Neste trabalho foi sintetizada e caracterizada uma série de porfirinas e FeP correspondentes contendo substituintes NO2 nas posições orto- ou grupos COOH nas posições para- dos anéis meso-fenis, e a atividade catalítica destes compostos na oxidação de hidrocarbonetos foi investigada, tanto em sistemas homogêneos quanto em sistemas suportados. As porfirinas H2(TNMCPP), H2(DNDCPP) e H2(MNTCPP) foram sintetizadas pela reação de pirrol com a mistura de 2-nitrobenzaldeído e 4-carboxibenzaldeído, em meio de ácido propiônico e nitrobenzeno, sendo em seguida isoladas e purificadas através de cromatografia preparativa em sílica gel tendo como eluente a mistura DCM : ACT : HAc (8 : 2 : 0,1). A inserção de ferro nas porfirinas bases livre foi feita pela reação com FeBr2.2H2O em meio de DMF. A caracterização das porfirinas bases livre e das correspondentes FeP envolveu diferentes técnicas como: TLC, eletroforese em gel de agarose, análise elementar, UV/Vis, IV, RMN 1H, FAB MS, susceptibilidade magnética e EPR. Utilizou-se as porfirinas H2(TNPP) e H2(TCPP) e FeP correspondentes como padrões de comparação, tornando a série completa. A purificação e caracterização destas porfirinas mostraram-se bastante complexas devido à presença de grupos ionizáveis resultando em grandes diferenças de solubilidade na série e efeitos de agregação. Estes efeitos foram mais pronunciados para as porfirinas contendo maior número de grupos COOH. O estudo da atividade catalítica da série de FeP foi desenvolvido inicialmente em meio homogêneo, utilizando diferentes substratos como: (Z)-cicloocteno, cicloexeno, cicloexano e adamantano. As FeP sintetizadas mostraram-se catalisadores eficientes e seletivos para a hidroxilação de alcanos e epoxidação de alcenos. A estabilidade da Fe(TNMCPP)Cl foi investigada em reações com múltiplas adições de oxidante. Observou-se uma alta estabilidade para este catalisador em solução, com bons rendimentos em epóxido para até sete ciclos consecutivos, e um alto número de turnover (1142). A Fe(TNMCPP)Cl foi ancorada na APS através de ligação covalente (peptídica) entre o grupo COOH da FeP e o grupo NH2 da sílica funcionalizada. Esta FeP foi selecionada por possuir apenas um grupo capaz de reagir com a sílica e, ao mesmo tempo, a proteção estérica de três grupos NO2 substituintes nas posições orto-, constituindo um sistema interessante do ponto de vista catalítico. Este sistema mostrou-se bastante eficiente na oxidação do (Z)-cicloocteno. O número máximo de turnover catalítico para esta FeP suportada foi de 595 após três adições sucessivas de oxidante. A Fe(TNMCPP)Cl foi ancorada na APS também por atração eletrostática, porém este sistema mostrou-se menos eficiente como catalisador na oxidação do (Z)-cicloocteno. / In this work, a series of porphyrins and corresponding FeP containing NO2-substituents in the ortho- or COOH-groups in the para- meso-phenyl rings were synthesized and the catalytic activities of such compounds were investigated in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. H2(TNMCPP), H2(DNDCPP) and H2(MNTCPP) porphyrins were synthesized through the mixed co-condensation of pyrrole and different benzaldehydes (2-nitrobenzaldehyde and 4-carboxybenzaldehyde) in propionic acid and nitrobenzene media. The porphyrins were then isolated and purified through silica gel chromatography, having a solvent mixture DCM : ACT : HAc (8 : 2 : 0,1). The characterization of the free-base porphyrins and the corresponding FeP was carried out through TLC, electrophoresis on agarose gel, elemental analysis, UV/Vis, infra red, RMN 1H, FAB MS, magnetic susceptibility and EPR. H2(TNPP) and H2(TCPP) and corresponding FeP were used for comparison, thus completing the porphyrin series. The purification and characterization of these porphyrins proved to be very complex due the presence of ionic groups. This resulted in different solubilities throughout the series, as well as aggregation effects. Such effects were more pronounced with porphyrins containing a greater number of COOH groups. The study of the catalytic activities of the FeP was initially carried out in homogeneous system, by using various substrates: (Z)-cyclooctene, cyclohexene, cyclohexane and adamantane. The synthesized FeP were efficient and selective catalysts for alkane hydroxilation and alkene epoxidation. The stability of Fe(TNMCPP)Cl was investigated by multiple oxidant addition. A high stability was observed for this catalyst in homogeneous system, since it led to good epoxide yields up to the seventh cycle and an excellent turnover number of 1142. Fe(TNMCPP)Cl was supported on APS through covalent binding of the peptidic type between COOH groups in the FeP and NH2 group on the funcionalized silica. This FeP was chosen for the study since it has only one group that is capable of reacting with the silica, at the same time that it presents sterical hindrance confered by the three NO2 groups in the ortho-position. This is a very interesting system from the catalytical point of view. Such system proved to be very efficient in the oxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene. The maximum catalytic turnover attained with this supported FeP was of 595, after three sucessive additions of oxidant. Fe(TNMCPP)Cl was also supported on APS though electrostatic binding, but this system was a less efficient catalyst for (Z)-cyclooctene oxidation.

