Episódios de contaminação envolvendo hidrocarbonetos de petróleo são relatados com bastante freqüência, principalmente em função dos acidentes envolvendo transporte e estocagem de combustíveis, dentre os quais se destacam o benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xileno (BTEX). Assim, não é surpreendente o grande número de trabalhos, atualmente disponíveis, relacionados à remediação de águas subterrâneas. Entretanto, é conhecido que a total mineralização de benzeno, na maioria das tecnologias utilizadas para remediação de solos e águas subterrâneas, não ocorre totalmente podendo formar compostos fenólicos altamente tóxicos. Por este motivo, este trabalho teve por finalidade a análise dos subprodutos formados a partir da degradação do benzeno, que são eles: hidroquinona, resorcinol, catecol, fenol, p-benzoquinona. Para este propósito, os compostos fenólicos formados foram medidos utilizando um eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado com filme de nanotubos de carbono e ftalocianinas metalicas. Os compostos fenólicos também foram analisados por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência com detector espectrofotométrico, espectrometria no UV/Visível. Os sensores eletroquímicos propostos mostraram-se altamente eletrocatalíticos e sensíveis na determinação dos derivados da oxidação do benzeno, obtendo-se um limite de detecção de 4,54 μmol L-1 para a hidroquinona, de 1,63 μmol L-1 para o resorcinol, 0,14 μmol L-1 para o catecol, 4,19 μmol L-1 para o fenol e 1,78 μmol L-1 para a p-benzoquinona. Observa-se que existem algumas diferenças nos limites de detecção para cada composto fenólico estudado e que o eletrodo GC/MWCNT/CoPc apresentou menores limites de detecção para o catecol, resorcinol e p-benzoquinona podendo analisar predominantemente esses compostos fenólicos a partir da eletro-oxidação do benzeno. A metodologia proposta comparada com os métodos oficiais de análise e foi observado que os sensores atingem os limites mínimos necessários de detecção, demonstrando que sensores eletroquímicos baseados em CNTs tornam-se uma alternativa no desenvolvimento de metodologias altamente sensíveis, rápidas e de baixo custo. / Contamination episodes involving petroleum hydrocarbons are reported quite frequently, mainly because of accidents involving transportation and storage of fuels, among which stand out as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX). Thus, it is not surprising the large number of papers currently available relating to remediation of groundwater. However, it is known that the complete mineralization of benzene, most of the technologies used for remediation of soil and groundwater, it doesn\'t occur and it can form highly toxic phenolic compounds. For this reason, this paper aims to analyze the products formed from the degradation of benzene, which are: hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol, phenol, p-benzoquinone. For this purpose, the phenolic compounds formed were measured using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a film of carbon nanotubes and metallic phthalocyanines. Phenolic compounds were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, spectroscopy in UV / Visible. The proposed electrochemical sensors were highly sensitive and the electrocatalytic determination of the oxidation of benzene derivatives, obtaining a detection limit of 4.54 μmol L-1 for hydroquinone, 1.63 μmol L-1 for resorcinol , 0.14 μmol L-1 for catechol, 4.19 μmol L-1 for phenol and 1.78 μmol L-1 for p-benzoquinone. It is observed that there are some differences in detection limits for each phenolic compound studied and the electrode GC/MWCNT/CoPc had lower detection limits for catechol, resorcinol and p-benzoquinone can analyze these phenolic compounds predominantly from the electro- oxidation of benzene. The proposed methodology was compared with the official methods of analysis and it was observed that the sensors reach the required minimum limits of detection, demonstrating that electrochemical sensors based on CNTs become an alternative for the development of high sensitivity, rapid and low-cost. methodologies.

