Ce travail de thèse est focalisé sur l'interaction de molécules organométalliques avec des métaux de transition. Cette thématique a un large éventail d'applications dans plusieurs domaines tels que la réalisation de nanojonctions pour la nano-électronique, la bioimagerie et le stockage d'énergie magnétique, la nano-catalyse et les applications biomédicales. Dans ce cadre général, ce projet de thèse vise la modélisation à l’échelle atomique des interactions fondamentales entre les briques moléculaires afin de comprendre leur rôle dans l’assemblage et la fonctionnalisation des nanostructures. L’outil principal utilisé est la dynamique moléculaire à partir des premiers principes selon les approches Born-Oppenheimer et Car-Parrinello. La première partie de cette thèse présente une rétrospective du domaine afin de donner une vision d’ensemble des méthodes utilisées et de l’état de l’art dans ce domaine. Le deuxième chapitre donne les éléments de base de la théorie et les méthodes qui ont été utilisées dans la thèse, au développement desquels on a aussi contribué pendant ce projet de recherche. Les résultats obtenus et leur discussion critique constituent le corps principal de cette ouvrage de thèse. Ceci est organisé dans un chapitre unique (troisième chapitre), divisé en trois sous-chapitre pour des raisons de clarté. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the interaction of organometallic complexes with transition metals. This topic in question has a broad array of applications in a number of domain; realization of nanojunctions for molecular nanoelectronics, biological imaging and nanocatalysis. Within this general framework, this PhD project aims to model the fundamental interactions of molecular building blocks at the atomic level in order to understand their role in the assembly and functionalization of nanostructures. The principal tool used in this study is first-principles simulation methods such as the Born-Oppenheimer and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. The first chapter presents an emphasis of the current developments in the related field alongside of a retrospective on the historical developments that leads today's knowledge. The second chapter presents the basic elements of the theory behind the methods that were used in the thesis, whose development has also been contributed during this research project. Lastly, the third chapter which is organized in three sub-chapters enumerates and describes the results of the various systems studied.Molecular dynamics, constrained dynamics, molecular electronics, molecular junctions, ferrocene, fullerene, metal-organic precursors.

This thesis describes the design, fabrication and characterization of AlGaN/GaN Heterostructure Field E ect Transistors (HFETs) grown by a Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) on sapphire substrates. The objective of this research is to develop AlGaN/GaN power devices with high breakdown voltage (greater than 1 kV) and low turn-on resistance. Various characteristics such as current drive (Idss), transconductance (gm) and threshold voltage (Vth) have also been measured and the results have been discussed. Two major challenges with the development of high breakdown voltage AlGaN/GaN HFETs in the past have been high material defect density and non-optimized fabrication technologies which gives rise to bu er leakage and surface leakage, respectively. In this thesis, mesa isolation, ohmic and gate metal contacts, and passivation techniques, have been discussed to improve the performance of these power transistors in terms of low contact resistance and low gate leakage. The relationship between breakdown voltage and Rds(ON)A with respect to the gate-drain length (Lgd) is also discussed. First, unit cell devices were designed (two-fingered cells with Wg = 100, 300, 400 m) and characterized, and then they were extended to form large area devices (upto Wg = 40 mm). The design goals were classied into three parts: - High Breakdown Voltage: This was achieved by designing devices with variations in Lgd, - Low turn-on resistance: This was achieved by optimizing the annealing temperatures as well as incorporating additional thick metal pads, as well as optimizing the passivation etch recipe, - Low Gate Leakage: The gate leakage was reduced signicantly by using a gate metal with a larger barrier height. All devices with Lgd larger than 10 m exhibited excellent breakdown voltage characteristics of over 800 V, and it progressed as the Lgd increased. The turn-on resistance was also reduced signicantly below 20 m-cm2, for devices with Lgd = 15, 25, and 20 m. The gate leakage was measured for all devices upto 200 V, and was in the range of 10-100 nA, which is one of the best values reported for multi-ngered devices with Lgd in the range of 2.4-5 mm. Some of the key challenges faced in fabrication were determining a better gate metal layer to reduce gate leakage, optimizing the passivation via etch recipe, and reducing surface leakage.

