Hidróxidos duplos lamelares (LDHs) são uma classe materiais lamelares com fórmula química [M_(1-x)^II M_x^III (OH)_2 ] [A^(n-)]_(x/n).yH_2 O (onde M^II e M^III são metais di e trivalentes, respectivamente) formados pelo empilhamento de camadas positivamente carregadas de hidróxidos metálicos intercaladas por espécies aniônicas A^(n-). Este trabalho descreve uma estratégia inédita para a produção de nanotubos de LDHs autossuportados (Ø 20 nm e comprimentos >= 100 nm) através da coprecipitação de Zn^(2+), Al^(3+) e Eu^(3+) em pH controlado e sua auto-organização sobre micelas cilíndricas do surfactante Plurônico® P-123. A subsequente extração destes agentes estruturantes através de lavagem com metanol resulta em uma rede de nanotubos cilíndricos, ocos e interconectados, formados pela deposição de multicamadas de hidróxidos duplos intercalados pela molécula sensibilizadora ácido benzeno-1,3,5-tricarboxílico (ácido trimésico, BTC). A combinação de Eu3+ nas camadas de hidróxidos e BTC no meio interlamelar resulta em nanotubos com propriedades luminescentes, demonstrando de maneira notável como modificações químicas e morfológicas nos LDHs podem levar ao remodelamento das suas propriedades físico-químicas e consequentemente direcionar suas aplicações de maneira desejável. / Layered double hydroxides are a class of lamellar compounds with chemical formula [M_(1-x)^II M_x^III (OH)_2 ] [A^(n-)]_(x/n).yH_2 O (with M^II and M^III being di and trivalent metals, respectively) that are formed by the stacking of positively charged mixed-valence metal hydroxide sheets intercalated by anionic species A^(n-). This work describes a new strategy for the synthesis of self-supporting mesoporous LDH nanotubes (Ø 20 nm and length >= 100 nm) by coprecipitation of Zn^(2+), Al^(3+) and Eu^(3+) around non-ionic worm-like micelles of Pluronic® P-123 in controlled pH. Subsequent extraction of the structure-directing agent with methanol results in a network of interconnected, well-defined, multi-walled and hollow cylindrical LDH nanotubes intercalated by the sensitizing ligand BTC (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxilate). The combination of Eu^(3+) in the hydroxide layers and BTC in the interlayers results in nanotubes with luminescence properties in a notable demonstration on how chemical and morphological changes in LDHs can lead to materials with tuned physico chemical properties that can be tailored towards a range of applications.

Dentre os principais avanços na área de ciência ou tecnologia dos materiais podemos ressaltar as atuais técnicas de produção, manipulação e análise de estruturas de tamanho muito reduzido, os quais possuem propriedades físicas (magnéticas, eletrônicas e óticas) diferentes das apresentadas pelos mesmos materiais em estruturas maiores. Nanopartículas (NPs) de metais nobres, principalmente ouro e prata, estão sendo utilizadas e incorporadas em diversas tecnologias que tiram proveito de suas características óticas ou condutivas Neste trabalho apresentamos uma metodologia de preparação de NPs de metais nobres, com a possibilidade de incorporá-las em um material dielétrico. As amostras, produzidas a partir da técnica de agregação gasosa, foram preparadas em um gerador de NPs, construído em um dos canhões de um sistema de magnetron sputtering comercial (AJA Internacional). No gerador, átomos são removidos do alvo e termalizados pelo fluxo do gás de trabalho, se condensando na forma de NPs. As NPs são extraídas do gerador aerodinamicamente e seguem em direção ao substrato. Utilizando um dos outros canhões do nosso sistema de sputtering podemos codepositar as NPs produzidas em uma matriz dielétrica ou metálica. Podemos também depositar camadas de filmes finos sobre o material produzido pelo gerador de NPs. As amostras de nanopartículas de ouro e prata produzidas foram caracterizadas a partir de técnicas de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), retroespalhamento Rutheford (RBS), espectrofotometria de UV-Visível e microscopia ótica em campo próximo (SNOM). A partir das imagens de MEV, podemos inferir a presença da matriz dielétrica a partir da separação das NPs e essa presença pode ser confirmada pela análise dos resultados de RBS. Por fim a análise do espectro de absorbância das amostras em conjunto com as imagens de SNOM demonstrou o comportamento plasmônico das amostras produzidas, sobretudo das NPs codepositadas em matriz dielétrica. / In the midst of main advances in material science and technology we can highlight the new techniques of preparation, manipulation and analyses of structures of very small size. They have physical properties (magnetic, electronic and optical) different from those presented by the same material, but in bigger dimension. Noble metal nanoparticles, mainly gold and silver, are incorporated into various technologies in order to take advantage of their optical or electric properties. In this work, we present a technique to produce noble metal nanoparticles by a physical method that also permits to imbed them in a dielectric material matrix. The samples, produced using the gas aggregation technique, were prepared in a nanoparticle gun, developed on one of the guns of a commercial magnetron sputtering system (AJA International). In the nanoparticles generator, atoms are removed from the target and thermalized by the flow of the sputtering working gas, and they are also condensed to form the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are extracted from the generator aerodynamically and then they proceed to the substrate. Using another gun of the sputtering system we can deposit the nanoparticles produced in a dielectric or metallic matrix. We can also deposit under and capping layers of thin films on the nanoparticles layer produced. The samples of gold and silver nanoparticles produced were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering analysis (RBS), UV-Visible spectrophotometry and near field optical microscopy (SNOM). In the SEM images, from the distribution and morphology of the nanoparticles it was possible infer the presence of the dielectric matrix, and this was also confirmed by the RBS measurements. Finally, absorbance spectrum of the samples together with the SNOM images have demonstrated the plasmonic character of the samples produced, specially for the NPs co-deposited in the dielectric matrix.

