During this project, photocatalytic material, nano sized titanium dioxide, was introduced into poly (lactic acid) to produce functional surface capable of self-cleaning property. Samples containing 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% titanium dioxide were prepared and etched with proteinase K to expose the nano particles on the surface. It was shown that the nano titanium dioxide could dispersed in the polymer matrix pretty well, it was also found that the nano particles affected the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer matrix differently , due to difference in concentrations of nano filler. The self-cleaning property was evaluated by decolouration of stains caused by coffee and red wine, also by detecting degradation of methylene blue via a UV-vis spectrophotometer. By measuring changes in absorbance of light at 664nm wavelength after a maximum of 24h UV irradiation, it was possible to measure the degradation property of the samples. / Program: Masterutbildning i textilteknik

The period of ice break-off in spring is a key event for many biogeochemical processes in lakes globallly. The biogeochemical processes occurring at ice break-off have the potential of influencing characteristics of lakes throughout spring and summer, including algal blooms and greenhouse gas emission. This makes it important to study lakes in the period of ice break-off. At ice break-off, soil bacteria from the catchment area usually enter the lake via spring floods and mix with the bacteria already occurring in the lake water. In this study, the effects of mixing soil- and lake microbial communities during ice break-off-like conditions were tested by performing an experiment under controlled conditions in the laboratory. In the experiment, light, microbial community composition and concentration of soil-derived organic matter were manipulated to simulate different conditions associated with ice break-off. The variables investigated were bacterial activity and functionality, measured as cell abundance and enzymatic activity, as well as primary production and concentration of dissolved organic matter. The results showed that a mix of soil and lake microbial communities had enzymatic activity patterns resembling lake communities, and then shifted to being more similar to soil communities. The experiment also showed that degradation of measured dissolved organic matter was not linked to biotic processes, and that the observed decrease was most likely due to photo degradation. Finally, the experiment showed that primary production, here measured as chlorophyll a, was only stimulated by the mixed community with light and added soil dissolved organic matter. The results found in this study are important as they show that microbial communities do alter their function and enzymatic activity based on composition. Furthermore, the result that primary production was only seen in the presence of light, soilderived organic matter and a mixed community of lake and soil bacteria may be seen as an indication that primary producers in lake ecosystems to some extent depend on the inflow of terrestrial microbes and organic matter. It also possible that the coalescence of microbial communities enables the communities to perform tasks they were unable to prior to coalescence (i.e. perform tasks that allows primary production to take place). These results give the basis for further, more detailed studies.

Supramolecular chemistry has asserted itself as a significant multidisciplinary field concerned with molecular effects afforded through non-covalent molecular interactions. The increased interest in the literature towards nanoscale devices, through modulation of molecular function, has seen the renaissance of supramolecular chemistry as function progresses from solution to surface. Heterosupramolecular chemistry follows the architectural principles of supramolecular chemistry and embraces both covalent and non-covalent interactions of condensed phase surfaces and molecular components. A modular approach to device architecture was applied as a novel method of performing photocatalysis under visible light illumination. The application of heterosupramolecular assembly to the design of photoelectrochemical cells capable of visible light induced charge separation allowed the study of interfacial processes by means of electrochemical observations. Preparation of a series of supramolecular components was undertaken as specific molecular species within a photochemical system. Starting from a synthesised bidentate ligand that incorporated an acidic functional group, 4,4'-bis(methyl)phosphonate-2,2'-bipyridine (dmpbpy) as its ethyl ester, was chelated to give the surface sensitisers, bis-(2,2'-bipyridine)-(4,4'-bis(methyl)phosphonato-2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dichloride ([Ru(bpy)2(dmpbpy)]Cl2) and cis-bis-(4,4'-bis-(methyl)phosphonato-2,2'-bipyridine)(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dichloride ([Ru(dmpbpy)2(bpy)]Cl2). An electron relay moiety with an acidic functional group, 1-ethyl-1'-(2-phosphonoethyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (EVP), was also prepared using a procedure developed by the candidate. The electronic properties of the prepared photosensitisers were examined by theoretical quantum chemical TD-DFT calculations on the molecular structures and singlet excitations were discussed in relation to experimental data. This identified that the lowest lying LUMO states were consistently occupied by 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and this was speculated to be a factor affecting quantum injection yields. The effect of microwave modification of colloidal TiO2 suspensions under extended periods of treatment was investigated. Nanoparticles of TiO2 were compared and contrast to similar convection hydrothermally treated TiO2 and a commercial titania product, namely Degussa P25, both of which are utilised in device fabrication. The investigation identified that extended periods of microwave hydrothermal treatment do not greatly enhance the crystallinity and primary grain size of TiO2. The heterosupramolecular assembly of a multi-component photochemical system was constructed from prepared molecular and condensed phase components. It was demonstrated that this device was capable of inducing a photochemical reaction in H2O under irradiation with  > 420 nm in the absence of an organic electron donor. Interpretation of the photocurrents obtained from this assembly provided understanding of photochemical reactions under low light intensities. Optimised conditions for the photochemical reaction was determined to be pH = 5 and illumination yielded = 0.0036% with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) = 1.6%. Photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds in a dye-sensitised photoelectrocatalytic cell was investigated for the complete mineralisation of EDTA into CO2, H2 and simple amines and interpreted through photocurrent observations. This was extended to a broad range of organic compounds of various solution concentrations as a simulated industrial waste stream. Photooxidation gave unique photocurrent-time profiles which identified two distinct interfacial processes by mathematical treatment of photocurrent transients with a kinetic model. Kinetic parameters were proposed as a factor for qualitative discrimination of the organic compounds. The implications of these results for heterogeneous catalysis were discussed and the formation of Host-Guest complexes as a method of molecular sensing and as specific photocatalytic receptors was proposed.

La limitation de perméation des gaz aux bordes de l’encapsulation des photovoltaïques organiques flexibles a été adressée par l’identification des chemins de perméation du vapeur d’eau et par la formulation des nanocomposites adhésives. Une version modifiée du test de calcium optique a été développée pour identifier l’importance des chemins de perméation différents présent dans l’encapsulation des modules photovoltaïques organiques flexibles. Les nanoparticules des phyllosilicates et les nanoparticules des zéolithes ont été dispersées dedans les formulations des adhésifs différents incluant les adhésifs acryliques sensibles à pression et les adhésifs UV réticulables. Les propriétés mécaniques, optiques, et barrières de vapeur d’eau des nanocomposites ont été caractérisés en plus de leur photo-stabilité sous irradiation UV. Les nanocomposites ont été également utilisés pour encapsuler les cellules photovoltaïques organiques et la stabilité des dispositifs a été évaluer sous les conditions de vieillissement accélérés d’humidité et température. / In order to address the issue of lateral water and oxygen permeation through the sides of the encapsulation and into flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, the water vapor permeation pathways were identified and several adhesive nanocomposites formulated and tested to limit these pathways. To identify the relative importance of the various water vapor permeation pathways present in the encapsulation of flexible OPV devices, a modified version of the optical calcium test was developed. Passive nanoparticles (phyllosilicates) and active nanoparticles (zeolites) were both evaluated dispersed in UV curing acrylate adhesives and acrylic block copolymer pressure sensitive adhesives. The nanocomposites were characterized for their mechanical and optical properties as well as their water vapor permeation and UV photostability. The adhesives were also used to encapsulate OPV devices and tested in accelerated humidity aging.