Les propriétés optoélectroniques de jonctions moléculaires sont étudiées par microscopie à effet tunnel (STM). Premièrement, les structures moléculaires sont synthétisées sur une surface Au(111). Puis, par manipulation, nous soulevons et suspendons une molécule entre la pointe du STM et la surface d’or pour obtenir une jonction moléculaire. En appliquant une tension entre la pointe et l'échantillon, un courant est généré, ce qui conduit à l'excitation de la molécule. Ce processus est médié par des modes de plasmons de surface localisé de la pointe. Finalement, la molécule se désexcite de manière radiative et génère un signal de fluorescence. On utilise cette technique pour étudier deux systèmes moléculaires. Dans le premier, un émetteur (porphyrin) est suspendu dans la jonction grâce à des fils organiques (oligothiophène). Ce type de jonction génère une émission de lumière étroite dont la couleur est contrôlée en sélectionnant la structure chimique de l'émetteur. Le contrôle de la largeur du pic d’émission est obtenu en détachant progressivement l'unité émettrice de la surface. On observe aussi des pics vibroniques décalés vers le rouge qui fournissent une empreinte chimique de l’émetteur, et des pics décalés vers le bleu, signe d’une deséxcitation d’un exciton non-thermalisé. Le deuxième type de jonction est composé de nano-rubans de graphène (GNRs) dont la largeur et la structure de l’arrête sont définis avec une précision atomique. Une fois suspendu dans la jonction, les GNRs qui présentent une terminaison spécifique (terminaison C) montrent un spectre d’émission de lumière avec un pic principal et deux pics vibroniques décalés vers le rouge. Le pic principale est associé à une transition intra-ruban entre un état Tamm localisé et un état delocalisé. / This thesis presents a study of the optoelectronic properties of molecular junctions performed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). First, the molecular structures are synthesized on a Au(111) surface. Then, by manipulation we lift and suspend a molecule between the tip of the STM and the gold surface, creating a single molecule junction. By applying a voltage bias between the tip and the sample, a current is generated, which leads to the excitation of the molecule. This process is mediated by the localized surface plasmon modes of the tip. Eventually, the molecule de-excites in a radiative way, generating a fluorescence signal. We use this technique to study two different molecular junctions. First, an emitting unit (fused-porphyrin) is suspended in the junction by means of organic linkers (oligothiophene). This type of junction generates a narrow-line emission of light whose color is controlled by selecting the chemical structure of the emitting unit. Moreover, control over the linewidth is obtained by progressively detaching the emitting unit from the surface. Also, we observe red-shifted vibronic features that provide a chemical fingerprint of the emitter, and blue- shifted vibronic features that are a sign of hot-luminescence. For the second type of junctions we use graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) of atomically precise width and edge structure. When lifted in the junction, GNRs with a specific type of termination (C-terminated) exhibit a light emission spectrum with a main peak and two red-shifted vibrational features. The main peak is associated to an intra-ribbon transition between a localized state (Tamm) and a delocalized state.

Ce travail de recherche est consacré à l’ingénierie d’un nouveau nanobiohybride à base de nanorubans de titanates pour la médecine régénérative. Dans un premier temps, les nanorubans ont été synthétisés par traitement hydrothermal et leurs caractéristiques morphologiques, structurales et chimiques ont été définies. Une caractérisation fine par différentes techniques de microscopie électronique à transmission a notamment permis de déterminer leur épaisseur; dimension qui n’avait encore jamais été mesurée. Par la suite, les nanorubans de titanates ont été fonctionnalisés par différents PEG hétérobifonctionnels préalablement synthétisés au laboratoire. Ces polymères présentent à l’une de leurs extrémités des groupements fonctionnels spécifiques pouvant se coupler à de nombreuses molécules biologiques. Des peptides de type collagène contenant des sites de reconnaissance cellulaire ont alors été greffés sur ces extrémités. Le nanobiohybride ainsi formé devra permettre l'adhésion et la prolifération des cellules favorisant in fine la cicatrisation et la régénération tissulaire. Pour évaluer les propriétés biologiques du nouveau nanobiohybride, la cytoxicité et le pouvoir agrégeant des nanorubans de titanes ont été déterminés par des tests MTT, réalisés sur deux populations de cellules (cardiomyocytes et fibroblastes) et par des tests d’agrégation plaquettaire (sang humain). Enfin, dans le cas d’une utilisation pour favoriser le processus de cicatrisation, le nouveau nanobiohybride a été formulé sous forme d’un hydrogel d’alginate de sodium permettant une application directe sur les tissus lésés. Pour confirmer l’intérêt de cette formulation galénique, des premiers tests in vivo ont été réalisés / This research