Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans le contexte de la sûreté nucléaire, et plus précisément, de l’intégrité des circuits secondaires des Réacteurs à eau pressurisée (REP). L’étude porte donc sur le comportement à rupture de structures minces soudées dans le domaine haut de la transition fragile/ductile. Elle a pour objectif de développer le modèle en contrainte seuil initialement développé par Chapuliot, qui permet de prédire la non-rupture par clivage de cette structure soudée. Le modèle est identifié pour la soudure de l’acier au C-Mn de construction nucléaire, en s’intéressant plus particulièrement à la limite supérieure du domaine de transition.Une contrainte seuil, en-dessous de laquelle le clivage ne peut avoir lieu, est identifiée à partir d’essais de traction à basses températures sur éprouvettes axisymétriques entaillées prélevées dans le joint soudé. Cette contrainte seuil permet de définir le volume seuil, ou volume dans lequel les contraintes principales maximales dépassent la contrainte seuil au cours de l’essai.L’analyse au MEB des faciès des éprouvettes rompues montre que la zone fondue brute de solidification dans la ZAT est la zone la plus susceptible de cliver. La relation entre la probabilité de rupture fragile et le volume seuil dans cette zone est établie via une fonction de sensibilité, grâce à des essais sur éprouvettes CT et à leur simulation multi-matériaux. Le modèle ainsi identifié est testé pour prévoir la non rupture par clivage d’éprouvettes SENT prélevées dans le joint soudé et sollicitées en traction. Les résultats obtenus sont encourageants relativement à la transférabilité du modèle à la structure réelle / This work concerns the nuclear safety, specifically the secondary circuit integrity of pressurized water reactors (PWR). Therefore, the present study focuses on the fracture behaviour of welded thin structures in brittle/ductile transition. It aims at developing the threshold stress model initially proposed by Chapuliot, to predict the non-brittle-fracture of this welded structure. The model is identified for the welded joint in C-Mn steel for nuclear construction, specifically in the upper part of the transition.A threshold stress, below which the cleavage cannot take place, is identified using tensile tests at low temperature on axis-symmetrical notched specimens taken in welded joint. This threshold stress is used to define the threshold volume where the maximum principal stress exceeds the threshold stress during the test.The analysis by SEM of specimen fracture surfaces shows that the gross solidification molten zone in the weld is the most likely to cleave. The relation between the brittle fracture probability and the threshold volume in the gross solidification molten zone is established via a sensitivity function, using multi-materials simulations. The model thus identified is tested for the prediction of non-brittle-fracture of SENT specimens taken in the welded joint and tested in tension. The results obtained are encouraging with regards to the transferability of the model to the actual structure

Dans ce travail, différent systèmes ont été étudiés par des méthodes de microscopie électronique en transmission (TEM) : nanoparticules (NPs) de Pt sur du carbone amorphe, boîtes quantiques (QDs) de Ge, l'incorporation du Mn dans les QDs de Ge and des nanocolonnes (NCs) GeMn dans une matrice de Ge pure ou de GeSn. Le mûrissement de NPs de Pt sur un film de carbone amorphe a été étudié par TEM haute résolution (HRTEM) après des recuits à des températures comprises entre 200 °C et 300 °C pour des durées allant jusqu'à 160 h. Une augmentation significative de la taille moyenne des particules est observé en augmentation la durée du recuit pour toutes les températures étudiées. Une expérience de recuit in-situ a révélée deux étapes de mûrissement. La première est dominée par le mûrissement de Smoluchowski tandis que la seconde est dominée par le mûrissement d'Oswald de surface. La dépendance de type Arrhenius du coefficient de transport de masse de surface donne une énergie d'activation de Ed = 0.84 ± 0.08 eV/atome pour la diffusion des atomes de Pt sur un substrat de carbone amorphe. Des méthodes de TEM avancée ont été utilisé pour déterminer directement des profiles de concentration à l'échelle atomique et grand champ de vue par corrélation de signaux de champ sombre annulaire à grand angle (HAADF) et de spectroscopie de perte d'énergie d'électron (EELS). Cette méthode a été appliquée à l'étude de la concentration de Ge à l'échelle atomique dans le system SiGe. Le profile de concentration le long de la direction de croissance est expliqué par la ségrégation de surface des atomes de Ge pendant la croissance avec un