The effect of acoustic and hydrodynamic cavitation on the precipitation of inorganic catalytic materials was investigated. The overall objective was to understand the fundamental factors involved in synthesizing nanometer-size catalytic materials in the 1-10 nm range in a cavitating field. Materials with grain sizes in this range have been associated with enhanced catalytic activity compared to larger grain size materials. A new chemical approach was used to produce titania supported gold by coprecipitation with higher gold yields compared to other synthesis methods. Using this approach, it was determined that acoustic cavitation was unable to influence the gold mean crystallite size compared to non-sonicated catalysts. However, gold concentration on the catalysts was found to be very important for CO oxidation activity. By decreasing the gold concentration from a weight loading of 0.50% down to approximately 0.05%, the rate of reaction per mole of gold was found to increase by a factor of 19. Hydrodynamic cavitation at low pressures (6.9-48 bar) was determined to have no effect on gold crystallite size at a fixed gold content for the same precipitation technique used in the acoustic cavitation studies. By changing the chemistry of the precipitation system, however, it was found that a synergy existed between the dilution of the gold precursor solution, the orifice diameter, and the reducing agent addition rate. Individually, these factors were found to have little effect and only their interaction allowed gold grain size control in the range of 8-80 nm. Further modification of the system chemistry and the use of hydrodynamic cavitation at pressures in excess of 690 bar allowed the systematic control of gold crystallite size in the range of 2-9 nm for catalysts containing (2.27 ± 0.17)% gold. In addition, it was shown that the enhanced mixing due to cavitation led to larger gold yields compared to classical syntheses. The control of gold grain size was gained at the loss of CO activity, which was attributed to the formation of non-removable sodium titanate species. The increased mixing associated with cavitation contributed to the activity loss by partially burying the gold and incorporating more of the sodium titanate species into the catalysts. This work produced the first evidence of hydrodynamic cavitation influencing the gold crystallite size on titania supported gold catalysts and is the only study reporting the control of grain size by simple mechanical adjustment of the experimental parameters. Despite the low activity observed due to sodium titanate, the methodology of adjusting the chemistry of a precipitating system could be used to eliminate such species. The approach of modifying the chemical precipitation kinetics relative to the dynamics of cavitation offers a general scheme for future research on cavitational processing effects.

Diminuer les émissions de CO2, principal gaz à effet de serre, constitue un des enjeux majeurs de notre ère actuelle. De nombreuses mesures existent déjà mais sont encore insuffisantes. C’est dans ce cadre que le projet ANR DIGAS a vu le jour. Durant ces travaux, des matériaux catalytiques composés de CuO/ZnO/ZrO2 ont été développés par coprécipitation classique et ont été testés sous une pression de 50 bar pour la synthèse de méthanol à partir de l’hydrogénation de CO2. Ces catalyseurs ont ensuite été optimisés à l’aide d’un système développé au laboratoire : la synthèse microfluidique en continu. Elle a permis de rendre les catalyseurs plus homogènes et ainsi plus efficaces. Le catalyseur le plus performant a, par la suite, été couplé à un catalyseur acide, une zéolithe ZSM5, pour permettre la synthèse directe de diméthyléther (DME) à partir de l’hydrogénation de CO2. Dans le cas de la synthèse de méthanol ainsi que pour la synthèse de DME, les catalyseurs développés sont compétitifs et plus performants que les catalyseurs actuellement sur le marché. / Reducing CO2 emissions, the main greenhouse gas, is one of the major challenges of our current era. Many measures already exist but are still insufficient. It is in this context that the ANR project called DIGAS was funded. During this work, catalytic materials composed of CuO/ZnO/ZrO2 were developed by classical coprecipitation and tested under a pressure of 50 bar for the methanol synthesis from CO2 hydrogenation. Then, these catalysts were optimized using a system developed in the laboratory: microfluidic continuous synthesis. It has made the catalysts more homogeneous and thus more efficient. The most efficient catalyst was subsequently coupled to a ZSM5 zeolite to allow direct dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis from the CO2 hydrogenation. In the case of methanol as well as for DME synthesis, the developed catalysts are competitive and more efficient than the catalysts currently on the market.