work is devoted to new nanohybrid engineering composed of titanate nanoribbons for regenerative medicine. Over a first phase, nanoribbons were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment and their morphological, structural and chemical features were defined. A fine characterization by means of different techniques of transmission electron microscopy mainly enabled to determine their thickness; dimension which had never been measured so far. Subsequently, titanate nanoribbons were functionalized by different home-made heterobifunctional PEG. Those polymers present at one of their extremities specific functional groups being able to couple with numerous biological molecules. Some collagen type peptides containing cellular recognition sites were grafted onto those extremities. The so-formed nanobiohybrid will permit cellular adhesion and proliferation favouring in fine tissue healing and regeneration. To evaluate new nanohybrid biological properties, titanate nanoribbons cytoxicity and aggregating power were determined by MTT tests, performed on two cell populations (fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes) and platelet aggregation tests (human blood). Finally, when used to promote healing process, the new nanobiohybrid was formulated in the form of sodium alginate hydrogel permitting a direct application on damaged tissues. To confirm the interest of this galenic form, initial in vivo tests were realized

In this thesis, synthesis, characterization and electrical transport of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been discussed. The first chapter contains a brief introduction of various forms of carbon including CNT. The CNTs are currently the materials of intense research interest due to their remarkable mechanical and electrical properties. CNTs can be visualized as a graphene sheet that has been rolled into a seamless tube. CNTs are either single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). SWCNT is a tube with only one wall and MWCNT has many coaxial tubes and weak Van der Waal forces hold them together. The properties depend on chirality, diameter and length of the tubes. Chirality is defined by the symmetry and the chiral angle formed between the carbon bonds. The atomic structure of CNTs is described in terms of the tube chirality, which is defined by the chiral vector Ch and the chiral angle . The chiral vector is Ch = na1 + ma2, where the integers (n, m) are the number of steps along the zig-zag carbon. Depending on the tube chirality the electrical properties of the CNTs differ; they can be metallic or semiconducting. When n-m = 3p, where p is an integer, the CNTs are metallic and when n-m  3p, the CNTs are semiconducting. Due to the high anisotropy and high aspect ratio, CNTs have many potential applications with great technological importance such as functionalized molecules, conductive wires, bearings of rotational motors, field emitters, hydrogen storage, sensors, polymer composites, nanotube yarn and nanotube filters, X-ray generator, electron sources for microscopy and lithography, gas discharge tubes and vacuum microwave amplifiers, etc. The first chapter gives a brief introduction about various forms of carbon and their properties, particularly of CNTs. The nature of the CNTs depends on the method of production, which controls the degree of graphitization, the tube diameter and the chirality. Most synthesis methods originate from the idea of obtaining adequately active carbon atomic species or clusters from carbon sources and assembling them into CNTs without or with catalysts. The commonly used methods for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes are arc-discharge, Laser ablation, high-pressure catalytic decomposition of carbon monoxide (HiPCO), electrophoretic deposition (EPD), flame synthesis, pyrolysis, chemical vapour deposition (CVD), hot-filament CVD, plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) using DC, RF, and micro wave power sources, hot-filament dc (HF-dc PECVD), inductively coupled plasma (ICPECVD) and electron cyclotron resonance (ECR PECVD). Although many efforts have been made to develop various synthesis methods, most of them require many steps. Moreover, the complicated and rigorous control of parameters and expensive materials are unavoidable that has put limitation in reproducing the same in large scale. In this chapter, a simple method for the synthesis of CNTs on a large scale that eliminates nearly the entire complex and expensive machinery associated with widely used growth techniques has been discussed. In Chapter 2, the synthesis and characterization of entangled CNTs are discussed. It is shown that entangled CNTs can be synthesized in one step by using double stage furnace. Tetrahydrofuran as carbon source material and nickelocene as catalyst source material have been used to synthesize CNTs. With this method CNTs can be synthesized at a temperature as low as at 600 0C. In this technique the self-developed pressure carries the vapours to the hot zone of the furnace. This has led to think in modifying the double stage furnace. A single stage furnace having temperature gradient is made to synthesize CNTs. The vapours