modèle d'échange à deux états. L'incorporation de Mn dans les boîtes de Ge a été effectuée par croissance par jets moléculaire (MBE) de GeMn. Des précipités de SiMn sont formés pour des températures de croissance de 380 °C. La diminution de la température de croissance à 220 °C permet de limiter la ségrégation latérale de Mn et d'incorporer le Mn dans les QDs de Ge. Les compositions chimiques absolues obtenues par STEM-EELS prouvent que la densité atomique totale dans les NCs de GeMn est presque deux fois supérieure par rapport à la matrice de Ge. Des études structurales par HRTEM montrent les NCs cristallines sont très désordonnées. Les observations expérimentales peuvent être modélisées par une structure de phase α modifié, si des variants sont introduits pour annuler des réflexions de Bragg et des atomes de Ge sont substitués par des atomes de Mn. Les propriétés structurales et magnétiques de films GeSnMn croît par MBE à basse température (LTMBE) ont été étudiées. De manière similaire aux films GeMn, les atomes de Mn diffusent pendant la croissance et s'agrègent pour former des NCs de quelques nanomètres de diamètre, alignées verticalement et riche en Mn. Les observations TEM en vue plane montrent clairement que l'incorporation de Sn n'est pas homogène avec des concentrations en Sn dans les NCs inférieures à la limite de détection de l'EELS. La matrice présente une solution solide tandis qu'une coquille riche en Sn est formée autour des NCs de GeMn. La magnétisation dans les couches de GeSnMn est plus élevée que dans celles de GeMn. L'augmentation du moment magnétique dans les couches de GeSnMn est probablement due à la modification de la structure électronique des atomes de Mn in the NCs par la coquille de Sn. / In this work, different system have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods: Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on amorphous carbon, Ge quantum dots (QDs), Mn incorporation in Ge QDs and GeMn nanocolumns (NCs) embedded in Ge or GeSn matrix. The coarsening of Pt NPs on amorphous carbon film was studied by high resolution TEM (HRTEM) after annealing at temperatures between 200°C and 300°C for periods of up to 160 hours. A significant increase of the average particle size is observed with increasing annealing time for all investigated temperatures. An in-situ annealing experiment reveals two coarsening stages. The first coarsening stage is dominated by Smoluchowski ripening whereas the second coarsening stage is dominated by surface Ostwald ripening. The Arrhenius-type dependence of the derived surface mass-transport coefficients yields an activation energy Ed = 0.84 ± 0.08 eV/atom for the surface diffusion of Pt atoms on an amorphous carbon substrate. Advanced TEM methods have be used to obtain direct determination of composition profiles with atomic resolution and large field of view by correlation of high angle annular dark field (HAADF) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) signals. This method was used to obtain a direct and precise quantification of Ge concentration at the atomic level for the SiGe system. The Ge concentration profile along the growth direction was explained by Ge surface segregation during the growth with a two-state exchange model. The incorporation of Mn in Ge QDs have been performed by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of GeMn. At growth temperature of 380°C, SiMn precipitates are formed. Lowering the growth temperature at 220°C allows limiting the lateral segregation of Mn in Ge and incorporating Mn in Ge QDs. Absolute chemical composition by STEM-EELS evidenced that the total atomic density in Ge(Mn) NCs is almost two times higher than in the Ge matrix. Structural analysis by HRTEM shows that the crystalline NCs exhibit a high degree of disorder. Experimental observation can be model with a modified α-phase structure if variants are introduced to cancel reflexions and Ge atoms are substituted by Mn atoms. The structural and magnetic properties of GeSnMn films grown on Ge(001) by low temperature MBE (LTMBE) have been studied. Like in Ge(Mn) films, Mn atoms diffuse during the growth and aggregate into vertically aligned Mn-rich NCs of a few nanometers in diameter. TEM observations in plane view clearly indicate that the Sn incorporation is not uniform with concentration in Mn rich vertical NCs lower than the EELS detection limit. The matrix exhibits a GeSn solid solution while there is a Sn-rich GeSn shell around GeMn NCs. The magnetization in GeSnMn layers is higher than in GeMn films. This magnetic moment enhancement in GeSnMn is probably related to the modification of the electronic structure of Mn atoms in the NCs by the Sn-rich shell, which is formed around the NCs.

