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.

Les nanoparticules (NPs) métalliques ont fait l’objet d’un intérêt important ses dernières années dans des domaines variées tels que la santé, l’environnement ou l’électronique. Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressés à l'application de NPs de métaux nobles mono ou bimétalliques dans le domaine de la plasmonique. Pour cela, nous avons synthétisé par voie organométallique des nanoparticules monométalliques d'or, d'argent et de cuivre d'une taille comprise entre 5 et 11 nm et caractérisées par une distribution en taille étroite. Après dépôt sur un substrat solide, elles s’organisent ainsi spontanément à 3D formant des supercristaux individuels. Nous avons étudié les propriétés optiques de ces supercristaux, en mesurant leurs spectres d'absorbances en fonction de leur épaisseur et de la nature des nanoparticules. Nous avons ensuite montré que ces supercristaux pouvaient être utilisés comme substrats SERS. La taille moyenne des nanoparticules étant beaucoup plus petites que celles reportées dans la littérature, ces substrats présentent un plus grand nombre de points chauds. On observe de plus un signal uniforme et reproductible d’un supercristal à l’autre. Les spectres Raman des ligands (alcanethiols ou alkylamines) ont été enregistrés et des facteurs d’exaltations entre 103 et 104 ont été calculés. Après vérification par electroreflectance de la stabilité des NPs sur une large gamme de potentiels, nous avons couplé le SERS à l'électrochimie en utilisant comme électrode une monocouche ordonnée de NPs d'or. Les taux de couvertures pour deux molécules différentes adsorbées sur les NPs ont été ainsi calculés. De plus nous avons pu suivre et confirmer la formation des espèces au cours des réactions d'oxydoréduction des molécules adsorbées en surface par SERS. Finalement nous avons synthétisé des NPs cœur-coquille Au@Ag, Ag@Au et d'alliage Cu-Au en utilisant comme germes les nanoparticules d’or, d’argent et de cuivre. Les structures et compositions chimiques de ces particules ont été étudiées. Leurs spectres optiques ont été mesurés par spectroscopie UV-Visible et simulés par calcul DDA (Discrete Dipole Approximation). Ils confirment la formation soient de structures cœur-coquille soient d’alliage. Par spectroscopie Raman basse fréquence, pour les NPs Au@Ag, nous montrons un couplage entre le cœur et la coquille en accord avec un modèle core shell développé dans la littérature. Pour les nanoparticules Cu-Au, le signal Raman basse fréquence est en accord avec la formation d’un alliage. / Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have been subjected to a growing interest these last years in various domains such as healthcare, environment or electronics. In this thesis, we were particularly interested in the application of NPs mono or bimetallic made of noble metals in plasmonic domain. In this way, we synthesized by organometallic route, monometallic NPs of gold, silver and copper with a diameter ranging from 5 to 11 nm and characterized by a narrow polydispersity. After deposition on a solid substrate, they organized themselves spontaneously in 3D forming individual supercrystals. We studied the optical properties of these supercrystals, by measuring their absorbance spectra in function of their thicknesses and the nature of the NPs. Then, we showed that these supercrystals can be used as SERS substrates. The mean diameter of the NPs is way smaller than the ones reported in the literature. These substrates display a uniform and reproductible signal from a supercrystal to another. The Raman spectra of coating agent (alkanethiols or alkylamines) have been collected and enhancement factor ranging from 103 to 104 have been calculated. After verification by electroreflectance of NPs stability over a wide potential range, we coupled SERS with electrochemistry by using a monolayer of organized gold NPs as an electrode. Coverage rates for two different molecules adsorbed on the NPs have been calculated. Moreover, we could follow and confirm the species formation during the oxydoreduction reactions of the adsorbed molecules by SERS. Finally, we synthesized core-shell NPs Au@Ag, Ag@Au and alloy NPs Cu-Au by using gold, silver and copper NPs as seeds. Their structures and chemical compositions have been studied. Their optical spectra have been measured by UV-Visible spectroscopy and simulated by DDA (Discrete Dipole Approximation). They confirmed the core-shell and alloy structures. By low frequency Raman spectroscopy, for the Au@Ag NPs, we showed a coupling between the core and the shell in accordance with the core-shell model developed in the literature. For the Cu-Au NPs, low-frequency Raman signal is in agreement with the formation of an alloy.