are carried from low temperature zone to hot zone where the carbon species and catalysts react to form CNTs. The advantage of this furnace is that it is one-step process. Using another carbon source material such as Diethyl Ether and nickelocene as catalyst source material CNTs are synthesized. The as synthesized and purified CNTs are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The CNTs are multi-walled in nature as observed by HRTEM. In Chapter 3, the synthesis of aligned CNTs is discussed by using benzene as carbon source and ferrocene as catalyst source materials. Aligned MWCNTs were synthesized in the temperature range between 650 - 1100 0C in a single stage furnace without the need for carrier gas nor predeposited metal catalyst substrate. The essential need of CNTs are (1) to obtain aligned nanotubes with millimeter lengths to enable the formation of novel nanotube-polymer composites that incorporate continuous nanotubes throughout their thickness for highly anisotropic thermal and electrical conductivities; and (2) to provide samples for detailed physical characterization - tensile strength, thermal, electrical conductivity, field emission etc. SEM observation reveals the increase in length of nanotubes from 85 m to 1.4 mm with the increase of preparation temperature. The diameter as investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) remains almost constant 70-80 nm (75-85 layers). Once nanotube formation is established, the growth continues in the same direction and may well be reinforced by the presence of surrounding CNTs i.e. almost every particle produces a nanotube and bundling of neighboring tubes lead to collective vertical growth. The increase in length is due to the enhanced diffusion of active carbon with increasing preparation temperatures. The alignment of CNTs is also observed to the lateral side of the substrate. In Chapter 4, the synthesis and characterization of carbon nanoribbon and singled crystal iron filled CNTs is discussed. Particularly interesting are those CNTs filled with magnetic nanowires, which can provide an effective barrier against oxidation and consequently ensure a long-term stability in the core. The filling of metals within carbon nanotubes has extended the potential application base of these materials to quantum memory elements, high density magnetic storage media, semiconducting devices, field electron emitters, high resolution magnetic atomic force microscopy tips, magnetic field sensors and scanning probe microscopes etc. Tetrahydrofuran as carbon source material and ferrocene as catalyst materials has been used to synthesize mixture of carbon nanoribbons and iron filled CNTs. The techniques used to characterize the materials are XRD, SEM, HRTEM and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The powder XRD pattern shows that the bcc -Fe phase of iron is present. HRTEM studies reveal the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and well-crystallized -Fe phase filled inside the core region. Closer inspection of the HRTEM images indicated that the bcc structure -Fe nanowires are monocrystalline and Fe (110) plane is indeed perpendicular to the G (002) plane. Large coercivity (i.e. 1037 Oe at 300 K and 2023 Oe at 10 K) in the iron filled CNTs and carbon nanoribbons have been observed. The high coercivity is mainly attributed to the following two factors. Firstly, it is known that due to the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of the nano size iron in the core region of the carbon nanotubes. Secondly, ferromagnetic behavior exhibited by the localized states at the edges of the carbon nanoribbons. The anisotropic electrical transport property of MWCNTs has been discussed in the chapter 5. The activated diffusive nature of transport along axial direction of CNT is explained. The transport perpendicular to the tube direction is explained in terms of a hopping mechanism. The anisotropic resistivity (N/P) value obtained is 3. The temperature dependent magnetoresistance (MR) is studied in magnetic fields up to 11 Tesla at low temperatures both in the parallel and perpendicular direction of an aligned MWCNT mat. In both cases a negative MR is observed. Chapter 6 discusses the preparation of CNT-polymer composites. The temperature dependence of the conductivity and magnetoresistance (MR) has been studied making four-point contact method on the carbon nanotubes polymer composites as result of increasing CNT content. The conductivity increases with increasing carbon nanotube weight percentage. The increase in conductivity as a function of the CNT weight percent is attributed to the introduction of conducting CNT paths in the polymer matrix. With the increasing CNT content the number of interconnections present in a random system is found to vary. Electrical conduction in nanotube mat or nanotube composites is explained by a variable range hopping (VRH) conduction mechanism. The negative magnetoresistance has been observed for the polymer composites. It is consistent with the report on CNTs bundles and polymer composites. Finally a brief summary of the work presented in this dissertation is discussed along with future directions in this research.

