely dependent on the properties and the amount of the dissolved probe molecules. An explanation is sought in terms of the ’destructuring effect’ on the tetrahedral ordering of the water H-bond network by both the high local concentration of the spin probes and the hydrogen bond strength, formed between the water and the spin probe molecules through the polar groups of the latter [8, 9]. These two factors are thought to play important roles in determining the reorientational dynamics of the spin probe molecules, as well. The rotational correlation times of the two probes exhibit a crossover owing to the different mobility of their salvation shells in the more ordered supercooled water. The observed relaxation behavior of this confined water using the probe TEMPO, which has little effect on water H-bond network, is found in agreement with the previous experimental investigations on water confined in a nanochannel [10]. In chapter four, the glass transition, relaxation and the free volume of the glycerol-water (G-W) system are studied over the glycerol concentration range of 5 -85 mol% with TEMPO as the spin probe. G-W mixture is intrinsically inhomogeneous due to the well established phase segregation below a critical glycerol concentration of 40 mol%. In the inhomogeneous regime the water molecules tend to form cooperative domains besides the mesoscopic G-W mixture [11]. Samples are quenched by rapid cooling down to 4.2 K inside the spectrometer cryostat. Spectra were recorded on slow heating of the sample in the temperature range of 130 -305 K. The glass transition temperature is correlated to the sharp transition of the extrema separation of the ESR spectrum. The glass transition temperatures are found to follow a concentration dependence which is closely associated to the mesoscopic inhomogeneities of the G-W system. The steady enhancement in fragility of the G-W system with the addition of water is evident from the temperature dependence of the spin probe correlation time τ for the entire concentration range. In the temperature range of 283 -303 K, the DSE law is followed i.e. the spin probe reorientation process is found to be strongly coupled to the system viscosity. In this regime, the τ values have been used along with the available viscosity data to calculate the effective volume V of the spin probe for the entire concentration range. The spin probe effective volume is a measure of the available free volume of the host matrix. A drastic change in the quantity is seen in the vicinity of the 40 mol% glycerol concentration owing to a similar structural change of the matrix due to the formation of mesoscopic scale inhomogeneities below the critical concentration [12]. The thesis concludes with a discussion about the possible future directions of research.

For every phenomenon found in inorganic materials, organic counterparts have been found in the last 50 years. The discovery of metallic conductivity in the inorganic conjugated polymer (SN)x was a forerunner to the discovery of metallic conductivity in Polyacetylene [1]. It was soon followed by the development of Polypyrrole and Polythiophene, and by the rediscovery of Polyaniline as a conducting polymer [2]. In polymers like Polyacetylene and Polythiophene, doping is by a redox reaction where the incorporation of electron withdrawing groups creates charge carriers in the polymer backbone. In contrast to these polymers, the main doping mechanism in Polyaniline is protonation, that is the attachment of a proton (donated by an acid) to specific sites (imine and amine groups) in the polymer. The protonated groups are also the sites where water and oxygen interact with the charge carriers on the polymer chain. A wide variety of quasi-particle states (excitons, bipolarons, separated polarons and polaron lattice forms) exist in Polyaniline, in its different states of oxidation and protonation. All of them have different transport and optical signatures. Out of these, only the polaron lattice gives rise to a half-filled conduction band, and therefore a metallic state [3]. This fascinating interplay of protonation and metallic features in Polyaniline, combined with its easy processibility, has made Polyaniline an attractive conducting polymer. Therefore the main focus of this thesis is on the role of the dopant on the electronic and optical properties of doped Polyaniline. The first chapter describes the main features of Polyaniline and its doping by protonation. The second chapter describes the experimental and simulation methods used in this thesis. Steady improvements in processing have led to reduced disorder in the samples, and have given rise to stronger metallic features like metallic (Drude-like) reflectivity in the infrared frequencies, and a positive temperature coefficient of the logarithmic derivative of the conductivity. High molecular weight Polyaniline doped with sulfonic acid dopants by surfactant-counterion processing, like Polyaniline doped with AMPSA (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) [4] and cast from dichloroacetic acid (DCA), shows all the metallic features indicative of an intrinsic metallic state [5]. In this thesis, the third chapter describes the spin-charge dynamics of Polyaniline doped with AMPSA (PANIAMPSA) through X-band Electron Spin Resonance studies [6]. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) is an important technique to probe the spin-charge dynamics of conducting polymers [7, 8]. The X-band ESR spectra of PANI doped with AMPSA showed the presence of two lines (one broad and one narrow) at all temperatures and doping levels, indicative of two types of spin carriers. Three interesting features were observed in our study: a large linewidth ( ~100 Gauss), a maximum of ESR linewidth at ~ 25 K, and a surprising independence of linewidth on water/O2 . The temperature dependence of both linewidths suggests that the broad line is due to the delocalised charge carriers in well-ordered regions, and that the narrow line is due to localised spins in the disordered regions in the sample. Although the XRD spectra showed minimal crystallinity, the ESR and SQUID susceptibility had a strong Pauli contribution, indicative of an intrinsic metallic state. A similarity of the temperature dependence of linewidths of PANI-AMPSA with MWNT-s and HOPG graphite suggested that some quasi-2-D (Q2D) ordering is present in PANI-AMPSA. From Semi-empirical molecular modelling studies, a plausible hydrogen bonding pattern is suggested that can give rise to the Q2D graphene-like arrangement of the PANI polymer chains. This ordering is due to hydrogen bonding between the acrylamido group of the dopant and the amine fragment of the Polyaniline backbone. Hydrogen bonds are not just structural linkers between adjacent chains; they can have subtle effects on electronic states of the polymer backbone due to charge transfer/withdrawal by the hydrogen bond from the delocalised β-electron system of the backbone. The same Q2D model is used to explain the water/oxygen independence of linewidth in PANI-AMPSA. The temperature dependence of linewidth of both lines has been explained in terms of the QTDG (Quasi Two Dimensional Graphite) model, where a strong exchange interaction is presumed to arise between the 2D delocalised charge carriers and the localised spins, leading to a low-temperature peak in the the linewidth. Water is known to significantly enhance the conductive properties of doped Polyaniline [9]. A detailed DFT (Density Functional Theory) modelling study of the influence of water in doped Polyanilines is presented, which clearly indicated that water enhances the charge transfer between the counterion and the polymer backbone. The torsion angles between the adjacent phenyl rings of the emeraldine base decrease when the imine nitrogens are protonated by inorganic acids like HCl and HBr, and hydration of the acid counterions further decrease the torsion angles. In contrast, the torsion angles of the AMPSA protonated Polyaniline are already low (comparable to the hydrated cases), and the charge transferred by AMPSA is also enhanced. Visualisation of the molecular structure of the PANI-AMPSA complex suggested that water molecules may play a minimal role in the electronic properties of AMPSA doped Polyaniline. We suggest the Q2D ordering as the reason for the temperature dependence of the linewidth, the lack of oxygen and water dependence of the linewidth, as well as the enhanced metallic properties in PANI-AMPSA, as compared to other doped Polyanilines. The electronic states of Polyaniline are modified by both redox processes and protonation. This gives rise to a wide variety of optical states, which can be easily accessed by both applied potential and pH [10]. Therefore Polyaniline displays strong electrochromism across the visible, near-IR (NIR), IR and even microwave spectral regions. This feature has wide applications in electrochromic devices. However, a fundamental understanding of the phenomena behind this electrochromism, the charge carrier(s) responsible, and the relation of nanoscopic morphology and electrochemical properties to the electrochromism, is still not clear. In the fourth chapter, we have analysed extensive data from electrochromic devices [11]. Clear assignments are that certain population states contribute predominantly to certain spectral regions (e.g. bipolaron states to the IR, the valence band to the visible and other mid-gap states to the microwave). Among more specific findings, a prominent 7µm (0.16 eV) peak in MIR devices is ascribed to bipolarons, while a low-energy transition at 0.054 eV is ascribed to inter/intra-chain transitions. Each of these transitions is tracked with respect to changes in applied potential, as well as correlated with device morphology and construction. Our analysis of UV-Vis-MIR-FIR-microwave results along with detailed SEM data clearly relates performance in different wavelength regions to morphology. Preliminary kinetics analysis show that the diffusion rates in these devices could be improved further. These findings point to the potential design of very broad-band electrochromic systems encompassing the visible through microwave regions. Polyaniline in its insulating states can be considered as a series of linked oligoanilines. These oligoaniline states can either be considered as a model for describing the properties of the polymer, or can be interesting systems themselves in the light of single-molecular electronic devices [12]. Both applied potential