Les sites actifs de l’époxydation des alcènes dans les catalyseurs au titane supporté sur silice sont des ions Ti(IV) isolés. La stratégie d’isolation de site adoptée ici consiste à greffer l’isopropoxyde de titane par réaction avec les groupements silanol de surface dont la densité est diminuée par « capping » chimique remplaçant le traitement thermique usuel, très énergivore. La technique du pochoir moléculaire à motifs périodiques (PMP) a été appliquée pour forcer l’isolation de site. Dans les silices poreuses mesostructurées par un tensio-actif, c’est ce dernier, partiellement extrait, qui génère l’effet PMP lors du capping. Son élimination à l’étape suivante libère des îlots de groupements silanol sur lesquels sont greffés les ions Ti(IV). Une étude spectroscopique quantitative menée en parallèle par FT-IR et par RMN du solide du 29Si démontre que le pochoir organique inverse formé de groupement organosilyls greffés est conservé à toutes les étapes de synthèse. La spectroscopie UV en corrélation avec l’activité catalytique en époxydation du cyclohexene montent que ces surfaces originales favorisent un nombre beaucoup plus grand de sites mononucléaires isolés que les surfaces de silice non modifiées. La démonstration est faite avec une fonction de capping dipodale, 1-2-ethanebis(dimethylsilyl) (EBDMS), beaucoup plus stable que le monopodal classique, trimethylsilyl (TMS). Par ailleurs, le pochoir organique inverse issu du TMS ou de EBDMS voit sa stabilité augmentée par traitement thermique tout en préservant son effet dispersant pour le titane. Pour ce faire, un suivi quantitatif de la décomposition des organosilanes greffés a été réalisé par RMN du solide du 29Si. Finalement, une description affinée et quantitative du mode de greffage du titane a été réalisée par simulation des spectres UV sur une série de catalyseurs supposant 5 types d’espèces comprenant les sites isolés et les clusters, les derniers se différenciant par leur gamme de taille. / The active sites for epoxydation of alkenes in silica supported titanium catalysts are isolated Ti(IV) ions. The strategy for site isolation consists here to graft titanium isopropoxyde by reaction with surface silanol groups, the density of which is decreased by chemical capping instead of the energy consuming thermal treatment. The molecular stencil patterning technique (MSP) is applied to enforce site isolation. In mesostructured porous silicas, the partly extracted templating surfactant plays the role of a MSP mask during capping. Then, the elimination of the remaining surfactant liberates silanol islands for the grafting of Ti(IV) ions. Quantitative FT-IR and 29Si MAS-NMR studies reveal that the inverse organic stencil made of grafted organosilyls groups is maintained at each synthesis steps. Diffuse reflectance UV spectroscopy in correlation with the catalytic activity in epoxidation of cyclohexene show that these original surfaces favor the formation of a much larger number of isolated mononuclear sites than the unmodified silica surfaces. The demonstration is obtained using a dipodal organosilyl function, 1-2-ethanebis (dimethylsilyl) (EBDMS) that is much more stable than the classic and monopodal, trimethylsilyl (TMS). Besides, it is shown that the inverse organic stencil (from EBDMS or TMS) is stabilized further by thermal treatment while its dispersive effect on titanium can be preserved. The proof relies on a quantitative 29Si solid State NMR study. Finally, a refined description of the grafting mode of titanium was realized by simulation of the UV spectra of a large series of catalysts assuming only 5 different types of species including isolated species and clusters differentiated by the range of sizes.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-19T17:29:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JonnyFerreira.pdf: 3245371 bytes, checksum: 31437c781c5f38b977832295aa4ecd66 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-19T17:29:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JonnyFerreira.pdf: 3245371 bytes, checksum: 31437c781c5f38b977832295aa4ecd66 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-16 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Therefore, this research proposes the glycerol transformation in a product with a larger value aggregated the glycerol carbonate. For this, catalysts were synthesized under the influence of modified alumina with calcium and magnesium, produced by methods of polymeric precursors and impregnating in a wet system. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy and dispersive energy spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (FRX). The glycerol reaction with the dimethyl carbonate was processed in 95º C, with 3.5 dimethyl carbonate/glycerol and 20% of the mass of the catalyst relative to glycerol. The sprectroscopic analysis in the infared region of the reactional product suggested the formation of the carbonyl group (C = O), vibrational mode in the region 1770cm-1 , what is characteristic of a glycerol carbonate Chromatograms confirmed the formation of glycerol carbonate. The conversion values of carbonation of the glycerol with the Al-Ca01 and Al-Ca02 catalysts were 96.5 and 68.6%, respectively, whereas for Al-Mg01 and Al-Mg02, 50.9 and 39.6%, respectively, noting that the conversion potential of glycerol to glycerol carbonate followed the sequence Al-Ca01 <AlCa02 <Al-Mg01 <Al-Mg02. It was observed the formation of glycidol as a minor product. It was fullfilled a 24 factorial planning to evaluate the efects of the variables, composition of the catalyst, molar ration between glycerol and dimethyl carbonate, time and temperature on the reaction of the formation of the glycerol carbonate and determine if the ideal conditions of the process for better results of conversion and selectivity. / Este trabalho propõe a transformação do glicerol em um produto de maior valor agregado, o carbonato de glicerol. Para tanto, foram sintetizados catalisadores a base de alumina modificada com cálcio e magnésio, produzidos pelos métodos de precussor polimérico e impregnação via úmida. A caracterização dos catalisadores ocorreu por meio das análises de difração de raios X (DRX), Infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectrometria de energia dispersiva (MEV-EDS) e Espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios X (FRX). A reação do glicerol com o carbonato de dimetila se processou a 95 °C com uma razão carbonato de dimetila / glicerol de 3,5 e 20% em massa do catalisador relativo ao glicerol. A análise espectroscópica na região do infravermelho do produto reacional indicou a formação do grupo carbonila (C=O), modo vibracional na região de 1770 cm-1 , aspecto característico do carbonato de glicerol. Os cromatogramas confirmaram a formação do carbonato de glicerol. Os valores de conversão de carbonatação do glicerol com a utilização dos catalisadores Al-Ca01 e Al-Ca02 foram 96,5 e 68,6%, respectivamente enquanto que para os sistemas Al-Mg01 e Al-Mg02, 50,9 e 39,6%, respectivamente, notando que o potencial de conversão de glicerol à carbonato de glicerol seguiu a sequência Al-Ca01 < Al-Ca02 < Al-Mg01 < AlMg02. A formação do glicidol foi observado no emprego do catalisador de AlCa01 como um produto minoritário. Foi realizado um planejamento fatorial 24 para avaliar os efeitos das variáveis, composição do catalisador, razão molar entre glicerol e carbonato dimetila, tempo e temperatura na reação de formação do carbonato de glicerol e determinar se as condições ideais do processo para melhores resultados de conversão e seletividade.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-06-02T19:29:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 NeureneCruz.pdf: 2231126 bytes, checksum: fdfdea95589976509b1928b6fd504db5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-02T19:29:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NeureneCruz.pdf: 2231126 bytes, checksum: fdfdea95589976509b1928b6fd504db5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ) / In this study, a catalyst based on alumina and calcium to transesterification reaction of lipid extracts of Chlorella sp biomass in situ was synthesized. The catalyst was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), XRay Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy Analysis (EDX) and, X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF). The in situ lipid extraction of Chlorella sp was carried on with the following solvents: methanol, hexane mixture of methanol and hexane in the ratio 2: 1. The extraction methods were performed in soxlhet, magnetic stirring, stirring in ultrasound and stirring with heating in Parr reactor. The transesterification reactions were performed in a Parr reactor, the reactions with lipid extract came from 11g extract, 4% of catalyst in relation to the mass of the extract, ratio alcohol / extract 15: 1 volume / mass at 150 ° C temperature for 180 minutes. The reactions of biomass in situ were made and evaluated by a 24 factorial design with central points, the variables were the time of 40-180 minutes 4-10% catalyst concentration, molar ratio alcohol: biomass 3: 1- 6: 1 and temperature between 60-150 ° C. The result was the ester content. The best conditions were: 150 ° C 180 minutes reason methanol: biomass 3: 1 v / m and catalyst concentration 4%. The factors that have significant influence on the conversion of esters were molar ratio and amount of catalyst. / Neste estudo, foi sintetizado um catalisador à base de alumina e cálcio e utilizado na reação de transesterificação de extratos lipídicos e na biomassa de Chlorella sp in situ. O catalisador foi caracterizado porEspectroscopia na região do Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR), Difração de Raios X (DRX), Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), Análise de Energia Dispersiva( EDS) e Espectrofotometria