>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The growth of hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC:H) thin films deposited by Hot- Wire Chemical Vapour Deposition (HWCVD) for solar cell applications has been studied. The films were characterized for structural properties using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy FTIR, Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (ERDA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Raman Spectroscopy (RS). A low temperature of the substrate heater maintained at 280 °C was used in this thesis due to the demand of low-cost solar cells based on cheap substrate that require deposition at such low temperatures. In this thesis, we showed that the structural properties of a-SiC:H films are dependent on the filament temperature and also on the CH4 gas flow rate. It was shown that in non-stoichiometric a-SiC:H, hydrogen content throughout the deposited films varies with depth. An attempt is done in this study to determine, for the first time the absorption strength of the C-Hn bonds in the 950 -1050 cm-1 band of the FTIR spectrum. Real-time ERDA was used to determine the hydrogen kinetics parameters in a single temperature ramp; a model based on the solution of the diffusion equation is used for this effect.

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Fuel cells represent a promising technology for clean power generation because they convert chemical energy (fuel) into electrical energy with high efficiency and low-to-none emission of pollutants. Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs) have several advantages compared to the most studied hydrogen and methanol fuel cells. First and foremost, ethanol is a non-toxic liquid, which lowers the investment of handling facilities because the current infrastructure for gasoline can be largely used. Second, ethanol can be conveniently produced from biomass, hence is carbon neutral which mitigates increasing atmospheric CO2. Last but not least, if completely oxidized to CO2, ethanol has a higher energy density than methanol since it can deliver 12 electrons per molecule. The almost exclusive oxidation to acetic acid overshadows the attractiveness of DEFCs considerably, as the energy density is divided by 3. The standard potential of acetic acid formation indicates that a reaction path including acetic acid, leads to inevitable potential losses of about 0.4 V (difference between ideal potential for CO2 and acetic acid "production"). The development of alkaline DEFCs had also been hampered by the lack of stable and efficient anion exchange membranes. Fortunately, this challenge has been well tackled in recent years,8,9 making the development of alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) which are of particular technological interest due to their simple designs and ability to operate at low temperatures (25-100 °C). In alkaline conditions, the kinetic of both the cathodic oxygen reduction and the anodic ethanol oxidation is facilitated. Furthermore, the expensive Pt catalyst can be replaced by the lower-cost and more active transition metals such as Pd. The main objectives of this project are: i) to provide detailed fundamental understanding of ethanol oxidation reaction on transition metal surfaces in alkaline media, ii) to propose the best rational catalyst design strategies to cleave the C–C bond during ethanol electrooxidation. To achieve these goals two methodologies are used, i.e., in-situ identification of ethanol electrooxidation products using polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and mechanistic investigation using computational studies in the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The PM-IRRAS technique was advanced in this project to the level of distinguishing electrooxidation products at the surface of the nanoparticles (electrode) and in the bulk-phase of the electrolyte. This new PM-IRRAS utility makes it possible to detect molecules such as CO2 which desorbs from the catalyst surface as soon as they are formed. The DFT insights in this project, provides an explanation as to why it is difficult to break the C–C bond in ethanol and is used for screening the top candidate metals for further studies.