The main theme of this dissertation is to engineer nanoporous materials and nanostructured surfaces for applications in gas separation membranes. Tunable methods have been developed to create inorganic hydroxide nanostructures on zeolite surfaces, and used to control the inorganic/polymer interfacial morphology in zeolite/polymer composite membranes. The study of the structure-property relationships in this material system showed that appropriate tuning of the surface modification methods leads to quite promising structural and permeation properties of the membranes made with the modified zeolites. First, a facile solvothermal deposition process was developed to prepare roughened inorganic nanostructures on zeolite pure silica MFI crystal surfaces. The functionalized zeolite crystals resulted in high-quality ̒mixed matrix̕ membranes, wherein the zeolite crystals were well-adhered to the polymeric matrix. Substantially enhanced gas separation characteristics were observed in mixed matrix membranes containing solvothermally modified MFI crystals. Gas permeation measurements on membranes containing nonporous uncalcined MFI revealed that the performance enhancements were due to significantly enhanced MFI-polymer adhesion and distribution of the MFI crystals. Solvothermal deposition of inorganic nanostructures was successfully applied to aluminosilicate LTA surfaces. Solvothermal treatment of LTA was tuned to deposit smaller/finer Mg(OH)₂ nanostructures, resulting in a more highly roughened zeolite surface. Characterization of particles and mixed matrix membranes revealed that the solvothermally surface-treated LTA particles were promising for application in mixed matrix membranes. Zeolite LTA materials with highly roughened surfaces were also successfully prepared by a new method: the ion-exchange-induced growth of Mg(OH)₂ nanostructures using the zeolite as the source of the Mg²⁺ ions. The size/shape of the inorganic nanostructures was tuned by adjusting several parameters such as the pH of the reagent solution and the amount of magnesium in the substrates and systematic modification of reaction conditions allowed generation of a good candidate for application in mixed matrix membranes. Zeolite/polymer adhesion properties in mixed matrix membranes were improved after the surface treatment compared to the untreated bare LTA. Surface modified zeolite 5A/6FDA-DAM mixed matrix membranes showed significant enhancement in CO₂ permeability with slight increases in CO₂/CH₄ selectivity as compared to the pure polymer membrane. The CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of the membrane containing surface treated zeolite 5A was much higher than that of membrane with untreated zeolite 5A. In addition, the use of metal organic framework (MOF) materials has been explored in mixed matrix membrane applications. ZIF-90 crystals with submicron and 2-μm sizes were successfully synthesized by a nonsolvent induced crystallization technique. Structural investigation revealed that the ZIF-90 particles synthesized by this method had high crystallinity, microporosity and thermal stability. The ZIF-90 particles showed good adhesion with polymers in mixed matrix membranes without any compatibilization. A significant increase in CO₂ permeability was observed without sacrificing CO₂/CH₄ selectivity when Ultem® and Matrimd® were used as the polymer matrix. In contrast, mixed matrix membranes with the highly permeable polymer 6FDA-DAM showed substantial enhancement in both permeability and selectivity, as the transport properties of the two phases were more closely matched.