de Fluorescência de Raios X . Nas extrações lipídicas de Chlorella sp ultilizou-se os solventes: metanol, hexano e a mistura de metanol e hexano na proporção 2:1. Os métodos de extração foram através de soxlhet, agitação magnética, agitação em ultrasson e agitação com aquecimento em reator Parr. As reações de transesterificação foram feitas em um reator parr, sendo que nas reações com o extrato lipídico partiu-se de 11 g de extrato, 4% de catalisador em relação a massa do extrato, a razãoálcool/extrato 15:1volume/massana temperatura de 150ºC durante 180 minutos. As reações da biomassa in situ foram feitas e avaliadas por um planejamento fatorial 24 com pontos centrais, as variáveis foram o tempo de 40-180 minutos, concentração de catalisador de 4-10 %, razão álcool: biomassa 3:1- 6:1 e temperatura entre 60–150 ºC. A resposta foi o teor de ésteres. As melhores condições foram: 150ºC, 180 minutos, razão metanol: biomassa3:1 v/m e concentração do catalisador 4 %. Os fatores que tiveram influência significativa na conversão dos ésteres foram a razão e quantidade de catalisador.

Dans le contexte du réchauffement climatique et de l’usage abusif de combustibles fossiles, la recherche de sources d’énergie propres et durables est l’un des défis les plus importants de notre époque. Récemment, le stockage d’énergie solaire par la réduction de CO2 a fait l’objet d’un nouvel intérêt. Bien que la réduction de CO2 en carburants liquides ou gazeux soit une question à la fois fascinante et fondamentale, sa mise en œuvre dans les dispositifs technologiques reste très difficile à cause de la grande stabilité de CO2 et du caractère endergonique de sa transformation. On outre, les réactions impliquent multiples électrons et protons et ainsi demandent des catalyseurs efficaces et stables pour diminuer les barrières cinétiques importantes.Cette comprend deux parties. Après une introduction, la première partie décrit des études sur des catalyseurs homogènes en combinaison avec un photosensibilisateur, soit séparément soit connecté par liaison covalente. Grâce à la possibilité de les modifier par synthèse et à leur facile caractérisation, les photosystèmes moléculaires homogènes sont plus modulables et peuvent permettre un meilleur contrôle de la sélectivité des réactions et l’étude des mécanismes réactionnels.Cependant, les catalyseurs moléculaires ne peuvent être facilement transposés pour des applications à plus large échelle dans un contexte industriel. En effet, les catalyseurs homogènes sont moins stables et plus difficilement recyclables que les catalyseurs hétérogènes. Dans ce contexte, l’intégration de catalyseurs moléculaires au sein d’un support solide a l’avantage de maintenir leur activité catalytique tout en permettant une séparation et un recyclage plus faciles. La deuxième partie de cette thèse porte donc sur l’immobilisation de catalyseurs moléculaires dans les matériaux. Le but ultime de cette thèse est d’incorporer à la fois le catalyseur et le photosensibilisateur dans le support solide. / In the context of global warming and the necessary substitution of renewable energies (solar and wind energy) for fossil fuels, efficient energy-storage technologies need to be urgently developed. Recently, energy storage via the reduction of CO2 has seen renewed interest. Although reduction of CO2 into energy-dense liquid or gaseous fuels is a fascinating fundamental issue, its practical implementation in technological devices is highly challenging due to the high stability of CO2 and thus the endergonic nature of its transformation. Furthermore, the reactions involve multiple electrons and protons and thus require efficient catalysts to mediate these transformations.The objective of this thesis is to investigate different strategies for the storage of solar energy in chemical compounds, through visible-light-driven CO2 reduction. This thesis comprises of two main parts. After an introduction, the first part describes the investigation of homogeneous catalysts in combination with a photosensitizer, either separately or connected covalently. Due to the easily-tunable synthesis and facile characterization of molecular catalysts, homogeneous photosystems are more controllable and can give deep insight into product selectivity and mechanistic issues.With regards to future applicability, however, homogeneous catalysis often suffers from additional costs associated with solvents, product isolation and catalyst recovery, amongst other factors. The integration of molecular catalysts into solid platforms offers the possibility to maintain the advantageous properties of homogeneous catalysts while moving towards practical system designs afforded by heterogeneous catalysis. The second part of this thesis is therefore the immobilization of molecular catalysts within solid materials, namely MOFs and PMO. The ultimate goal of this thesis is to incorporate both catalyst and photosensitizer into the solid support.

