Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64).

Metal ions play essential roles in biological functions including catalysis, protein stability, DNA-protein interactions and cell signaling. It is estimated that 30% of proteins utilize metals in some fashion. Additionally, methods by which metal ions can be visualized have been utilized to study metal concentrations and localizations in relation to disease. Understanding the roles metals play in biological systems has great potential in medicine and technology. Chapters 1 and 2 of this dissertation analyzes the structure and function of the Mn-dependent enzyme oxalate decarboxylase (OxDc) and Chapter 2 presents a bioinformatic analysis of the cupin superfamily that provides the structural scaffold of the decarboxylase. The X-ray crystal structure of the W132F variant was determined and utilized together with EPR data to develop a computational approach to determining EPR spectra of the enzyme’s two metal-binding centers. Furthermore, a variant in which the catalytic Glu162 was deleted revealed the binding mode of oxalate, the first substrate-bound structure of OxDc. OxDc is a member of the cupin superfamily, which comprises a wide variety of proteins and enzymes with great sequence and functional diversity. A bioinformatics analysis of the superfamily was performed to analyze how sequence variation determines function and metal utilization. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss the expansion of lanthanide-binding tags (LBTs) to in cellulo studies. Lanthanide-binding tags are short sequences of amino acids that have high affinity and selectivity for lanthanide ions. An EGF-LBT construct used to quantify EGF receptors on the surface of A431 and HeLa cells. The results from the LBT quantification are consistent with previous studies of EGFR receptors in these cell types, validating the use of this method for future studies. The potential of using LBTs for X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) was also investigated. LBT-labeled constructs were utilized to investigate if membrane bound as well as cytosolic LBT-containing proteins could be visualized and localized to their cell compartments via XFM; both membrane-localized and cytosolic proteins were successfully visualized. With the high resolution (< 150 Å) obtainable with new synchrotron beamline configurations LBTs could be used to study nanoscale biological structures in their near-native state.

The high-pressure behaviour of the lanthanide series of metals has been the subject of study since the work of Percy Bridgman in the 1940s. Differences in said behaviour between the different lanthanide metals are attributed to the increasing occupation of the 4f electron shell as Z increases. Upon compression, or as Z decreases, the trivalent lanthanides (La to Lu, excluding Eu and Yb) undergo a common phase transformation sequence through various close packed structures: hcp → Sm-type (the structure adopted by samarium at ambient conditions) → dhcp → fcc → distorted fcc (d-fcc). Upon further compression, the lanthanide metals experience a first order transition to a "volume collapsed" phase. Many studies have focused on the low-Z members of the series, since the various phase transitions occur at much lower pressure where it is comparatively easy to collect high quality data. By contrast, the other members of the series have received comparability little attention, and there are even fewer reports of the structural behaviour of the lanthanide metals at high pressure and high temperature. This thesis contains the results of angle-dispersive x-ray powder diffraction experiments at high pressure and high temperature of the various members of the lanthanide metals. Ce has been the subject of many previous studies, but a systematic x-ray diffraction study of the fcc/d-fcc phase boundary has never been attempted. Furthermore, the location in P-T space of the high temperature fcc/bct/d-fcc triple point has only been inferred, due to the lack of data on the fcc/bct phase boundary at high temperature. The high-pressure high-temperature phase diagram of Ce is presented and discussed. La is unique amongst the lanthanide metals due to its empty 4f shell at ambient conditions. Despite this, La undergoes the common lanthanide transformation sequence up to the d-fcc phase, after which it undergoes a re-entrant transition back to the fcc phase at 60 GPa. The diffraction peaks of d-fcc La are shown in this thesis to undergo changes in intensity upon compression, indicating a transformation to the oI 16 