Ziel der durchgeführten Arbeiten war die Etablierung neuer Synthesestrategien zur Gewinnung chiraler metall-organischer Gerüstverbindungen (engl: Metal-Organic Frameworks, MOFs). Hierfür wurden drei verschiedene Ansätze verfolgt. Zunächst sollte die Einbringung einer chiralen Dicarbonsäure mit einem 2,2´-Spirobiindan-Gerüst in ein MOF-Netzwerk untersucht werden. Im Rahmen einer Kooperation wurden neue mit chiralen Oxazolidinonen substituierte 4,4´,4´´-Benzol-1,3,5-triyl-tribenzoesäuren H3ChirBTB-n (n = 1, 2) entwickelt, die ebenfalls zur Synthese neuer chiraler MOFs dienten. Die Modifizierung bekannter nicht-chiraler metall-organischer Gerüstverbindungen mit koordinativ ungesättigten Metallatomen durch Anbindung chiraler Amine stellte die dritte Synthesestrategie dar. Im Rahmen der letztgenannten Syntheseroute wurde für MIL-101 (MIL = Matérial Institut Lavoisier) eine sehr hohe katalytische Aktivität in der Cyanosilylierung von Benzaldehyd nachgewiesen. Die Umsetzung mit chiralen Aminen führte jedoch nicht zu einem enantioselektiven Katalysator. Im Gegensatz dazu konnten die ersten beiden Synthesewege zur Gewinnung neuer chiraler metall-organischer Gerüstverbindungen erfolgreich beschritten werden. Durch solvothermale Reaktion von (S)-2,2´-Spirobiindan-5,5´-dicarbonsäure ((S)-H2Spiro-BIDC) mit Zinknitrat in N,N-Dimethylformamid (DMF) wurde eine neue chirale metall-organische Gerüstverbindung namens DUT-7 (DUT = Dresden University of Technology) der Zusammensetzung Zn4O((S)-Spiro-BIDC)3 dargestellt. Neben einer unerwarteten, zweifach interpenetrierten Netzwerkstruktur mit hexagonalen Kanälen weist DUT-7 eine für MOFs bislang noch nicht beobachtete temperaturinduzierte, reversible Strukturänderung auf. Die zweite neue Strategie zur Gewinnung chiraler MOFs beinhaltete die Umsetzung der chiralen Tricarbonsäuren H3ChirBTB-n, die entweder (S)-4-iso-Propyl- (n = 1) oder (S)-4-Benzyl-1,3-Oxazolidin-2-on-Substituenten (n = 2) tragen. Die beiden gewonnenen Verbindungen Zn3(ChirBTB-1)2 und Zn3(ChirBTB-2)2 weisen trotz gleicher Zusammensetzung völlig unterschiedliche Kristallstrukturen auf. Beide Materialien wurden erfolgreich in der Mukaiyama-Aldol-Reaktion von Benz- bzw. 1-Naphthaldehyd mit 1-Methoxy-2-methyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)propen eingesetzt, wobei ihre katalytische Aktivität mit verschiedenen Referenzkatalysatoren verglichen wurde. Die erzielten Enantiomerenüberschüsse (ee) liegen zwischen 6 und 16%. Auf der Suche nach neuen, für die Einbringung der ChirBTB-n-Liganden geeigneten MOF-Strukturen wurde auch die Umsetzung der reinen, nicht chiralen 4,4´,4´´-Benzol-1,3,5-triyl-tribenzoesäure (H3BTB) untersucht. Die Reaktion mit Nickelnitrat führte zur Bildung einer neuen hochporösen Verbindung namens DUT-9 mit der Zusammensetzung Ni5O2(BTB)2(DEF,DMF)4(H2O)4. DUT-9 weist neben den auf dem Gebiet der MOF-Forschung bislang unbekannten Ni5O2-Clustern eine noch nicht beschriebene dreidimensionale (3,6)-Netzwerktopologie auf. Das neue Material zeigt zudem exzellente Speicherkapazitäten für Wasserstoff, Methan und Kohlenstoffdioxid. / The present work aims on the search for new synthesis strategies towards chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). Three different approaches were pursued. Initially, the integration of a chiral dicarboxylic acid with a 2,2´-spirobiindane backbone into a MOF network was investigated. Within a cooperation, new 4,4´,4´´-benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tribenzoic acids H3ChirBTB-n (n = 1,2) with chiral oxazolidinone substituents were developed which were also used for the assembly of chiral MOFs. The third synthesis strategy involved the tethering of chiral amines to coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms of known non-chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks. Within the last-mentioned approach, the very high catalytic activity of MIL-101 (MIL = Matérial Institut Lavoisier) towards the cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde was demonstrated. Treatment with chiral amines did not lead to an enantioselective catalyst. In contrast, the