The research performed aims to develop a deeper understanding and prediction of behaviour of complex chemical and physical systems using density functional theory (DFT) modelling complemented by experimental techniques. We focus on phenomena relevant to practical applications of semiconducting materials. Semiconductor nanowires, produced by the vapor-liquid-solid method are being considered for applications in photo sensors, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and energy harvesting devices. In particular, semiconductor nanowire based photovoltaic devices show potential for lower cost due to less material utilization and greater energy conversion efficiency arising from enhanced photovoltage or photocurrent due to hot carrier or multiexciton phenomena enhanced light absorption, compared to conventional thin film devices. Further, freedom from lattice matching requirements due to strain accommodation at the nanowire surfaces enable compatibility with a wide variety of substrates including Silicon. Thus understanding and improving the optoelectronic properties of nanowires is of great interest. In the first paper, we study the effect of planar defects on optoelectronic properties of nanowire based semiconductor devices. Specifically, we were interested in investing the origin of various features observed in the photoluminisence (PL) spectrum of GaP nanowire using density functional modelling, which are not well understood. In the second paper, we work to model bonding characteristics during a chemical synthesis. We focus on the synthesis of nanoparticles for supercapacitor application. In the past decade, comprehensive research has been emphasized on manganese oxides for electrochemical supercapacitor (ECS) applications. Mn3O4 has gained significant interest due to its compatibility with capping agents and the unique spinel structure allows for potential modifications with other cations. Many metal oxide synthesis techniques are based on aqueous processing. The synthesized particles are usually dried and redispersed in organic solvents to incorporate water-insoluble additives such as binders to fabricate films and devices. However, during the drying step nano-structures are highly susceptible to agglomeration, which can be attributed to the condensation reactions occurring between particles and reduction in surface energy. Poor electrolyte access due to agglomeration and low intrinsic conductivity of Mn3O4 are detrimental to the performance of Mn 3O4 electrode especially at high active mass loadings. Numerous attempts have focused on controlling size and morphology of Mn3O4 nanostructures using capping agents, which have strong adhesion to particles surface to inhibit agglomeration. Catechol containing molecules have been used for dispersion of metallic nanoparticles and fabrication of composite thin films, resulted in narrow size distribution of nanoparticles and strong adhesion to substrates. Despite the experimental results showing good adsorption of catechol group to metal atoms, the mechanism is unclear since it is highly influenced by synthesis parameters. We use Infrared spectroscopy in conjugation with density functional modelling to understand the binding mechanism of 3,4 dihydroxy benzaldehyde onto Mn3O4 surface. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Three effective solutions to dissolve the filter cake created by water-based drilling fluids weighted with Mn3O4 particles were developed. Hydrochloric acid at concentration lower than 5 wt% can dissolve most of Mn3O4-based filter cake. Dissolving the filter cake in two-stage treatment of enzyme and organic acid was effective and eliminated the associated drawbacks of using HCl. Finally, combining low and safe concentration of HCl with an organic acid in one-stage treatment was very effective. Hydrochloric acid (10-wt%) dissolved 78 wt% of Mn3O4-based filter cake at 250°F after 28 hours soaking time. However, Chlorine gas was detected during the reaction of 5 to 15-wt% HCl with Mn3O4 particles. At 190°F, 1- and 4-wt% HCl dissolved most Mn3O4 particles (up to 70-wt% solubility). Their reactions with Mn3O4 particles followed Eq. 8 at 190°F, which further confirmed the absence of chlorine gas production at HCl concentrations lower than 5-wt%. EDTA and DTPA at high pH (12) and acetic, propionic, butyric, and gluconic acids at low pH (3-5) showed very low solubilities of Mn3O4 particles. GLDA, citric, oxalic, and tartaric acids produced large amount of white precipitation upon the reactions with Mn3O4 particles. Similarly, DTPA will produce damaging material if used to dissolve Mn3O4-based filter cake in sandstone formation. At 4-wt% acid concentration, lactic, glycolic, and formic acids dissolved Mn3O4 particles up to 76 wt% solubility at 190°F. Malonic acid at lower concentration (2-wt%) dissolved 54 wt% of Mn3O4 particles at 190°F. Manganese tetraoxide particles were covered with polymeric material (starch), which significantly reduced the solubility of filter cake in organic acids. Therefore, there was a need to remove Mn3O4-based filter cake in two-stage treatment. Enzyme-A (10-wt%) and Precursor of lactic acid (12.5-wt%) dissolved 84 wt% of the filter cake. An innovative approach led to complete solubility of Mn3O4 particles when low and safe concentration of HCl (1-wt%) combined with 4-wt% lactic acid at 190°F. HCl (1-wt%) combined with lactic acid (4-wt%), dissolved 85 wt% of the Mn3O4-based filter cake after 18-22 hours soaking time at 250°F in one stage treatment.