structure found in Pr. La is one of the few elements whose behaviour has been unknown above 100 GPa, and results of La's structural behaviour upon compression to 280 GPa are presented and discussed. At 76 GPa, La begins a transition from the fcc phase to a new phase with the bct structure. Finally, the d-fcc→fcc re-entrant phase transition has been determined at various temperatures, and the d-fcc stability region has been mapped out. Finally, x-ray diffraction experiments were performed on Gd up to 100 GPa and ~700 K, to determine the structure of the d-fcc phase and the "volume collapsed" phase. While d-fcc Gd does not undergo pressure-induced changes similar to its low Z brethren, the d-fcc Gd remains stable up to 41 GPa at 700 K, putting a constraint on the d-fcc stability region. The data collected on Gd's "volume collapsed" phase cannot be fitted to the currently accepted mC4 structure. This has implications for our understanding of the lanthanide series as a whole, since most of of the heavier members, and some of the lighter lanthanides, are reported to adopt the mC4 structure.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The study introduces and puts forward Sector Policing as a model to expand community Policing and to broaden the scope of crime prevention. It also demonstrates how Sector Policing can be utilised to decentralise policing and deepen community participation. / South Africa

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-05T11:15:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 CRISTIANE MIRANDA FURTADO - TESE (PPGEP) 2013.pdf: 8542186 bytes, checksum: dd770c02b3fb0777b254739165ed99da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-05T11:15:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CRISTIANE MIRANDA FURTADO - TESE (PPGEP) 2013.pdf: 8542186 bytes, checksum: dd770c02b3fb0777b254739165ed99da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-11 / CNPq / A utilização de nanopartículas inorgânicas contendo propriedades luminescentes (NPLs) tem recebido uma atenção especial devido a sua utilização para aplicações biológica, tais como marcadores ópticos in vitro e in vivo, em diagnósticos clínicos e como carreadores de fármacos. No entanto, para tais aplicações biotecnológicas as nanopartículas inorgânicas devem ser funcionalizadas com materiais orgânicos que forneçam grupos de ligações com o meio biológico tornando estas nanopartículas biocompatíveis. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar por reação de combustão o ZnAl1,95(Yb:Er)0,05O4, modificar a superfície com o agente silano 3- amonipropiltrimetoxisilano, e avaliar o efeito da funcionalização destas NPLs com quitosana e glutaraldeído, de forma a se obter um material híbrido que possa ser utilizado em aplicações biotecnológicas, como possíveis marcadores ópticos. As NPLs e o material híbrido foram caracterizados por difração de raio-X, distribuição granulométrica, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourrier, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, tensão superficial, teste de solubilidade, análise termogravimétrica e análise térmica diferencial, espectroscopia de excitação e de emissão e citotoxicidade. Os resultados morfológicos demonstram que antes e após a funcionalização com quitosana e com glutaraldeído os tamanhos das partícula foram de 12, 13,2 e 12,8 nm, respectivamente. Bandas de absorção abaixo de 1000 cm-1, característica da estrutura em espinelio e bandas múltiplas em torno de 1100 cm-1 e 1040 cm-1 correspondente ao alongamento assimétrico Si-O, confirmaram a funcionalização das nanopartículas. Os resultados de luminescência indicam a presença das transições características dos íons Yb3+ e Er3+, com um aumento da luminescência observada quando a amostra foi funcionalizada com a quitosana. Pelo teste de citotoxicidade foi observado que as NPLs não funcionalizadas apresentam uma viabilidade celular de 50%, sendo este valor limitante para que se considere este material como não tóxico, contudo ao utilizar a quitosana como agente funcionalizante esta viabilidade celular aumentou para 72%, confirmando um considerável aumento na biocompatibilidade do material. Para o híbrido funcionalizado com glutaraldeído, observou-se que houve diminuição da viabilidade celular para 48%, tornando este material citotóxico. Dessa forma, para obtenção de um marcador óptico as NPLs funcionalizadas com quitosana são mais promissoras devido a sua característica luminescente mais pronunciada, além de que, não é considerado um material citotóxico, o que pode confirmar uma possível aplicação biotecnológica. / The use of inorganic nanoparticles containing luminescent properties (NPLs) has received a special attention because of their use for biological applications, such as optical markers in vitro and in vivo, in clinical diagnostics and as drug carriers. However, for such biotechnological applications inorganic nanoparticles must be functionalized with organic materials that provide groups of connections with the biological environment making these nanoparticles biocompatible. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize the combustion reaction ZnAl1,95(Yb:Er)0,05O4, modify the surface with silane agent 3-amonipropyltrimethoxysilane, and to evaluate the functionalization effect of these NPLs with chitosan and glutaraldehyde, in order to obtain a hybrid material that can be used in biotechnological applications as possible optical markers. The NPLs and hybrid materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, spectroscopy in infrared zone with Fourier transform, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, surface tension, solubility test, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, excitation and emission spectroscopy and cytotoxicity. Morphology results show that before and after functionalization with chitosan and glutaraldehyde particle sizes were of 12.0, 13.2 and 12.8 nm, respectively. Absorption bands below 1000 cm-1, characteristic of the spinel structure and multiple bands around 1100 cm-1 and 1040 cm-1 corresponding to the asymmetric stretching Si-O confirmed the functionalization of the nanoparticles. The luminescence results demonstrate the presence of transitions characteristic of the ions Er3+ and Yb3+, with an increase of luminescence observed when the sample was functionalized with chitosan. By the cytotoxicity test it was observed that the non functionalized NPLs have a cell viability of 50% and this is limiting value to considerate that material as non toxic, but when using chitosan as the functionalizing agent that cell viability increased to 72%, confirming a considerable increase in biocompatibility of the material. For hybrid functionalized with glutaraldehyde, it is observed that there was a decreased cell viability to 48%, which makes this material cytotoxic. Thus, for an optical marker obtaining the NPLs functionalized with chitosan are more promising because of its luminescence characteristic more pronounced, and is not considered a cytotoxic material which can confirm a possible biotechnological application.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2016-05-13T14:09:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivo total.pdf: 4037386 bytes, checksum: 2733330d803024eb0abfbac341b0b0da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-13T14:09:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivo total.pdf: 4037386 bytes, checksum: 2733330d803024eb0abfbac341b0b0da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In the present work, it has been investigated the influence of the position of electron-donor substituents in aromatic carboxylate ligands on the photoluminescent properties of Tb3+ and Eu3+complexes. It was synthesized complexes of general formula [Ln (R-2-Bz)3fen] and [Ln (4-R-Bz)3fen] with Ln = Eu3+, Gd3+ and Tb3+; R =-NH2,-NH (CO) CH3,-OH,-O (CO) CH3,-O (C4H9); phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, which were characterized by complexometric titration, elemental analysis, absorption IR spectra and diffuse reflectance. The phosphorescence spectra of the complexes [Gd (2-R-Bz)3fen] and [Gd (4-R-Bz)3fen] showed that the energies of the triplet states of the ligands are coordinated above and in a good resonance condition with the emitting states of both ions Eu3+ and Tb3+ and it is favorable to the efficient process of ligand-metal energy transfer. Such states are localized on the 1,10-phenanthroline ligands in all complexes. For the complexes of the Tb3+ ion, it was found that acetylation of both substituents N or O-donors caused an increase in the lifetimes for most compounds, which is much higher at ambient temperature than at low temperature. For the Eu3+ complex it was observed a strong dependence of the intensity parameters Ω2 and quantum efficiency of luminescence with the nature and position of the electron-donors substituents, which could be rationalized on the basis of electronic and steric effects. Such effects exerted strong influence on the LMCT charge transfer states, directly contributing to the dependence of the quantum efficiency of luminescence with the position of the electron-donor