Orientadores: Peter Alexander Bleinroth Schulz, Ana Luiza Cardoso Pereira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T12:03:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BahamonArdila_DarioAndres_D.pdf: 15568018 bytes, checksum: 6b550b7e0291945e86b0152735b9ea2c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Neste trabalho analisamos os efeitos das bordas nas propriedades eletrônicas e de transporte em estruturas finitas de grafeno, como nanofitas, pontos quânticos e anéis quânticos de grafeno. Nós focamos essencialmente no acoplamento entre os estados localizados nas bordas externas e estados localizados nas bordas internas, tais como as bordas internas dos anéis, vacâncias ou defeitos estendidos gerados pelas fronteiras de grão. Os cálculos são abordados no formalismo tight-binding para a rede hexagonal do grafeno. Para calcular as propriedades de transporte utilizamos o formalismo de Landauer-Buttiker e as funções de Green da rede. Para anéis quânticos observamos que a evolução dos estados localizados nas bordas internas, em função do campo magnético é oposta à dos estados localizados nas bordas externas. Tanto para anéis quânticos quanto para nanofitas, quando a magnitude do campo magnético gera um comprimento magnético maior do que a metade da separação entre as bordas internas e externas, os estados se acoplam levando à criação de gaps no espectro de auto-energias e ressonâncias de Fano na condutância. Este cenário é enriquecido pelo fato do grafeno ter duas sub-redes (novo grau de liberdade), identi cando que uma mudança na sub-rede dos átomos mais externos ou mais internos dos braços vizinhos de um anel muda a distribuição de carga e que a sub-rede de uma vacância fortemente modifica a forma de linha da condutância em uma nanofita. O mapeamento da densidade local de estados, diferenciada por sub-rede, nos leva a propor uma possível imagem experimental da força de acoplamento, que caracteriza a forma de linha das ressonâncias Fano. Quando consideramos um defeito estendido na rede do grafeno (defeito linear como os recentemente observados experimentalmente) foi encontrado que ele age como uma borda interna, que adiciona um novo canal para elétrons de baixa energia, e que tem aplicações promissórias como um o metálico quântico. Todos os nossos resultados são robustos quando a desordem nas bordas é incluído / Abstract: This work is concerned with the effects of the edges in the electronic and transport properties of nite structures of graphene, such as quantum dots, quantum rings and graphene nanoribbons. We primarily focus on the coupling between states located at the outer edges and states located at the inner edges, as internal edges of rings, vacancies or extended defects generated by the grain boundaries. The calculations are addressed within the tight-binding formalism for the hexagonal lattice. To calculate the transport properties we use the Landauer-B uttiker formalism and the recursive lattice Green's functions. For quantum rings we observed that the evolution of the states located at the inner edges, as a function of magnetic eld is opposite to that of the states located on the outer edges. For quantum rings as well as graphene nanoribbons when the magnitude of the magnetic eld creates a magnetic length larger than a half of the separation between the inner and outer edges, the states are coupled creating gaps in the self-energy spectrum and Fano resonances in the conductance of the graphene nanoribbons. This scenario is enriched when the sublattice is added as a new degree of freedom, identifying that a change in sublattice of the most external or most internal atoms of neighboring arms of a ring changes the charge distribution and the sublattice of a vacancy strongly modify the lineshape of the conductance. Sublattice differentiated Local density of states mapping for different lineshapes leading us to propose a possible experimental imaging of the coupling strength, which characterizes the lineshape of the Fano resonances. When we considered the recently experimentally observed extended defect, we found that it acts as an internal edge, which adds a new channel for low energy electrons, and would have promissory applications as metallic wire. All of our results are robust when edge disorder is included / Doutorado / Física da Matéria Condensada / Doutor em Ciências

Over the past decade, the bottom-up synthesis of structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with various topologies has attracted significant attention due to the extraordinary optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of GNRs, rendering them suitable for a wide range of potential applications (e.g., nanoelectronics, spintronics, photodetectors, and hydrothermal conversion). Remarkable achievements have been made in GNR synthesis with tunable widths, edge structures, and tailor-made functional substitutions. In particular, GNRs with liquid-phase dispersibility have been achieved through the decoration of various functional substituents at the edges, providing opportunities for revealing unknown GNR physiochemical properties. Because of the promise of liquid-phase dispersible GNRs, this mini-review highlights recent advances in their synthetic strategies, physiochemical properties, and potential applications. In particular, deep insights into the dvantages and challenges of their syntheses and chemical methodologies are provided to encourage future endeavors and developments.

