The derivatives of boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) are highly fluorescent dyes which have quantum yields near 1.0. These dyes that have exceptional spectral and photophysical stability as compared to other fluorescent groups are used for several different applications. The fluorescent sensor molecules for the detection of cations with PET (photoinduced-electron transfer) mechanism in general have been obtained by the differentiation of the BODIPY core. The extension of conjugation over the pyrrole ring shifts the absorption and emission at longer wavelength. Moreover, it is seen that red emission occurs from an ICT (intramolecular-charge transfer) state. iii In this study, we designed and synthesized an unsymetrically substituted BODIPY dye series, carrying a cation-sensitive phenylazacrown ether group conjugated to the core, and investigated the ion sensing properties of these compounds. Both aza-crown derivatives displayed selectivity towards Ca(II).

Realizamos a caracterização elétrica de alexandrita (BeAl2O4:Cr3+), formas sintética e natural, através de medidas de Corrente de Despolarização Termicamente Estimulada (CDTE). Obtivemos evidências conclusivas do fenômeno de relaxação dipolar em ambos os tipos de amostra, e que as cwas experimentais devem ser ajustadas por urna distribuição contínua dos parârnetros de relaxação. Para a amostra sintética a banda de CDTE está centralizada em tomo de 179K e para as naturais em 187 a 195K. Utilizando o método de Havriliak-Negarni são necessárias duas distribuições continuas de Ea e &#9640 para ajustar as curvas experimentais, sendo que uma delas, em torno de 177 K, com Ea &#8773 0,56 e &#9640 &#8773 1,2x10-14s sente em ambos os tipos de amostras. As bandas de CDTE são atribuídas a dipolos do tipo impureza-vacância de oxigênio ou a deformação local da estrutura causada pela diferença de raio iônico entre os íons Cr3+ (0,615 &#197) e A13+(0,535 &#197). Também realizamos medidas de CDTE fotoinduzidas, onde as amostras são irradiadas com um laser sintonizado em comprimentos de onda entre 3373 e 676,4nm. Verificamos que as bandas de CDTE podem ser \"destruídas\" ou \"criadas\" com a incidência de luz com diferentes condições iniciais de polarização. Para ajudar a interpretação dos resultados de CDTE nós usamos outras técnicas de caracterização, tais como Absorção Óptica, Luminescência, Difração de Raios X e micro análises de EDX e WDX. Todas estas técnicas foram também aplicadas às amostras naturais após tratamentos térmicos consecutivos / We have done electrical characterization of natural and synthet ic alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+), usimg the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique. We have obtained conclusive evidences of dipole relaxation in both kinds of samples. Besides, the experimental data must be fitted by a continuous distribution of relaxation parameters. For the synthetic sample, TSDC band has a peak about 179K and for natural samples, TSDC bands have peaks about 187K at 195K. Using Havriliak-Negami method, we need two continuous distributions of activation energy (Ea) and relaxation time constant (&#9640) to fit experimental data. One of these two curves, centered at 177K, is present for both kinds of sarnples and has Ea &#8773 0,56 e &#9640 &#8773 1,2x10-14s. T SDC bands are attributed to impurity-oxygen vacancy dipoles or local structure deforrnation caused by the dserence between ionic radius of Cr3+ (0,615 &#197) and A13+(0,535 &#197) ions. We have also carried out photo-induced TSDC, where sarnples are irradiated with a tunable laser with wavelength fiom 337.5nm to 676.5nm. We have observed that TSDC bands rnay be destroyed or created with illumination fiom daerent polarization conditions. To help the interpretation of TSDC results we have used other techniques of characterization such as optical absorption, luminescence, X-ray difliaction, besides EDX and WDX rnicroanalyses. All of these techniques were also applied to natural samples afier consecutive annealing

