Le développement de catalyseurs HDS plus efficaces est un enjeu majeur pour répondre aux exigences environnementales concernant la teneur en soufre dans les carburants. L'une des approches pour améliorer l'activité catalytique est le développement de catalyseurs ternaires NiMoW. Cette étude se concentre sur la synthèse et la caractérisation de catalyseurs (Ni)MoW préparés à partir hétéropolyacides (HPA) mixtes SiMo1W11 et SiMo3W9 de structure de Keggin. Les catalyseurs basés sur les HPAs monométalliques SiMo12 et SiW12 et leurs mélanges ont été préparés et étudiés. Les solides ont été caractérisés par spectroscopie Raman, SPX et MET. Les propriétés catalytiques ont été évaluées dans des réactions d’HDS, d'HYD et d'HDN. Les propriétés physico-chimiques et l'activité catalytique dépendent de la nature des précurseurs initiaux. La genèse de la phase active des catalyseurs a été étudiée lors de la sulfuration in-situ sous H2S/H2 par SAX au synchrotron SOLEIL. La transformation du W dans les catalyseurs basés sur les précurseurs moléculaires mixtes, présentant une proximité nanométrique Mo-W, est plus rapide que celle observée dans le cas des catalyseurs préparés à partir du mélange de deux HPAs et conduit à la sulfuration simultanée des métaux et à la formation de la phase mixte MoWS2. La présence de feuillets mixtes (Ni)MoxW1-xS2 lorsque des HPA mixtes ont été utilisés a été mise en évidence par EXAFS et HAADF. La substitution d'un ou trois atomes de tungstène par du molybdène dans le cas des HPAs mixtes a entraîné une augmentation significative des activités en HDS et en HYD, par rapport à celles obtenues pour les catalyseurs préparés à partir du mélange de HPAs. / Developing highly active HDS catalysts has been one of the most challenging and important subjects because of strengthening of environmental requirements for the sulfur content in fuels. One of the approaches to improve catalytic activity is the development of ternary NiMoW catalysts. This investigation focuses on the synthesis and characterization of (Ni)MoW catalysts prepared by using mixed SiMo1W11 and SiMo3W9 heteropolyacids (HPA) with Keggin structure. For comparison purposes, catalysts based on monometallic SiMo12 and SiW12 HPAs and their mixtures were also prepared and studied. The samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, HRTEM. The catalytic properties were evaluated in HDS, HYD and HDN reactions. The physical-chemical properties and catalytic activity depends on the nature of the initial precursors. Genesis of the active phase was studied during in situ H2S/H2 sulfidation of the catalysts by X-ray absorption at SOLEIL Synchrotron. It was found that W transformation from mixed molecular precursors with a Mo-W nanoscale proximity is faster than from mixture of two HPAs resulting in simultaneously sulfidation of metals and the formation of mixed MoWS2 phase. The presence of mixed (Ni)MoxW1-xS2 slabs when mixed HPAs were used for preparation of the catalyst was evidenced by EXAFS and High angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Substitution of one or three tungsten atoms by molybdenum ones in the case of mixed HPAs resulted in a significant increase in HDS as well as in HYD activity, compared to those obtained for catalysts prepared from mixture of monometallic HPAs.

In the global context of increasing oil prices and public concern regarding the safety of nuclear plants, renewable forms of energy are called upon to play a major role in tomorrow’s energy market. Among the various forms of renewable energies, solar power holds the greatest potential for development. Despite the constant improvement of photovoltaic technologies over the past few year, these technologies are rapidly approaching the theoretic performance limits. New ideas and materials are required to overcome this bottleneck and to take full advantage of solar power. With a band-gap energy spanning the full solar spectrum, and an absorption coefficient ten times higher than competing materials, indium gallium nitride alloys are amongst the most promising solar-cell materials. Nevertheless, fundamental issues related to the fabrication and doping of InGaN alloys still hamper the development of InGaN-based photovoltaics. In the present thesis, conducted within the framework of the ANR project NewPVonGlass, the growth of InGaN alloys suitable for photovoltaics using metalorganic vapor-phase epi- taxy (MOVPE) is studied. A combination of several cutting-edge characterization tools is employed to determine the fundamental mechanism that govern the growth of InGaN. Based on the results of this study, an innovative procedure that allows the growth of hig-quality InGaN epitaxial layers is demonstrated and is used for the fabrication of InGaN-based solar cells.

No description available.

