A coupling-limited approach for the Ullmann reaction-like on-surface synthesis of a two-dimensional covalent organic network starting from a halogenated metallo-porphyrin is demonstrated. Copper-octabromo-tetraphenylporphyrin molecules can diffuse and self-assemble when adsorbed on the inert Au(111) surface. Splitting-off of bromine atoms bonded at the macrocyclic core of the porphyrin starts at room temperature after the deposition and is monitored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for different annealing steps. Direct coupling between the reactive carbon sites of the molecules is, however, hindered by the molecular shape. This leads initially to an ordered non-covalently interconnected supramolecular structure. Further heating to 300 °C and an additional hydrogen dissociation step is required to link the molecular macrocycles via a phenyl group and form large ordered polymeric networks. This approach leads to a close-packed covalently bonded network of overall good quality. The structures are characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy. Different kinds of lattice defects and, furthermore, the impact of polymerization on the HOMO–LUMO gap are discussed. Density functional theory calculations corroborate the interpretations and give further insight into the adsorption of the debrominated molecule on the surface and the geometry and coupling reaction of the polymeric structure. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

The increasing demand for renewable energy has led to substantial research on different solar cell technologies. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) is a technology utilizing dye molecules for light absorption. Dye molecules are adsorbed to a mesoporous semiconductor surface and after light absorption in the dye, charge separation occurs at this interface. Traditionally, DSCs have used layers of single dye species, but in recent efforts to enhance power conversion efficiency, more complex molecular layers have been designed to increase the light absorption. For example, the most efficient DSCs use a combination of two dye molecules, and such dye co-adsorption is studied in this thesis. A key to highly efficient DSCs is to understand the dye/semiconductor interface from a molecular perspective. One way of gaining this understanding is by using an element specific, surface sensitive technique, such as photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). In this thesis, PES is used to understand new complex dye/semiconductor interfaces. Dyes adsorbed to semiconductor surfaces are analyzed using PES in terms of geometric and electronic surface structure.  The investigations ultimately target the effects of co-adsorbing dyes with other dyes or co-adsorbents. PES shows that Ru dyes can adsorb in mixed configurations to TiO2. Co-adsorption with an organic dye affects the configuration of the Ru dyes. As a consequence, shifts in energy level alignment and increased dye coverage are observed. The dyes are affected at a molecular level in ways beneficial for solar cell performance. This is called collaborative sensitization and is also observed in todays most efficient DSC. Dye molecules are generally sensitive to high temperatures and the substantial decrease in power conversion efficiency after heat-treatment can be understood using PES. Furthermore, comparing two mesoscopic TiO2 morphologies used in DSCs show differences in trap state density in the band gap, explaining the photovoltage difference in DSCs comprising these morphologies. Using mixed molecular layers on NiO results in significant improvements of p-type DSC power conversion efficiency. PES shows that changed adsorption configuration contribute to this effect. This thesis shows that PES studies can be used to obtain insight into functional properties of complex DSC interfaces at a molecular level.

The recently synthesized series of PtII complexes containing cyclometallating (phenylpyridine or benzoquinoline) and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands possess intriguing structures, topologies, and light emitting properties. Here, we report curious physicochemical interactions between in situ PVD-grown films of a typical representative of the aforementioned PtII complex compounds and Li, Na, K and Cs atoms. Based on a combination of detailed core-level photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations at the density functional theory level, we found that the deposition of alkali atoms onto the molecular film leads to unusual redistribution of electron density: essential modification of nitrogen sites, reduction of the coordination PtII centre to Pt0 and decrease of electron density on the bromine atoms. A possible explanation for this is formation of a supramolecular system "Pt complex-alkali metal ion"; the latter is supported by restoration of the system to the initial state upon subsequent oxygen treatment. The discovered properties highlight a considerable potential of the PtII complexes for a variety of biomedical, sensing, chemical, and electronic applications.