first two synthesis strategies could be performed successfully. A new MOF named DUT-7 (DUT = Dresden University of Technology) with composition Zn4O((S)-Spiro-BIDC)3 was obtained by solvothermal reaction of (S)-2,2´-spirobiindane-5,5´-dicarboxylic acid ((S)-H2Spiro-BIDC) with zinc nitrate in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Besides an unexpected, two-fold interpenetrated framework structure with hexagonal channels, DUT-7 shows a temperature induced, reversible structure transformation not yet observed. The other new strategy to obtain chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks involved the conversion of the chiral tricarboxylic acids H3ChirBTB-n bearing either a (S)-4-iso-propyl- (n = 1) or a (S)-4-benzyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one substituent (n = 2). Though having the same framework composition, the new compounds Zn3(ChirBTB-1)2 and Zn3(ChirBTB-2)2 exhibit completely different crystal structures. Both materials were tested in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction between benzaldehyde or 1-naphthaldehyde, respectively, and 1-methoxy-2-methyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)propene and their catalytic activity was compared to different reference catalysts. Enantiomeric excess values (ee) between 6 and 16% were obtained. In search of new MOF structures being suitable for the integration of the ChirBTB-n linkers, the conversion of the pure, non chiral 4,4´,4´´-benzene-1,3,5-triyltribenzoic acid (H3BTB) was investigated. The reaction with nickel nitrate lead to the formation of a new, highly porous compound Ni5O2(BTB)2(DEF,DMF)4(H2O)4 named DUT-9. Besides Ni5O2 clusters which are a novelty in MOF chemistry, DUT-9 exhibits a three dimensional (3,6)-network topology not yet described. In addition, the new material shows excellent storage capacities for hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide.

This dissertation presents the investigation of magnetic exchange and anisotropy in novel metal-organic complexes containing minimum number of magnetic ions. Such complexes can serve as a model system to understand the exciting magnetic phenomena in such class of materials and also can put forward as candidates for the so called molecular nanomagnets. A direct assessment of the effective magnetic moment and the effective interaction between the metal ions in the complex can be done using magnetization measurements. Here the magnetization studies are performed as a function of temperature and field using a SQUID magnetometer. Yet another powerful tool to characterize and determine the spin levels, the ESR spectroscopic methods, has also been exploited. The study of the dynamical properties of this class of materials was relevant to understand the relaxation mechanism in the low temperatures. For this a new ac susceptometer has been built in house which was another main objective of this dissertation work. The design, fabrication, calibration and automation done on this device is presented in this thesis. The device has been tested using the known molecular magnet Mn12 acetate, and the antiferromagnet Dy2PdSi3. The present work is mainly focused on the magnetic properties of Mn, Ni and Fe based organometallic complexes. The studied Mn dimer with different acceptor and donor ligands exhibit the fine tuning of the electron density at the core of molecular complex by variation in ligands. This in turn shows that the change in peripheral ligands can control the magnetism of the molecule. The influence of the change in Ni-S-Ni bond angle in the magnetic exchange interaction is studied in a Ni(2) dimer and a Ni(2) trimer complex. The Ni dimer complex shows a ferromagnetic interaction (J = -42K) whereas trimer shows an antiferromagnetic interaction (J = 140K). Another Ni based complex bridged via phosphorous has been studied which shows the existence of glassy nature at low temperature. Also a polymeric chain compound based on Fe is studied and presented. All these phosphorous or sulphur bridged complexes are novel materials and these are the first data on these complexes.