Orientador: Lauro Tatsuo Kubota / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T23:55:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Miranda_BarbaraSantosde_D.pdf: 3761472 bytes, checksum: d04db9862f7022a5bea49d756efbfdbc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de dois sensores distintos que através da aplicação de nanomateriais em seus sistemas apresentam uma melhora no desempenho. Com o objetivo de estabilizar a fase alfa do hidróxido de níquel, foi proposta uma nova síntese que resultou em um novo material de hidróxido de níquel e nanopartículas de ouro. O do hidróxido de níquel se apresentou com a estrutura alfa desejada, a estrutura e morfologia das nanopartículas de ouro foram preservadas. O material híbrido se apresenta nanoestruturado e sem separação de fases. Sugere-se que este novo material seja formado como um nanocompósito onde as nanopartículas de ouro formam a matriz e o hidróxido de níquel recobre a superfície. A estabilidade do novo material é bem superior que a do hidróxido de níquel puro, quedas de corrente após 50 ciclos consecutivos de 6% contra 50% respectivamente. A atividade eletrocatalítica deste novo nanomaterial foi investigada frente à glicose e a constante eletrocatalítica obtida para o nanocompósito foi cerca de 7 vezes maior que para o hidróxido de níquel puro. A sensibilidade do eletrodo modificado com a-Ni(OH)2/AuNP se manteve similar aos da literatura. O segundo sensor estudado foi a aplicação de nanopartículas fluorescentes como marcadores do imunosensor para a detecção precoce do esporo do fungo da ferrugem asiática da soja. As nanopartículas fluorescentes permitiram alcancar um baixo limite de detecção, 2.2 ng/mL, o menor encontrado na literatura. Além disso, foi investigado outros parâmetros para o desenvolvimento de um dispositivo point-of-care, como o melhor substrato para reter o analito, a membrana de nitrocelulose, se apresentou com as melhores propriedades frente as alternativas. Ainda mais, o dispositivo foi construido para que possa ser utilizado por pessoas não treinadas no campo, em um tempo de análise menor que ELISA e PCR, sem o uso de equipamento caros e complicados, usando somente uma lâmpada de UV simples como fonte de excitação e a visualização do sinal a olho nu com um limite de detecção de apenas 300 esporos, o que e ainda dez vezes mais baixo que o atual teste comercial. / Abstract: This work presents the development of two distinct sensors that have shown great improvements in their performance trough nanoparticle application in their systems. The first study aims to stabilize the nickel hydroxide alpha structure for future carbohydrate detection. We proposed a new synthesis, which resulted in a nickel hydroxide and gold nanoparticle hybrid material. The new material has the expected nickel hydroxide alpha structure, maintains gold nanoparticle¿s structure and morphology and allows a simple electrode modification. We suggest that the new material is a nanocomposite where gold nanoparticles are the matrix while the nickel hydroxide cover the surface. The new material has higher stability properties than the pure nickel hydroxide, after 50 cycles the current decreased 6 and 50% respectively. In addition, an improvement was observed in the catalytic constant, approximately 7 times bigger than plain nickel hydroxide. Although the new material showed these good improvements, the electrode sensitivity did not differ from other studies in the literature. The second study presented comprehends the application of fluorescent nanoparticles as markers of an immunosensor for early diagnosis of Asian soybean rust spore. The use of these nanoparticles resulted in a very low limit detection sensor, 2.2 ng/mL, the lowest ever found in the literature. Moreover, others parameters were investigated in order to develop a point-of-care device, as the substrate to retain the analyte for the assay. Furthermore, the device was built in order to be used by the farmer himself, in loco, fast, without expensive equipment, a UV lamp as an excitation source and the signal is visible to naked eye. The visual detection limit is around 300 spores, which is tenfold lower than the available commercial kit. / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutora em Ciências