Density functional theory (DFT) has become the most widely used first-principles computational method to simulate different atomic, molecular, and solid phase systems based on electron density assumptions. The complexity of describing a many-body system has been significantly reduced in DFT. However, it also brings in potential error when dealing with a system that involves the interactions between metallic and non-metallic species. DFT tends to overly-delocalize the electrons in metallic species and sometimes results in the overestimation of reaction energy, metallic properties in insulators, and predicts relative surface stabilities incorrectly in some instances. There are two approaches to overcoming the failure of DFT using standard exchange-correlation functionals: One can either use a higher level of theory (and thus incur a greater computational cost) or one can apply an efficient correction scheme. However, inaccurate corrections and improper calculation models can also lead to more errors. In the beginning of this dissertation, we introduce the correction methods we developed to accurately model the structure and electron density in material surfaces; then we apply the new methods in surface reactivity studies under experimental conditions to rationalize and solve real life problems. We first investigate the post-DFT correction method in predicting the chemisorption energy (Echem) of a NO molecule on transition metal surfaces. We show that DFT systematically enhances back-donation in NO/metal chemistorption from the metal d-band to NO 2π* orbital, and relate the back-donation charge transfer to the promotion of an electron from the 5σ orbital to the 2π* orbital in the gas-phase NO G2Σ-←X2Π excitation. We establish linear relationships between Echem and ΔEG←X and formulate an Echem correction scheme to the (111) surfaces of Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir. As a precursor to further optimization of DFT corrections on transition metal oxide surfaces, we systematically compare the alumina (α-Al2O3) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) (0001) surfaces to study how the atomic positions treatment during geometry optimizations would affect the electronic structure and modeled reactivity, since they are often reported to have a minimal effect. Our results suggest that both can vary significantly in quantitative and qualitative ways between partially constrained or fully relaxed slab models. We continue to use the α-Fe2O3 (0001) surfaces to optimize the Hubbard U method implemented in DFT that determines the Coulomb repulsion correction (Ud) to localize Fe d-electrons. It successfully restores the insulating properties of bulk hematite, but underestimates the stability of the oxygen-terminated surface. It is mainly due to the fact that all the chemically distinct surface Fe atoms were treated the same way. Here we develop a linear response technique to derive specific Ud values for all Fe atoms in several slab geometries. We also find that in a strongly correlated system, the O p-orbitals also need the Hubbard correction (Up) to accurately predict the structural and electronic properties of bulk hematite. Our results show that the site-specific Ud, combined with Up as Ud+p, is crucial in obtaining theoretical results for surface stability that are congruent with the experimental literature results of α-Fe2O3 (0001) surface structure. Besides methodology development, we continue to apply our specific Ud+p method in the engineered application of the Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) process in which transition metal oxides play the role of oxidizing fuel molecules for full CO2 capture. Current molecular dynamic studies use partially constrained surface models to simulate the CH4 reaction on hematite surfaces without the detailed comparison of the early stage adsorption products. Here we use hematite (α-Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) surfaces as analogous to systematically study the early adsorption products of CH4. Our results show that the reaction favors the homolytic pathway on O-terminated surface, and that as a reduced form of hematite, the magnetite surface also shows excellent reactivity on CH4 dissociation. Knowing how to simulate DFT surface model properly we continue to enrich our theoretical methods for more complicated systems under aqueous conditions. We focus on various structures of the lithium-ion battery material, LiCoO2 (LCO) (001) surface, involving hydroxyl groups. We assess the relative stabilities of different surface configurations using a thermodynamic framework, and a second approach using a surface-solvent ion exchange model. We find that for both models the –CoO–H1/2 surface is the most stable structure near the O-rich limit, which corresponds to ambient conditions. We also found that this surface has nonequivalent surface geometry with the stoichiometric –CoO–Li1/2 surface, leading to distinct band structures and surface charge distributions. We go on to probe how those differences affect the surface reactivity in phosphate anion adsorption. All of the work presented in this dissertation reveals the importance of accurately modeled material structures in theoretical studies to achieve correct physical properties and surface reactivity predictions. We hope our DFT correction schemes can continue to contribute to future surface studies and experimental measurements, and to enlighten new ideas in future DFT methodology improvements.