and pH can change the electronic states of these systems. The ability of pH to modify the oxidation states in these systems (and induce electronic transport), and the influence of water on these properties can be a model for biological systems too. While a wealth of information on oligoanilines has been generated from experiments, computational modelling of these systems is less reported. Among many computational methods that have been developed for calculation of optical absorption spectra of molecules, Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) is the method with the widest use. TDDFT obtains the excitation energies of a molecule from the linear response of the electronic density to a external perturbing field [13]. Solvent effects, which are known to affect the excitation energies, are included through the SCRF/PCM (Self-consistent Reaction Field/ Polarizable Continuum Model). PCM is a method that treats the solvent molecules as a continuum, and self-consistently evaluates their electronic distribution around the solute. In the fifth chapter, a systematic study of the optical properties of neutral oligoaniline, in three oxidation states, is performed by varying the chain length and linearity of the backbone. The intrinsic accuracy in the excitation energies obtainable by the combined TDDFT/PCM formalism has enabled us to suggest effective oligomer lengths for the optical transitions in Polyaniline; these are 4 rings for emeraldine base, 4–8 rings for leucoemeraldine base and 4 rings for pernigraniline. The sensitivity of the 2.0 eV exciton peak in emeraldine base to the chemical environment is also apparent from this work. The Valence Density of States (VDOS) and vibrational frequencies, that have been obtained in course of these simulations, have been quantitatively analysed and are a useful addition to understanding the optical properties of neutral Polyanilines. A summary of the results of the dopant and water dependence on the electronic and structural properties of protonated oligoanilines was presented in the third chapter; the appendix describes the methodology in detail. It is worthwhile to emphasize that doped Polyaniline is a system where protonation, hydration and extended β-conjugation all occur together synergistically, and a good overall description of this system is necessary. Modelling the doped state of Polyaniline is a bit more difficult, due to spin polarisation. Ideally, conducting Polyaniline should be modelled in the solid state, with neighbouring chains, counterions and water molecules. Water is known to reversibly increase the macroscopic conductivity and ESR linewidth of doped Polyaniline. In the sixth chapter of this thesis, optical spectra of the bipolaron, separated polaron, and the polaron lattice forms of doped Polyaniline, explicitly including the counterions (Cl, Br, AMPSA) are obtained by the TDDFT method. All the polaronic lattice forms show a dominant absorption at 1.0–1.2 eV, with no absorptions in the range 1.4–2.0 eV. The inclusion of water molecules to solvate the counterions is shown to only weakly modify the optical properties in the polaron lattice form. In the case of polarons on a twisted chain, the 1.0 eV peak is shifted to 1.5 eV. For bipolarons, there is an absorption at 1.3–1.5 eV, along with another peak at 1.8 eV. Comparing with experimental spectra we suggest that the 1.5, 2.8 eV set belongs to a polaron lattice form wherein the chains are twisted. However, individually the 1.5 eV peak may equally come from bipolarons or separated polarons. The peak at 1.8 eV may either be ascribed to a bipolaron form (in which case there should be a 1.5 eV peak too), or to an isolated polaron. The isolated polaron may also show a peak at 2 eV and 3.5 eV that is clearly from a residual emeraldine base electronic state. The steady evolution of the (a) 2 eV exciton peak in emeraldine base to a (b) 1.6– 1.8 eV peak (isolated polarons) to a (c) 1.5 eV peak in the bipolaron form to (d) 1.3 eV peak in the separated polaron form to (e) a 1.0–1.2 eV peak in the fully doped metallic polaron lattice form is clear. This steady evolution observed from TDDFT simulations may help in clarifying the experimental assignments, especially in electrochemical studies on Polyaniline. Simulations including the water molecules were performed to study the experimentally observed dramatic changes on hydration in Polyaniline. However hydration of ions is a dynamic process and static geometries may not provide a fully realistic description. Combined ab initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD) and TDDFT calculations may be necessary to realistically model the transport properties of doped Polyaniline. This chapter tries to lay a foundation for such work. The main results obtained in this thesis are summarized in the conclusion. To conclude, this thesis is on the electronic and optical properties of Polyaniline. An ESR study on AMPSA doped Polyaniline indicated a unique 2D nanoscopic morphology, and this structure was validated by molecular modelling. The detailed analyses on electrochromic devices led us to perform TDDFT simulations of neutral and doped Polyanilines. These simulations have resulted in clear UV-VIS-IR assignments in all forms of Polyaniline.