In memory of François Diederich. / Nanographenes (NGs) with open-shell character have gained intense attention due to their potential applications in future organic nanoelectronics and spintronics. Among them, NGs bearing a pair of parallel zigzag edges, such as acenes and periacenes (PAs) bestow unique (opto)electronic and magnetic properties owing to their localized non-bonding π-state. However, their reactive zigzag edges impart intrinsic instability, leading to the challenging synthesis. The recent development of synthetic strategies provided access to several π-extended PAs, which were considered unrealistic for decades. Notably, their laterally π-extended structures of zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbons was realised via on-surface synthesis. However, synthesis of π-extended PAs in solution is still in its infancy, more intensive scientific efforts are needed to surpass the existing challenges regarding stability and solubility. This Review provides an overview of recent progress in the synthesis and characterization of PAs through a bottom-up synthetic strategy, including on-surface and solution-phase chemistry. In addition, views on existing challenges and the future prospects are also provided.

This report employs advanced Raman spectroscopy techniques to investigate the fundamental properties of 9-AGNRs comprehensively. It is divided into two main sections addressing distinct aspects of 9-AGNR behavior. In the first section, Polarization Raman spectroscopy (PRS) probes phonon mode symmetries in 9-AGNRs. Our analysis reveals deviations from predicted symmetries, suggesting the presence of lattice defects. We also investigate specific phonon modes (G, D, and RBLM), providing insights into lattice integrity. The second section employs temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy to explore the thermal properties of 9-AGNRs. This dynamic analysis quantifies vibrational mode responsiveness to temperature variations using the Grüneisen parameter (χ). Comparisons across various carbon-based materials uncover distinct sensitivities and stabilities. This research advances our understanding of 9-AGNR properties, with implications for nanomaterial science and potential applications. / Denna rapport använder avancerade Raman spektroskopitekniker för att på ett omfattande sätt undersöka de grundläggande egenskaperna hos 9-AGNRs. Den är uppdelad i två huvudsektioner som tar upp distinkta aspekter av 9-AGNR beteende. I det första avsnittet sonderar Polarisation Raman spektroskopi (PRS) fononlägessymmetrier i 9-AGNRs. Vår analys avslöjar avvikelser från förutsagda symmetrier, vilket tyder på närvaron av gitterdefekter. Vi undersöker också specifika fononlägen (G, D och RBLM), vilket ger insikter om gitterintegritet. Den andra sektionen använder temperaturberoende Raman-spektroskopi för att utforska de termiska egenskaperna hos 9-AGNRs. Denna dynamiska analys kvantifierar vibrationslägets känslighet för temperaturvariationer med hjälp av Grüneisen-parametern (χ). Jämförelser mellan olika kolbaserade material avslöjar distinkta känsligheter och stabiliteter. Denna forskning främjar vår förståelse av 9-AGNR-egenskaper, med implikationer för nanomaterialvetenskap och potentiella tillämpningar.

This thesis is devoted to the optical properties of low-dimensional structures based on such two-dimensional materials as graphene, silicene and phosphorene. We investigate optical properties of a variety of quasi-one dimensional and quasi-zero-dimensional structures, which are promising for future optoelectronics. Primarily we focus on their low-energy optical properties and how these properties are influenced by the structures’ geometry, external fields, intrinsic strain and edge disorder. As a consequence of this endeavor, we find several interesting effects such as correlation between the optical properties of tubes and ribbons whose periodic and ‘hard wall’ boundary conditions are matched and a universal value of matrix element in narrow-gap tubes and ribbons characterizing probability of transitions across the band gap opened up by intrinsic strain originating from the tube’s surface curvature or ribbon’s edge relaxation. The analytical study of the gapped 2D Dirac materials such as silicene and germanene, which have some similarity to the aforementioned quasi-one-dimensional systems in terms of physical description, reveals a valley- and polarization-dependent selection rules. It was also found that absorption coefficient should change in gapped materials with increasing frequency and become a half of its value for gap edge transitions when the spectrum is linear. Our analysis of the electronic properties of flat clusters of silicene and phosphorene relates the emergence and the number of the peculiar edge states localized at zero energy, so-called zero-energy states, which are know to be of topological origin, to the cluster’s structural characteristics such as shape and size. This allows to predict the presence and the number of such states avoiding complicated topological arguments and provides a recipes for design of metallic and dielectric clusters. We show that zero-energy states are optically active and can be efficiently manipulated by external electric field. However, the edge disorder is important to take into account. We present a new fractal-based methodology to study the effects of the edge disorder which can be applied also to modeling of composite materials. These finding should be useful in design of optoelectronic devices such as tunable emitters and detectors in a wide region of electromagnetic spectrum ranging form the mid-infrared and THz to the optical frequencies.