Submitted by Maike Costa (maiksebas@gmail.com) on 2017-06-06T14:46:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3774616 bytes, checksum: 0876fb49507ce01bcd8d4756cb29ba71 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-06T14:46:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3774616 bytes, checksum: 0876fb49507ce01bcd8d4756cb29ba71 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The superoxide anion is among the reactive oxygen species closely related to physiopathological states associated with oxidative stress. The physiological superoxide levels are controlled in vivo by the superoxide dismutase enzymes (SOD). Pentacationic Mn porphyrins derived from 2-N-alkylpyridylporphyrins have been explored as potent SOD mimics and efficient redox modulators of oxidative stress. The in vivo efficiency of these compounds is related with their intrinsic catalytic activity, lipophilicity, bioavailability, and toxicity. The present study describes the synthesis of two A3B-type neutral porphyrins of low symmetry (A = 2-pyridyl, B = 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl or 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl), the methylation of these compounds to yield tricationic porphyrins and the preparation of the corresponding tetracationic Mn(III) porphyrins; overall, 8 new compounds are described: 5-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(2-pyridyl)porphyrin (H2VanTri-2-PyP), 5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(2-pyridyl)porphyrin (H2MVanTri-2-PyP), 5-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(N-methylpiridinium-2-yl)porphyrin chloride (H2VanTriM-2-PyPCl3), 5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(N-methylpiridinium-2-yl)porphyrin chloride (H2MVanTriM-2-PyPCl3), 5-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(2-pyridyl)porphinatomanganese(III) (MnVanTri-2-PyPCl), 5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(2-pyridyl)porphinatomanganese(III) chloride (MnMVanTri-2-PyPCl), 5-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(N-methylpiridinium-2-yl)porphinatomanganese(III) chloride (MnVanTriM-2-PyPCl4) and 5-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(N-methylpiridinium-2-yl)porphinatomanganese(III) chloride (MnMVanTriM-2-PyPCl4). The spectroscopic, electrochemical properties and lipophilicity of all compounds were compared with A4-type 2-N-pyridyl porphyrin analogues. The monocationic compounds MnVanTri-2-PyP+ and MnMVanTri-2-PyP+ showed too low Mn(III)/Mn(II) reduction potential incompatible with superoxide dismuting activity, whereas the tetracationic complexes MnVanTriM-2-PyP4+ and MnMVanTriM-2-PyP4+ showed potential values suitable for the development these compounds as SOD mimics based on structure-activity relationships reported for analogous systems. The lipophilicity of MnVanTriM-2-PyP4+ and da MnMVanTriM-2-PyP4+ suggests promising bioavailability for in vitro and in vivo testing. / O ânion radical superóxido constitui uma das espécies reativas de oxigênio intimamente relacionada a estados fisiopatológicos associados ao estresse oxidativo. Os níveis fisiológicos do superóxido são controlados in vivo pelas enzimas Superóxido Dismutases (SOD). Mn-porfirinas pentacatiônicas derivadas das 2-N-alquilpiridilporfirinas têm se destacado como mímicos potentes das enzimas SOD e, por sua vez, potentes moduladores redox de estresse oxidativo. A eficiência in vivo destes compostos está relacionada à atividade catalítica intrínseca, à lipofilicidade, à biodisponibilidade e à toxicidade. No presente estudo, descreve-se a síntese de 2 porfirinas neutras de baixa simetria do tipo A3B (A = 2-piridil, B = 3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenil ou 3,4-dimetoxifenil), a metilação destes compostos para obtenção de porfirinas tricatiônicas e a preparação das Mn(III) porfirinas tetracatiônicos correspondentes; ao todo são descritos 8 compostos inéditos: 5-(3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(2-piridil)porfirina (H2VanTri-2-PyP), 5-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(2-piridil)porfirina (H2MVanTri-2-PyP), cloreto de 5-(3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(N-metilpiridinio-2-il)porfirina (H2VanTriM-2-PyPCl3), cloreto de 