Η παρούσα ειδική ερευνητική εργασία συνιστά μια μελέτη των μη-γραμμικών οπτικών ιδιοτήτων πέντε δειγμάτων νανοσωματιδίων οξειδίων μετάλλων. Κατ’ όνομα πρόκειται για το μονοξείδιο του Κοβαλτίου (CoO), το τετροξείδιο του Μαγγανίου (Mn3O4), το μονοξείδιο του Νικελίου (NiO), τον Αιματίτη (α-Fe2O3) και τον Μαγγεμίτη (γ-Fe2O3). Οι τρίτης τάξης οπτικές μη-γραμμικότητές τους διερευνήθηκαν με την πειραματική τεχνική Z-scan, της οποίας οι βασικές αρχές και οι πειραματικές λεπτομέρειες περιγράφονται στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο της παρούσης. Ειδικότερα, δίδονται τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες για τις πειραματικές διατάξεις που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν, μελετώνται τα δύο κύρια φαινόμενα που αξιοποιεί η τεχνική, η μη-γραμμική διάθλαση και η μη-γραμμική απορρόφηση και γίνεται σύντομη μαθηματική περιγραφή και παράθεση της διαδικασίας ανάλυσης δεδομένων. Προηγείται των ανωτέρω μια περιεκτική θεωρητική θεμελίωση των βασικών αρχών της μη-γραμμικής οπτικής στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο. Αναπτύσσεται εκ των εξισώσεων Maxwell η μη-γραμμική κυματική εξίσωση. Περιγράφονται οι διεργασίες της γενέσεως δευτέρας αρμονικής, αθροίσματος και διαφοράς συχνοτήτων και διαδοχικά τα βαρύνουσας σημασίας φαινόμενα της αυτό-εστίασης, αυτό-απoεστίασης, κορέσιμης και ανάστροφα κορέσιμης απορρόφησης. Παρατίθεται εν συνεχεία ένας κβαντομηχανικός ορισμός της τρίτης τάξης μη-γραμμικής επιδεκτικότητος και τέλος περιγράφονται αναλυτικά οι μηχανισμοί συνεισφοράς στον μη-γραμμικό δείκτη διάθλασης, από την παραμόρφωση του ηλεκτρονικού νέφους, ως την ηλεκτροσυστολή και τα θερμικά φαινόμενα. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο παρουσιάζονται θεωρητικά στοιχεία για τις ιδιότητες των νανοσωματιδίων οξειδίων μετάλλων, την επίδραση του μεγέθους στις εγγενείς ιδιότητες της ύλης και παραδείγματα των πιο ευρέως διαδεδομένων εφαρμογών τους. Εν συντομία δίδονται οι τεχνικές σύνθεσης και οι ενδελεχείς χαρακτηρισμοί που εφαρμόστηκαν με σκοπό να φωτιστούν πλευρές της κρύφιας και ασαφούς φύσης των νανοσωματιδίων. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο παρατίθενται λεπτομερώς οι πειραματικές μετρήσεις, από τα φάσματα απορρόφησης που ελήφθησαν για κάθε παρασκευασθείσα συγκέντρωση διεσπαρμένων νανοσωματιδίων, ως τις γραφικές παραστάσεις που αντιστοιχούν στην τεχνική Z-scan. Συγκεντρώνονται σε πίνακες όλες οι μη-γραμμικές οπτικές παράμετροι που υπολογίστηκαν και λαμβάνει χώρα αναλυτική συζήτηση για τα αποτελέσματα. Τα αποτελέσματα ομαδοποιούνται, εξάγονται ενδιαφέροντα συμπεράσματα και γίνεται σύγκριση με τη βιβλιογραφία. / The present work, a master thesis, is a study of the nonlinear optical properties of five metal oxide nanoparticles, namely Cobalt monoxide (CoO), Manganese tetroxide (Mn3O4), Nickel monoxide (NiO), Hematite (α-Fe2O3) and Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3). Their third ordrer optical nonlinearities were investigated by the means of the Z-scan experimental technique. The basic principles and the experimental details of this technique are described in the second chapter of the present work. Moreover, technical details of the experimental setups used are presented, the two most important phaenomena involved in Z-scan, nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction are described, a brief mathematical description and the data analysis details are given. In the first chapter, a comprehensive theoretical basis of the principles of Non-linear Optics is firstly established. Initiating from Maxwell’s equations, the non-linear wave equation is developed step-by-step. The non-linear optical processes of second harmonic generation and sum/difference frequency generation are presented. Consecutively, the very important phaenomena of self-focusing, self-defocusing, saturable and reverse saturable absorption are described. In addition, a quantum-mechanic description of third order nonlinear susceptibility is briefly developed. At last, the contribution mechanisms to the nonlinear refractive index, from the deformation of the electron cloud to the electrostriction and the thermal effects are presented. In the third chapter, some theoretical information about the properties of metal oxides nanoparticles, along with the effects of their size to their behavior and their widely known applications are listed. In brief, the unique details of the synthesis and the assiduous characterization techniques, which were applied in order to illuminate the fringe nature of these nanoscale particles, are given. In the fourth chapter the experimental measurements are apposed in detail, from the UV-Vis-NIR spectra received for every one of the prepared dispersions, to the graphs built on the Z-scan experimental curves. All nonlinear optical parameters deduced, are summed into analytical tables and a lengthy discussion is taking place over all these results. Results are grouped and studied from different perspectives and a bibliographical comparison is done.