Este trabalho apresenta o estudo das propriedades físicas de amostras de KxMoO2-? e MoOy. São reportados resultados de difratometria de raios X e de nêutrons, cálculo de densidade de estados pela teoria do funcional da densidade, medidas de espectroscopia de fotoemissão, resistividade elétrica, magnetização, calor específico e expansão térmica. Resultados de difratometria de raios X e de nêutrons, com ajustes baseados em simulações realizadas com o programa GSAS, permitiram selecionar as amostras monofásicas e de boa qualidade. As medidas de espectroscopia de fotoemissão mostram que a existência de alta fração Mo3+/Mo4+ em diversas amostras de KxMoO2-? e MoOy é a responsável pela anomalia da resistividade elétrica descrita pela lei de potência prevista no modelo do líquido de Luttinger (LL). A observação da anomalia nas curvas de resistividade elétrica em amostras de MoO2 deficientes em oxigênio suporta que tal comportamento está relacionado à presença de íons Mo3+ e não com a presença de K. Resultados de magnetização e resistividade elétrica confirmaram a existência de supercondutividade no sistema K-Mo-O. Foi observada que a temperatura crítica (TC) é função da composição inicial de K, sendo que foi encontrada a mais alta TC reportada para este sistema (TC ~9,5 K). Medidas de magnetização mostraram ainda a coexistência de supercondutividade e magnetismo no composto KxMoO2-?. Foi ainda observada uma transição do tipo metal de Bose para isolante em uma amostra de KxMoO2-? que reforça a evidência da formação de pares de Cooper nesse sistema. Por fim, medidas de calor específico, expansão térmica e resistividade elétrica evidenciaram a existência de uma transição de fase de primeira ordem em altas temperaturas (entre 250 e 270 K) tanto em amostras policristalinas de KxMoO2-? e MoOy quanto em monocristais de MoO2. A transição observada no MoO2 nunca foi reportada para este material. Esta transição é discutida com base na movimentação dos átomos de Mo existentes nas ligações unidimensionais de Mo-Mo e nas distorções dos octaedros de MoO6 presentes na sua estrutura cristalina. / This work presents the study of physical properties in polycrystalline samples of KxMoO2-?, and MoOy. We present results of X-ray and Neutrons diffraction patterns, density of states calculations by density functional theory, photoemission spectroscopy, electrical resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, and thermal expansion measurements. X-ray and neutrons diffraction results as well as calculations of the structure and diffractograms carried out by simulations using GSAS shown which the samples are high quality. Photoemission spectroscopy measurements shown the existence of Mo3+/Mo4+ in high fraction for KxMoO2-? and MoOy which are responsible to electrical anomalous behavior described by powder law predicted in the Luttinger Liquid theory. The observation of anomalous is related to Mo3+ ions in the samples. Magnetization and electrical resistivity confirm the existence of superconductivity in K-Mo-O system. It was observed that the critical temperature (TC) is a function of the starting composition of K and the higher TC found out and reported for this system (TC ~9.5 K). Magnetization measurements also have shown the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in KxMoO2-?. It was observed a Bose metal-insulator transition in K0.05MoO2-? which further evidence of the formation of Cooper pairs in the system. Finally, specific heat measurements, thermal expansion and electrical resistivity evidenced the existence of first order phase transition in high temperatures (between 250 and 270 K) in KxMoO2-? and MoOy polycrystalline as well as MoO2 single crystal. This transition is discussed looking for Mo atoms moving in the one-dimensional links Mo-Mo and of the distortions of MoO6 octahedra in the crystalline structure.

