Strong electron-electron correlations and lattice frustration are two physical interactions that pose serious challenges to condensed matter physics. A variety of exotic physical phenomena, for example, charge ordering, spin liquid, and unconventional superconductivity, are believed to arise from the interplay of the two interactions. In this dissertation, I examine two families of systems which exhibit both electron-electron correlations and lattice frustration – charge transfer solids and layered cobaltates. The half-filled band Hubbard model on the triangular lattice has been proposed by mean-field theories as the minimal model for the superconductivity in the charge transfer solids. In the first part of this dissertation, by using exact calculations, I prove the absence of superconductivity in this model. This result calls for a new theoretical approach to describe the rich physics in charge transfer solids. In the second part of this dissertation, I study charge transfer solids by focusing on its real bandfilling ¼. I show that a new kind of insulating phase, paired electron crystal, emerges from antiferromagnetism as the frustration is increased. The paired electron crystal state can explain the various insulating states adjacent to the superconducting state, thus provides a new avenue towards the understanding of the unconventional superconductivity in charge transfer solids and other ¼ filled systems. In the third part of this dissertation, I investigate the carrier concentration-dependent electronic behavior in layered cobaltates. I provide a natural yet simple explanation for this behavior. I show that it can be described within correlated-electron Hamiltonians with finite on-site and significant nearest neighbor hole-hole Coulomb repulsions. I also point out the similarities between organic charge transfer solids and layered cobaltates, which may involve superconductivity.

To better understand the physical and electronic properties of donor and acceptor-based structures used in organic electronic applications, a variety of oligothiophene and naphthalene diimide-based small conjugated molecules were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The materials were initially synthesized using oxidative copper-chloride coupling reactions, palladium-catalyzed amination reactions, Friedal-Crafts acylations, Negishi coupling reactions, and Stille coupling reactions. Once isolated, the physical properties of the compounds were characterized through a combination of X-ray crystal structure, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV-vis. absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry, along with comparison to quantum-chemical calculations. In some cases, the radical cations or radical anions were generated by chemical oxidation and analyzed by vis-NIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the materials were investigated through incorporation as solution-processed active layers in organic field-effect transistors. Multiple examples exhibited hole- and / or electron-transport properties with electron mobility values of up to 1.5 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, which is among the highest yet reported for an n-channel OFET based on a solution-processed small molecule.

O rio Paraíba do Sul, em seu trecho paulista, é sem dúvida um dos mais importantes cursos d\'água do Estado de São Paulo. Foi às suas margens que parte do desenvolvimento do Brasil ocorreu, em virtude do plantio do café, e como ligação entre as duas principais cidades do país; São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro, rota conhecida como macro-eixo. As descargas de efluentes líquidos domésticos, sem o devido tratamento, são hoje as fontes que mais poluem o rio. Este estudo pretende avaliar a evolução da carga orgânica de origem doméstica, lançada pelos municípios que compõem a bacia hidrográfica, até os limites do Estado de São Paulo com o Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O período escolhido para a realização da avaliação foi de uma década, entre os anos de 1998 a 2007, já que, o início das atividades do Comitê da Bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul no âmbito do Estado de São Paulo, ter sido no ano de 1994. Os parâmetros químicos definidos para a realização do estudo, a partir dos 16 pontos de monitoramento da água da CETESB (Companhia de Tecnologia e Saneamento Ambiental), localizados ao longo do curso do rio, no trecho paulista, foram: a DBO (demanda bioquímica de oxigênio) e o OD (oxigênio dissolvido), que representam o nível de poluição orgânica de origem doméstica em um corpo d\'água, conforme estabelece as legislações vigentes para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Paraíba do Sul. A importância deste estudo está relacionada com as condições em que as águas do rio Paraíba do Sul, entram na represa do Funil, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que tem reclamado muito da poluição do rio no trecho paulista, por ser este o manancial mais importante para o abastecimento da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. Entende-se, portanto a preocupação daquele Estado com a qualidade da água do rio à montante da represa do Funil. / The Paraíba do Sul rives, at São Paulo, is undoubtedly one of the most important water courses of the State of São Paulo. Went to their banks that the development of Brazil occurred because of the planting of coffee, and as a liaison between the two main cities of Brazil, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, route known as \"macro-axis.\" Discharges of liquid household, without proper treatment, are now the sources that pollute the river more. This study aims to assess the evolution of the organic load of domestic origin, launched by the municipalities that make up the basin, until the limits of the State of São Paulo with the State of Rio de Janeiro. The period chosen for the evaluation was a decade between the years 1998 to 2007, since the beginning of activities of the Committee of the basin of the river Paraíba do Sul in the state of São Paulo, was the year 1994. The chemical parameters defined for the study, from 16 points to monitor the water CETESB (Cia. of Thecnology e Wasting Envoriomental), located along the course of the river, in São Paulo words, were the BOD (biochemical demand of oxygen) and DO (dissolved oxygen), representing the level of organic pollution of domestic origin in a body of water, as provides the existing laws for the basin of the river Paraíba do Sul The importance of this study is related to the conditions under which the waters of the river Paraíba do Sul, the funnel into the reservoir in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which has claimed much of the pollution of the river stretch in Sao Paulo, since this is the most wealth important for the supply of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. It is understood, therefore the concern that state with the water quality of the river upstream to the dam of the funnel.