Not available / text

A new mesoporous MOF, Zn4O(bpdc)(btctb)4/3 (DUT-32), containing linear ditopic (bpdc2−; 4,4′-biphenylenedicarboxylic acid) and tritopic (btctb3−; 4,4′,4′′-[benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(carbonylimino)]tris-benzoate) linkers, was synthesised. The highly porous solid has a total pore volume of 3.16 cm3 g−1 and a specific BET surface area of 6411 m2 g−1, adding this compound to the top ten porous materials with the highest BET surface area.

Zr and Hf based MOFs with enhanced pore accessibility for large molecules and good hydrothermal stability were obtained using a bent dithienothiophene dicarboxylate and Zr4+ or Hf4+ source. A modulator (benzoic acid) facilitates formation of an eight-connecting cluster leading to a new framework which adopts reo topology. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Five new coordination polymers, namely, [Zn2(H2O)2(BBC)](NO3)(DEF)6 (DUT-40), [Zn3(H2O)3(BBC)2] (DUT-41), [(C2H5)2NH2][Zn2(BBC)(TDC)](DEF)6(H2O)7 (DUT-42), [Zn10(BBC)5(BPDC)2(H2O)10](NO3)(DEF)28(H2O)8 (DUT-43), and [Co2(BBC)(NO3)(DEF)2(H2O)](DEF)6(H2O) (DUT-44), where BBC – 4,4′,4′′-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tris(benzene-4,1-diyl))tribenzoate, TDC – 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate, BPDC – 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate, DEF – N,N-diethylformamide, were obtained under solvothermal conditions and structurally characterized. It has been shown that compounds DUT-40, DUT-41 and DUT-44 exhibit 2D layered structures with large hexagonal channels. Utilization of additional angular dicarboxylic TDC linker led to the formation of the DUT-42 compound with the structure consisting of three interpenetrated 3D networks. Using the linear co-linker dicarboxylic BPDC, DUT-43 was obtained which forms a complicated 3D architecture arising from the polycatenation of triple-layered 2D building units and 2D single layer units. The pore accessibility of the synthesized compounds in the liquid phase was proved by the adsorption of dye molecules. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Most of the computer simulations of molecules in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to be found in the literature are done with rigid framework. But, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations of the self-diffusivity, Ds, of ethane within the one-dimensional 4.5 Å channels of the MOF type Zn(tbip)(H2 tbip = 5-tert-butyl isophthalic acid) presented in this work have shown not only quantitative, but also qualitative, differences in the Ds values for fixed and flexible lattices. Particularly, the dependence of Ds upon the concentration of molecules, c, is strongly influenced by the lattice flexibility. The reasons for this influence are investigated with the aid of probability density plots, free energy landscapes and barriers, along with a determination of the structural changes accompanying increasing c. It is found that for flexible lattices, the tighter, more constrained parts of the channels become wider at higher c; this allows more molecules to diffuse in the central region of the channels. The investigations for Zn(tbip) have been extended to three equimolar mixtures of ethane/ethane, CO2/ethane and CO2/methanol. The simulations take into account the lattice flexibility. The diffusional characteristics are discussed in relation to molecule properties and lattice geometry. The results show that Zn(tbip) may be a useful material for separating methane/ethane and CO2/ethane mixtures at low concentrations, and CO2/methanol mixtures at high concentrations. The temperature and concentration dependence of the self-diffusivity of propane diffusion in Zn(tbip) have been investigated as well by performing normal MD and hyper-MD with bias potential simulations. The obtained temperature dependence of the self-diffusivities is analyzed using an Arrhenius relationship, yielding the activation energy to be 9.53 kJ/mol and the pre-exponential factor to be 4.48×10-9 m2s-1. Using this hyper-MD method, interesting mechanisms of the propane molecules able to pass each other and exchange their sites in the channels can be observed. Because of mutual hindrance of propane molecules, the propane self-diffusivities decrease with increasing concentration.