substituents the carboxylate ligands. Steric interactions promoted conjugation breakage due to the removal of the aromatic ring from the conjugation plane of the carboxylate group, reducing the ability of the electron-donating oxygen atoms and consequently increasing the LMCT energy states. It was demonstrated, for the first time, that the loss of conjugation by steric interaction may eliminate or reduce the effect of LMCT states as a suppression channel of luminescence in Eu3+ complexes. / No presente trabalho, investigou-se a influência da posição de substituintes elétron-doadores em ligantes carboxilatos aromáticos sobre as propriedades fotoluminescentes de complexos dos íons Tb3+ e Eu3+. Foram sintetizados complexos de fórmula geral [Ln(2-R-Bz)3fen] e [Ln(4-R-Bz)3fen] , com Ln = Eu3+, Gd3+ e Tb3+; R = -NH2, -NH(CO)CH3, -OH, -O(CO)CH3, -O(C4H9); fen = 1,10-fenantrolina, que foram caracterizados por titulação complexométrica, análise elementar, espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho e de reflectância difusa. Os espectros de fosforescência dos complexos [Gd(2-R-Bz)3fen] e [Gd(4-R-Bz)3fen] revelaram que as energias dos estados tripleto dos ligantes coordenados encontram-se acima e em boa condição de ressonância com os estados emissores de ambos os íons Eu3+ e Tb3+, o que favorece o processo eficiente de transferência de energia ligante-metal, sendo tais estados localizados sobre os ligantes 1,10-fenantrolina em todos os complexos. Para os complexos do íon Tb3+, observou-se que a acetilação de ambos os substituintes N ou O-doadores causou elevação dos tempos de vida para a maioria dos compostos, sendo bem maiores a temperatura ambiente que a baixa temperatura. Para os complexos do íon Eu3+ observou-se uma forte dependência dos parâmetros de intensidade Ω2 e da eficiência quântica de luminescência com a natureza e a posição dos substituintes elétron-doadores, que puderam ser racionalizados a partir dos efeitos eletrônicos e estéricos, atuando de forma antagônica. Tais efeitos, exerceram forte influência sobre os estados de transferência de carga LMCT, contribuindo diretamente para a dependência da eficiência quântica de luminescência com a posição dos substituintes elétron-doadores dos ligantes carboxilatos. Interações estéricas promoveram a quebra de conjugação devido à retirada do anel aromático do plano de conjugação do grupo carboxilato, reduzindo a capacidade elétron-doadora dos oxigênios e, consequentemente, elevando a energia dos estados LMCT. Foi demonstrado, pela primeira vez, que a quebra de conjugação mediante interação estérica pode eliminar ou reduzir o efeito dos estados LMCT como um canal de supressão da luminescência em complexos do íon Eu3+.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-27T14:29:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RAILDA SHELSEA TAVEIRA ROCHA DO NASCIMENTO - TESE (PPGEP) 2008.pdf: 2253809 bytes, checksum: ec04359cafb5760ae50bf56746b420d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-27T14:29:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RAILDA SHELSEA TAVEIRA ROCHA DO NASCIMENTO - TESE (PPGEP) 2008.pdf: 2253809 bytes, checksum: ec04359cafb5760ae50bf56746b420d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-11-17 / Sólidos obtidos em escala nanométrica têm demandado um grande interesse científico e tecnológico, dadas às significativas alterações nas propriedades físicas e químicas observadas em materiais com estas características, potencializando assim as aplicações tecnológicas. Neste trabalho foram sintetizados quatro nanocomplexos do tipo Ln(MI)3.3H2O onde, Ln = Er ou Eu e MI = 5(4-clorofenil)-3-fenil-1,3,4-tiodiazólio-2-tiolato (MI-1) ou 5(4-clorofenil)-3-metil-4-fenil-1,3-tioazólio-2-tiolato (MI-2). Estes complexos foram caracterizados através de técnicas físico-químicas, espectroscópicas, térmicas e estrutural. A metodologia utilizada para a síntese dos complexos partiu de uma solução etanólica de LnCl3 adicionando-se o mesoiônico, sob agitação e temperatura constante de 65oC, mantendo em refluxo por quatro horas. O resultado da análise elementar de C, H e N dos complexos Er(MI-1)3.3H2O, Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O, Er(MI-2)3.3H2O e Eu(MI-2)3.3H2O mostraram uma boa concordância entre os valores experimentais e os calculados. Os espectros de infravermelho indicam que a coordenação dos compostos mesoiônicos com os cátions Eu+3 e Er+3 acontece possivelmente através do átomo de enxofre exocíclico onde, pode-se perceber um deslocamento considerável na ligação carbono-enxofre (C-S-). Os espectros de RMN 1H dos