Ce projet est dédié à la recherche industrielle pour le développement de systèmes catalytiques innovants tels que le contrôle des émissions de véhicules. L'Europe connait actuellement une forte dépendance au niveau de l'importation de certains éléments utilisés comme support de catalyseur (oxyde de Cerium), nous souhaitons nous concentrer sur des éléments plus facilement disponibles tels que Ca, Fe, Mn, Sr, Cu... tout en essayant de garder le mécanisme catalytique bien connu de l'oxyde de cerium. Pour ce faire, nous avons sélectionné des conducteurs en oxygène de la famille des brownmillerites comme matériaux supports. Ceux ci présente des lacunes en oxygènes ayant un impact bénéfique sur leur activité catalytique pour les réactions d'oxydations. Il est aussi prévu de regarder les interactions entre métaux nobles et support conducteurs en oxygène pour une application de dépollution des gaz. Les réactions modèles étudiées au début de ce projet seront l'oxydation du CO ainsi que le stockage et la réduction des NOx. Les brownmillerites peuvent être vues comme des oxydes de type pérovskite avec un défaut en oxygène. Les brownmillerites ont une structure anisotropique avec un enchainement de lacines d'oxygènes-1D apportant une augmentation de l'activité catalytique. Ces browmillerites sont bien connues pour présenter une mobilité de l'oxygène à basse température. La présence de défauts tels que des liaisons anti-phase peut significativement diminuer la diffusion de l'oxygène. CaFeO2.5 riche en défauts, connu pour être une phase stœchiométrique peut être oxyder dans de "douces" conditions en CaFeO3 alors que l'oxydation d'un CaFeO2.5 ordinaire requiert des conditions extrêmes (1100°C et plusieurs GPa de pression en oxygène). Ainsi, introduire un nombre élevé de défauts dans la structure cristalline semble être une manière prometteuse de transformer des phases stoechiométriques en réservoir à oxygène. Les matériaux obtenus alors ayant des capacité de stockage et d'amélioration des réactions d'oxydations à température très modérée. Le mécanisme mis en jeu est comparable à celui de la capacité de stockage en oxygène des cérines dopées et offre donc un vrai potentiel catalytique. Au cours de ce projet CaFeO2.5 sera premièrement étudié mais nous étendrons l'étude avec des dopages (Cu, Mn, W) et une autre composition sera aussi étudiée : SrFeO2.5; Concernant le support nous souhaitons obtenir : -une grande dispersion du métal noble dans la matrice -une grande mobilité de l'oxygène à température modérée -une grande surface spécifique Obtenir ces trois caractéristiques simultanément est actuellement un challenge pour les brownmillérites. Pour ce faire nous souhaitons étudier différentes voies de synthèse. Une grande partie du projet sera dédiée aux caractérisations des matériaux avec des analyses structurales et spectroscopiques incluant de l'échange isotopique pour l'étude de la mobilité en oxygène. Ces études permettront une meilleure compréhension des propriétés des matériaux en relation avec leur activité catalytique. Les matériaux les plus prometteurs à l'issue de cette étude seront synthétisés à l'échelle du pilote par un processus d'électro-fusion. / The present project is dedicated to industrial research for the development of innovative catalytic systems for air purification, such as those used for the control of road vehicle emission (three way converter, TWC). In the context of Europe’s dependency on imports of some critical elements currently used as catalyst support (e.g. cerium oxide), we focus on more available elements such as Ca, Fe, Mn, Sr, Cu… by keeping the well-understood mechanisms governing the catalytic activity of cerium oxide in mind. As such, we choose oxygen ion conductors of the Brownmillerite family as support material, because it has been reported that lattice oxygen atoms have a beneficial impact on the catalytic activity of oxidation reactions. Next to the pure support material, also the interaction of a noble metal with the oxygen ion conductive support for the efficient removal of gas phase pollutants will be studied. In terms of catalytic reactions, the oxidation of CO, and the storage and reduction of NOx will be the primary metrics. In this project, oxygen ion conductors of the Brownmillerite family are chosen as support material. Brownmillerites can be regarded as oxygen-deficient perovskite type oxides. The Brownmillerite type structure is anisotropic with 1D-oxygen vacancy channels providing a catalytically enhanced surface/interface structure. Brownmillerites are known to reveal oxygen ion mobility down to ambient temperature. The presence