The well-known lanthanide cuprates exist in two principal forms, T and T´, which behave as p-type and n-type conductors, respectively. In order to understand the structural properties and crystal chemistry from the T to T´ phase, the Nd₁.₈₋ₓLaₓPr₀.₂CuO₄ (NLPCO) system was studied varying the La substitution ratio (0≤x≤1.8) and then characterised using high temperature X-ray powder diffraction. From analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns obtained at room temperature, there are clearly five distinguishable regions for the NLPCO system. They are, (1) monophasic T´ solid–solution (2) two phase mixture T´ + T´´ (3) monophasic T´´solid–solution (4) two phase mixture T´´ + O and finally (5) monophasic O phase solid–solution. The T´´ form has previously been suggested as an ordered form of T´; however here we show via high temperature X-ray diffraction studies that it is a non-transformable metastable phase formed on quenching of the T phase via an orthorhombically distorted variant. Also neutron diffraction and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies confirmed that the T ´´phase is 4- fold Cu coordinated. The structural, magnetic and electrical properties of this NLPCO series have been investigated for the selected compositions using X-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements, thermal analysis and conductivity measurements. The aim of the second half of this work was to discover the basic high temperature electrical characteristics of Nd₂₋ₓPrₓCuO₄ and investigate how this matches with those required for components on the SOFC cathode side to identify which dopant level shows highest conductivity and whether it is stable at different temperatures. The idea was to make a new concept in SOFC cathodes and current collector development, using n-type conductors instead of p- type conductors and to try to produce a high conductivity material which is stable under the chemical and thermal stresses that exist while under load that can be used in cathode or current collector applications. The Nd₂₋ₓPrₓCuO₄ (NPCO) series has been studied over a range of dopant levels (x=0.15 - 0.25) and maximum conductivity of 86.7 Scm⁻¹ has been obtained for the composition where x = 0.25. Also NPCO shows n-type semiconductor behaviour which gives operational advantages when operating at mild oxygen deficiency. AC impedance studies have been carried out on symmetrical cells to investigate the performance of NPCO as a cathode material. These studies mainly focused on polarization resistance and the activation energies of the cells. Low Rp values and low activation energies are obtained for a composite cathode compared to pure cathode material. Two configurations of NPCO as cathode materials were tested, pre-fired and in-siu fired. Pre-fired NPCO exhibited better performance than in-situ fired NPCO. Both in-situ and pre-fired current collecting NPCO still showed lowest activation energies which suggest good catalytic activity. From all of these studies, it is evident that the praseodymium doped neodymium cuprate material shows considerable promise as a potential cathode material for solid oxide fuel cell applications.

Les structures treillis constituées d’un nombre important de barres sont largement utilisées, notamment en génie civil. L’étude par éléments finis de telles structures se révèle très coûteuse dès que la maille répétitive du treillis est complexe. Il s’avère intéressant de réduire la taille du problème en définissant un milieu continu équivalent. L’objectif de la première partie de ce travail est de proposer, en se plaçant dans le cadre des méthodes d’homogénéisation des milieux périodiques, une poutre de Timoshenko équivalente à une structure périodique dont l’une des dimension est grande par rapport aux deux autres. Une des originalités réside dans l’étude de cellules de base non symétriques. Par ailleurs, on s’intéresse à la prise en compte de déformations libres (par exemple, d’origine thermique) apparaissant à l’échelle microscopique. La seconde partie est consacrée à l’étude de la structure axonémale du flagelle et des cils vibratiles. Il s’agit de proposer et valider un modèle pour cette structure biomécanique complexe et d’appliquer ensuite la méthode d’homogénéisation proposée / Lattice structures are widely used, especially in civil engineering. The finite element analysis of such structures might require a consequent amount of computational time when the periodical mesh of this lattice is complex. Defining an equivalent continuous medium in order to reduce the size of the problem appears to be interesting. The aim of the first part of this document is to apply a homogenization method in order to find a Timoshenko beam model macroscopically equivalent to a slender structure which is periodical in the longitudinal direction. One of the unusual aspects tackled reside in the study of structures with periodical cells having a longitudinal asymmetry. In addition, the case of periodical structures with free deformation (e.g. thermal dilatation) at microscopic scale is dealt. The second part is consecrated to the study of the axonemal structure of the biological cell flagella and Cilia. A shorten version of the axonemal structure is studied at first and homogenized afterward

In this thesis, a Sb/C composite electrode for sodium-ion batteries isprepared by a simple high energy ball milling and calenderingmethod. The prepared Sb/C composite electrode was assembled in ahalf-cell and symmetrical cell setups in order to perform avariety of electrochemical measurements.The composite electrode showed a reversible specific capacity of595 mAh/g, at a discharge/charge current rate of 15 mA/g. Theelectrode also showed a relatively good performance (compared toprevious studies) of 95% capacity retention after more than 100cycles, at a higher discharge/charge current rate of 60 mA/g. Theelectrode furthermore showed excellent self-dischargecharacteristics, in pause tests implemented over 200 hours (overeight days), which underlined the electrode materials good shelflife properties. A series of Sb/C symmetrical cells assembledthrough-out the project, furthermore, highlighted the stability ofthe solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer formed on the Sb/Ccomposite electrode during cycling. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used tocharacterize the surface morphology and composition of the Sb/Celectrode, respectively.A non-milled and milled (12 hours) graphite electrodes were alsoprepared for reference and comparison. The milled graphite matrixelectrode provided a reversible capacity of 95 mAhg-1 and acoulombic efficiency (CE) of 99% in over 250 cycles, at a currentrate of 30 mA/g. Milled and non-milled graphite were characterizedwith SEM and Raman spectroscopy, to help have a fundamentalunderstanding of the particle size and material phase,respectively.