This thesis has investigated several complex situations that may be encountered in electrochemical studies. Three main situations have been examined, they include the formation of polymer films on electrode surfaces during measurements, a novel nanocatalyst modified electrode surfaces, and organised carbon nanotube (CNT) structures on electrode surfaces. These have been utilised for different electrochemical applications owing to their dissimilar properties. Voltammetric techniques of cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and Fourier transformed large amplitude ac voltammetry (FTACV) have been utilised to examine these reactions. Chapter 3 reports the investigation of catechol oxidation and subsequent polymerisation through crosslinking with D-glucosamine or chitosan. Hydrogel can be formed on the electrode surface during the process, which changes the viscosity of the solution and thus affects the diffusion of chemical species. This process has been examined by several voltammetric techniques. A further examination of the chemical system has also been conducted using FTACV for the first time. Chapter 4 describes the preparation of carbon microsphere supported molybdenum disulfide. The material has been utilised as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media, and the performance tested by traditional linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and advanced FTACV techniques. The FTACV technique has been used for the first time for HER processes. In addition, the synthesised particles have also been used for thermal catalytic decomposition of hydrogen sulfide, which shows a significant improvement in the conversion rate over conventional examples. Chapter 5 demonstrates the direct growth of vertically aligned CNT forests on a gold electrode. The electrochemical response of the fabricated electrode has also been examined with ferrocyanide as the redox species. Furthermore, the immobilisation of anthraquinone onto CNT forest has been attempted. The fabricated electrode was utilised as a pH sensor via CV and SWV, and both indicates a well correlated pH-potential relationship in the pH range of 2 to 12. The sensor has also been assessed by the FTACV technique.

Extrapolating the properties of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into macro-scale CNT materials using a continuous and cost effective process offers enormous potential for a variety of applications. The floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition (FCCVD) method discussed in this dissertation bridges the gap between generating nano- and macro-scale CNT material and has already been adopted by industry for exploitation. A deep understanding of the phenomena that occur within the FCCVD reactor and how to control the formation of the catalyst nanoparticles is, therefore, essential to producing a desired CNT product and successfully scaling up the FCCVD process. This dissertation connects information on the decomposition of reactants, axial catalyst nanoparticle dynamics and the morphology of the resultant CNTs and demonstrates how these factors are strongly related to the temperature and chemical availability of reactants within the reactor. For the first time, in-situ measurements of catalyst particle size distributions paired with reactant decomposition profiles and detailed axial SEM studies of formed CNT materials revealed specific temperature domains that have important implications for scaling up the FCCVD process. A novel observation was that the evaporation and re-condensation of catalyst nanoparticles results in the formation, disappearance and reformation of the nanoparticles along the reactor axis. The combined influences of pyrolytic carbon species and catalytic nanoparticles are shown to influence CNT aerogel formation. This work also examines the source of carbon in the formed CNTs and the location of aerogel formation. Axial measurements using isotopically-labelled methane (C13H4) demonstrate that carbon within all CNTs is primarily derived from CH4 rather than some of the early-forming CNTs being predominantly supplied with carbon from decomposed catalytic precursor components. Quantification of CNT production along the axis of the reactor dispels the notion that injection parameters influence CNT formation and shows that bulk CNT formation occurs near the reactor exit regardless of the carbon source (CH4, toluene or ethanol). By supplying carbon to different reactor locations, it was discovered that CNT aerogel formation will occur even when carbon is delivered near the exit of the reactor provided the carbon source reaches a temperature sufficient to induce pyrolysis (>1000°C). Furthermore, experimental studies that identify a new role of sulphur (S) in the CNT formation process are discussed in this work. Analogous to effects observed in other aerosol systems containing S, in the FCCVD reactor, S lowers the nucleation barrier of the catalyst nanoparticles and enhances not only CNT growth but catalyst particle formation itself. The new concept of critical catalyst mass concentration for CNT aerogel formation was identified by implementing the novel approach of completely decoupling catalyst particle formation from CNT aerogel production. Rather than aerogel formation being dependent on a critical particle number concentration and ideal sized catalyst nanoparticles at the entrance of the reaction furnace, it was identified that the important metric is instead a minimum critical catalyst mass concentration. Application of the principle using other catalyst precursors such as cobaltocene, with continuous CNT aerogel formation from cobalt based catalyst nanoparticles being reported for the first time, and iron-based nanoparticles from a spark generator, provides proof of the new principle’s robustness and ubiquity. In addition to the experimental studies above, theoretical studies have been carried out to understand the agglomeration occurring in a CNT aerosol. The agglomeration eventually leads to a gas phase synthesized CNT aerogel at the end of the reactor, which can be collected and spun continuously. The results of this work are not only scientifically interesting, they also provide a strong foundation for further research aimed at optimizing and controlling large-scale CNT reactors by modifying downstream dynamics.