In the present study, the formation and the evolution of lamellar structures in different Al-Ag alloys were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Plates of the hexagonal [gamma] phase form semi-coherently on the {111} planes of the face centered cubic lattice of the alloy after the formation of Guinier-Preston zones. Guinier-Preston zones are metastable coherent preprecipitates which are silver rich in the aluminum-rich Al-Ag alloys. The decomposition of aluminum rich Al-Ag alloys, particularly the sequence of the later stages of precipitate formation was studied. With scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy the development of the [gamma] phase was investigated. Samples cut from different Al-Ag alloys were homogenized at temperatures between 530 degrees C to 560 degrees C to obtain a single phase f.c.c solid solution. The samples were then quenched to room temperature, followed by heat treatments at temperatures between 140 degrees C and 220 degrees C for varying lengths of times. While Guinier-Preston zones increase in diameter with increasing aging duration, silver rich platelets of the [gamma] phase form. The [gamma] phase is the next metastable phase in the decomposition sequence before finally the [gamma] phase transforms to the stable silver-rich phase, termed [gamma]. For samples with silver contents above 12 at.% a parallel lamellar alignment of fine [gamma] plates and Alrich matrix is found after extended heat treatments. For all alloys with Ag concentrations below 12 at.% individual [gamma] plates are found on all four possible (111) planes of the [alpha] matrix. A method is presented to calibrate the medium-magnification high-angle annular dark-field contrast in scanning transmission electron microscopy. This calibration allows for the quantitative measurement of plate thicknesses from high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron micrographs of Ag2Al plates inclined to the electron beam. Results from these measurements are in good agreement with direct bright-field micrographs of plates viewed edge-on.

Ces travaux de doctorat concernent le développement de la tomographie électronique appliquée à la nano-caractérisation tridimensionnelle de dispositifs à semi-conducteurs et de matériaux pour la micro et la nanoélectronique. Les contributions les plus significatives de ces travaux sont (i) l'exploration et l'application de différents modes de contraste en microscopie électronique à transmission (TEM) pour des applications spécifiques liées au semi-conducteurs et (ii) l'investigation de nouvelles pistes pour améliorer encore la résolution spatiale, en particulier en adaptant les schémas d'acquisition en tomographie. Le TEM en balayage (STEM), basé sur des mesures annulaires aux forts angles et en champ sombre (HAADF) a été mis en œuvre pour observer des dopants dont le numéro atomique est typiquement largement supérieur à celui de la matrice (en silicium), et nous avons combiné le TEM résolu en énergie (EFTEM) dans un régime de faible perte d'énergie des électrons avec les techniques de tomographie afin de reconstruire les spectres de perte d'énergie locaux, en chaque voxel. La tomographie double-axe a été expérimentalement mise en œuvre pour améliorer la résolution spatiale, et le potentiel de la tomographie à axe multiple a été démontré, grâce aux simulations. Enfin, des algorithmes de reconstruction basés sur la minimisation de la variation totale ont été appliqués à la tomographie électronique. Les analyses effectuées comprennent les transistors triple-grille, les nanofils III-V, les capacités à base de nanofils de silicium et le silicium sur-dopé au sélénium, un matériau utilisé pour des applications optoélectroniques. / In this thesis electron tomography is developed and applied as a tool for three-dimensional nanoscale characterization of semiconductor materials and devices. The major contributions of this thesis are the exploration and application of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) contrast techniques for specific semiconductor applications and the exploration of routes towards improving spatial resolution, in particular by adapting tomographic acquisition schemes. As contrast techniques we apply high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) scanning TEM (STEM) for investigations of heavy dopants in a lighter environment and we combine spectral low-loss energy-filtered TEM (EFTEM) with tomography and explore the features of reconstructed low-loss spectra. For resolution improvement we experimentally apply dual-axis electron tomography and investigate the potential of multiple-axis tomography based on simulations. Furthermore reconstruction algorithms based on totalvariation minimization are applied to electron tomography. Samples investigated in this work include tri-gate transistors, III-V nanowire heterostructures and silicon nanowire based capacitors as well as selenium-hyperdoped silicon, a material for optoelectronic applications.