of extended defects as anti-phase boundaries can significantly decrease the activation energy for oxygen diffusion. Defect-rich CaFeO2.5, which is traditionally known to be a stoichiometric line-phase, can be oxidized under mild conditions to CaFeO3, while the oxidation of ordinary CaFeO2.5 usually requires extreme reaction conditions, i.e. 1100°C and several GPa oxygen partial pressure. Thus, introducing a high concentration of defects seems to be a promising concept to transform even traditionally known stoichiometric line-phases to become a kind of oxygen sponge and behave as oxygen storage/buffer compound at very moderate temperatures. This mechanism is thus comparable to the oxygen storage capacity of doped cerium oxide, and offers a true potential for application in catalysis. Consequently, the Brownmillerite CaFeO2.5 will be a first candidate to study due to its known oxygen ion conductivity properties, however, also doping with other elements (e.g. Cu, Mn, W) and other compositions (e.g. SrFeO2.5) will be investigated. For the support material, we will attempt to achieve (i)- a high degree of dispersion of the noble metal into the matrix, (ii)- a high oxygen mobility at moderate temperatures (e.g. by introducing defects) and (iii)- a high surface area, which we anticipate to be key aspects for achieving high catalytic activity. To date, it is still a challenge to achieve these goals simultaneously for Brownmillerites. As a result, in this project, several synthesis routes are foreseen. More straightforward synthesis routes, such as citrate- EDTA gel methods and spray pyrolysis, will be investigated alongside with more advanced synthetic approaches such and hard-templating routes. This multitude of possibilities allows for an easy adaption of a synthesis route to the material under study. A major part of the project will be dedicated to the detailed characterization of the materials involving large scale facilities for structure analysis and spectroscopy (in-situ studies), including oxygen isotope exchange reactions to trace the oxygen ion mobility. These studies will allow for a detailed understanding of the materials properties in relation to its catalytic activity. The most promising materials will be synthesized on a pilot-scale using electrofusion. This technique is well-established by the industrial partner and is extremely suitable for the synthesis of reduced powders, such as CaFeO2.5.

Over the last decade, the domain of click chemistry has grown exponentially and has significantly impacted the fields of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and materials science. The ideal model of a click reaction has become the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Inherent limitations of CuAAC, including high temperatures, long reaction times, and difficult purifications, have been minimized by the development of nitrogen-based ligands. Herein, we present a novel application of 1,2,4-triazines by investigating their use as accelerants for CuAAC. A diverse library of 1,2,4-triazines were synthesized in order to examine the molecular determinants of their catalytic activity. These ligands were found to be potent accelerants, at catalytic concentrations, in the presence of both copper(I) and copper(II) salts. Remarkably, these catalyzed reactions proceeded at room temperature, generating high isolated yields, in both polar and nonpolar solvents. 5,6-Diphenyl-3-(pyridin-2-yl)1,2,4-triazine was the most active ligand studied, producing an 89% yield in a model click reaction within one hour. Additional experiments with an array of azides and alkynes yielded similar results, defining a broad substrate scope for 1,2,4-triazines as catalysts for click chemistry. Heterogeneous 1,2,4-triazines were designed using different solid supports and different sites of attachment with respect to the 1,2,4-triazine ligand. The primary advantages offered by these immobilized catalysts are the prevention of metal contamination in 1,2,3-triazole products and the recyclability of the catalyst. Results indicated that 1,2,4-triazine-functionalized silica was a more effective accelerant of CuAAC, whereas polystyrene-supported 1,2,4-triazines displayed modest activity. In coordination with copper(II), 1,2,4-triazines appended onto silica generated isolated yields greater than 90% after four consecutive reaction cycles with minimal copper leaching. Further research will utilize both homogeneous and heterogeneous 1,2,4-triazine-accelerated CuAAC in the derivatization of solid supports for energy-related chemical processes and in the synthesis of novel enzyme inhibitors.