Dans cette thèse, la fonctionnalisation de surface de nanocristaux de cellulose (NCC) par estérification et polymérisation ATRP a été envisagée, dans le but de développer de nouveaux matériaux avancés. Une méthode pratique permettant de caractériser les polymères greffés en surface des NCC a d’abords été développée, à partir des analyses DLS, DSC et TGA. L’efficacité des méthodes SI-ATRP et SI-ARGET ATRP pour initier le greffage de polystyrène (PS) ou poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) à la surface des NCC a ensuite été comparée. Les nano-hybrides P4VP-g-NCC pH-responsifs, ont alors été utilisés pour stabiliser des nanoparticules d’or (AuNPs), dans le but de produire des catalyseurs recyclables. L’activité catalytique des matériaux Au@P4VP-g-CNC obtenus – testée avec la réduction du 4-nitrophenol – a été améliorée de manière significative par rapport aux AuNPs seuls. Des polymères UV-responsifs de poly(cinnamoyloxy ethyl methacrylate) (PCEM) ont également été greffés à la surface des NCC, pour produire des particules UV-absorbantes. Les nano-hybrides PCEM-g-CNC obtenus se sont avérés efficaces comme stabilisants UV/thermiques et agents de renforts dans les films PVC. Finalement, une méthode facile pour préparer des colloidosomes à partir d’émulsions de Pickering inverses stabilisées par des NCC modifiés par des groupes cinnamates a été proposée. Des colloidosomes aux parois robustes et permettant un relargage lent de molécules encapsulées comme la rhodamine B ou l’acide désoxyribonucléique fluorescent ont alors été obtenus. / In this thesis, the surface functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) by esterification and ATRP reactions was envisaged, with the objective to develop novel advanced materials. A convenient method to characterize the polymers grafted on CNC by Si-ATRP has been first developed, based on DLS, DSC and TGA analyses. The efficiency of the SI-ATRP and SI-ARGET ATRP methods to initiate the grating of polystyrene (PS) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) at the CNC surface were then compared. The pH-responsive P4VP-g-CNC nano-hybrids were subsequently utilized to stabilize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), in view of producing recyclable catalysts. The catalytic activity of the Au@P4VP-g-CNC material – tested with the reduction of 4-nitrophenol – was significantly improved compared with single AuNPs. UV-responsive poly(cinnamoyloxy ethyl methacrylate) (PCEM) polymers were also grafted on CNC, to produce particles with UV absorbing properties. The PCEM-g-CNC nano-hybrids obtained turned out to be efficient UV/thermal stabilizers and reinforcing agents in PVC films. Finally, a facile method to prepare colloidosomes from w/o inverse Pickering emulsions stabilized by cinnamate-modified CNC was proposed. Colloidosomes with robust shells and allowing the slow release of encapsulated molecules such as rhodamine B or fluorescent deoxyribonucleic acid were then obtained.