The complexity of the processes whereby organic species are degraded in the atmosphere prevents many of the individual species (intermediates or products) from being unambiguously identified. Laboratory work necessarily focuses therefore on studies of idealised proxies with the aim of increasing general understanding of the physical and chemical processes which occur on particles and the types of species which they produce. Studies of the ubiquitous proxy oleic acid have resulted in the development of complex reaction schemes describing the various products and intermediates. These schemes include a diverse range of reactions and rates, thus highlighting the complications associated even with a relatively simple system. This thesis describes novel experimental studies designed to increase understanding of heterogeneous ozonolysis reactions of organic species in the aerosol phase using infrared spectroscopy as the principal analytical method. Reactions have been studied in solution (supported by off-line mass spectrometry), in thin films and in aerosols. The sensitivity of the infrared technique has also enabled the kinetics of reactions in thin films and aerosols to be followed. These methods were applied to both single- and mixed-component systems. Product studies successfully identified a number of primary and secondary species in the ozonised systems, with the secondary products formed from association reactions of the Criegee Intermediates with other species present (including self-reaction). In the mixed organic system these products were found to have originated from both a single reactant and from cross reactions between moieties from two different reactants. At low relative humidity, the ozonolysis reaction rates were monitored through the loss of the reactant species by infrared spectroscopy in the thin film and aerosol phase to give reactive uptake coefficients (gamma). At high relative humidity, the formation of products was followed. For the single-component thin films, the values obtained were gamma = 7.8 x 10-5 for stilbene and gamma = 2.0 x 10-7 for anthracene. In thin mixed films of oleic acid and stilbene, segregation occurred which prevented the effect of mixing upon the rate to be measured. A reactive uptake of gamma = 6.8 x 10-5 was obtained, identical to that of pure oleic acid. In the particle phase, the functional form of the reaction kinetics was found to be dependent on the type of particle. Pure stilbene and mixed oleic/stilbene aerosols were highly reactive and it proved necessary to treat reactive uptake coefficients under both diffusion-limited and surface-only reaction scenarios. For stilbene, the values obtained were gamma = 1.5 x 10-3 and gamma = 5.3 x 10-3 respectively. Spectral limitations in the mixed system meant that only the reaction of stilbene could be followed, giving gamma = 4.4 x 10-3 and gamma = 10.0 x 10-3 respectively. The enhanced rate in the mixture was attributed to secondary reactions. Anthracene and oleic acid coated particles were treated using a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism from which the parameters KO3 (ozone partitioning coefficient) and kImax (maximum pseudo-first-order rate coefficient) could be extracted. For anthracene ozonolysis KO3 = 1.4 x 10-16 cm3 molecule-1 and kImax = 3.5x10-2 s-1. For oleic acid coated onto ammonium sulfate aerosols, values obtained were KO3 = 2.35 x 10-15 cm3 molecule-1 and kImax = 0.56 s-1 at low RH% and KO3 = 1.71 x 10-16 cm3 molecule-1 and kImax =0.33 s-1 at high RH%. The reduction in reactivity with increased RH% is principally attributed to the effect of surface polarity on ozone absorption.

In the manufacturing process of float glass often atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (APCVD) reactors are integrated on-line for the deposition of functional thin solid films. Such functional films have applications in architectural glass, flat panel displays and solar cells. As glass moves downstream in the process, the thin film is deposited at temperatures between 500 to 700°C. The high temperatures make it difficult to monitor the deposition process and thin film quality control is commonly done at the end of the line or at lower temperatures. A time delay therefore exists between the point of thin film deposition and subsequent quality control, which can lead to large quantities of defective product being produced before faults are detected. It is therefore desirable to monitor in the APCVD reactor for rapid feedback of unexpected deviations from desired process conditions, reaction progress and fault detection. High uniformity of film properties across the substrate are important, but APCVD reactors are often empirically designed and the detailed chemical reaction mechanism is unknown. This leads to inefficient gas flow patterns and precursor utilization as well as difficulties in the design of new reactors. The APCVD deposition of tin oxide from the mono-butyl-tin tri-chloride (MBTC) is an example of such a process. Optical monitoring instruments in-situ and in-line on the APCVD reactor provided rapid feedback about process stability and progress non-invasively. Near infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy (NIR-LAS) monitored the concentration of the reaction species hydrogen chloride (HCl) in-situ and spatially in the coating zone. A mid-infrared grating absorption spectrometer (IR-GAS) with novel pyro-electric array detector monitored the concentration of precursor entering the coating system simultaneously. In combination these instruments provide the means for rapid process feedback. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate the unknown decomposition pathway of the precursor to find the yet unknown key tin radical that initiates film growth. Stable species forming during MBTC decomposition over a temperature range of 170 to 760°C were investigated but the tin intermediate remains unknown. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is routinely employed in research and industry for the numerical simulation of CVD processes in order to predict reactor flow patterns, deposition rates, chemical species distribution or temperature profiles. Two and three dimensional models with complex geometries and detailed reaction models exist. A three dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the used APCVD reactor was built using the Fluent CFD software. The numerical simulation included a chemical model that predicted qualitatively the chemical species distribution of hydrogen chloride in the gas phase. This was confirmed through comparison with NIR-LAS results. Design shortcomings due to inefficient flow patterns were also identified. In combination the optical tools developed provide the means for safe and efficient manufacturing of thin films in APCVD reactors. CFD simulations can be used to increase precursor utilization and film uniformity in the development of new reactor designs.