5-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(N-metilpiridinio-2-il)porfirina (H2MVanTriM-2-PyPCl3), cloreto de 5-(3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(2-piridil)porfirinatomanganês(III) (MnVanTri-2-PyPCl), cloreto de 5-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(2-piridil)porfirinatomanganês(III) (MnMVanTri-2-PyPCl), cloreto de 5-(3-metoxi-4-hidroxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(N-metilpiridinio-2-il)porfirinatomanganês(III) (MnVanTriM-2-PyPCl4) e cloreto de 5-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)-10,15,20-tris(N-metilpiridinio-2-il)porfirinatomanganês(III) (MnMVanTriM-2-PyPCl4). As propriedades espectroscópicas, eletroquímicas e de lipofilicidade de todos os compostos foram comparadas com os derivados das 2-N-piridilporfirinas análogas do tipo A4. Os complexos monocatiônicos MnVanTri-2-PyP+ e MnMVanTri-2-PyP+ apresentam potenciais de redução Mn(III)/Mn(II) muito baixos para catalisarem a dismutação do superóxido, enquanto os complexos tetracatiônicos MnVanTriM-2-PyP4+ e MnMVanTriM-2-PyP4+ apresentaram potenciais apropriados para o desenvolvimento de mímicos SOD com base nas relações estrutura-atividade reportadas para sistemas correlatos. A lipofilicidade da MnVanTriM-2-PyP4+ e da MnMVanTriM-2-PyP4+ sugere que os compostos têm biodisponibilidade promissora para testes in vitro e in vivo.

As ligas do sistema Fe-Mn-Al-C constituem-se numa das famílias mais promissoras para o atendimento dos requisitos crescentes de disponibilidade de aços com altas relações resistência/peso, principalmente nas indústrias de transporte aeronáutica e automotiva, visando a redução no consumo de combustível e a consequente emissão de CO2. Suas densidades, cerca de 10% a 13% inferiores aos dos aços convencionais e a possibilidade de aumento de resistência mecânica por tratamentos de endurecimento pela precipitação de carboneto k (Fe,Mn)Al3C possibilitam a obtenção de elevadas resistências específicas. O uso de técnicas da Engenharia de Superfícies, associadas aos tratamentos térmicos adequados, podem ampliar a faixa de desempenho dessas ligas. Neste trabalho foram realizados tratamentos termoquímicos de boretação em sais fundidos, nitrocementação a plasma e cromização por pó em amostras de um aço com a composição Fe-31,2Mn-7,5Al-1,3Si-0,9C (% em peso), visando à obtenção de camadas de elevados desempenhos mecânicos e físicos. As camadas produzidas foram caracterizadas por meio de ensaios micrográficos, de dureza, desgaste e corrosão. Todos os tipos de tratamentos produziram camadas com resistências ao desgaste muito superiores às do substrato, com destaque para os tratamentos de boretação e de cromização, que produziram camadas com resistências ao desgaste cerca de nove e seis vezes superiores às do substrato, respectivamente. O tratamento de cromização produziu camada com resistência à corrosão por pites muito superior à do substrato. / The alloys of the Fe-Mn-Al-C system belong to one of the most promising families to meet the increasing requirements of availability of steels with high resistance/weight ratio, particularly in the aeronautics and automotive industries, aimed at reducing the consumption of fuel and consequent CO2 emissions. Their densities, between 10% to 13% lower than those of conventional steels, and the possibility of increased strength by hardening treatment by the precipitation of k carbides (Fe, Mn)Al3C, allow to obtain high specific resistance. The use of techniques of surface engineering, attached to suitable heat treatment, can extend the performance range of these alloys. In this work were carried out thermochemical boriding treatment in molten salts, plasma nitrocarburizing and pack chromizing in a Fe-31,2Mn 7,5Al-1,3Si-0,9C(wt%) steel, in order to obtain coatings with high mechanical and physical performances. The layers produced were characterized using micrographic, hardness, wear and corrosion tests. All treatments produced layers with wear resistance superior to that the substrate, especially the boriding and chromizing treatments, which produced layers with wear resistance around nine and six times higher than that of substrate, respectively. The chromizing treatment produced layer with pitting corrosion resistance superior to that of the substrate.

