This study reports the synthesis of graphene by oxidizing graphite to graphite oxide using H2SO4 and KMnO4 and reducing graphene oxide to graphene by using NaBH4. Graphene was then characterized using FT-IR, TEM, AFM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and solid state NMR. Nafion-Graphene in combination with a mercury film electrode, bismuth film electrode and antimony film electrode was used as a sensing platform for trace metal analysis in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6) at 120 s deposition time, using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Detection limits were calculated using 3σblank/slope. For practical applications recovery studies was done by spiking test samples with known concentrations of metal ions and comparing the results to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This was then followed by real sample analyses.

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Dept. of Chemistry) / This study reports the synthesis of graphene by oxidizing graphite to graphite oxide using H2SO4 and KMnO4 and reducing graphene oxide to graphene by using NaBH4. Graphene was then characterized using FT-IR, TEM, AFM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and solid state NMR. Nafion-Graphene in combination with a mercury film electrode, bismuth film electrode and antimony film electrode was used as a sensing platform for trace metal analysis in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6) at 120 s deposition time, using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Detection limits were calculated using 3σblank/slope. For practical applications recovery studies was done by spiking test samples with known concentrations of metal ions and comparing the results to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). This was then followed by real sample analyses. / South Africa

Avec le développement de l’internet des objets et l’augmentation des applications sans fil, les antennes sont de plus en plus présentes au quotidien. Cependant, l’implantation de ces antennes est un challenge tant d’un point de vue technologique (intégration des antennes dans les dispositifs), que psychologique (acceptabilité des antennes par le grand public). Dans ce contexte, le développement d’antennes optiquement transparentes permet non seulement leur implantation sur de nouvelles surfaces (vitrages d’immeubles, écrans de smartphones ...), mais promeut aussi leur acceptabilité par le grand public grâce à leur faible impact visuel. Ce travail présente la conception, la fabrication et la caractérisation d’antennes actives optiquement transparentes. Le matériau transparent et conducteur utilisé est un maillage métallique à pas micrométrique développé spécifiquement, alliant conductivité électrique et transparence optique élevées. Dans ce cadre, un premier prototype d’antenne transparente et miniature en bande FM utilisant un transistor MESFET de dimensions sub-millimétriques a été réalisé. Des antennes agiles en fréquence en bande X (~10 GHz) couplées, soit à une diode varicap localisée (agilité ~10%), soit à un matériau ferroélectrique (agilité ~2%), ont été développées et étudiées. Une antenne passive transparente a été conçue en bande V (~60 GHz). Enfin, une transition optique (1540 nm) / hyperfréquence (1,4 GHz) a été réalisée et caractérisée, basée sur la transmission optique d’un faisceau laser au travers du matériau constitutif de l’antenne. Pour l’ensemble des prototypes réalisés, une transparence optique supérieure à 80% dans le domaine du visible associée à une résistance par carré inférieure à 0,1 ohm/sq ont été utilisées. / Within the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the increase of the wireless communications, antennas are even more present on everyday life. However, antenna implementation is a real challenge, from a technological point of view (antenna integration into the devices) and from a psychological point of view (acceptability by the general public). Within this framework, the development of optically transparent antennas on new surfaces (glass windows, smartphone screens . . . ) is of great interest to improve the network coverage and to assist the general public in acceptability thanks to the low visual impact of such printed antennas. The present work deals with the design, the fabrication and the characterization of optically transparent and active antennas. The transparent and conducting material used is a micrometric mesh metal film specifically developed, associating high electrical conductivity and high optical transparency. A first optically transparent and miniature FM antenna based on a MESFET transistor with micrometric size has been designed and fabricated. Frequency agile antennas operating in X-band (~10 GHz), based on a beam-lead varactor (agility ~10%) and on a ferroelectric material agility ~2%), have been developed and characterized. An optically transparent and passive antenna has been studied in V-band (~60 GHz). At last, optics (1540 nm) / microwave (1.4 GHz) transition has been performed based on the transmission of a laser beam through the transparent antenna. For all prototypes, an optical transparency level higher than 80% coupled with a sheet resistance value lower than 0.1 ohm/sq have been used.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / In this study multilayer graphene nanosheets was synthesize by oxidizing graphite to graphene oxide using H2SO4 and KMnO4 followed by reduction of graphene oxide to graphene using NaBH4. The graphene nanosheets were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). HRTEM images showed that the multilayer graphene were obtained. The graphene was immobilized directly onto a glassy carbon electrode using the drop coating technique followed by the in situ deposition of mercury, bismuth or antimony thin films to afford graphene modified glassy carbon metal film electrodes (Gr-GC-MEs). The experimental parameters (deposition potential, deposition time, rotation speed, frequency and amplitude) were optimized, and the applicability of the modified electrode was investigated towards the individual and simultaneous determination of Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ at the low concentration levels (μg L-1) in 0.1 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6) using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The detection limits values for the Gr-GC-HgE was 0.08, 0.05 and 0.14 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. The Gr-GC-BiE the detection limits for was 0.12, 0.22 and 0.28 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ while the detection limits for the Gr-GC-SbE was 0.1, 0.3 and 0.3 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. A Gr-GCE prepared without any binding agents or metal film had detection limits for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ of 3.9, 0.8 and 0.2 μg L-1 for Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+. Real sample analysis of which was laboratory tap water was performed using the Gr-GCMEs. Only Gr-GC-HgE was sensitive enough to detect metal ions in the tap water samples at the 3ppb level whereas, the GC-BiE and GC-SbE detected the metal ions at the 10 μg L-1 to 30 μg L-1 level.