L'électrochimie bipolaire est un phénomène basé sur la polarisation d'un objet conducteur soumis à un champ électrique. Contrairement à l'électrochimie conventionnelle, c’est la chute de potentiel en solution imposée par les deux électrodes sources qui permet de réaliser les réactions électrochimiques. Lorsqu'un objet conducteur est immergé dans une solution électrolytique et soumis à un champ électrique, il est polarisé et se comporte comme une électrode bipolaire. La différence de potentiel entre l'électrolyte et l'électrode bipolaire est la force motrice pour les réactions de réduction et d’oxydation promus aux deux extrémités de l'électrode bipolaire. L'oxydation se produira à l’une des extrémités, combinée simultanément avec la réduction à l'autre extrémité.L'électrochimie bipolaire est une technique d’adressage sans fil qui permet de générer une réactivité électrochimique asymétrique à la surface d'un objet conducteur. Au cours de la dernière décennie, l'électrochimie bipolaire a trouvé de nombreuses applications telles que la synthèse de micro- et nanoparticules asymétriques, l'électrodéposition, la détection, la propulsion de micro-objets, etc. L'avantage de cette technique repose sur le mode d’adressage sans fil qui peut être utilisé pour modifier des matériaux fragiles sans contact ou encore pour modifier simultanément un ensemble de particules en même temps.Dans la présente thèse, l'électrochimie bipolaire a été appliquée à différents matériaux semi-conducteurs et systèmes biologiques. De plus, les nouvelles propriétés générées sur ces nouveaux substrats ont été étudiées en utilisant diverses techniques de caractérisation.L'électrodéposition bipolaire est un outil de choix pour la génération d'objets asymétriques. En utilisant cette approche, un dépôt de métal a été réalisé sur substrats organiques de type complexes de transfert de charge. Ces nouveaux matériaux hybrides métal/organique se sont révélés de bons candidats pour la génération asymétrique de photo-voltage sous illumination.Un matériau semi-conducteur inorganique, tel que les dichalcogénures de métaux de transition a également été utilisé comme substrat pour l'électrochimie bipolaire. Différents dépôts de métaux ont été réalisés sur les macro-particules de MoSe2. Les dichalcogénures de métaux de transition sont également connus pour leur activité électrocatalytique, notamment pour la réaction d'évolution de l'hydrogène. La production d'hydrogène sans fil sur des cristaux de MoSe2 a également été réalisée par électrochimie bipolaire. De plus, l'électrochimie bipolaire peut être utilisée avec une suspension de microparticules de MoSe2 pour réaliser une électrolyse quantitative d’une solution contenant une espèce chimique oxydable.Enfin, l'électrochimie bipolaire pourrait également être utilisée pour étudier indirectement la conductivité de molécules biologiques telles que l’ADN. L'objectif principal était de développer une méthode en électrochimie bipolaire pour la modification asymétrique de l'ADN par des nanoparticules métalliques. Tout d'abord, des expériences ont été réalisées en utilisant l'électrodéposition bipolaire à l’aide d’une électrophorèse capillaire (CABED) suivie d'une imagerie par TEM. Des résultats positifs ont été obtenus mais avec une faible reproductibilité.La seconde approche consiste à étirer des molécules d'ADN sur une surface isolante par peignage et à visualiser cette fois-ci les dépôts par microcopie AFM. / Bipolar electrochemistry is a phenomenon based on the polarization of conductive objects in an electric field. In contrast to conventional electrochemistry, the drop of potential in the electrolyte solution triggers the involved redox reactions. When a conductive object is positioned in an electric field present in a solution between two feeder electrodes, it is polarized and becomes a bipolar electrode. The potential difference between the electrolyte and the bipolar electrode is the driving force for reduction/oxidation reactions at the two extremities of the bipolar electrode; oxidation will occur at one end, combined simultaneously with reduction at the other end.Bipolar electrochemistry is a concept that allows generating an asymmetric reactivity at the surface of a conductive object. During the last decade, bipolar electrochemistry found many applications such as the synthesis of asymmetric micro- and nano-particles, electrodeposition, sensing, propulsion of microobjects, electroanalysis etc. The advantage of this technique is its wireless character, which allows the modification of delicate materials and also to electrochemically address many objects simultaneously.In the present thesis, the approach was applied to different semiconducting materials and biological systems. In