Reações de O-desmetilação oxidativa estão entre as várias oxidações realizadas pelas enzimas do citocromo P-450. Entretanto, poucos estudos de O-desmetilação catalisadas por enzimas do citocromo P-450 ou modelos químicos baseados em metaloporfirinas sintéticas têm resultado em dúvidas acerca do mecanismo da O-desmetilação destes compostos orgânicos. Neste trabalho, foi estudada a O-desmetilação oxidativa, com PhIO, do benzil metil éter e alguns de seus derivados para substituídos (com os grupos doadores de elétrons -OCH3 e -CH3 e os grupos retiradores -NO2 e -Cl) catalisada pelas Mn(III)P [Mn(TPP)]Cl, [Mn{T(4-N-MePy)P}](PF6)5, [Mn(TMP)]Cl, [Mn(TDCSPP)]Cl e [Mn(TFPP)]Cl para verificar o efeito destes diferentes catalisadores na conversão e seletividade de produtos da O-desmetilação oxidativa e avaliar o efeito dos diversos substituintes citados no mecanismo de O-desalquilação. Inicialmente, realizou-se o estudo das oxidações catalíticas do metil benzil éter. Todas as reações catalisadas pelas MnP se mostram seletivas, sendo que o benzaldeído foi o produto comum a todas as oxidações. A melhor condição encontrada foi 1:50:1224 (catalisador/oxidante/substrato). Em relação às reações com os substratos contendo os substituintes na posição -para, as reações de oxidações catalíticas do p-metóxibenzil metil éter por PhIO não se mostraram tão seletivas quanto as do metil benzil éter, mostrando claramente que o grupo metóxi alterou a reatividade do aril éter original. Mesmo assim, o p-metoxibenzaldeído ainda foi o produto principal, sendo a conversão ao álcool p-metoxibenzílico observada em escala menor. Já com o substrato p-nitrobenzil metil éter, novamente o efeito provocado pelo substituinte na posição para no anel benzênico pôde ser percebida na distribuição final dos produtos, sendo que houve seletividade total para a formação de p-nitrobenzaldeído em detrimento ao álcool p-nitrobenzóico. Em relação aos dois últimos substratos da série proposta, metil p-metilbenzil éter e metil p-clorobenzil éter, de um modo geral, as reações realizadas com o p-clorobenzil metil éter não se mostraram tão seletivas quanto as do metil p-nitrobenzil éter, mostrando que o grupo cloro aumentou a reatividade do cloroéter em relação ao éter com o substituinte nitro- original. Mesmo assim, o p-clorobenzaldeído foi o produto principal, sendo a conversão ao álcool p-clorobenzílico observada em menor escala. Em relação às reações de oxidação do p-metilbenzil metil éter, observou-se que os resultados experimentais são semelhantes aos encontrados para o metil benzil éter. Esses resultados corroboram o principal mecanismo proposto para os sistemas modelo do citocromo P-450 que envolve abstração inicial do átomo de hidrogênio, o mecanismo por recombinação de oxigênio. / O-dealkylation oxidative reactions are among the several oxidations accomplished by the cytochrome P-450 enzymes. However, few studies on O-dealkylation catalyzed by such enzymes or chemical models based on synthetic metalloporphyrins have resulted in doubts concerning the mechanism of these reactions involving organic compounds. In this work, we studied the oxidative O-dealkylation by PhIO of benzyl methyl ether and some of its para-substituted derivatives (with the electron donor groups -OCH3 and -CH3 and the electronwithdrawing groups -NO2 and -Cl) catalyzed by the following Mn(III)P: [Mn(TPP)]Cl, [Mn{T(4-N-MePy)P}] (PF6)5, [Mn(TMP)]Cl, [Mn(TDCSPP)] Cl, and [Mn(TFPP)]Cl. Our aim was to verify the effect of these different catalysts on the conversion yields and product selectivity, as well as evaluate the effect of the several substituents on the ether on the O-dealkylation mechanism. We initially studied the catalytic oxidation of methyl benzyl ether. All the reactions catalyzed by the various MnPs were selective, and benzaldehyde was the product common to all oxidations. The best reaction condition was catalyst/oxidant/substrate molar ration = 1:50:1224. As for the reactions with the substituted substrates, the catalytic oxidation of p-methoxybenzyl methyl ether by PhIO was not as selective as the ones of methyl benzyl ether, clearly showing that the methoxy group affects the reactivity of the original aryl ether. Nevertheless, p-methoxybenzaldehyde was still the main product, being the conversion to p-methoxybenzylic alcohol observed in minor amount. With the substrate p-nitrobenzyl methyl ether, the effect of the electronwithdrawing substituent in the para- position of the aromatic ring could be observed in the final product distribution once again, and total selectivity toward the formation of p-nitrobenzaldehyde to the detriment of p-nitrobenzoic alcohol was observed. In relation to the two last substrates of the proposed series, the methyl p-methylbenzyl and methyl p-chlorobenzyl ethers, the reactions accomplished with p-chlorobenzyl methyl ether were not as selective as the ones carried out with methyl p-nitrobenzyl ether, showing that the chloro group increased the reactivity of the chloro-ether in relation to the ether with the original nitro- substituent. Even so, p-chlorobenzaldehyde was the main product, being the conversion to the p-chlorobenzylic alcohol observed in smaller amount. Concerning the oxidation reactions of p-methylbenzyl methyl ether, the experimental results were similar to those obtained in the case of methyl benzyl ether. These results corroborate the main mechanism proposed for the cytochrome P-450 model systems, which involves initial hydrogen atom abstraction, followed by oxygen rebound.

Um den ständig steigenden Energiebedarf durch Kälteanlagen wie Kühlschränke oder Klimaanlagen zu verringern, sind in den vergangenen Jahren Kühlprozesse in den Mittelpunkt aktueller Forschungen gerückt, die auf Phasenumwandlungen in Festkörpern beruhen. Ein Beispiel dafür sind magnetokalorische Materialien, zu denen auch das in der vorliegenden Arbeit untersuchte Ni-Mn-Ga-Co gehört. In dieser Heusler-Legierung tritt eine Phasenumwandlung erster Ordnung von einer ferromagnetischen, kubischen Hochtemperaturphase (Austenit) in eine tetragonal verzerrte Tieftemperaturphase (Martensit) mit geringerer Magnetisierung auf. Der Unterschied in den Magnetisierungen beider Phasen erlaubt es auch, diese Phasenumwandlung durch ein Magnetfeld zu induzieren. Hierbei kühlt sich das Material durch eine Verringerung der Gitterentropie in dem System ab. Ein Nachteil von Phasenumwandlungen erster Ordnung ist die damit verbundene Hysterese. Außerdem lässt sich der magnetokalorische Effekt durch die scharfe Umwandlung nur in einem kleinen Temperaturbereich effektiv nutzen. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit besteht darin, anhand epitaktisch gewachsener Ni-Mn-Ga-Co-Schichten auf PMN-PT-Substraten zu untersuchen, ob und wie die Umwandlungstemperatur und damit auch die Hysterese der Heusler-Legierung durch mechanische Spannung beeinflusst werden kann. Dafür soll durch Anlegen eines elektrischen Feldes an das piezoelektrische Substrat die Ni-Mn-Ga-Co-Schicht reversibel mechanisch verspannt und die daraus resultierenden Veränderungen der strukturellen und magnetischen Eigenschaften untersucht werden. Im ersten Ergebnisteil wird zunächst gezeigt, dass epitaktische Ni-Mn-Ga-Co-Schichten auf PMN-PT wachsen können und diese einen strukturellen und magnetischen Phasenübergang zeigen. Eine Beeinflussung der bei Raumtemperatur vorliegenden Phase ist dabei über eine Variation der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Probe möglich. Im Anschluss werden die Auswirkungen eines angelegten elektrischen Feldes auf die strukturellen und magnetischen Eigenschaften analysiert. Röntgenuntersuchungen zeigen, dass die piezoelektrische Dehnung des Substrats vollständig auf das Ni-Mn-Ga-Co übertragen werden kann. Allerdings treten bei hohen Temperaturen aufgrund einer Phasenumwandlung im PMN-PT nichtlineare Dehnungseffekte auf. Eine Veränderung der Umwandlungstemperaturen durch die Dehnung des Ni-Mn-Ga-Co ist jedoch nicht möglich. Als wahrscheinliche Ursache dafür wird eine Besonderheit des martensitischen Gefüges der Ni-Mn-Ga-Co-Schichten diskutiert. Im Austenit wurde jedoch eine vollständig reversible Änderung der Magnetisierung um bis zu 7 % gemessen. Diese Magnetisierungsänderung bietet einen interessanten Anknüpfungspunkt für weitergehende Untersuchungen dieses Systems für multikalorische Anwendungen.

Photosynthetic water oxidation to yield the oxygen of the atmosphere is of paramount biological and also technical relevance, in the light of decreasing fossil fuel reserves. The splitting of water into hydrogen (on carriers) and oxygen takes place in a multimeric protein called Photosystem II (PSII). The rigorous understanding of nature´s solution for this thermodynamically and mechanistically highly demanding reaction is one approach towards the construction of an artificial hydrogen technology under exploitation of almost unlimited energy sources, sunlight and an ubiquitous substrate, water. This thesis aims at two aspects: (i) Electron and proton transferring amino acids and (ii) so far undetected chemical intermediates between water and O2(i) D1-Glu189 has been claimed to be involved (a) in the proton conducting network around the Mn4Ca-cluster and (b) as a direct ligand to Mn. We exchanged the negative Glu against the positive Arg or Lys or the neutral Glu without any effect on the relaxation times (ns-ms) of the various electron transfers in PSII. Our data exclude these postulated roles of D1-Glu189 and qualify a recently published structural model.(ii) Dioxygen is produced in what seems to be a single reaction step, although it involves the transfer of four electrons from bound water to the fourfold oxidised catalytic centre. No chemical intermediate (e.g. peroxide) has been detected by high resolving optical and magnetical spectroscopy. To overcome the detection problem of short lived intermediates we pushed the process backward by elevated oxygen pressure and found the first evidence for such an intermediate. The astonishing half suppression of oxygen evolution at only 2.3 bar O2 emphasised the small driving force of this important reaction. PSII operates at the energetic limits; this is why the atmospheric oxygen level cannot be pushed much above the present level.

No description available.

No description available.