After introducing fundamentals of catalysis with noble metal surfaces especially Pt metal for CO oxidation and subsequent developments on nano-crystalline Pt metals supported on oxide supports, an idea of Pt ion in reducible oxide supports acting as adsorption sites is proposed in chapter 1. Idea of red-ox cycling of an ion in an oxide matrix is presented taking Cu ion in YBa2Cu3O7 as an example. Noble metal ions in reducible oxides such as CeO2 or TiO2 acting as adsorption sites and hence a red-ox catalyst was arrived at from chemical considerations. Among several reducible oxide supports, TiO2 was chosen from crystal structure and electronic structure considerations. A good redox catalyst for auto exhaust and related applications should have high oxygen storage capacity (OSC). Any new material that can work as a redox catalyst should be tested for its OSC. Therefore we designed and fabricated a temperature programmed reduction by hydrogen (H2¬TPR) system to measure OSC. This is presented in chapter 2. We have synthesized a number of oxides by solution combustion method. Structures were determined by powder XRD and Rietveld refinement methods. Fe2O3, Fe2-xPdxO3-δ, Cu1-xMnAl1+xO4, LaCoO3, LaCo1-xPdxO3-δ, CeO2, Ce1¬xPdxO2-δ, TiO2, Ti1-xPdxO2-δ and many other oxide systems were synthesized and their structures were determined. OSC of these systems were determined employing the H2/TPR system. TPR studies were carried out for several redox cycles in each case. Except Pd ion substituted CeO2 and TiO2 other oxide systems decomposed during redox cycling. Pd ion substituted TiO2 gave highest OSC and also it was stable paving way to choose this system for further study. In chapter 3, we have described lattice oxygen of TiO2 activation by the substitution of Pd ion in its lattice. Ti1-xPdxO2-x (x = 0.01 to 0.03) have been synthesized by solution combustion method crystallizing in anatase TiO2 structure. Pd is in +2 oxidation state and Ti is in +4 oxidation state in the catalyst as seen by XPS. Pd is more ionic in TiO2 lattice compared to Pd in PdO. Oxygen storage capacity defined by ‘amount of oxygen that is used reversibly to oxidize CO’ is as high as 5100 μmol/g of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97. Oxygen is extracted by CO to CO2 in absence of feed oxygen even at room temperature. Rate of CO oxidation is 2.75 μmol.g-1.s-1 at 60 0C over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 and C2H2 gets oxidized to CO2 and H2O at room temperature. Catalyst is not poisoned on long time operation of the reactor. Such high catalytic activity is due to activated lattice oxygen created by the substitution of Pd ion as seen from first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations with 96 atom supercells of Ti32O64, Ti31Pd1O63, Ti30Pd2O62 and Ti29Pd3O61. The compounds crystallize in anatase TiO2 structure with Pd2+ ion in nearly square planar geometry and TiO6 octahedra are distorted by the creation of weakly bound oxygens. Structural analysis of Ti31Pd1O63 which is close to 3% Pd ion substituted TiO2 shows that bond valence of oxygens associated with both Ti and Pd ions in the lattice is 1.87. A low bond valence of oxygen is characteristic of weak oxygen in the lattice compared to oxygens with bond valence 2 and above in the same lattice. Thus, the exact positions of activated oxygens have been identified in the lattice from DFT calculations. Pt has two stable valencies: +2 and +4. Ti ion in TiO2 is in +4 state. Is it possible to substitute Pt exclusively in +2 or +4 state in TiO2? Implications are that Pt in +2 will have oxide ion vacancies and Pt in +4 states will not have oxide ion vacancies. Indeed we could synthesize Pt ion substituted TiO2 with Pt in +2 and +4 states by solution combustion method. In chapter 4, we have shown the positive role of an oxide ion vacancy in the catalytic reaction. Ti0.97Pt2+0.03O1.97 and Ti0.97Pt4+0.03O2 have been synthesized by solution combustion method using alanine and glycine as the fuels respectively. Both are crystallizing in anatase TiO2 structure with 15 nm average crystallite size. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed Pt ions are only +2 state in Ti0.97Pt0.03O1.97 (alanine) and only in +4 state in Ti0.97Pt0.03O2 (glycine). CO oxidation rate with Ti0.97Pt2+0.03O1.97 is over 10 times higher compared to Ti0.97Pt4+0.03O2. The large shift in 100 % hydrocarbon oxidation to lower temperature was observed by Pt2+ ion substituted TiO2 from that by Pt4+ ion substituted TiO2. After reoxidation of the reduced compound by H2 as well as CO, Pt ions are stabilized in mixed valences, +2 and +4 states. The role of oxide ion vacancy in enhancing catalytic activity has been demonstrated by carrying out the CO oxidation and H2 + O2 recombination reaction in presence and in absence of O2. There is no deactivation of the catalyst by long time CO to CO2 catalytic reaction. We analyzed the activated lattice oxygens upon substitution of Pt2+ ion and Pt4+ ion in TiO2, using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations with supercells Ti31Pt1O63, Ti30Pt2O62, Ti29Pt3O61 for Pt2+ ion substitution in TiO2 and Ti31Pt1O64, Ti30Pt2O62, Ti29Pt3O61 for Pt4+ ion substitution in TiO2. We find that the local structure of Pt2+ ion has a distorted square planar geometry and that of Pt4+ ion has an octahedral geometry similar to Ti4+ ion in pure TiO2. The change in coordination of Pt2+ ion gives rise to weakly bonded oxygens and these oxygens are responsible in high rates of catalytic reaction. Thus, the high catalytic activity results from synergistic roles of oxide ion vacancy and weakly bonded lattice oxygen. In chapter 5, we have shown high rates of H2 + O2 recombination reaction by Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 catalyst coated on honeycomb monolith made up of cordierite material. This catalyst was coated on γ¬Al2O3 coated monolith by solution combustion method using dip-dry-burn process. This is a modified conventional method to coat catalysts on honeycombs. Formation of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 catalyst on monolith was confirmed by XRD. Form the XPS spectra of Pd(3d) core level in Ti1-xPdxO2-δ, Pd ion is the formed to be +2 state. Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 showed high rates of H2 + O2 recombination compared to 2 at % Pd(metal)/γ-Al2O3, Ce0.98Pd0.02O2-δ, Ce0.98Pt0.02O2-δ, Ce0.73Zr0.25Pd0.02O2-δ and Ti0.98Pd0.02O1.98. Activation energy of H2 + O2 recombination reaction over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 is 7.8 kcal/mole. Rates of reaction over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 are in the range of 10 – 20 μmol/g/s at 60 0C and 4174 h-1 space velocity. Rate is orders of magnitude higher compared to noble metal catalysts. From the industrial point of view, solvent-free hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds to amines at nearly 1 bar pressure is an important process. In chapter 6, we showed that Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 is a good –nitro to –amine conversion catalyst under solvent-free condition at 1.2 – 1.3 bar H2 pressure. Nitrobenzene, p-nitrotoluene and 2-chloro-4-nitrotoluene are taken for the catalytic reduction reaction. The amine products were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS). Further, confirmation of compounds was done by FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. In presence of alcohol as solvent, 100% conversion of aromatic nitro compounds to amines took place at higher temperature and it required more times. In n-butanol solvent, 100% conversion of nitrobenzene and p-nitrotoluene occurred within 10 h and 12 h at 105 °C respectively. We have compared solvent-free reduction of p-nitrotoluene over different catalysts at 90 °C. Catalytic activity for reduction of p¬nitrotoluene over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 is much higher than that reaction over 3 atom % Pd on TiO2 and Pd metal. Turnover frequencies (TOF) for nitrobenzene and 2-chloro-4-nitrotoluene conversion are 217 and 20 over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 respectively. With increase of temperature, TOF of aromatic nitro compound reduction is also increased. We have compared the solvent-free reduction of aromatic nitro compound over Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 with others in the literature. Upto 3 cycles of reduction reaction, there was no degradation of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 catalyst and stability of catalyst structure was analyzed by XRD, XPS and TEM images. Catalyst is stable under reaction condition and the structure is retained with Pd in +2 state. Finally, we have proposed the mechanism