[pt] Os tópicos mais importantes a ser tratados nesta tese de doutorado são os vários problemas envolvidos na síntese de nanotubos contendo nitrogênio. Isto é principalmente motivado pelas possíveis aplicações que podem ser dadas a este tipo de estruturas. A motivação central está relacionada ao fato da possibilidade de fazer dopagens tipo -p e -n em nanotubos de carbono, incorporando átomos como boro ou nitrogênio. Isto está muito longe de ser uma trivialidade devido a que devemos levar em conta que se os nanotubos de carbono forem pensados como bases estruturais para nanocompósitos e dispositivos nanoeletronicos, é necessário controlar cuidadosamente a reatividade das paredes, sua dureza mecânica e o gap eletrônico por meio de um controle da quantidade de átomos inseridos nas paredes ou entre elas. Portanto, do ponto de vista de diferentes aplicações, é importante ter a possibilidade de dopar controladamente os nanotubos. Neste trabalho apresentam-se o quadro descritivo da dependência dos parâmetros de síntese, assim como uma investigação detalhada da formação de outras estruturas co-produto do processo de formação de nanotubos. Como uma idéia pioneira proposta neste trabalho, é enfatizado o uso de fontes puras de C/N em processos de síntese baseados em deposição química na fase de vapor. Desta maneira foi possivel determinar os efeitos da atmosfera de reação e o pretratamento do catalizador como agentes favoráveis ou desfavoráveis para a síntese efetiva de nanotubos de carbono. / [en] The main topic of this thesis is the study of various issues related to the synthesis of nitrogen containing nanotubes. This is mainly inspired in the possible applications such structures can have. The practical background lies in the fact that defined n- and p-doping of carbon nanotubes can be achieved by substituting carbon atoms from the tube walls by heteroatoms such as boron or nitrogen (N). This is far from been a triviality because we must keep in mind that if carbon nanotubes are to be used as future building blocks in nanocomposites and nanoelectronic devices, it is imperative to fine tune their wall reactivity, mechanical strength and electronic band gap by controlling the amount of foreign atoms inserted into the tube lattices. Therefore, from an applications standpoint, it is important to be able to carefully control the insertion of different dopants into nanotubes. In this work, a complete picture of the dependence on the combined synthesis parameters is established and a fundamental insight into the formation of N doped nanotubes and other structures (co- products) is provided. As a pioneering idea of this whole work, the use of pure C/N feedstocks in chemical vapor deposition methods is emphasized. With this, it was possible to determine the effects of the reaction atmosphere and the catalyst pretreatment as either favoring or disfavoring agents towards the synthesis of N-doped nanotubes.

Le craquage photo(électro)chimique (PEC) de l’eau par l’énergie solaire est considéré comme une méthode prometteuse de production renouvelable d’hydrogène. Dans ce travail, des hétérostructures à base de BiVO4 et CuFeO2 ont été choisis pour effectuer la réaction d’oxydation et de réduction de l’eau, respectivement. Cependant, les avantages exacts des hétérostructures n’ayant pas encore été complètement élucidés. Ce travail a eu pour objectif d’examiner les propriétés de certaines hétérojonctions à base de BiVO4 et de CuFeO2 par des expériences d’interface. Dans ce but, un certain matériau a été pulvérisé sur un substrat de BiVO4ou de CuFeO2 et des mesures de spectroscopie de photoélectrons ont été effectuées à chaque étape du dépôt. Nous avons ainsi pu interpréter l’alignement des bandes entre le substrat et le matériau pulvérisé, et déterminer l’accordabilité du niveau de Fermi pour les absorbeurs étudiés.Par ailleurs, des hétérostructures à base de particules de CuFeO2 et de BiVO4 anisotropes ont été élaborées par photodéposition. Les performances de ces poudres dans des expériences de craquage photochimique de l’eau ont ensuite été déterminées. / Solar photo(electro)chemical (PEC) water splitting is regarded as a promising ways of renewable hydrogen production. In this work, heterostructures based on BiVO4 and CuFeO2were chosen to perform the water oxidation and water reduction reaction, respectively. However, the exact benefits of the contact materials in these heterostructures have not yet been completelyelucidated. Hence, we opted in this work to investigate the junction properties of certainBiVO4 and CuFeO2 based heterostructures through so called interface experiments, where by a certain contact material was step wise sputtered on to a BiVO4 or CuFeO2 substrate, performing photoelectron spectroscopy measurements in between each deposition step. In this way we could interpret the band alignment between the substrate and the contact material, as well as determine the Fermi level tunability for the studied photoabsorbers. In parallel, new anisotropic CuFeO2and BiVO4 based heterostructured powders were created through photodeposition. These powders were tested as well for their performance in photochemical water splitting.