Oxyborate minerals can represent the most important sink for boron in silica-undersaturated mineralised systems such as those of the Långban-type. Yet, their distribution, characteristics and parageneses are still not completely known. In order to test the hypothesis that the chemical compositions of oxyborates are essentially reflecting their local environments, the present study was set up. Additional observations regarding their assemblages, textures and structure would allow for a broader understanding of their formation and paragenetic interrelationships. A representative selection of Mg-(Fe-Mn) oxyborates and associated minerals have been characterised using optical microscopy, field emission electron probe microanalysis (FE-EPMA) with wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS), and Raman spectroscopy. The studied samples are from a suite of carbonate-hosted Fe-Mn oxide deposits in the western part of the Palaeoproterozoic Bergslagen ore province, in south central Sweden and include the minerals blatterite [(Mn2+,Mg)35(Mn3+,Fe3+)9Sb5+3(BO3)16O32], fredrikssonite [Mg2(Mn3+,Fe3+)BO5], chemically variable ludwigites [c. (Mg,Fe2+)2Fe3+BO5], orthopinakiolite [(Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+BO5] and pinakiolite [(Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn3+,Sb5+)BO5]. The results show a correlation between the cation distribution in the oxyborates fredrikssonite, ludwigite, orthopinakiolite as well as pinakiolite, and their associated metal oxides consisting of hausmannite and spinel group minerals. This combined with the textural relationships of the phases suggests that the bulk contents of magnesium, manganese and iron in the oxyborates were sequestered from these pre-existing metal oxides. The chemically broad range of hausmannite and spinel group minerals associated with specifically fredrikssonite and ludwigite agrees with their more frequent general occurrence, compared to orthopinakiolite and pinakiolite. Raman spectroscopy verified the structural character of the studied oxyborates and indicates a potential connection between the presence of manganese and whether local BO33- ions are allowed to be positioned in symmetry sites which result in a split E´ mode. The results from this study contribute to the understanding of this family of minerals and their potential diversity in mineralised systems, and form a fundamental prerequisite for their potential application for boron isotope studies. / Mineral är kemiska föreningar eller rena grundämnen som har en väldefinierad kemisk sammansättning, ordnad kristallstruktur och är bildade av geologiska processer. Oxyborater är en typ av sådana föreningar vilka innehåller grundämnena bor och syre samt olika kombinationer av metalliska grundämnen. Oxyboratmineral kan bland annat bildas i och omkring malmfyndigheter där grundämnet kisel är ovanligt eller icke förekommande, och kan utgöra de viktigaste borföreningarna i vissa sådana miljöer. Genom att bättre förstå denna typ av mineral och de kemiska och bildningsmässiga samband som finns mellan dem och andra föreningar kan vi få en större kunskap om hur de bildas, samt hur olika grundämnen kan omfördelas i sådana geologiska system. I denna studie har ett representativt urval av oxyborater undersökts med hjälp av mikroskopi och mikrokemiska samt spektroskopiska metoder för att testa huruvida deras kemiska sammansättning är direkt kopplad till den lokala miljön. De studerade proven kommer från karbonatbundna mineraliseringar i den västra delen av malmprovinsen Bergslagen i södra Mellansverige. De mineral som undersökts närmre är oxyboraterna blatterit, fredrikssonit, ludwigit, ortopinakiolit och pinakiolit. Resultaten visar på direkta kemiska samband mellan uppträdandet av fredrikssonit, ludwigit, ortopinakiolit samt pinakiolit, och de lokalt bergartsbildande mineral som de samexisterar med. Den breda kemiska fördelningen hos de metall- och syreföreningar som finns i samma omgivning som fredrikssonit och ludwigit förklarar också varför dessa två oxyborater generellt är mera vanligt förekommande än ortopinakiolit och pinakiolit. De spektroskopiska analyserna verifierar den tidigare klassificeringen av de studerade oxyboraterna samt visar på ett möjligt samband mellan innehållet av metallen mangan, samt hur grundämnet bor förekommer i deras kristallstruktur. Resultaten från denna studie bidrar med en kombination av nya kemiska, paragenetiska och spektroskopiska data samt ökar förståelsen av dessa värdmineral för grundämnet bor i malmfyndigheter med låg eller ingen kiselhalt. Resultaten ger även en insikt i hur den kemiska sammansättningen potentiellt kan påverka kristallstrukturen hos dessa oxyborater.