Les verres de tellures sont des matériaux récemment remis au goût du jour pour des applications en optiques. Certaines compositions permettent en effet de transmettre la lumière loin dans l’infrarouge au-delà de 20 µm, mais leur tendance naturelle à recristalliser rend difficile la fabrication d’objet pour la photonique telle que des fibres optiques. Des verres du système Te-Ge-Se ont été développés dans le cadre du projet Darwin de l’Agence Spatiale Européenne permettant de détecter la bande d’absorption du CO2 à 15 µm. La première fibre optique monomode a été obtenue à partir d’une nouvelle méthode de fabrication de préforme par moulage. Les verres de tellure du système Te-Ge-AgI sont les seuls à ne pas présenter de pic de cristallisation en analyse thermique. Leur stabilité a été mise à profit pour développer des fibres optiques avec un niveau très bas de pertes optiques, de l’ordre de 3 dB∙m-1, ce qui constitue un record. Ces fibres ont été utilisées pour mettre en œuvre des expériences de spectroscopie par ondes évanescentes permettant d’accéder à une gamme de longueurs d’onde encore jamais atteinte de 2 à 16 µm. Ce gain sera de première importance pour la mise en service de ces fibres en biologie ou médecine.Par ailleurs, les verres de tellure sont les verres présentant les conductivités électroniques les plus élevées jamais mesurées. Il s’agit donc de matériaux potentiellement intéressants pour la thermoélectricité. Certaines compositions du système (Te/Se)-(As/Sb/Bi)-(Cu/Ag) ont été synthétisées et caractérisées. Des matériaux composites obtenus par broyage et compression de poudres de verre et de Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 cristallisé ont été préparés. Ces derniers présentent un ZT = 0.365 à 413 K, ce qui est encourageant pour l’avenir. / The tellurium-based glasses are of interest because of their transparency in the mid- and far-infrared range. Tellurium-based glasses and optical fibers can be used for the detection the atmosphere of terrestrial planets in Darwin project and the identification of chemical species in the daily life. For the detection of CO2 (15 µm) on exoplanet, high purity Te-Ge-Se experimental single mode fiber which can transmit light up to 16 μm has been successfully fabricated based on a new preform molding process. Moreover, Te-Ge-AgI glasses, which present no crystallization peak and far infrared transmittance beyond 30 μm (as bulk), are also candidates for infrared sensing. A structural model proposed in this work provides some explanations on their good thermal stability. Low-loss single index fibers drawn from these glasses have shown their capabilities to collect mid-infrared spectra from 2 to 16 µm. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first fiber evanescent wave spectra collected on such a wide range. This achievement will be essential for future medical applications.Otherwise, tellurium-based glasses, due to the intrinsic poor thermal conductivity and high Seebeck coefficient, are good candidates as new materials in the thermoelectricity field. Te-As-Se-Cu glass with the introduction of copper up to 25% has been explored. By sintering this glass with Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3, glass-ceramic composites were also obtained exhibiting maximum zT values equal to 0.365 at 413 K.

This research presents the results on an experimental investigation to identify the effect of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) on aging characteristics of an asphalt binder. Addition of PPA to asphalt binders is said to improve performance of flexible pavements. Asphalt binder PG 64-22 in modified and unmodified conditions was subjected to aging in the laboratory using a regular oven and also simulated short term aging using rolling thin film oven (RTFO) test. Aging experiments were conducted to analyze the extent of oxidation in terms of changes in molecular structure of the asphalt binder. These changes were appraised using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and epifluorescence microscopy tests. FTIR was used to determine the changes in major bands with addition of PPA. Stiffness and viscoelastic behaviors of asphalts were determined from the DSR test. The stiffness is measured by calculating the shear modulus, G* and the viscoelastic behavior is measured by calculating the phase angle, sin δ. Epifluorescence microscopy is a tool used to study properties of organic or inorganic substances. The morphological characteristics of PPA modified asphalt samples were observed through epifluorescence microscopy. Epifluorescence microscopy reveals the polymer phase distribution in the asphalt binders. Results of this investigation show PPA addition to asphalt binders improve G*/sin δ characteristics of asphalt binders. In addition, presence of PPA in polymer containing asphalt did not adversely affect aging of the binders.