complexos revelaram a presença de todos os sinais dos hidrogênios aromáticos, evidenciados nos compostos mesoiônicos. Através dos espectros de RMN 13C (APT), foi possível reconhecer o padrão de hidrogenação correspondente a cada átomo de carbono, possibilitando atribuir com segurança o deslocamento químico dos carbonos (C-2) e (C-5) do anel mesoiônico. Nos espectros de absorção na região do UV-visível as bandas dos complexos se deslocam quando comparadas às bandas dos compostos mesoiônicos, sendo possível atribuir a inserção dos cátions de lantanídeos à modificação das bandas de absorção, visto que os complexos apresentaram energias em comprimento inferior. Os espectros de emissão dos compostos MI-1 e MI-2 assim como os dos complexos Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O e Er(MI-2)3.3H2O apresentaram comportamento semelhante com uma banda larga de emissão entre 560 e 720 nm, não sendo possível a observação das bandas de emissão dos íons lantanídeo. As curvas TG/DTG indicaram que os compostos mesoiônicos se decompuseram em cinco etapas, diferentemente da decomposição dos complexos Er(MI-1)3.3H2O, Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O, Er(MI-2)3.3H2O e Eu(MI-2)3.3H2O que ocorreu em 5, 4, 7 e 6 etapas, respectivamente. Os complexos sintetizados com Eu apresentaram maior estabilidade térmica em detrimento dos complexos de Er, independente do mesoiônico utilizado. As curvas DSC, mostraram que os complexos estudados neste trabalho iniciam a reação de decomposição térmica ainda em estado sólido, antes da fusão. Os difratogramas de raios-x dos compostos mesoiônicos e dos complexos, apresentaram mais de uma fase, com características cristalinas, e cristalito inferior a 60nm. / The solids obtained in nanometric scale has been attracted the technological and scientific interest due to the significant modifications observed on their physical and chemical properties which increases the technological applications. In this work, four nanocomplex materials were synthesized: Ln(MI)3.3H2O where, Ln = Er or Eu and MI = 5(4-chlorophenyl)-3-phenyl-1,3,4-thiodiazole-2-tiolat (MI-1) or 5(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-thioazole-2-thiolate (MI-2). These complexes were characterized using physico-chemical, spectroscopic, thermal and structural techniques. To synthesize the complexes, it was used a LnCl3 ethanolic solution mixed with the mesoionic, maintained under agitation and at a constant temperature at 65oC and refluxed for a period of four hours. It was observed a good agreement between the experimental and calculated results of the C, H and N elemental analysis of Er(MI-1)3.3H2O, Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O, Er(MI-2)3.3H2O and Eu(MI-2)3.3H2O. The IR spectra indicates that the coordination of the mesoionic compounds with cations Eu+3 and Er+3, must happen probably because of the exocyclic sulfur atom and it can be perceived a considerable displacement in the carbon-sulfur (C-S-) ligation. The RMN 1H spectra suggested the presence of aromatic hydrogen evidenced in the mesoionic compounds. Through the RMN 13C (APT), it was possible to recognize the hydrogenation standard corresponding to each carbon atom. It can be safely attributed the carbon chemical displacement (C-2) and (C-5) of the mesoionic ring. In the UV-visible absorption spectra of the UV the complexes bands are displaced comparing to the mesoionic compound bands. It can be possible to attribute the insertion of the lanthanide cations to the modification of the absorption bands, once the complexes presented energies at inferior length. The MI-1 and MI-2 compounds emission spectra and the complexes Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O and Er(MI-2)3.3H2O presented a behavior similar to a large emission band between 560 and 720 nm. It was not possible to observe the emission bands of the lanthanide ions. The TG/DTG curves indicate that the mesoionic compounds were decomposed in five levels, with a different behavior of the Er(MI-1)3.3H2O, Eu(MI-1)3.3H2O, Er(MI-2)3.3H2O and Eu(MI-2)3.3H2O, which decomposition occurred in 5,4,7 and 6 steps, respectively. The complexes synthesized with Eu presented a higher thermal stability than the ones that used Er, independently of the kind of mesoionic compound that was used. The DSC curves showed that the studied complexes begin the thermal decomposition reaction before the fusion, in the solid state. The x-ray diffractograms of the complexes and mesoionic compounds present more than a level, with crystalline characteristics and crystallite size inferior to 60nm.