The sizes, shapes, volumes and compositions of nanoparticles are very important parameters determining many of their properties. Efforts to measure these parameters for individual nanoparticles and to obtain reliable statistics for a large number of nanoparticles require a fast and reliable method for 3-D characterization. In this dissertation, a direct measurement method for thicknesses, volumes or compositions of nanomaterials by quantitative atomic number contrast in High-Angle Annular Dark-Field (HAADF) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) is presented. A HAADF detector collects electrons scattered incoherently to high angles. The HAADF signal intensity is in first-order approximation proportional to the sample thickness and increases with atomic number. However, for larger sample thicknesses this approach fails. A simple description for the thickness dependence of the HAADFSTEM contrast has been developed in this dissertation. A new method for the calibration of the sensitivity of the HAADF detector for a FEI F30 transmission electron microscope (TEM) is developed in this dissertation. A nearly linear relationship of the HAADF signal with the electron current is confirmed. Cross sections of multilayered samples provided by TriQuint Semiconductors in Apopka, FL, for contrast calibration were obtained by focused ion-beam (FIB) preparation yielding data on the interaction cross section per atom. iv To obtain an absolute intensity calibration of the HAADF-STEM intensity, Convergent Beam Electron Diffraction (CBED) was performed on Si single crystals. However, for samples prepared by the focused ion beam technique, CBED often significantly underestimates the sample thickness. Multislice simulations from Dr. Kirkland’s C codes are used for comparison with experimental results. TEM offers high lateral resolution, but contains little or no information on the thickness of samples. Thickness maps in energy-filtered TEM (EFTEM), CBED and tilt series are so far the only methods to determine thicknesses of particles in TEM. In this work I have introduced the use of wedge-shaped multilayer samples prepared by FIB for the calibration of HAADF-STEM contrasts. This method yields quantitative contrast data as a function of sample thickness. A database with several pure elements and compounds has been compiled, containing experimental data on the fraction of electrons scattered onto the HAADF detector for each nanometer of sample thickness. The use of thick samples reveals an increased signal at the interfaces of high- and low-density materials. This effect can be explained by the transfer of scattered electrons from the high density material across the interface into the less-absorbing low-density material. The calibrations were used to determine concentration gradients in nanoscale Fe-Pt multilayers as well as thicknesses and volumes of individual Au-Fe, Pt, and Ag nanoparticles. Volumes of nanoparticles with known composition can be determined with accuracy better than 15%. Porosity determination of materials becomes available with this method as shown in an example of porous Silicon.