addition, properties of substrates of different nature have been studied using bipolar electrochemistry.In this way, it was possible to create metal deposits on organic charge transfer salts in a site-specific way. The resulting hybrid metal/organic particles were tested for the asymmetric generation of photovoltage under illumination.Inorganic transition metal dichalcogenides were also used as a substrate for bipolar electrochemistry. Deposition of different metals on MoSe2 macroparticles was performed. Transition metal dichalcogenides are known for their catalytic activity with respect to hydrogen evolution reaction. Therefore, wireless hydrogen production on MoSe2 crystals and microparticles could be demonstrated by using bipolar electrochemistry. In the latter case it is possible to envision their use for electrochemical decontamination of solutions in the bulk.Finally, bipolar electrochemistry has also been used for studying the conductivity of biological molecules (DNA). The primary goal was to develop a new approach for the asymmetric modification of DNA by metal nanoparticles. Experiments were performed by using either Capillary Assisted Bipolar Electrodeposition (CABED) with the DNA molecules present in the bulk, or by immobilizing DNA as stretched entities on model surfaces for subsequent modification. Encouraging first results could be evidenced by TEM or AFM measurements.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The optimization of the synthetic route of titanium dioxide nanoparticles doped with nitrogen was carried out in order to obtain photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic activity. Thereby, from the synthesized photocatalysts was possible to reach about 100% discoloration and 64% mineralization of Ponceau 4R (P4R) dye. Both doped (with largest and smallest photocatalyitc activity) and undoped catalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction showing the predominance of the crystalline anatase phase. Besides, using the Rietveld method, the results showed 17.3% of brookite phase in the undoped oxides. By further analysis of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was observed that doped catalysts presented slight shift on absorption band to the visible region, highlighting the best photocatalyitc activity of the oxide with a band gap of 3,29 eV. This oxide (K1) exhibited specific area of 63.03 g/m2 while the oxide with lower photocatalytic activity (K2) exhibited a specific area of 12.82 g/m2. The Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that doped samples are more ordered than no doped, and vibrational modes related to nitrogen was not observed. Infrared spectra showed that calcination of the doped oxides leads to considerable loss in nitrogen content, and this is corroborated by the XPS measurements. Photocatalytic assays were carried out on laboratory scale using K1 catalyst in order to optimize the mineralization of P4R. Thus, the substrate concentration, catalyst concentration and pH of reaction medium were evaluated and the best result was 85% mineralization using 15 mg/L of P4R, 100 mg/L of catalyst and pH 6.4. Additional photocatalytic tests were conducted under solar radiation showing that doping increases photocatalytic activity under UV-A and visible irradiation, since 600 kJ of accumulated UV-A radiation (referring to 9 minutes of reaction time in bench scale) proved to be enough to reach 100% mineralization of dye using doped catalyst against 77% mineralization using undoped catalyst. / Com a finalidade de obter um fotocatalisador com atividade fotocatalítica melhorada otimizou-se a rota de síntese para a obtenção de nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio dopado com nitrogênio. A partir deste procedimento foi possível obter um fotocatalisador capaz de descolorir em 100% o corante Ponceau 4R (P4R), e mineralizar 64% sua carga orgânica. Os catalisadores que apresentaram a maior e menor atividade fotocatalítica, e o óxido não dopado foram analisados por difração de raios-X, que mostrou a predominância da fase cristalina anatase nos óxidos dopados. Além disso, no óxido não dopado, além da fase anatase constatou-se, usando o método de Rietveld, a presença de 17,3 % da fase broquita. Por espectroscopia de reflectância difusa observou-se, para os óxidos dopados, um pequeno deslocamento da absorção de luz para a região do visível, com destaque para o óxido com a maior atividade fotocatalítica, que apresentou um band gap de 3,29 eV. Este óxido, (K1), apresentou área específica de 63,03 g/m2, enquanto que para o de menor atividade fotocatalítica, (K2), foi de 12,82 g/m2. Por espectroscopia Raman verificou-se que as amostras dopadas são mais ordenadas que a amostra não dopada. Por