abstract: New sol-gel routes based on peroxo complexes of early transition metals in a highly acidic medium were developed, to prepare metal oxide phosphates that feature structural protons. A sol-gel synthetic route was chosen because it allows atomic level mixing of precursors and lower heating temperatures, which are preferable in exploring metastable phases. Titanium and molybdenum sol-gel chemistries were the focus of the initial studies and the synthesis of Ti1-xMoxP2O7 (x = 0 – 0.5) and Mo1-yTiyP2O8-y (y = 0 – 0.4) type metal oxide phosphates were explored. For the synthesis of the metal oxide phosphates, hydrogen peroxide was employed to prepare the respective precursor solutions. The peroxide ligand suppressed the immediate precipitation of metal cations in aqueous medium, by coordinating to Ti4+ and Mo6+ ions, and produced a soft wet-gel following polycondensation. Phosphoric acid was used to acidify the reaction medium and to provide protons and phosphate ions as structural components. From this synthetic route, a series of Ti1-xMoxP2O7 (x = 0 – 0.5) and Mo1-yTiyP2O8-y (y = 0 – 0.4) crystalline compounds, with various degrees of purity, were synthesized. For x = 0 and y = 0, the crystalline compounds TiP2O7 and MoP2O8 were produced, respectively, after calcining at 600 °C. In pursuit of new metastable molybdenum oxide phosphate compounds, peroxo-molybdenum precursor mixtures with different molar ratios were treated gently by low-temperature heating. After controlled drying in a lab oven, MoO2(H2O)(HPO4) crystals were obtained as a highly crystalline pure product instead of a gel. The dissolution of MoO2(H2O)(HPO4) in water and precipitation with a CsCl solution produced a new crystalline compound with a cubic unit cell (a = 11.8(2) Å). Further studies will lead to crystal structure determination and elucidation of the aqueous chemistry of MoO2(H2O)(HPO4). / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Chemistry 2018

Heterogeneous catalysts are key materials in research and industry. Herein we study two materials in different stages of development toward being applied as heterogeneous catalysts. First, MoO3SnO2 was synthesized and studied as a catalytic system similar to Sn-beta zeolites. While the Mo-based catalyst did not show similar activity to Sn-beta, it did show interesting reactivity in activating carbonyls and oxidizing organic substrates. Second, a method was developed for grafting amines onto carboxylic acid functionalized carbon nanotubes for CO2 capture. The method was successful for grafting monomer ethylamine groups onto CNT and can be further developed to allow for polymeric amine groups to be grafted.

In recent years, there has been increasing concern with respect to the large dependence across the globe on nonrenewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels. Ethanol has been explored, however, in alleviating this problem; cellulose, a polymer of glucose molecules, is a precursor to this potentially useful biofuel. However, the strength and rigidity of the cellulose structure has proven to be a difficult obstacle to overcome in this multistep synthesis. Harsh conditions are required, often including concentrated sulfuric acid and extremely high temperatures, to complete hydrolysis to a useful extent. In this work, the hydrolysis of cellulose was performed with acidic hydrogen molybdenum bronze in the form of XPell™ R by Xplosafe in place of sulfuric acid. By analyzing total organic carbon present in hydrolyzed samples (after 2 hours) using persulfate oxidation and colorimetric measurements, results were obtained showing that hydrogen molybdenum bronze is successful in catalyzing the hydrolysis of cellulose in comparison to hydrolysis completed in water alone. The values that were obtained in this analysis are as follows: 160 ± 20 ppt/mol at 40 °C, 180 ± 20 ppt/mol at 60 °C, 180 ± 30 ppt/mol at 80 °C, and 280 ± 40 ppt/mol at 100 °C. This determination shows that the catalytic ability of this acid increases with increasing temperature. Hydrogen molybdenum bronze is a useful candidate to explore in biofuel synthesis from cellulose. Comparison to sulfuric acid will be completed in future tests. This method is currently being used to pursue conversion of hydrolyzed cellulose to ethanol using yeast.