of -nitro group reduction reaction based on the structure of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97. Instead of handling nano-crystalline materials we proceeded with coating our catalysts on cordierite honeycombs. In chapter 7, we have shown high catalytic activity towards Heck reaction over Ce0.98Pd0.02O2-δ and Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 coated on cordierite monolith. XRD patterns of Ce0.98Pd0.02O2¬δ coated on cordierite monolith were indexed to fluorite structure. Heck reaction of aryl halide with olefins over Ce0.98Pd0.02O2-δ and Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 coated on cordierite monolith were carried out at 120 °C. The products were first analyzed by GCMS and for the confirmation of compounds, we have recorded 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Heck reaction was carried out with different solvents and different bases for choosing the good base and a solvent. Hence, we have chosen K2CO3 as base and N,N¬dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent. We have compared the rates of Heck reactions over these two catalysts and Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 catalyst showed much higher catalytic activity than Ce0.98Pd0.02O2-δ. With increase of temperature from 65 °C to 120 °C, the catalytic activity of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97 on Heck reaction is also increased. The catalyst was reused for next Heck reaction without significant loss of activity. A mechanism for Heck reaction of aryl halide with alkyl acrylate has been proposed based on the structure of Ti0.97Pd0.03O1.97. In chapter 8, we have provided a critical review of the work presented in the thesis. Critical issues such as noble metal ion doping in TiO2 vs noble metal ion substitution, difficulty of proving the substitution of low % noble metal ion in TiO2, need for better experimental methods to study noble metal ion in oxide matrix have been discussed. Finally, conclusions of the thesis are presented.

Carbon capture and sequestration are considered to be a temporary fix to the climate change global crisis. Following the noble gas tracers injection field experiment at Salt Creek in the state of Wyoming, USA, these tracers may be used to characterise the reservoir as a potential geological sequestration site for carbon dioxide. This study aims to investigate various thermodynamics properties of the five noble gases (Xe, Kr, Ar, Ne, and He) in n-decane at reservoir conditions (340 K – 460 K and 10 MPa – 200 MPa). The study utilises the SKS force field to describe n-decane and both Gibbs Ensemble Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the solubility, diffusivity, and vapour-liquid equilibrium of the five binary mixtures. The size of the noble gases was found to be important in these nonpolar mixtures where typical interactions are weak and short-ranged. The enthalpies of solvation were calculated and found to be directly correlated to the size of the solute where the energy required for the formation of a cavity to accommodate the solute is compensated by the nature of the intermolecular interaction between solvent and solute. The mixture of Ar + n-decane is of interest particularly because the sigma value for Ar is very similar to that of the CH3 group, resulting in the overall non-mononicity of several thermodynamics properties. Additionally, maxima in enthalpies of solvation were observed in Xe and Kr in n-decane solution at 200 MPa. While these maxima were observed in two different species at similar conditions, they are accommodated by unusually high uncertainties - further investigation is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn. The results from the vapour-liquid equilibrium study of the five noble gas + n-decane binary mixtures were in good agreement with the Peng-Robinson equation of state predictions. What is more, the diffusion coefficient ratios amongst the five noble gases in n-decane were investigated in light of Stoke-Einstein’s relation and Enskog’s hard-sphere relation. Three different radii of solute-solvent interaction were investigated and the best fit was observed when R =radius of solute + radius of gyration of n-decane. Additionally, the diffusion coefficients were utilised in the reservoir simulation to investigate the role of diffusion within the reservoir.