Orientador: Ronei Jesus Poppi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T14:16:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gallo_LucianaViviani_M.pdf: 1018650 bytes, checksum: 36599aa45a93a7d16c638ac0c60d6716 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma metodologia analítica alternativa para a determinação de parâmetros de qualidade em bananas: pH, acidez titulável e Brix utilizando as espectroscopias no infravermelho médio e próximo em conjunto com calibração multivariada. A estratégia adotada foi obter os espectros na região do infravermelho próximo e médio do fruto e estabelecer um modelo de calibração multivariada, baseada no método dos mínimos quadrados parciais, para prever os diversos parâmetros. Foram utilizadas 54 amostras de banana, em diferentes estágios de maturação. Os espectros foram obtidos a partir da análise da polpa do fruto macerada, da solução obtida após a centrifugação da polpa, e pela técnica ¿Dry Extract Spectroscopy by infrared Absorption¿ (DESIR). Um total de 9 modelos foram propostos para a determinação dos parâmetros de qualidade e o melhor resultado para a determinação de pH foi na região do infravermelho médio utilizando a técnica DESIR, com erro médio de 1,32%. Já para a acidez, o melhor modelo obtido foi na região do infravermelho próximo utilizando DESIR, com erro relativo médio de 6,20%. O parâmetro brix apresentou melhores resultados na região do infravermelho médio através da análise da solução, com erro médio de 3,78%. Dessa maneira, a espectroscopia vibracional possibilita viabilizar a obtenção de maior número de informações sobre a qualidade da fruta, através da relação dos espectros com várias propriedades de interesse. / Abstract: banana quality parameters as pH, acidity and Brix by using infrared spectroscopy in the mid and near regions in conjunction with multivariate calibration. The strategy adopted was to obtain the fruit spectra in mid and near regions and to establish a multivariate calibration model, based on the partial least squares, to predict the several parameters. It was used 54 banana samples, in different stages of maturation. The spectra were obtained from the pulp fruit, of the solution obtained after pulp centrifugation and by technique Dry Extract Spectroscopy by Infrared Absorption (DESIR). A total of 9 models were proposed for the determination of the quality parameters and the best result for pH determination was in the mid infrared region using the DESIR technique, with mean error of 1.32%. For the acidity parameter, the best model was in the near infrared region using the DESIR technique, with mean error of 6.20%. The Brix model furnished the best result in the mid infrared region by using the solution obtained after pulp centrifugation, with mean error of 3.78%. In this way, the vibrational spectroscopy make possible to achieve large quantity of information about the fruit quality through the relationship between the spectra and several properties of interest. / Mestrado / Quimica Analitica / Mestre em Química

Orientador: Jarbas José Rodrigues Rohwedder / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T15:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_LiviaMartinsdos_D.pdf: 6212654 bytes, checksum: f20eb97ce2aae510654340b401468dd2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: A contaminação de solos oriundos de derrames de compostos derivados do petróleo é um problema que representa riscos ao meio ambiente e a população. Dentre os constituintes do petróleo, os BTEX são os mais tóxicos. O uso da espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo (NIR) foi empregado como uma ferramenta analítica visando a determinação de BTEX em amostras de solo. À um espectrofotômetro construído no laboratório foi adaptado uma célula de medida, uma célula de amostra e uma válvula esfera responsável pela conexão entre essas duas células. Uma bomba de vácuo foi adaptada ao instrumento visando facilitar o enriquecimento da fase vapor dos hidrocarbonetos voláteis na célula de medida, a qual operou com uma pressão de 29,0 inHg abaixo da pressão do laboratório (APL). Os espectros obtidos da fase vapor contendo os hidrocarbonetos aromáticos apresentaram sobreposição de bandas de absorção. Desta forma, foi necessária a construção de modelos de calibração multivariados empregando Regressão por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais (PLS). Os resultados do melhor modelo de regressão obtidos a melhores condições experimentais mostraram que os valores de RMSECV foram de 12,4 mg kg-1, 47,3 mg kg-1, 72,4 mg kg-1 e 58,6 mg kg-1, respectivamente, para benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xilenos. Esses valores estão de acordo com os valores orientadores para solo da CETESB de 2005, com exceção para o benzeno que encontra-se acima do valor permitido. Para cada tipo de solo é necessário a construção de modelos de calibração, pois a composição do solo influencia na determinação dos hidrocarbonetos / Abstract: The contamination of soils due to petroleum compounds spills is a problem that represents risks to environment and population. Among petroleum constituents, the volatile aromatic hydrocarbons known as BTEX are toxic. This study aims to evaluate the use of near infrared spectroscopy as an analytical tool for determination of volatile hydrocarbons in soil samples. Spectra were obtained in a spectrophotometer built in the laboratory. It is also part of the instrument, a measuring cell with 540 mm of optical path, a sample cell and a valve which allows connection between the two cells. A vacuum pump was adapted to the instrument in order to facilitate enrichment of the vapor phase of the volatile hydrocarbons in the measuring cell, which operated at a pressure of 29.0 inHg below of the laboratory pressure (BLP). Spectra of the vapor phase containing aromatic hydrocarbons exhibited overlapping of absorption bands. Thus, it was necessary to construct multivariate calibration models using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS). The results obtained for the calibration model provided values of RMSECV of 12.4 mg Kg¬-1, 47.3 mg Kg¬-1, 72.4 mg Kg¬-1 and 58.6 mg Kg¬-1 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, respectively. These values are in agreement with the 2005 CETESB guiding values for soil, except for benzene that is above the allowed value. For each type of soil, it was needed to build calibration models because soil composition affects the determination of hydrocarbons. The developed method is promising and may be used as a screening method to determine the occurrence of contamination in soils by BTEX / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutora em Ciências