In der eingereichten Dissertation wird eine Reihe von niederdimensionalen und frustrierten magnetischen Systemen mit Hilfe der Elektronenspinresonanz (ESR) untersucht, um deren magnetische Eigenschaften und Wechselwirkungen zu charakterisieren. Sowohl niederdimensionale als auch frustrierte Systeme können exotische magnetische Phänomene zeigen, da es in beiden Fällen trotz starker magnetischer Korrelationen zu einer Unterdrückung von konventioneller langreichweitiger magnetischer Ordnung kommen kann. Auf der anderen Seite sind zweidimensionale Systeme wie Graphen und die damit verwandten topologischen Isolatoren interessant für Anwendungen in der Spintronik oder in Quantencomputern. Über das Einbringen von magnetischer Ordnung soll dabei die Kontrolle über den Spin von Elektronen erlangt werden. Es werden quasieindimensionale Spinketten in Cu(py)2Br2 untersucht, die ein gutes Modellsysteme für den Vergleich mit exakten theoretischen Berechnungen darstellen. Durch eingehende ESR-Messungen ist es gelungen, ein Modell für die Ausrichtung der Anisotropieachse zu entwickeln, die senkrecht zur Kettenachse steht. Zusätzlich zum g-Tensor konnten durch Magnetisierungsmessungen das Austauschintegral und dessen Anisotropie bestimmt werden. Die Austauschwechselwirkung kann über die Substitution von Br- mit Cl-Ionen in Cu(py)2(Cl1-xBrx)2 gezielt variiert werden. Des Weiteren wird eine kombinierte Studie aus STM- und ESR-Untersuchungen an monolagigem Graphen mit induzierten Fehlstellen vorgestellt. Es wurden Defekte durch den Beschuss mit Ar-Ionen in Graphen kontrolliert hergestellt, deren lokale elektronische Eigenschaften sich mit STM- und STS-Messungen charakte-risieren lassen. Mit ESR-Messungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass die an den einzelnen Fehlstellen lokalisierten magnetischen Momente eine dominant antiferromagnetische Austauschwechselwirkung besitzen. Die Charakterisierung der magnetischen Wechselwirkungen zwischen lokalisierten Momenten stand auch für den mit Mn dotierten topologischen Isolator Bi2Te3 im Vordergrund, welcher einen ferromagnetischen Phasenübergang bei tiefen Temperaturen zeigt. Anhand des mit ESR beobachteten Korringa-Verhaltens wurde bewiesen, dass die lokalisierten Mn-Spins an leitende Bänder gekoppelt sind und die ferromagnetische Ordnung folglich per RKKY-Wechselwirkung vermittelt wird. Es wurden kurzreichweitige magnetische Korrelationen in einem ausgedehnten Temperaturbereich oberhalb der Ordnungstemperatur beobachtet, die Hinweise auf einen zweidimensionalen Charakter zeigen. Ausgedehnte Temperaturbereiche mit kurzreichweitigen Korrelationen werden ebenfalls in den untersuchten magnetisch frustrierten Materialien beobachtet. In einer kombinierten Studie aus HF-ESR, NMR und µSR wird die Spindynamik in CoAl2O4 charakterisiert, in dem moderate Unordnung zu einem Verschwimmen der Phasengrenze zwischen Neél-Ordnung und einer Spinflüssigkeit mit spiralförmigen Korrelationen führt. Außerdem werden zwei Vertreter aus der Klasse der Swedenborgite behandelt, in denen die Spinstruktur in YBaCo4O7 durch Substitution modifiziert wird. Ziel ist die Entkopplung der enthaltenen Kagome-Schichten, welche ein zweidimensionales frustriertes System darstellen. In den vorgestellten HF-ESR- und NMR-Messungen beobachtet man ein Spinglasverhalten für YBaCo3AlO7, das aus der Unordnung bei der Besetzung der Gitterplätze resultiert. In YBaCo3FeO7 ist die Unordnung geringer und mit ESR-Untersuchungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass es zu einer effektiven Entkopplung der Fe-Spins zwischen den Kagome-Schichten kommt.

Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die elektrochemische Synthese (elektrochemische Polymerisation und Copolymerisation) und die Charakterisierung der Redox- und sensorischen Eigenschaften neuer funktionalisierter Polymere für die Ionensensorik. Die Funktionalisierung wird sowohl in der Polymer-Hauptkette (Polysalene) als auch in der Polymer-Seitenkette (ein Thiophen-Copolymer: 3-Methylthiophen/6-Hydroxy-2-(2-(3-thienyl)-ethoxy)-acetophenon) dargestellt. Die Redox-Prozesse der funktionalisierten Polymere wurden mit spektroelektrochemischen Methoden: ESR-, UV-Vis-NIR- und FTIR-Spektroelektrochemie charakterisiert. Durch diese Methoden konnten während der elektrochemischen Oxidation von funktionalisierten leitfähigen Polymeren verschiedene Polymer- bzw. Copolymer-Ladungsträger nachgewiesen werden: Polaronen, Bipolaronen beim Thiophen-Copolymer, zwei Polaronen auf einer Polymerkette im Singulettezustand beim Poly(3-methylthiophen) und eine diamagnetische Spin-Spin-Wechselwirkung zwischen ungepaarten Elektronen der Cu(II)-Ionen und der ungepaarten Elektronen von bisphenolischen Ligand-Kationradikalen beim Poly[Cu(II)-salen]. Sensorische Eigenschaften gegenüber Ni(II)-Ionen wurden durch Potentiometrie an einem Poly[Ni(II)-salen]-Derivat getestet. Es zeigt eine gute potentiometrische Ni(II)-Ionenselektivität (der Logarithmus des potentiometrischen Selektivitätskoeffizienten liegt im Bereich von -0.5 bis -1.5) in Anwesenheit von Cd(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) und Na(I).

Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die elektrochemische Synthese (elektrochemische Polymerisation und Copolymerisation) und die Charakterisierung der Redox- und sensorischen Eigenschaften neuer funktionalisierter Polymere für die Ionensensorik. Die Funktionalisierung wird sowohl in der Polymer-Hauptkette (Polysalene) als auch in der Polymer-Seitenkette (ein Thiophen-Copolymer: 3-Methylthiophen/6-Hydroxy-2-(2-(3-thienyl)-ethoxy)-acetophenon) dargestellt. Die Redox-Prozesse der funktionalisierten Polymere wurden mit spektroelektrochemischen Methoden: ESR-, UV-Vis-NIR- und FTIR-Spektroelektrochemie charakterisiert. Durch diese Methoden konnten während der elektrochemischen Oxidation von funktionalisierten leitfähigen Polymeren verschiedene Polymer- bzw. Copolymer-Ladungsträger nachgewiesen werden: Polaronen, Bipolaronen beim Thiophen-Copolymer, zwei Polaronen auf einer Polymerkette im Singulettezustand beim Poly(3-methylthiophen) und eine diamagnetische Spin-Spin-Wechselwirkung zwischen ungepaarten Elektronen der Cu(II)-Ionen und der ungepaarten Elektronen von bisphenolischen Ligand-Kationradikalen beim Poly[Cu(II)-salen]. Sensorische Eigenschaften gegenüber Ni(II)-Ionen wurden durch Potentiometrie an einem Poly[Ni(II)-salen]-Derivat getestet. Es zeigt eine gute potentiometrische Ni(II)-Ionenselektivität (der Logarithmus des potentiometrischen Selektivitätskoeffizienten liegt im Bereich von -0.5 bis -1.5) in Anwesenheit von Cd(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) und Na(I).