Abstract This thesis is dedicated to realizations and physical understanding of electronic and photocatalytic properties after decorating transition metals to the semiconducting molybdenum disulfide. Synthesized via facile wet chemical methods, the MoS₂-Au, MoS₂-Au-Ni and MoS₂-Ag-Ni composites were formed as binary or ternary compounds. The Au nanoparticles are stably joined to the MoS₂ matrix without deteriorating layered structures of the host. After introducing the Au nanoglue as a common buffer, a metallic contact is reached between Ni and MoS₂, and attributed to new electron migration channel via MoS₂ edge contact. Adapting the Ag as the buffer element can attach the Ni to the basal plane of the MoS₂ beside edge contact. The Ni-Ag-MoS₂ composite effectively splits water under visible light irradiation and produce hydrogen. The excellent photocatalytic activity is attributed to effective charge migration through dangling bonds at the MoS2-Ag-Ni alloy interface and the activation of MoS₂ basal planes. / Original papers The original publications are not included in the electronic version of the dissertation. W. Cao, V. Pankratov, M. Huttula, X. Shi, S. Saukko, Z. Huang, M. Zhang. Gold nanoparticles on MoS2 layered crystal flakes. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 158, 89−95 (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2015.03.041 X. Shi, S. Posysaev, M. Huttula, V. Pankratov, J. Hoszowska, J.-Cl. Dousse, F. Zeeshan, Y. Niu, A. Zakharov, T. Li, O. Miroshnichenko, M. Zhang, X. Wang, Z. Huang, S. Saukko, D. L. González, S. van Dijken, M. Alatalo, W. Cao. Metallic contact between MoS₂ and Ni via Au nanoglue. Small, 14, 1704526 (2018). DOI: 10.1002/smll.201704526 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe2018060525279 X. Shi, M. Huttula, V. Pankratov, J. Hoszowska, J.-Cl. Dousse, F. Zeeshan, Y. Niu, A. Zakharov, Z. Huang, G. Wang, S. Posysaev, O. Miroshnichenko, M. Alatalo, W. Cao. Quantification of bonded Ni atoms for Ni-MoS₂ metallic contact through X-ray photoemission electron microscopy. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 24, 458−459 (2018). DOI: 10.1017/S1431927618014526 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe2018082834233 X. Shi, M. Zhang, W. Cao, X. Wang, M. Huttula. Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via activated multilayer MoS₂. Manuscript. X. Shi, Z. Huang, M. Huttula, T. Li, S. Li, X. Wang, Y. Luo, M. Zhang, W. Cao. Introducing magnetism into 2D nonmagnetic inorganic layered crystals: a brief review from first-principles aspects. Crystals, 8, 24 (2018). DOI: 10.3390/cryst8010024 http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfi-fe201802153441

Depuis leurs découvertes dans les années 60 par Dewar, les composés BN-hétérocycliques ont subi un développement croissant, s’accentuant pendant la dernière décennie. Ce travail de thèse mené en collaboration avec le Pr S-Y LIU de Boston Collège (États-Unis) et le Pr L. WEBER de l’Université de Bielefeld (Allemagne), a permis la synthèse, ainsi que la caractérisation par spectroscopie photoélectronique à rayonnement UV de nouveaux systèmes. Dans une première partie représentée par les chapitres II, III et IV, nous abordons l’étude de la structure électronique des composés suivants : 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine (1), N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene (2), N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene (3), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranaphtalene (4), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranthracene (5), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranthracene (6), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boraphenanthrene (7), 1,3,2-benzodiazaborole (8), 1,9,8-benzodiazaborole (9), N-tert-butyl[1,3,2]diazaborolo[1,5-a]-pyridine (10), 1,3,2-trihydro[1,3,2]diazaborolo[1,5-a]-pyridine (11). Afin de compléter les propriétés physico-chimiques de ces nouveaux systèmes et d’aider à l’interprétation des spectres photoélectroniques, l’utilisation de calculs quantiques tels que la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT), la théorie fonctionnelle de la densité en fonction du temps (TD-DFT), la fonction de Green (OVGF), la méthode du troisième ordre partiel (P3), ou encore l’interaction de configuration (SAC-CI) ont été utilisées. Dans le Chapitre V, nous présentons une étude comparative entre les énergies ionisations théoriques et expérimentales. / Since the Dewar’s discovering in 60 years, the BN-heterocycles has experienced an important development during the last decade. This thesis presents our work on the synthesis and on the electronic structure characterization by Ultra-Violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UV-PES), followed in collaboration with the Pr SY LIU from the Boston College (USA) and the Pr L. WEBER from the University of Bielefeld (Germany). The first part corresponding to the chapter II, III and IV, describe the electronic structure analysis of: 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine (1), N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene (2), N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene (3), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranaphtalene (4), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranthracene (5), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boranthracene (6), 1,2-dihydro-1-aza-2-boraphenanthrene (7), 1,3,2-benzodiazaborole (8), 1,9,8-benzodiazaborole (9), N-tert-butyl[1,3,2]diazaborolo[1,5-a]-pyridine (10), 1,3,2-trihydro[1,3,2]diazaborolo[1,5-a]-pyridine (11). In order to provide more information on the physical chemistry properties and to interpret the photoelectron spectra, the quantum chemical calculations of ionization energies have been followed using the Density Functional Theory (DFT), the Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT), the Outer Valence Green’s Function (OVGF), the Partial third order (P3), the Symmetry Adapted Cluster-Configuration Interaction (SAC-CI). Moreover, the comparative analysis of theoretical and the experimental ionization energies are presented.