Les verres nucléaires sont synthétisés par réactions chimiques à haute température entre un précurseur vitreux (fritte de verre) et un déchet calciné (calcinat) dans un procédé de calcination-vitrification. Le déchet est d'abord séché et dénitré (calcination) avant d'être mélangé à la fritte de verre (vitrification). Une succession de processus physico-chimiques d'imprégnation, diffusion, cristallisation et dissolution, est mise en jeu afin d'intégrer les éléments présents dans le calcinat au sein du réseau vitreux. Ces réactions, dépendantes de la composition des précurseurs et des conditions d'élaboration, doivent être complètes afin d'assurer l'homogénéité du verre et garantir son comportement à long terme. Ce travail a pour objectif de déterminer les réactions chimiques entre les précurseurs et de quantifier les cinétiques réactionnelles afin d'identifier in fine les processus responsables de leur limitation. Un système simplifié constitué d'une fritte de verre de type alumino-borosilicate de sodium et d'un calcinat contenant du nitrate de sodium et de l'oxyde d'aluminium (composés majeurs présents dans les calcinats complexes) est complexifié progressivement afin de déterminer l'influence des éléments de faible solubilité, présents initialement dans les solutions de produits de fission à vitrifier. Les cas des oxydes de molybdène et de néodyme sont en particulier étudiés. Les conditions de formation (temps, température) des phases cristallines de type molybdates (sodium, calcium) et aluminates (sodium, néodyme) ainsi que leur domaine de stabilité dans les calcinats sont déterminés. Les cinétiques de dissolution de ces phases dans la fritte de verre sont modélisées. Il est montré que la dissolution du molybdène, mis en évidence sous forme Na2MoO4, est contrôlée d'une part par la solubilité thermodynamique du MoO3 dans le verre, indépendamment de la dissolution des aluminates de sodium. D'autre part, les cinétiques de dissolution de Na2MoO4 et des aluminates présentent un comportement arrhénien avec la température dont les valeurs des énergies d'activation sont proches de celles de la viscosité du verre. Ces travaux décrivent également les mécanismes de formation d'intermédiaires réactionnels à l'origine de la cristallisation de la " yellow phase " (riche en oxydes de molybdène, d'alcalins et d'alcalinoterreux) pouvant se former dans des verres plus complexes. / Nuclear waste glasses are produced by chemical reactions between a solid waste (calcine) and a glassy precursor (glass frit) through a high-temperature vitrification process. The waste is first dried and calcined (to lose water and nitrogen respectively), then mixed with the glass frit. A succession of physicochemical processes of impregnation, diffusion, crystallization and dissolution is involved in order to incorporate the radioactive elements within the glassy network. These reactions, which are dependent on the precursor composition and the synthesis conditions, must be complete to ensure the homogeneity of the glass and to guarantee its long-term behavior. The aim of this work is to determine the chemical reactions between the precursors and to quantify the reaction kinetics in order to identify the processes responsible for their limitation. A simplified system consisting of a sodium-aluminum borosilicate glass frit and a calcine containing sodium nitrate and aluminum oxide (the principal oxides present in complex calcines) is progressively complexified to determine the influence of low solubility elements initially present in the fission product solutions to be vitrified. The cases of molybdenum and neodymium oxides are the focus of attention. The formation conditions (time, temperature) of crystalline molybdates (sodium, calcium) and aluminates (sodium, neodymium) and their range of stability in the calcines are determined. The dissolution kinetics of these phases in the glass frit is modeled. It is shown that the dissolution of molybdenum, as Na2MoO4, is controlled by the thermodynamic solubility of MoO3 in the glass. It is independent of the sodium aluminate dissolution. For both, Na2MoO4 and sodium aluminates, dissolution reactions present an Arrhenian behaviour and the activation energies are close to that of the viscous flow. This work also describes the formation mechanisms of intermediate phases which can lead to the crystallization of the "yellow phase" (enriched in molybdenum, alkali and alkaline-earth oxides) that can form in more complex glasses.