Episódios de contaminação envolvendo hidrocarbonetos de petróleo são relatados com bastante freqüência, principalmente em função dos acidentes envolvendo transporte e estocagem de combustíveis, dentre os quais se destacam o benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xileno (BTEX). Assim, não é surpreendente o grande número de trabalhos, atualmente disponíveis, relacionados à remediação de águas subterrâneas. Entretanto, é conhecido que a total mineralização de benzeno, na maioria das tecnologias utilizadas para remediação de solos e águas subterrâneas, não ocorre totalmente podendo formar compostos fenólicos altamente tóxicos. Por este motivo, este trabalho teve por finalidade a análise dos subprodutos formados a partir da degradação do benzeno, que são eles: hidroquinona, resorcinol, catecol, fenol, p-benzoquinona. Para este propósito, os compostos fenólicos formados foram medidos utilizando um eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado com filme de nanotubos de carbono e ftalocianinas metalicas. Os compostos fenólicos também foram analisados por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência com detector espectrofotométrico, espectrometria no UV/Visível. Os sensores eletroquímicos propostos mostraram-se altamente eletrocatalíticos e sensíveis na determinação dos derivados da oxidação do benzeno, obtendo-se um limite de detecção de 4,54 μmol L-1 para a hidroquinona, de 1,63 μmol L-1 para o resorcinol, 0,14 μmol L-1 para o catecol, 4,19 μmol L-1 para o fenol e 1,78 μmol L-1 para a p-benzoquinona. Observa-se que existem algumas diferenças nos limites de detecção para cada composto fenólico estudado e que o eletrodo GC/MWCNT/CoPc apresentou menores limites de detecção para o catecol, resorcinol e p-benzoquinona podendo analisar predominantemente esses compostos fenólicos a partir da eletro-oxidação do benzeno. A metodologia proposta comparada com os métodos oficiais de análise e foi observado que os sensores atingem os limites mínimos necessários de detecção, demonstrando que sensores eletroquímicos baseados em CNTs tornam-se uma alternativa no desenvolvimento de metodologias altamente sensíveis, rápidas e de baixo custo. / Contamination episodes involving petroleum hydrocarbons are reported quite frequently, mainly because of accidents involving transportation and storage of fuels, among which stand out as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX). Thus, it is not surprising the large number of papers currently available relating to remediation of groundwater. However, it is known that the complete mineralization of benzene, most of the technologies used for remediation of soil and groundwater, it doesn\'t occur and it can form highly toxic phenolic compounds. For this reason, this paper aims to analyze the products formed from the degradation of benzene, which are: hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol, phenol, p-benzoquinone. For this purpose, the phenolic compounds formed were measured using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a film of carbon nanotubes and metallic phthalocyanines. Phenolic compounds were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection, spectroscopy in UV / Visible. The proposed electrochemical sensors were highly sensitive and the electrocatalytic determination of the oxidation of benzene derivatives, obtaining a detection limit of 4.54 μmol L-1 for hydroquinone, 1.63 μmol L-1 for resorcinol , 0.14 μmol L-1 for catechol, 4.19 μmol L-1 for phenol and 1.78 μmol L-1 for p-benzoquinone. It is observed that there are some differences in detection limits for each phenolic compound studied and the electrode GC/MWCNT/CoPc had lower detection limits for catechol, resorcinol and p-benzoquinone can analyze these phenolic compounds predominantly from the electro- oxidation of benzene. The proposed methodology was compared with the official methods of analysis and it was observed that the sensors reach the required minimum limits of detection, demonstrating that electrochemical sensors based on CNTs become an alternative for the development of high sensitivity, rapid and low-cost. methodologies.