outro lado, não foram observados modos vibracionais relacionados ao nitrogênio. Os espectros de infravermelho mostraram que a calcinação dos óxidos dopados causa uma perda considerável no conteúdo de nitrogênio, o que é confirmado por medidas de XPS. Para o catalisador K1 foram realizados experimentos em escala de laboratório com o intuito de otimizar as condições reacionais para a mineralização do P4R. Foram avaliados o efeito da concentração do substrato, concentração do catalisador e pH do meio reacional, onde os melhores resultados (85% de mineralização) foram obtidos utilizando-se 15 mg/L do P4R, 100 mg/L do catalisador, em pH 6.4. Os testes fotocatalíticos feitos sob irradiação solar evidenciaram que a dopagem amplia a atividade fotocatalítica sob irradiação no UVA e visível, já que com 600 kJ m-2 (equivalente a 9 minutos de reação nos experimentos em escala de bancada) de radiação UV-A acumulada, 100% do corante foi mineralizado com o catalisador dopado, e apenas 77% com o seu similar não dopado. / Doutor em Química

O rio Paraíba do Sul, em seu trecho paulista, é sem dúvida um dos mais importantes cursos d\'água do Estado de São Paulo. Foi às suas margens que parte do desenvolvimento do Brasil ocorreu, em virtude do plantio do café, e como ligação entre as duas principais cidades do país; São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro, rota conhecida como macro-eixo. As descargas de efluentes líquidos domésticos, sem o devido tratamento, são hoje as fontes que mais poluem o rio. Este estudo pretende avaliar a evolução da carga orgânica de origem doméstica, lançada pelos municípios que compõem a bacia hidrográfica, até os limites do Estado de São Paulo com o Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O período escolhido para a realização da avaliação foi de uma década, entre os anos de 1998 a 2007, já que, o início das atividades do Comitê da Bacia do rio Paraíba do Sul no âmbito do Estado de São Paulo, ter sido no ano de 1994. Os parâmetros químicos definidos para a realização do estudo, a partir dos 16 pontos de monitoramento da água da CETESB (Companhia de Tecnologia e Saneamento Ambiental), localizados ao longo do curso do rio, no trecho paulista, foram: a DBO (demanda bioquímica de oxigênio) e o OD (oxigênio dissolvido), que representam o nível de poluição orgânica de origem doméstica em um corpo d\'água, conforme estabelece as legislações vigentes para a bacia hidrográfica do rio Paraíba do Sul. A importância deste estudo está relacionada com as condições em que as águas do rio Paraíba do Sul, entram na represa do Funil, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, que tem reclamado muito da poluição do rio no trecho paulista, por ser este o manancial mais importante para o abastecimento da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. Entende-se, portanto a preocupação daquele Estado com a qualidade da água do rio à montante da represa do Funil. / The Paraíba do Sul rives, at São Paulo, is undoubtedly one of the most important water courses of the State of São Paulo. Went to their banks that the development of Brazil occurred because of the planting of coffee, and as a liaison between the two main cities of Brazil, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, route known as \"macro-axis.\" Discharges of liquid household, without proper treatment, are now the sources that pollute the river more. This study aims to assess the evolution of the organic load of domestic origin, launched by the municipalities that make up the basin, until the limits of the State of São Paulo with the State of Rio de Janeiro. The period chosen for the evaluation was a decade between the years 1998 to 2007, since the beginning of activities of the Committee of the basin of the river Paraíba do Sul in the state of São Paulo, was the year 1994. The chemical parameters defined for the study, from 16 points to monitor the water CETESB (Cia. of Thecnology e Wasting Envoriomental), located along the course of the river, in São Paulo words, were the BOD (biochemical demand of oxygen) and DO (dissolved oxygen), representing the level of organic pollution of domestic origin in a body of water, as provides the existing laws for the basin of the river Paraíba do Sul The importance of this study is related to the conditions under which the waters of the river Paraíba do Sul, the funnel into the reservoir in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which has claimed much of the pollution of the river stretch in Sao Paulo, since this is the most wealth important for the supply of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. It is understood, therefore the concern that state with the water quality of the river upstream to the dam of the funnel.