Orientador: Fernando Aparecido Sigoli / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T08:20:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigues_EmilleMartinazzo_M.pdf: 7026453 bytes, checksum: 919cfa3fb9a89e5e72f429d675b89d74 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Neste trabalho, foram estudadas as propriedades espectroscópicas de membranas de polidimetilsiloxano (pdms) contendo nanopartículas de fluoreto de lantânio (LaF3) dopadas com íons lantanídeos. Para isso, em um primeiro momento foi feita a caracterização e o estudo espectroscópico de nanopartículas de LaF3 dopadas com o íon Eu(III) e estabilizadas com N,Ndimetilacetamida, N,N-dimetilformamida, oleilamina ou oleilamina/ácido oleico, a fim de escolher o melhor sistema para a co-dopagem com os íons Er(III) e Yb(III) e posterior dispersão no polidimetilsiloxano. As nanopartículas estabilizadas com oleilamina apresentaram os melhores resultados espectroscópicos e de dispersão no pdms e, portanto, foi o sistema escolhido para co-dopagem com Er(III) e Yb(III). Em seguida, foi feito o estudo espectroscópico dessas nanopartículas co-dopadas com Er(III) e Yb(III) a fim de verificar se as mesmas apresentavam propriedades luminescentes desejáveis para aplicação em fotônica. Tanto as nanopartículas dopadas com Eu(III) quanto as nanopartículas co-dopadas com Er(III) e Yb(III) estabilizadas com oleilamina foram dispersas em polidimetilsiloxano. A reticulação da cadeia de pdms foi feita utilizando diferentes proporções entre dois reticulantes: tetravinilsilano e divinilbenzeno, permitindo assim o ajuste do valor do índice de refração do material híbrido obtido. As nanopartículas apresentaram boa dispersibilidade no pdms resultando em membranas transparentes, termicamente estáveis até aproximadamente 300 °C e com índice de refração variável dependendo das proporções entre os reticulantes utilizados. Por fim realizou-se um estudo sistemático de luminescência compreendendo emissão Stokes e anti-Stokes desses materiais / Abstract: In the present work the spectroscopic properties of polydimethilsiloxane (pdms) membranes containing lanthanide-doped lanthanum fluoride (LaF3) nanoparticles were studied. In a first moment, Eu(III)-doped LaF3 nanoparticles stabilized with N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,Ndimethylformamide, oleylamine or oleylamine/oleic acid were prepared and their spectroscopic properties were studied in order to find out the best system for subsequent co-doping with Er(III)/Yb(III) and dispersion in pdms. The oleylamine-stabilized nanoparticles show the best spectroscopic and dispersion results, and therefore they were chosen for co-doping with Er(III) and Yb(III) ions. The Er(III)/Yb(III) co-doped nanoparticles were studied in order to analyze their potential use as a material for photonic applications. Eu(III)-doped and Er(III)/Yb(III) co-doped LaF3 nanoparticles stabilized with oleylamine were dispersed in pdms. The crosslinking of pdms network was done using different ratios between two types of crosslink molecules: tetravinylsilane (tvs) and divinylbenzene (dvb) allowing thecontrol of the resulting material refractive index. The nanoparticles were well dispersed into the pdms matrix and the resulting hybrid membranes were transparent and thermically stable up to 300 °C with variable refractive index depending on the ratio of used crosslink molecules. A systematic luminescence spectroscopy was done including Stokes and anti-Stokes emissions of these materials / Mestrado / Quimica Inorganica / Mestra em Química

This thesis presents the synthesis, properties, and applications of two important classes of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs); lanthanide MOFs and hierarchical porous zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). The materials have been characterized using a wide range of techniques including diffraction, imaging, various spectroscopic techniques, gas sorption, dynamical light scattering (DLS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In Chapter 1, the unique features of MOFs and ZIFs as well as their potential applications are summarized. In Chapter 2, different characterization techniques are presented. Chapter 3 describes a family of new isoreticular lanthanide MOFs synthesized using tri-topic linkers of different sizes, H3L1-H3L4, denoted SUMOF-7I-IV (Ln) (SU; Stockholm University, Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd, Paper I). The SUMOF-7I-III (Ln) contain permanent pores and exhibit exceptionally high thermal and chemical stability. The luminescence properties of SUMOF-7IIs are reported (Paper II). The influences of Ln ions and the tri-topic linkers as well as solvent molecules on the luminescence properties are investigated. Furthermore, the potential of SUMOF-7II (La) for selective sensing of Fe (III) ions and the amino acid tryptophan is demonstrated (Paper III).  