This report focuses on the study of nanomaterials as a packaging material for the food industries. Reviews were carried out and the various properties exhibited by various nanomaterial used in the packaging industry were looked into. An investigation was also done on carbon nanotubes which are used to a large extent as reinforcing materials in the development of new class of nanocomposites. This report also traces the cause of sustainability problems associated with the use of nanomaterials in the food packaging industry. It analyzes and extrapolates the prospect of additional capabilities that human may gain from the development of nanomaterial in the food industry in order to ascertain environmental sustainability. / Kungsmarksvagen 71 Room 1329, 371 44, karlskrona,Sweden. Tel No: +46-737154801

Les travaux de thèse présentés dans ce manuscrit ont porté sur l’élaboration et la caractérisation de poudres propulsives à sensibilités réduites. Ceci a été effectué par l’utilisation de matériaux énergétiques relativement insensibles ainsi que par l’emploi du procédé de Spray Evaporation Flash (SFE). Ce dernier a permis d’obtenir des poudres nanostructurées de composition ternaire. La caractérisation de ces poudres propulsives par spectroscopie Raman a permis de mettre en évidence le mécanisme de plastification de la nitrocellulose par les plastifiants employés. Des analyses de microscopie électronique à balayage ont été menées pour étudier la granulométrie de ces échantillons. Leur caractérisation par diffraction des rayons X a permis d’étudier leur structure et leur cristallisation. Des mesures de calorimétrie différentielle à balayage, des essais de tirs en tubes et en bombe manométrique, ainsi que des mesures de sensibilités à divers types de sollicitations, ont permis de montrer que les poudres obtenues sont particulièrement insensibles. / The PhD thesis presented in this manuscript focused on the elaboration and characterization of propellants with reduced sensitivities. This was accomplished by the use of relatively insensitive energetic materials, in conjunction with the application of the Spray Flash Evaporation (SFE) process. The latter made it possible to obtain nanostructured propellants of ternary composition.The characterization of these propellants by Raman spectroscopy revealed the mechanisms ruling the plasticization of nitrocellulose by the plasticizers used. Scanning electron microscopy analyzes were conducted to determine the particle size of these samples. Their characterization by X-ray diffraction allowed to study their structure and their crystallization. These propellants were shown to be particularly insensitive through analyses by differential scanning calorimetry,pyrotechnic tests in tubes and manometric vessels as well as sensitivity measurements to various types of solicitations.

Antimicrobial engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are increasingly incorporated into products despite limited understanding of the interactions between ENMs and bacteria that lead to toxic impacts. The hazard posed by increasing environmental release of antimicrobial ENMs is also poorly characterized. The overall objective of this thesis is to inform questions about the types of interactions that lead to an ENM inducing bacterial toxicity. Many antimicrobial ENMs are soluble, and the ion plays an important role in their toxicity. Some believe that, beyond release of ions, ENM toxicity is expected to derive from a nanoparticle (NP)-specific effect. This research compares bacterial responses to ENMs, their metal salts, and/or their transformed species within different experimental settings to improve our understanding of the interactions that enable ENM bacterial toxicity. The first objective is to characterize the potential hazard posed by pristine and transformed antimicrobial ENMs on microbial communities within a complex environmental system. One pair of ENMs (Ag0 and Ag2S) led to differential short-term impacts on surficial sediment microbial communities, while the other did not (CuO and CuS), showing that ENM transformation does not universally lead to distinct impacts. The metal ion (Cu2+) had a more profound microbial community impact than did any of the four ENMs. By 300 days the microbial community structure and composition re-converged, suggesting minimal long-term impacts of high pulse inputs of antimicrobial ENMs on microbial communities within complex environments. The second objective is to identify NP-specific effects of a common antimicrobial ENM on a model bacterium. Analysis of transcriptional responses identified NP-specific induction of a membrane stress responsive gene, providing evidence of a NP-specific effect. Otherwise, our results suggest that CuO NP toxicity triggers the same stress responses as does Cu2+, but at more moderate levels. Two ion treatments with the same total Cu input – one with pulse addition and one with gradual addition that was meant to better represent the slow dissolution of the CuO NP – led to temporally distinct responses. This calls for the use of more representative ion controls for comparison against soluble NP impacts in future nanotoxicity studies. The third objective is to investigate the potential use of CuO ENMs to reduce virulence and growth of an emerging bacterial pathogen. CuO NP exposure led to reduction in relative expression of three Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor genes, especially in methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates. Growth was inhibited at high CuO NP concentrations for all four isolates, too. Comparison across all genes assayed showed isolatespecific transcriptional responses, but with NP- and ion-induced responses showing clear differences for each isolate, too. Altogether, this research contributes novel knowledge that will guide efforts to characterize potential hazard from release of ENMs into the environment and to apply ENMs for effective antibacterial treatment.