Infamous for “Mad hatter syndrome” and “Minamata disease”, mercury (Hg) is ranked high on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's priority list of hazardous substances for its potent neurologic, renal, and developmental toxicities. Most typical exposures are via contaminated water and food. Although regulations and advisories are exercised at various levels, Hg pollution from both natural and anthropogenic sources has remained a major public health and safety concern. Rapid detection of solvated aqueous Hg2+ ions at low levels is critical for immediate response and protection of those who are vulnerable (young children, pregnant and breast-feeding women) to acute and chronic exposures to Hg2+. Various types of sensors capable of detecting Hg in water have been developed. In particular, the novel use of engineered carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has garnered attention due to their specificity and sensitivity towards Hg2+ detection in solution. In this focused review, we describe the sensitivity, selectivity and mechanisms of Hg2+ ion sensing at trace levels by employing CNT-based various sensor designs, and appraise the open literature on the currently applied and “proof-of-concept” methods. Five different types of CNT-based sensor systems are described: potentiometric, DNA-based fluorescence, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), colorimetric, and stripping voltammetric assays. In addition, the recognized merits and shortcomings for each type of electrochemical sensors are discussed. The knowledge from this succinct review shall guide the development of the next generation CNT-based biochemical sensors for rapid Hg2+ detection in the environment, which is a significant first step towards human health risk analysis of this legacy toxicant.

archives@tulane.edu / This dissertation utilizes molecular theory and simulations to study thermodynamics of ions in electrolyte solutions of practical interest. The first half of this work focuses on two important electrochemical energy storage systems: Lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors based on carbon nanotube (CNT) forests. In lithium ion batteries, the characteristics of Li+ transport are studied in the solid electrolyte interphase of batteries. This study has potential applications in the design and theoretical testing of novel fast-charging batteries. The work on CNT supercapacitor focuses on the dependence of capacitance on pore spacing and electrode potentials. In the second half, the hydration of halides (fluoride and chloride) are studied using Quasi-chemical theory (QCT). Here, refinements in the implementation of QCT are pursued, leading to free energies that are in excellent agreement with experiments. This advancement should be helpful to address issues such as Hofmeister effects and selectivity in ion channels. / 1 / Ajay Muralidharan

La spintronique moléculaire est un domaine émergeant de l'électronique moléculaire qui s'attache à encoder l'information non plus sous forme de charges électriques mais sous forme de spin. A ce jour, quelques dispositifs magnétiques à base de jonction à cassure ont été décrits. Ils ont permis l'observation de phénomènes intéressants tels que le renversement de l'aimantation d'une molécule aimant ou l'effet Kondo. Cependant, il subsiste généralement des incertitudes sur la nature exacte de l'espèce présente dans la jonction et son orientation relative par rapport aux électrodes, compliquant de ce fait l'interprétation quantitative de ces phénomènes. Récemment, les nanotubes de carbone ont suscité un vif intérêt en tant que composants pour la spintronique moléculaire, du fait de leur grande cohérence de spin. Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes attachés à concevoir des adduits nanotube monoparoi – objets magnétiques pour des applications en spintronique. Leurs propriétés ont été extensivement caractérisées afin de connaître avec précision les caractéristiques des objets à introduire dans les futurs transistors. Les nanotubes de carbone commerciaux contiennent environ 20% d'impuretés magnétiques. Pour synthétiser ces adduits et déterminer leurs propriétés magnétiques, nous avons développé une méthode de purification conduisant à de très hauts taux de pureté, et permettant la détection du signal magnétique de molécules greffées sur les nanotubes. Un mécanisme rendant compte de l'élimination des impuretés magnétiques a été proposé. Les nanotubes purifiés ont été fonctionnalisés suivant des schémas non covalents qui préservent l'intégrité des propriétés électroniques des nanotubes. Trois systèmes magnétiques ont été sélectionnés et comprennent des polyoxométalates, des nanoparticules de réseau de coordination et des complexes comportant un large groupement aromatique. Dans certains cas, une communication électronique entre le nanotube et la molécule greffée a pu être mise en évidence, conduisant à une modulation de ses propriétés magnétiques. Ces systèmes constituent des candidats très prometteurs à des applications en spintronique.

Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes interesses a la synthese et a l'evaluation d'anneaux de tensio-actifs construits a la surface de nanotube de carbone comme agents de vectorisation de principe actifs.<br /> <br />Dans un premier temps, nous avons etudie la structure et le mode de synthese d'amphiphiles auto-assembles sur support de nanotube de carbone. Ces auto-assemblages conduisent a la formation de nanobagues hydrosolubles possedant un domaine hydrophobe. Au cours de cette etude, nous avons synthetise differents amphiphiles afin d'obtenir des anneaux robustes et developpe un systeme de separation des nanobagues afin d'ameliorer leur extraction. La caracterisation de la structure en nanobagues a ete realisee a l'aide de differentes techniques et en particulier par diffusion des neutrons aux petits angles. <br /> <br />Enfin, une evaluation des nanobagues nous a permis de montrer que ces nanovecteurs possedent les caracteristiques requises pour une utilisation comme agent de vectorisation de medicaments. Ces nanovecteurs ont la capacite d'inclure des principes actifs a des taux d'inclusion importants et d'augmenter de facon significative la solubilite de ces molecules dans l'eau. De plus, ces especes n'ont montre aucune toxicite apparente in vitro et in vivo lors d'etudes preliminaires.

Les nanotubes de carbone (NTC) sont difficilement détectables dans les matrices biologiques. Ceci rend l'étude de leur toxicité et de leur biodistribution plus difficile. Lors de ce travail, nous avons étudié, dans un premier temps, l'effet de l'albumine sérique de veau (BSA) sur la dispersion des NTC puis dans un second temps, la toxicité, la biodistribution ainsi que la clairance d'un NTC multi-feuillet (MWCNT) chez le rat en utilisant le nickel, une impureté métallique présente dans le nanotube étudié. Après une unique instillation intratrachéale de 100 μg de MWCNT, nos résultats ne montrent ni inflammation, ni lésions pulmonaires, ni modifications des paramètres physiologiques pulmonaires. De plus, l'absence de passage de la barrière alvéolo-capillaire et la mise en place d'un long mécanisme de clairance ont été observées dans le poumon. Afin de mieux comprendre ce mécanisme et à l'aide de la microscopie electronique et de la spectroscopie infrarouge, nous avons montré que les MWCNT sont chimiquement modifiés et sont clivés dans le poumon. Ces résultats, ainsi que l'étude de la phagocytose des MWCNT et de l'apoptose des macrophages alvéolaires, ont permis d'émettre l'hypothèse d'un mécanisme de clairance selon laquelle l'élimination des MWCNT dans le poumon serait liée à la phagocytose, l'apoptose, la dégradation de MWCNT par les macrophages alvéolaires puis la phagocytose de cellules apoptotiques.

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are a new form of carbon with exceptional electrical and mechanical properties. This makes them attractive as inclusions in nanocomposite materials with the potential to provide improvements in electrical and mechanical properties and allows for the creation of a new range of multifunctional materials. In this study single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were dispersed in polystyrene using a solution mixing method, with the aid of a surfactant. A good dispersion was achieved and the resulting nanocomposites were characterized for electrical conductivity and mechanical properties by 3 point flexural and fracture toughness tests. Results show a significant improvement in electrical properties with electrical percolation occurring between 0.1 and 0.2 wt%. A minor improvement was observed in the flexural modulus but the strength and fracture toughness values in the nanocomposites decreased relative to the neat material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to characterize the morphology and fracture surface of the specimens. The results of testing and microscopy show that the presence of the nanotubes has an adverse effect on the crazing mechanism in Polystyrene (PS) resulting in a deterioration of the mechanical properties that depend on this mechanism.