Chapter 4 presents a simple, fast and scalable approach for the synthesis of hierarchical porous zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 using triethylamine (TEA)-assisted approach (Paper IV). Organic dye molecules and proteins are encapsulated directly into the ZIFs using the one-pot method. The photophysical properties of the dyes are improved through the encapsulation into ZIF-8 nanoparticles (Paper IV). The porosity and surface area of the ZIF materials can be tuned using the different amounts of dye or TEA. To further simplify the synthesis of hierarchical porous ZIF-8, a template-free approach is presented using sodium hydroxide, which at low concentrations induces the formation of zinc hydroxide nitrate nanosheets that serve as in situ sacrificial templates (Chapter 5, Paper V). A 2D leaf-like ZIF (ZIF-L) is also obtained using the method. The hierarchical porous ZIF-8 and ZIF-L show good performance for CO2 sorption. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

In order for molecular magnetic materials to become applicable, they must retain their magnetisation at reasonable temperatures, which can be achieved with high energy barriers for spin reversal and high blocking temperatures. In the field of Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs), over the last decade, the main focus has shifted from large spin complexes to highly anisotropic systems which have displayed record energy barriers. There are two main methods of increasing magnetic anisotropy in a complex: i) Choosing a metal ion that boasts high magnetic anisotropy then coupling two such ions through magnetic interactions to induce large global anisotropy, and ii) maintain a low spin or use a mononuclear complex while minimising quantum tunnelling of the magnetisation by controlling the geometric features of the metal ion. Both strategies are equally valid and have been explored in this thesis using dinuclear lanthanide as well as mononuclear 3d complexes. In the pursuit of high-barrier SMMs via alignment of anisotropy axes, two dinuclear, quadruple-stranded helicates and one mesocate were isolated and are described in detail herein, both structurally and magnetically. Furthermore, theoretical calculations have been performed to determine the energies of Kramers doublets on each DyIII centre to derive magneto-structural correlations. To induce magnetic interactions between DyIII ions, a centrosymmetric dinuclear SMM was synthesised. Investigation of the crucial DyIII…DyIII interaction as well as its effect on the quantum tunnelling of the magnetisation has been carried out using ab initio calculations and magnetic dilution studies. Using the same system, a method of greatly enhancing the energy barriers in SMMs has been developed. It involves modifying the coordinating ligands to include electron withdrawing groups in order to yield more anisotropic metal ions. The energy barrier for spin reversal has been increased 7-fold in one case. While lanthanide chemistry has proven to be quite versatile and promising, a new branch of nanomagnets is currently being pursued: mononuclear 3d complexes as SMMs. The advantages of 3d metals include high anisotropy per ion, low spin (as anisotropy decreases with increasing spin), well-understood electronic structures and clear correlations between geometry and magnetic anisotropy. The structural and magnetic properties of three complexes based on CoII and terpyridine ligands as well as a seven-coordinate CoII complex with positive anisotropy are discussed at length. The unique slow relaxation dynamics and spin crossover behaviour has been followed using DFT and ab initio calculations, as well as EPR and magnetic dilution studies. Overall, this thesis describes the efforts taken to synthesise high-barrier nanomagnets through understanding the origins and mechanisms of slow magnetic relaxation in both lanthanide and 3d metal complexes.