Abstract This thesis describes efforts made on the development of an existing catalytic incinerator. The development work, called process characterization, consists of four general parts. These are the development of measurement methodology, the studying of construction materials, the selection of suitable catalysts and the testing of the effects of process operation conditions. The two application areas for catalytic incineration considered in this thesis are solvent emission abatement (VOC, volatile organic compounds) and chip bin emission abatement (SVOC, sulphur-containing volatile organic compounds). As a baseline, the process characterization is started with the development of measurement methodology. In general, the methodology will decrease costs and simplify the carrying out of the actual measurements and thereby make the measurement time more effective. In the methodology it is proposed that continuous total concentration measurement should be used in connection with qualitative sampling to obtain reliable measurement data. The selection of suitable construction materials for the application is very important. As shown in this thesis, the end conversions in solvent emission abatement may even be improved through the selection of the proper construction materials. In chip bin emission abatement, the problem arises from corrosive oxidation products that set limits on the construction materials used as well as on oxidation conditions. Catalyst selection is based on the following catalytic properties: activity, selectivity and durability. These catalytic properties are studied either at the laboratory or on an industrial scale. The catalytic materials tested are Pt, Pd, Pt-Pd, Cu-Mn oxides, MnO2-MgO, CuxMg(1-x)Cr2O4 and CuxCr2O4. The most important selection criteria in solvent emission abatement are proposed to be activity and selectivity. In the case of chip bin-SVOC-abatement, these are selectivity and durability. Based on these criteria, catalysts containing Cu-Mn oxides and Pt were demonstrated to be the best catalysts in VOC oxidation, and catalyst containing MnO2-MgO was shown to be best catalyst in SVOC oxidation. A study on the effect of process operation parameters (temperature, concentration and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV)) and moisture was carried out with the aid of factorial design. In VOC (n-butyl acetate) oxidation, the most influential process parameter was GHSV, which decreased the end conversion when it was increased. In SVOC (DMDS) oxidation, the effect of temperature was most significant. The end conversions increased as the temperature increased. Moisture slightly decreased the formation of by-products in n-butyl acetate oxidation. In DMDS oxidation, moisture slightly increased the end conversions at a lower temperature level (300°C). At the end of the thesis, these process parameters are also discussed from the standpoint of the catalysts' activity, selectivity and durability. Finally, proposals for process improvements are suggested.

Quartz and pyrite samples from Pliocene-recent, sub-economic orogenic gold mineralisation in the Southern Alps and Mesozoic economic deposits in the Otago Schist Belt have been analysed for noble gases and halogens. Palaeo-hydrothermal fluids preserved in fluid inclusions were released by crushing and analysed by mass spectrometry. Helium isotope measurements confirm the absence of a mantle-derived fluid component in gold-bearing veins from the Southern Alps and at the large gold deposit at Macraes in Otago. A possible minor mantle helium component is observed in veins within 10km of the Alpine Fault that do not contain gold. Halogen ratios support the absence of mantle-derived fluid and support the presence of a crustal fluid derived from sediments, indicated by high I/Cl ratios. Mixing trends between 40Ar/36Ar and Cl/36Ar indicate mixing between a meteoric-derived fluid or air and crust-derived fluid in all sample types. A correlation between 40Ar/36Ar and 132Xe/36Ar shows that xenon is also sourced from the crustal fluid. Despite a strong crustal-radiogenic Ar signal in some samples, measured neon isotope ratios are atmosphere like. Noble gas elemental ratios show strongly fractionated 20Ne/36Ar away from air-saturated water and air values in deeper formed veins, suggesting air contamination is not dominant. Evidence for the presence of a significant trapped vapour phase is provided by calculated noble gas concentrations in water. Formation of this vapour phase using a two-stage model of de-gassing of meteoric water, and subsequent partial re-dissolution by a Rayleigh fractionation process could account for fractionated 20Ne/36Ar and atmospheric neon isotope ratios. In the Southern Alps, three main types of mineralisation can be identified by noble gas and halogen properties. Deep forming veins contain the most gold and are characterised by 20Ne/36Ar greater than air, 132Xe/36Ar ratios up to 75 times the air value, indicating metamorphic and meteoric fluid components. Some deep ankeritic type veins that display evidence of a CO2-rich component fluid show the highest 20Ne/36Ar ratios. Shallow, late veins have 20Ne/36Ar between air-saturated water and air values, and lower xenon and iodine contents. These veins formed from a boiling rock-exchanged meteoric fluid with a minor metamorphic fluid component and contain less gold. The characteristics of the Nenthorn deposit in Otago are similar to those of the shallow Alpine veins. The economically significant Macraes deposit possibly formed from a meteoric component and a strong metamorphic fluid component derived from the original sediments. This is indicated by the highest levels of excess xenon (relative to air) determined in this study. There is some potential for xenon to be used to fingerprint gold bearing fluids sourced from similar metasedimentary piles in orogenic belts.