Ce travail porte sur l'obtention et la caractérisation de composites polymères à charges organiques et inorganiques obtenus par polymérisation radicalaire in situ de monomères dans une matrice organique de type cellulose ou inorganique de type silicate. Avec la cellulose, les monomères retenus sont d'abord des dérivés vinyliques de type acide (méth)acrylique et de comonomères tels que l'anhydride maléique, le styrène et le chlorométhylstyrène. Les produits sont caractérisés notamment par ATG et XRD. La conductivité électrique de ces composites en fonction de leur gonflement a été étudiée. La copolymérisation de l'anhydride maléique avec le dicyclopentadiène est ensuite étudiée dans le toluène et le dioxane. Ce type de copolymère n'avait pas été étudié jusqu'à présent. L'influence du type de solvant sur la conduite de la réaction est étudiée. La caractérisation des composites est effectuée par IR, XRD et microscopie SEM. L'interaction entre les composants est mise en évidence par XRD. Les composites à base de silicate sont obtenus par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée après greffage de l'amorceur sur le support inorganique. Le greffage est caractérisé par IR. Les analyses XRD et IR mettent en évidence la prédominance du greffage du polymère à la surface du silicate. L'étude de la copolymérisation chlorométhylstyrène - méthacrylate d'hydroxyéthyle a été effectuée qui montre in fine l'influence du support sur la structure des copolymères. De même, les analyses XRD et IR révèlent la modification de la structure du silicate. La microscopie SEM met en évidence des structures homogènes. Une étude complète de dégradation thermique a été menée par ATG qui montre l'influence des différents polymères / The synthesis of organic-polymer or inorganic-polymer composites was a real challenge within the last decades due to the difficulty of optimally dispersing the reinforcing agent into the polymeric matrix. A method to solve this problem is the "in situ "polymerization. The first part of the experimental study deals with the synthesis of the polymer-cellulose composites. Cellulose-containing composites based on copolymers of acrylic acid with styrene, 4-chloro-methyl-styrene and maleic anhydride or based on copolymers of methacrylic acid with styrene and 4-chloro-methyl-styrene were prepared for proton conducting membranes. Next, cellulose composites with maleic anhydride – dicyclopentadiene copolymer matrix were obtained by “in situ” free-radical polymerization. The syntheses were carried out in two different solvents: toluene and dioxane, aiming to determine their influence upon both the polymerization process and properties of the resulting materials. To the best of our knowledge, studies concerning the preparation of this composite have not been published in the literature until now. The second part of the original contributions section is dedicated to the investigation of some polymer-layered silicates composites, using a commercial layered silicate (Cloisite 30B), modified with OH-containing quaternary ammonium salts. First, a new ATRP-based procedure to synthesize polymer-layered silicate composites involving a simpler method than those published in the literature up to now, was studied. The novelty of the methods consists in the one-step preparation of the ATRP initiating sites anchored onto the layered silicate by reacting the OH groups of the quaternary ammonium salt with chloroacetic anhydride, followed by the "in situ” ATRP of the monomer. This way several intermediate stages are eliminated. The last experimental study concerns the synthesis and characterization of a composite with an inorganic support (Cloisite 30B) and a polymeric matrix synthesized by the copolymerization of two different monomers with high reactivity: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 4-chloro-methyl-styrene. To our knowledge, there are no studies published in the literature describing the preparation of this composite until now. The obtained composite materials were characterized both structurally by FT-IR, NMR, XRD and SEM, and from the thermal behavior point of view by TGA-DSC-MS