With the increased usage and production of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), entry into the environment and hence contact with plant root systems is inevitable. Nano zinc oxide (nZnO) is widely used in commercial products, such as sunscreens, paints and coatings due to its high antimicrobial properties and wide electrical band-gap. Disposal down drains and into greywater leads to particle entry into the environment via waste water systems. Here, ENPs could potentially interact with plant root systems, which may lead to uptake, translocation and accumulation within plant tissues, and in the case of edible crops have consequences on human health. This study aimed to identify mechanisms of toxicity by employing whole-cell biosensors in conjunction with model bacteria and plant species. Furthermore, zeta potential (ZP), particle size, reactive oxygen species (ROS) release and solubility of the particles were determined and linked to both plant and bacterial toxicity. In Escherichia coli bacteria, it was demonstrated that growth inhibition from nano-scale ZnO treatment was similar to that from the bulk-scale ZnO and ionic zinc treatments, with the concentrations leading to 50 % inhibition (IC50) demonstrated to be 251, 282 and 298 mg/L for bulk, nano-scale and ZnSO4, respectively. It was demonstrated that the mode of nZnO toxicity in E. coli was bacteriostatic rather than bacteriotoxic. In barley plants, biomass was negatively impacted by up to 50 %, and significantly more zinc was able to enter root tissues as a result of hydroponic nZnO treatment, with 47 mg/L zinc detected in root tissues after 7 days treatment with 500 mg/L nZnO. Comparison of particle characteristics revealed that ROS, solubility, ZP, size and concentration were involved in toxicity, with ZP (charge) identified as a key parameter in both plant and bacterial toxicity.

Natural gas is stored as compressed natural gas (CNG) in heavy steel cylinders under pressures of 200-250 atm. However, such a method of storage has certain disadvantages which include multistage compression costs, limited driving range and safety aspects. Hence, alternative methods of storage such as adsorbed natural gas (ANG) which involve adsorbing natural gas at moderate pressures and room temperatures in a suitable nanoporous material are currently being explored. In this thesis, we have isolated model carbon nanostructures and defect geometries most likely to be found in these materials and investigated their specific interactions with methane. The thesis is concerned with ab-initio density functional theory calculations on these various model carbon nanostructures in order to identify the potential candidates that enhance methane adsorption. The adsorption energies of methane on graphite and graphene sheets were similar, with a value of 12.3 kJ/mol for graphene. The Stone-Wales defect in graphene was found to increase the methane adsorption energy to 37.2 kJ/mol, and small surface undulations on the graphene sheet resulted in a smaller increase (16 kJ/mol) in the adsorption energy relative to graphene. The presence of an interstitial carbon was found to significantly reduce the adsorption energy to 5.2 kJ/mol. The enhanced adsorption energy in the case of the Stone-Wales defect was attributed to the significant charge redistribution in the vicinity of the defect. A variety of functional groups such as carboxylic acid (COOH), carbonyl (CO), phenol (OH), pyran (-O-), phenone (=O), peroxide (OOH) and amine (NH2) groups have been observed on carbon surfaces. Extensive density functional calculations of methane adsorbed on various chemically functionalized graphene nanoribbons were carried out to evaluate their methane adsorption energies. A significant finding in this study, is the increased adsorption energies (relative to graphene) that occur for the functional groups containing the OH moiety. The adsorption energies for edge functionalized graphene nanoribbons are 27.6 and 69.7 kJ/mol for COOH and OOH functionalization. Additional computations reveal a strong correlation between the induced dipole moment on methane and the strength of the adsorption energies obtained for the extended nanoribbons. Adsorption isotherms for methane were obtained using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations for slit-like graphitic pores with and without functional groups. For both OH and COOH functionalized graphite, we observe more than a 40 % increase in the volumetric loading over bare graphite for the highest weight % of the functional group and smallest pore width considered. The maximum volumetric loading decreases with a decrease in the wt% of the functional groups and with an increase in the pore width.

No description available.