L'enjeu de cette thèse réside dans la compréhension et l'amélioration de la sulfuration de catalyseurs à base de W. Elle a pour objectif la rationalisation des différentes étapes de préparation de catalyseurs d’hydrotraitement de type NiWS depuis la préparation jusqu'au test catalytique par une approche moléculaire (appelée «chimie de surface contrôlée» ou CSC), ce qui permet de proposer de nouvelles voies pour lever le verrou majeur, lié à la mauvaise sulfuration du W. Au cœur de cette approche se situe l'utilisation d'une méthode de préparation originale, ayant recours à des composés moléculaires métallo-organiques bien-définis comme précurseurs de la phase sulfurée WS2, combinée à une analyse poussée par spectroscopies multiples (IR, RMN, XPS) et chimie computationnelle.La famille des alcoxydes de tungstène a été sélectionnée ; les précurseurs mono ou di-nucléaires tels que W(OEt)6, [W(=O)(OEt)4]2 ou [W(OEt)5]2 ont été greffés sur silice-alumine partiellement deshydroxylée, et leur conversion en phase sulfure a montré que le type de précurseurs moléculaires influençaient peu les propriétés des catalyseurs non promus (WS2/ASA), en termes de taux de sulfuration (déterminé par XPS) ou d’activité catalytique, en hydrogénation du toluène en présence d’aniline. Le composé [W(OEt)5]2 a ensuite été sélectionné pour approfondir l’étude des catalyseurs préparés par CSC.L'approche visant à améliorer la compréhension des différentes espèces de surface formées a été réalisée par l'étude des matériaux avant et après sulfuration. L'augmentation de la quantité de W déposé sur les matériaux CSC a permis de révéler la formation de (1) une couche d’espèces greffées sur la surface de silice-alumine, puis (2) de couches successives, formées d'espèces plus mobiles. L'étude portant sur la sulfuration de ces matériaux en fonction de leur teneur en W, et de la température de sulfuration, a permis de les comparer aux catalyseurs sulfurés dits «conventionnels». Cette étude approfondie a mis en évidence une amélioration de la sulfuration du W pour les matériaux CSC aux températures habituellement utilisées (350°C). La vitesse intrinsèque d’hydrogénation des catalyseurs CSC, jusqu’à deux fois supérieure à celle des catalyseurs conventionnels, a en partie été expliquée par un meilleur taux de sulfuration, et par la morphologie 2D des feuillets WS2 (STEM-HAADF), de forme triangulaire tronquée, dans le cas d’un catalyseur conventionnel.Finalement, ayant démontré que l’emploi d’espèces moléculaires mono et binucléaires permettait d’améliorer les catalyseurs non promus par rapport à l’approche conventionnelle utilisant des clusters polyanioniques, les catalyseurs promus de type NiW/ASA ont été étudiés. Différents précurseurs ont été utilisés (par exemple Ni(acac)2) ainsi que différentes méthodes de dépôt (dépôt du nickel sur un matériau sulfuré, ou non) et quantités de nickel. Ces travaux ont permis d’estimer l’influence de ces paramètres sur la sulfurabilité du W et du Ni, ainsi que sur l’activité catalytique des catalyseurs, et montrer que l’emploi d'une approche moléculaire dans la préparation des phases NiWS supportées permet d’améliorer la promotion des feuillets sulfures par le nickel, mais aussi d'accéder à des catalyseurs pouvant avoir des vitesses intrinsèques d’hydrogénation quatre fois supérieures celles de catalyseurs conventionnelles de référence. Ces résultats catalytiques sont très probablement liés à une balance optimisée entre «nature» et «quantité» de sites actifs mixtes Ni-W. Cela démontre l’intérêt d’une approche moléculaire pour la préparation de catalyseurs d'hydrotraitement plus performants. / The aim of this thesis is to understand and improve the sulphidation of W-based hydrotreating catalysts by understanding and characterising each step of their preparation, from the synthesis to catalytic tests, via a controlled surface chemistry approach (or "CSC", also referred as surface organometallic chemistry, "SOMC", in the literature). This molecular approach opens new avenues for the improvement of W sulphidation, which is one strong limitation for using this metal in hydrotreatment. The core of this study is based on the use of well-defined metallo-organic precursors as precursors of the tungsten sulphide phase, each step of materials preparation being characterised by multiple spectroscopy techniques (IR, NMR, XPS) combined with ab initio molecular modelling.Mono or dinuclear tungsten alkoxides such as [W(OEt)5]2, W(OEt)6 or [W(=O)(OEt)4]2 were grafted on partially dehydroxylated amorphous silica-alumina. Their conversion into sulphide materials reveals that the precursor does not influence significantly the amount of WS2 phase formed (level of sulphidation observed by XPS) as well as catalytic properties in toluene hydrogenation in the presence of aniline. Only [W(OEt)5]2 was used in the following experiments.So as to better understand the genesis of the sulphide phase, CSC materials were characterised before and after sulphidation. Before sulphidation, the use of increasing amounts of W precursor reveals the formation of (1) first, a layer of tungsten surface species grafted on the surface, and (2) second, layers of more mobile species, more loosely bonded to the grafted species. Then, these CSC materials were sulphided into WS2 catalysts (with different W-loading, and different sulphidation temperatures) and were compared to conventionally prepared samples. The results reveal an improvement of tungsten sulphidation for CSC samples already at ambient sulphidation temperature and also at more usual sulphidation temperatures (350°C). Catalytic activities up to 2 times higher than conventional references were also obtained. They are explained in part by the better level of sulphidation of CSC samples and by a different 2D morphology of WS2 crystallites (STEM-HAADF), observed to be hexagonal-like for CSC samples while conventional ones have truncated triangle-like shapes.Then, as non-promoted CSC samples were more active than their conventional counterparts, nickel promoted catalysts (NiWS) were prepared, with the use of different Ni precursors (such as Ni(acac)2), different preparation methods and Ni amounts. This study gives insights into the sulphidation of W and Ni, and reveals that samples prepared via a molecular approach (CSC) can exhibit intrinsic hydrogenation rates up to four times higher than reference catalysts. These results are explained by an optimal balance between the nature of active Ni-W mixed sites and their amount. These interesting results, obtained for non-promoted and Ni-promoted catalysts, show that the use of a molecular approach is suitable to design highly active hydrotreating catalysts.

No description available.

Multislice HAADF - STEM image simulations of SrTiO 3 are performed at 300 K.The procedure of these simulations and the used techniques are briefly ex-plained and reasoned. The results are presented and discussed in a conciseway and in an attached paper a comparison to experimental images is made.The paper proofs that the electron optical setup developed in Dresden is indeed capable of producing atomic-sized EVBs, a precondition for measuring EMCD with atomic resolution.

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