La théorie de la rigidité permet de prédire les comportements de nombreuses propriétés de verres, que ce soit avec la composition, la température ou la pression, tout en réduisant la structure de ceux-ci à un simple critère mécanique : flexible, isostatique ou rigide sur-contraint. Des travaux récents ont mis en évidence l'utilité d'une telle analyse, tant de manière expérimentale que théorique. Dans cette thèse, nous appliquons une méthode d'établissement de contraintes à partir de simulations par dynamique moléculaire, afin d'explorer la rigidité dans différentes conditions de température, pression ou composition pour des verres ayant des potentiels d'application. Cet algorithme de dénombrement de contraintes, radiales ou angulaires, nous a permis de définir des zones de compositions particulières dans les verres d'oxydes, avec une compréhension différente de la structure et des contraintes entourant les ions dans la silice. Par la suite, nous avons aussi pu montrer des effets topologiques faibles des gaz nobles dans la silice, et relier les anomalies dynamiques observées dans la silice sous pression à des conditions de rigidité du réseau. / Rigidity theory allows to predict the behavior of many properties of glasses with respect to composition, while considering the underlying network as simple mechanical trusses that can be flexible, isostatic or stressed-rigid. Some recent works showed how useful such an analysis can be, either theoretically or experimentally. In the thesis we will use a method to analyse topological constraints from molecular dynamics simulations in order to establish the rigidity of silica systems of interest under various conditions of composition, pressure and temperature. Applying this constraints counting algorithm to radial and angular constraints in soda-lime systems allowed us to establish composition intervals of isostatic properties while giving a novel comprehension of the constraints and the structure surrounding the ions. We later highlight the faint influence of noble gases atoms upon silica when melted in the bulk. That study also allowed us to link dynamical anomalies of silica under pressure to rigidity changes of the network.