Organic semiconductors have wide applications in organic-based light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, and thermoelectrics due to the easily modified electrical and optical properties, excellent mechanical flexibility, and solution processability. To fabricate high performance devices, it is important to understand charge transport mechanisms, which are mainly affected by material energetics and material morphology. Currently it is difficult to control the charge transport properties of new organic semiconductors and organic-inorganic nanocomposites due to our incomplete understanding of the large number of influential variables. Molecular doping of π-conjugated polymers and surface modification of nanowires are two means through which charge transport can be manipulated. In molecular doping, both the energetics and microstructures of polymer films can be changed by controlling the degree of oxidation of the conjugated polymer backbone. For surface modification of inorganic nanowires, the energetics and morphology can be influenced by the properties of the surface modifiers. Meanwhile, the energy band alignment, which can be controlled by surface modification and molecular doping, may also alter the charge transport due to the variation in energetic barriers between the transport states in the organic and inorganic components. To reveal the effects of morphology and energetics on charge transport in conjugated polymers and organic-inorganic nanocomposites, the influence of surface modifier on the electrical and morphological properties of nanocomposites was first probed. Silver nanowires modified with different thiols were blended with poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)(PEDOT:PSS) to fabricate thin films. The modified nanowires provided a means of controllably altering the nanowire dispersability and compatibility with solvents and polymers. The results also demonstrated that charge transport between the nanowires was facilitated due to low wire-to-wire junction resistance. To further figure out the charge transport mechanism in organic-inorganic nanocomposites and the potential applications, tellurium nanowires and ferric chloride doped poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)(P3HT) were used to characterize energy band alignment effects on charge transport, electrical conductivity, and thermoelectric properties. The results showed that charge transfer between nanowires can be mediated by the polymer and may potentially increase the electrical conductivity as compared to the pure polymer or pure nanowires; while the observed enhancement of power factor (equal to electrical conductivity times the square of Seebeck coefficient) may not be affected by the energy band alignment. It is important to investigate the change of polymer morphology caused by molecular doping and processing method to determine how the morphology will influence the electrical and thermoelectric properties. Various p-type dopants, including ferric chloride and molybdenum tris(1,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)ethane-1,2-dithiolene) (Motfd3), were examined for us in P3HT and other polymers. The results showed that: i) At light doping levels, the electrical conductivity and power factor of polymers doped with the large electron affinity (EA) dopants were larger than small EA dopants; ii) At heavy doping levels, the large size dopants cannot effectively dope polymers even for the dopants with large EAs; iii) For the same dopant, as the IE of the polymer increased, the doping efficiency gradually decreased.

Le couplage de la spectroscopie d’impédance électrochimique(EIS) et de la spectroscopie photoélectronique à rayonnement X(XPS) a permis d’étudier en profondeur le lien entre la structure etles propriétés électrochimiques d’électrolytes solides en couchesminces, ainsi que de l’interface formée avec le matériau d’électrodepositive LiCoO2. L’incorporation d’azote dans la structure duLiPON, électrolyte solide de référence dans les microbatteries, estcaractérisée par la formation de lacunes de lithium et d’oxygènesfavorables au transport des ions lithium. Un électrolyte solideLiPOS a été développé par pulvérisation cathodique radiofréquencevia l’incorporation de soufre dans la structure initiale Li3PO4. Laprésence d’une interface solide/solide entre le LiPON et LiCoO2 estcaractérisée par une réduction partielle du cobalt et une oxydationdu LiPON à son voisinage, vraisemblablement responsable del’augmentation de la résistance de transfert de charges entre lesdeux matériaux. / The link between the structure and the electrochemicalproperties of thin-film electrolytes and the interface formed withthe cathode material LiCoO2 has been intensively studied bycoupling Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and X-rayPhotoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Nitrogen incorporation intoLiPON, reference solid-state electrolyte for microbatteries, ischaracterized by the formation of lithium and oxygen vacancies,increasing the lithium ions transport. A sulfide based thin filmelectrolyte called LiPOS has been developed by radiofrequencysputtering, with the incorporation of sulfur into the initial Li3PO4structure. The solid/solid interface between LiPON and LiCoO2 ischaracterized by a partial reduction of cobalt and oxidation ofLiPON, which is in all probability responsible of the increase of thecharge transfer resistance between the two materials.