This thesis describes the development of new adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric methods for reliable determination of some trace metals in biological and environmental materials on a glassy carbon mercury film electrode. In particular, the development of these methods involved selection of a suitable complexing agent for the respective metal ion studied, characterization of the electrode processes, investigation of factors affecting the voltammetric response such as concentration and pH of supporting electrolyte, concentration of complexing agent, accumulation potential, accumulation time and electrode rotation rate. Also, organic and inorganic interferences, linear concentration range, and detection limits were carefully considered. Furthermore, the analytical application of the method was demonstrated for each metal in biological and/or environmental materials, after optimization of the sample decomposition procedure. Some conclusions : the results obtained by the AdCSV method for the determination of tin in juices agreed reasonably with those obtained by atomic absorption method; the use of the adsorptive voltammetric technique after dry-ashing and UV treatment of the samples was successfully demonstrated for the determination of vanadium in standard reference materials such as urban particulate matter, peach leaves, apple leaves and bovine liver; and, the use of the adsorptive stripping voltammetric technique, after decomposition of samples by dry-ashing and UV treatment, was successfully demonstrated for the determination of molybdenum in peach leaves, apple leaves and bovine liver samples. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>Thin films of refractory metals and carbides have been studied extensively over many years because of their wide range of application. The two major techniques used are Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). These can result in the deposition of two-dimensional blanket or patterned thin films. Laser-assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (LCVD) can provide a maskless alternative for localised deposition in two and three dimensions. This thesis describes LCVD of micrometer-sized tungsten, molybdenum and tungsten carbide rods. The kinetics, phase composition and microstructure have been studied as a function of in situ measured laser induced deposition temperature.</p><p>Tungsten and molybdenum rods were deposited by hydrogen reduction of their corresponding hexafluorides, WF6 and MoF6, respectively. Single crystal and polycrystalline tungsten rods were obtained, depending on the H2/WF6 molar ratio and deposition temperature. The molybdenum rods were either single crystals or dendritic in form depending on experimental conditions. The field emission characteristics of the tungsten single crystals were investigated. The results showed LCVD to be a potential fabrication technique for field emitting cathodes.</p><p>Nanocrystalline tungsten carbide rods were deposited from WF6, C2H4 and H2. TEM analysis showed that the carbide rods exhibited a layered structure in terms of phase composition and grain size as a result of the temperature gradient induced by the laser beam. With decreasing WF6/C2H4 molar ratio, the carbon content in the rods increased and the phase composition changed from W/W2C to WC/WC1-x and finally to WC1-x/C.</p>

The structural and stress changes in molybdenum/amorphous silicon (Mo/a-Si) EUV reflecting multilayers during annealing at 316��C were studied. The amorphous interlayers, with an Mo:Si stoichiometry of 1:2, grew during annealing. The residual stresses in each component of the multilayer also changed significantly. Through high resolution electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and x-ray diffraction of the crystalline Mo, the biaxial tensile stresses were shown to increase from approximately two to about ten GPa in the lateral direction, parallel to the interface plane. The compressive strains developed in the vertical direction, perpendicular the interface plane, are consistent with a Poisson contraction calculated from bulk elastic properties. Laser deflectometry measurements of thicker (non-EUV, 0.1��m) amorphous silicon showed compressive stress relaxation in the amorphous silicon with annealing, which may also take place in the thin (EUV) silicon. The residual stress in a 40 bilayer EUV film changes from about -0.5 GPa to about +1.5 GPa. / Graduation date: 1996