This thesis deals with the research work carried out on the properties and applications such as GaN nanoparticles, Graphene etc. Chapter 1 of the thesis gives introduction to nanomaterials and various aspects of the thesis. Chapter 2 of the thesis describes the synthesis of GaN nanocrystals and their use as white light sources and as room temperature gas sensors. It also discusses negative differential resistance above room temperature exhibited by GaN. Electroluminescence from GaN-polymer heterojunction forms the last section of this chapter. Chapter 3 demonstrates the role of defect concentration on the photodetecting properties of ZnO nanorods with different defects prepared at different temperatures. Chapter 4 presents remarkable infrared and ultraviolet photodetector properties of reduced graphene oxide and graphene nanoribbons. Chapter 5 presents the infrared detecting properties of graphene-like few-layer MoS2. The summary of the thesis is given at the end of the thesis.

In this thesis, we investigate the entanglement and magnetic properties of frustrated spin systems and correlated electronic properties of conjugated carbon systems. In chapter 1, we present different approaches to solve the time-independent, nonrelativistic Schr¨odinger equation for a many-body system. We start with the full non-relativistic Hamiltonian of a multi nuclear system to describe the Born - Oppenheimer approximation which allows the study of electronic Hamiltonian which treats nuclear positions parametrically. We then also describe ab initio techniques such as the Hartree-Fock Method and density functional theories. We then introduce model Hamiltonians for strongly correlated systems such as the Hubbard, Pariser-Parr-Pople and Heisenberg models, and show how they result from the noninteracting one-band tight-binding model. In chapter 2, we discuss various numerical techniques like the exact diagonalization methods and density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method. We also discuss quantum entanglement and the success of DMRG which can be attributed to the area law of entanglement entropy. In chapter 3, we study here different regions in phase diagrams of the spin-1/2, spin-1 and spin-3/2 one-dimensional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg systems with nearest-neighbor (J1) and next-nearest-neighbor (J2) interactions and dimerization (d ). Frustration arises for specific relative signs of the interactions J1 and J2. In particular, we analyze the behavior of the bipartite entanglement entropy and fidelity at the gapless to gapped phase transitions and across the lines separating different phases in the J2−d plane. All the calculations in this work are based on exact diagonalizations of finite systems. In chapter 4, we study Heisenberg spin-1/2 and spin-1 chains with alternating ferromagnetic (JF 1 ) and antiferromagnetic (JA 1 ) nearest-neighbor interactions and a ferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor interaction (JF 2 ). In this model frustration is present due to non-zero JF 2 . The model with site spin s behaves like a Haldane spin chain with site spin 2s in the limit of vanishing JF 2 and large JF 1 /JA 1 . We show that the exact ground state of the model can be found along a line in the parameter space. For fixed JF 1 , the phase diagram in the space of JA 1 −JF 2 is determined using numerical techniques complemented by analytical calculations. A number of quantities, including the structure factor, energy gap, entanglement entropy and zero temperature magnetization, are studied to understand the complete phase diagram. An interesting and potentially important feature of this model is that it can exhibit a macroscopic magnetization jump in the presence of a magnetic field; we study this using an effective Hamiltonian. In chapter 5, we study correlated electronic properties of zigzag and armchair fused naphthalenes and polyperylene systems in the presence of long-range electronelectron interactions. We find that the ground state of zigzag fused naphthalene system is a higher spin state, while the ground state of armchair fused naphthalene is a singlet. The spin gap of polyperylene is unusually small and the ground state is a singlet. Our calculations of optical gap and two-photon gap suggest that polyperylene should exhibit fluorescence. From the charge gap calculation, we predict that in zigzag fused naphthalene and polyperylene systems, excitons are weakly binding. Peierls type of distortion is negligible in zigzag fused naphthalene and polyperylene systems, however, in armchair fused naphthalene system, interior bonds have tendency to distort in low-lying excited states. In chapter 6, we study the ground state spin of the Heisenberg spin-1/2 nearestneighboring antiferromagnetic exchange models of systems with fused odd member rings. In particular, we compute the ground state spin of fused three and five membered rings as well as fused five membered rings. In the thermodynamic limit, the ground state of the fused three and five membered system is a higher spin state, while fused five membered system shows a singlet ground state, for all system sizes.