Poly (glycerol-sebacate) (PGS) is a synthetic bioelastomer with a covalently crosslinked, three-dimensional network of random coils with hydroxyl groups attached to its backbone. This biodegradable polymer is biocompatible (in vitro and in vivo), tough, elastic, inexpensive, and flexible, and finds potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Due to the slow rate of step-growth polymerisation, the synthesis of PGS prepolymer requires 24-48 h. A batch and a continuous process, if developed, could address the inherent deficiencies (eg. long residence time, venting) associated with the large-scale synthesis of such bioelastomers. However, in order to assess whether this particular system may be adapted to continuous processes, such as reactive extrusion, studies on kinetics of controlled condensation reactions are of vital importance. FT-Raman spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of the step-growth reactions between glycerol (G) and sebacic acid (SA) at three molar ratios (G:SA= 0.6,0.8,1.0) and three temperatures (120, 130, 140 ˚C). The rate curves followed first-order kinetics with respect to sebacic acid concentration in the kinetics regime. An increase in the molar ratio (G : SA) of the reactants decreased the average functionality of the system and the crosslinking density, resulting in the lowering of the activation energy and pre-exponential factor. The average functionality of the system had a profound effect on the crosslinking density, mechanical properties, and the reaction kinetics of the system. Three different PGS oligomers and films (PGS 0.6, PGS 0.8, PGS 1.0) were thoroughly characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and contact angle measurements. FTIR spectra of PGS oligomers confirmed the formation of ester bonds (1740 cm -1). Quantification of various functional groups in PGS films using XPS was in agreement with the theoretical values of the proposed structure. WAXS results indicated that PGS system with a higher average functionality possesses a higher degree of crystallinity. Crystallisation exotherms and melting endotherms of PGS systems revealed that the average functionality influences the density of crosslinking, degree of crystallinity, and the network structure of bioelastomers. Contact angle studies confirmed that an increase in the average functionality of PGS system increases hydrophilicity, and the surface treatment through aminolysis further increases the hydrophilicity of the films. Batch studies were performed on a Brabender Plasticorder®. The samples collected over a reaction period of 5 h were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The number-average molecular weight (Mn) and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of the oligoesters were determined using matrix-assisted laser desroption/ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF) and compared with the corresponding values from the benchtop synthesis. It was found that due to higher shear-mixing and better orientation of functional groups, the degree of polymerisation at any stage of the reaction was higher in the Brabender than in the benchtop process. The gel-point of the reaction was determined from the crossover point of storage and loss moduli, and the reaction rate constant was calculated using the torque vs time data of the rheometer. The kinetics rate constant and the extent of the reaction in the Brabender were found to be higher than the corresponding values obtained from the conventional benchtop process by a factor of 2. PGS was found to be thermo-mouldable and adaptable to high-shear mixing, and hence is a better candidate for making thermoplastic elastomers using reactive extrusion. The challenges and possibilities in scaling up a batch process to a continuous process were investigated. The use of a wiped film reactor or a disk reactor along with reactive extrusion and batch-mixing (as a post-extrusion operation) is a commercially viable method to synthesise PGS oligomers. Such a continuous process will boost the production of bioelastomers for tissue engineering application by addressing the constraints in step-growth polymerisation. Finally, the effect of PGS substrate stiffness and surface treatment (aminolysis, hydrolysis, layer-by-layer deposition) on the morphology and lineage of mesenchymal stem cells – which have a capacity to differentiate themselves into cartilage, adipose, tendon, and muscle tissues – was analysed using fluorescence microscopy and DNA and protein assays. Stiffness of the PGS surface and the method of treatment influenced the cell attachment and spreading on different surfaces. However, cells did not differentiate into definite phenotypes at the end of 14 d time-point, indicating that higher time-points are needed to be considered to study the effect of matrix stiffness and surface treatment on cell attachment and phenotype differentiation.