Die ubiquitär verbreitete Molybdänkofaktorbiosynthese ist in Escherichia coli (E. coli) bisher am umfassendsten untersucht. Bislang war jedoch nicht bekannt, welche physiologische Schwefelquelle im zweiten Schritt dieses Syntheseweges zur Bildung der charakteristischen Dithiolengruppe genutzt wird. Erste Untersuchungen deuteten auf eine der Cysteindesulfurasen E. colis hin, welche in Verbindung mit einem rhodaneseähnlichen Protein den Schwefel in Form eines Persulfids übertragen. Ähnliche Mechanismen wurden bereits in der humanen Moco-Biosynthese und der Thiaminbiosynthese identifiziert. In dieser Arbeit wurde das E. coli Protein YnjE näher charakterisiert. Es handelt sich bei YnjE um ein rhodaneseähnliches Protein aus drei Rhodanesedomänen. Durch Proteinkristallisation und anschliessender Röntgenstrukturanalyse wurde die Tertiärstruktur des YnjE-Proteins analysiert. Die hergestellten Kristalle konnten zur Gewinnung von Strukturdaten vermessen und eine Proteinkristallstruktur für YnjE berechnet werden. Desweiteren besitzt YnjE ein N-terminales Typ I Sekretionssystem abhängiges Sipnalpeptid. Durch Lokalisieungsexperimente wurde die Bedeutung des Signalpeptids für das YnjE-Protein untersucht. Dabei wurde festgestellt, dass endogenes YnjE sowohl im peri- als auch im cytoplasmatischen Raum lokalisiert ist. Auf Grund von vorhergehenden Studien, wurde eine Funktion des YnjE-Proteins innerhalb der Molybdänkofaktorbiosynthese in der Schwefelübertragung auf das Protein MoaD in E. coli vermutet und deshalb in dieser Arbeit näher untersucht. Es wurde eine Interaktion des YnjE-Proteins mit dem MoeB-Protein, welches für die Thiocarboxylierung des MoaD-Proteins essentiell ist, durch Tandem-Affinitätsreinigung und Antikörper-basierte Affinitätsreinigung nachgewiesen und ein signifikanter positiver Einfluss YnjEs auf die Bildung von Molybdopterin, einer Vorstufe des Molybdänkofaktors, bestätigt. Dabei wurde sowohl der Sulfurierungsgrad des MoaD-Proteins in YnjE und Cysteindesulfurase-knock-out Mutanten untersucht, als auch die Bildung von Molybdopterin in einem in vitro Ansatz in Abhängigkeit von steigenden YnjE-Konzentrationen analysiert. Im Ergebnis kann man daraus schließen, dass der Mechanismus der Schwefelübertragung ähnlich der Thiaminbiosynthese, über eine der drei Cysteindesulfurasen CsdA, SufS oder IscS geschieht, welche Schwefel in Form eines Persulfids auf YnjE übertragen können. Thiosulfat und Mercaptopyruvat, die Substrate für die beiden Familien der rhodaneseähnlichen Proteine, Thiosulfat-Sulfurtransferasen und Mercaptopyruvat-Sulfurtransferasen, dienen nicht als Substrate für eine Persulfurierung YnjEs. Durch eine Austauschmutante des Cysteinrestes der aktiven Schleife von YnjE konnte nicht bestätigt werden, dass dieser Aminosäurerest und damit die Bildung eines YnjE-gebundenen Persulfids für die positive Beeinflussung der MPT-Synthese essentiell ist. Vielmehr kann durch diese Arbeit von einer Vermittlung der Interaktionen zwischen MoeB, IscS und der MPT-Synthase durch YnjE ausgegangen werden wobei die Cysteindesulfurase IscS den Schwefel für die Thiocarboxylierung des MoaD-Proteins liefert. / The rhodanese-like protein YnjE was characterized in this study. After protein christallization the stucture of the YnjE protein was analyzed. Subzellular localization experiments revealed, that the YnjE protein is present both in cytoplasm and periplasm. Interaction studies and in vitro synthesis of Molybdopterin revealed an influence of YnjE on Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthesis.A sulfur transfer from L-Cystein to YnjE by a Cystein desulfurase was not responsible for the the effects on Molybdenum Cofaktor Biosynthesis, since a YnjE cysteine 385 to alanine mutant showed the same effect on Molybdenum Cofaktor Biosynthesis.

Thin films of refractory metals and carbides have been studied extensively over many years because of their wide range of application. The two major techniques used are Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). These can result in the deposition of two-dimensional blanket or patterned thin films. Laser-assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (LCVD) can provide a maskless alternative for localised deposition in two and three dimensions. This thesis describes LCVD of micrometer-sized tungsten, molybdenum and tungsten carbide rods. The kinetics, phase composition and microstructure have been studied as a function of in situ measured laser induced deposition temperature. Tungsten and molybdenum rods were deposited by hydrogen reduction of their corresponding hexafluorides, WF6 and MoF6, respectively. Single crystal and polycrystalline tungsten rods were obtained, depending on the H2/WF6 molar ratio and deposition temperature. The molybdenum rods were either single crystals or dendritic in form depending on experimental conditions. The field emission characteristics of the tungsten single crystals were investigated. The results showed LCVD to be a potential fabrication technique for field emitting cathodes. Nanocrystalline tungsten carbide rods were deposited from WF6, C2H4 and H2. TEM analysis showed that the carbide rods exhibited a layered structure in terms of phase composition and grain size as a result of the temperature gradient induced by the laser beam. With decreasing WF6/C2H4 molar ratio, the carbon content in the rods increased and the phase composition changed from W/W2C to WC/WC1-x and finally to WC1-x/C.