Le Traité d'Interdiction Complete des Essais nucléaires (TICE) met en oeuvre des moyens de détection d'essais nucléaires au sein d'un système de surveillance international (SSI). Le Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) a développé, dès le milieu des années 90, le système SPALAX (Système de Prélèvement d'Air en Ligne avec l'Analyse des radioXénons). L'analyse du xénon, y compris les isotopes radioactifs issus de la réaction de fission lors de l'explosion, requiert le développement de procédés très performants pour la concentration de celui-ci. Dans ces travaux de thèse, les phénomènes d'adsorption et de diffusion du xénon sont étudiés dans une zéolithe ZSM-5 échangée à l'argent. Le couplage « expérience/simulation Monte-Carlo » est mis à profit pour déterminer les données thermodynamiques essentielles sur l'adsorption des gaz rares et pour caractériser les sites d'adsorption. La présence d'un site fort d'adsorption, identifié comme étant des nanoparticules d'argent et intervenant à faible concentration de gaz rares (notamment pour le xénon et le radon) dans certaines zéolithes échangées à l'argent, permet d'atteindre des performances d'adsorption et de sélectivité à ce jour inégalées. Ces résultats permettent d'envisager leur utilisation pour de nombreuses applications cruciales dans le domaine de la capture et de la séparation des gaz rares : production industrielle de gaz rares, retraitement des gaz issus du combustible irradié, dépollution de l'air en radon / The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) implements means for detecting nuclear tests in an International Monitoring System (IMS). The Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA) has developed in the mid-90s, the SPALAX system (Système de Prélèvement d’Air en Ligne avec l’Analyse des radioXénons). Xenon analysis, including radioactive isotopes from the fission reaction during the explosion, requires the development of highly efficient process for xenon concentration. In this work, the adsorption and diffusion phenomena of noble gases are studied in silver exchanged ZSM-5 zeolite. The "experience / Monte Carlo simulation" coupling is used to determine the essential thermodynamic data on the adsorption of noble gases and to characterize the adsorption sites. The presence of a strong adsorption site, identified as silver nanoparticles and intervening at low concentration of noble gases (including xenon and radon) in some silver exchanged zeolites, achieves adsorption and selectivity performance to date unrivaled. These results allow considering their use in many critical applications in the field of capture and separation of rare gases: rare gas industrial production, reprocessing of spent fuel from gas, radon in air pollution control

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Noble gas partitioning between supercritical CO2-H2O phases can be used to monitor Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) sites and their natural analogues. However, in order for viable application, noble gas partitioning within these environments must be well constrained. Present estimates of partition coefficient for these systems are taken from the low pressure pure noble gas-water experiments of Crovetto et al. and Smith (Crovetto et al., 1982; Smith, 1985). The effect a supercritical CO2 phase may have on noble gas partitioning is assumed negligible, although this has not been empirically verified. In this work this assumption of noble gas behaviour within a supercritical CO2-H2O binary phase system is evaluated using a combined approach of experiment and simulation. Using a specially commissioned high pressure system at the British Geological Survey paired CO2 and H2O samples were collected from noble gas-enriched systems at pressures and temperatures ranging between 90 – 140 bar and 323.15 – 373.15 K. These were analysed for their noble gas content using a quadrupole mass spectrometer system developed specifically for this project. By comparing the relative concentrations of noble gases in each phase partition coefficients were defined for the experimental conditions. These were compared to their low pressure analogues. At higher CO2 densities all noble gases expressed a significant deviation from predicted partition coefficients. At the highest density (656 kg/m3) helium values decreased by -54% (i.e. reduced solubility within CO2) while argon, krypton and xenon values increased by 76%, 106% and 291% respectively. These deviations are due to supercritical CO2 acting as a polar solvent, the solvation power of which increases as a function of density. Polarisation is induced in each noble gas within this solvent based on their respective polarisabilities. Hence xenon, krypton and argon become more easily solvated as a function of CO2 density while solvating helium becomes harder. These deviation trends are well described using a second order polynomial. This fit defines a deviation coefficient which can be used to adapt low pressure partition coefficients to allow accurate predictions of partitioning within highly dense CO2 phases. Concurrently a Gibbs Ensemble Monte Carlo (GEMC) molecular model was iteratively developed to reproduce noble gas behaviour within these experimental systems. By optimising noble gas-water interactions a pure noble gas-water system was constructed for each noble gas at low pressure which replicated published partition coefficients. These optimised interactions were subsequently applied to low pressure CO2-H2O systems where partition coefficients were derived by calculating excess chemical potentials of noble gases in each phase. Again a good agreement was observed with published values. When the model was applied to the experimental conditions however, a poor agreement with the experimental values was observed. Instead simulated values replicated the low pressure Crovetto et al. and Smith datasets (Crovetto et al., 1982; Smith, 1985). This was due to no CO2-noble gas polarisation terms being included in the current iteration of the model. By including this within the model in the future a full reconciliation between the datasets is expected.