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants known for their photoinduced toxicity. There are two mechanisms through which this may occur: photosensitization and photomodification. Photosensitization generally leads to the production of singlet oxygen, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is highly damaging to biological molecules. Photomodification of PAHs, usually via oxygenation, results in the formation of new compounds (oxyPAHs), and can occur under environmentally relevant levels of actinic radiation. <br /><br /> PAHs and oxyPAHs readily adsorb to the organic phase of particulate matter in the environment such as sediments. It is logical to conclude that sediment transport will also facilitate the transport of these contaminants, and it has been shown that in the course of transport, degradative processes evoke a change in the profile of the PAHs present. Sediment samples taken along a transect from Hamilton Harbour were fractionated, and analyzed using a 2D HPLC method. All sediments contained intact and modified PAHs, although a marked change was noted in the profile of compounds present in the samples, which differ in distance from shore. Fractions of sediment extract were tested for toxicity using a bacterial respiration assay. Toxicity was observed in fractions containing modified PAHs, and was similar to that of intact PAH-containing fractions. <br /><br /> Subsequently, the toxicities of 16 intact PAHs were assessed to <i>Daphnia magna</i> under two ultraviolet radiation (UV) conditions. The toxicity of intact PAHs generally increased in the presence of full spectrum simulated solar radiation (SSR), relative to visible light plus UVA only. To expand the existing data on the effects of PAH photoproducts to animals, fourteen oxyPAHs were also assayed with <i>D. magna</i>, most of which were highly toxic without further photomodification. The data presented highlight the effects of UV radiation on mediating PAH toxicity. The importance of the role of photomodification is also stressed, as several oxyPAHs were highly toxic to <i>D. magna</i>, a key bioindicator species in aquatic ecosystems. <br /><br /> A QSAR model previously developed for <i>Lemna gibba</i> showed that a photosensitization factor (PSF) and a photomodification factor (PMF) could be combined to describe toxicity. To determine whether it was predictive for <i>D. magna</i>, toxicity was assessed as both EC50 and ET50. As with <i>L. gibba</i> and <i>Vibrio fischeri</i>, neither the PSF nor the PMF alone correlated to D. magna toxicity. However, a PSF modified for <i>D. magna</i> did in fact exhibit correlation with toxicity, which was further improved when summed with a modified PMF. The greatest correlation was observed with EC50 toxicity data. This research provides further evidence that models that include factors for photosensitization and photomodification will likely be applicable across a broad range of species. To gain further knowledge of the roles that the variables contributing to the photosensitization and photomodification, a structural equation model was constructed based on the <i>D. magna</i> QSAR. This model accounted for a high amount of variance in six sets of toxicity data, as well as insight into the mechanisms of phototoxicity affecting different aquatic organisms.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants known for their photoinduced toxicity. There are two mechanisms through which this may occur: photosensitization and photomodification. Photosensitization generally leads to the production of singlet oxygen, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is highly damaging to biological molecules. Photomodification of PAHs, usually via oxygenation, results in the formation of new compounds (oxyPAHs), and can occur under environmentally relevant levels of actinic radiation. <br /><br /> PAHs and oxyPAHs readily adsorb to the organic phase of particulate matter in the environment such as sediments. It is logical to conclude that sediment transport will also facilitate the transport of these contaminants, and it has been shown that in the course of transport, degradative processes evoke a change in the profile of the PAHs present. Sediment samples taken along a transect from Hamilton Harbour were fractionated, and analyzed using a 2D HPLC method. All sediments contained intact and modified PAHs, although a marked change was noted in the profile of compounds present in the samples, which differ in distance from shore. Fractions of sediment extract were tested for toxicity using a bacterial respiration assay. Toxicity was observed in fractions containing modified PAHs, and was similar to that of intact PAH-containing fractions. <br /><br /> Subsequently, the toxicities of 16 intact PAHs were assessed to <i>Daphnia magna</i> under two ultraviolet radiation (UV) conditions. The toxicity of intact PAHs generally increased in the presence of full spectrum simulated solar radiation (SSR), relative to visible light plus UVA only. To expand the existing data on the effects of PAH photoproducts to animals, fourteen oxyPAHs were also assayed with <i>D. magna</i>, most of which were highly toxic without further photomodification. The data presented highlight the effects of UV radiation on mediating PAH toxicity. The importance of the role of photomodification is also stressed, as several oxyPAHs were highly toxic to <i>D. magna</i>, a key bioindicator species in aquatic ecosystems. <br /><br /> A QSAR model previously developed for <i>Lemna gibba</i> showed that a photosensitization factor (PSF) and a photomodification factor (PMF) could be combined to describe toxicity. To determine whether it was predictive for <i>D. magna</i>, toxicity was assessed as both EC50 and ET50. As with <i>L. gibba</i> and <i>Vibrio fischeri</i>, neither the PSF nor the PMF alone correlated to D. magna toxicity. However, a PSF modified for <i>D. magna</i> did in fact exhibit correlation with toxicity, which was further improved when summed with a modified PMF. The greatest correlation was observed with EC50 toxicity data. This research provides further evidence that models that include factors for photosensitization and photomodification will likely be applicable across a broad range of species. To gain further knowledge of the roles that the variables contributing to the photosensitization and photomodification, a structural equation model was constructed based on the <i>D. magna</i> QSAR. This model accounted for a high amount of variance in six sets of toxicity data, as well as insight into the mechanisms of phototoxicity affecting different aquatic organisms.

The manipulation of molecular structures is an important enabling technology for future advances in nanotechnology. The ability to control the synthesis of nanostructured materials, such as the bond formation and geometry of a molecule is of great significance to nanoscience as nanosystems are constructed from these smaller units. Influencing the assembly of molecular structures at the early stages of material formation can modify the ensuing molecular aggregate structure with the potential for impact in a broad range of optical, chemical, and biological applications. Heteroleptic titanium metal alkoxides (OPy)₂Ti(4MP) ₂ and (OPy)₂Ti(TAP)₂, where OPy = OC₆H₆N, 4MP = OC₆H₄(SH)-4, and TAP = OC₆H₂(CH₂N(CH₃)₂)₃-2,4,6 were investigated as precursors for thin film and solution-based synthesis of oxide materials via the photoactivation of intermolecular reactions (e.g. hydrolysis/condensation) at selected ligand sites about the metal center. Manipulation of the molecular structure of these photosensitive metal alkoxides was achieved through the use of optical irradiation parameters, such as the tuning of the excitation wavelength, total optical fluence, and pulse energy intensity. Irradiating these metal alkoxides with UV-light was seen to cause photodisruption in the ligand groups leading to the formation of Ti-O-Ti linking via hydrolysis and condensation reactions. In spin-coated (OPy)₂Ti(TAP)₂ films, these photoinduced bridge bond formations resulted in an increase in refractive index and film densification as well as produced an insoluble film when rinsed in pyridine. By making use of these photoinduced film properties, the formation of physical relief structures from spin-coated (OPy)₂Ti(TAP)₂ films was demonstrated along with the ability to photopattern sub-micron and nanometer features. In addition, the micro- and nanostructure of thin films were optically manipulated through several deposition methods; a novel dip-coated in-situ photodeposition technique was utilized by illuminating at specific distances above the meniscus to further control the early stages of material formation due to changes in the mobility of the reactants from the evaporation and gravitational draining of the solvent. The ability to manipulate molecular development at the on-set of material formation through different deposition techniques and optical parameters allowed for the creation of several thin film optical devices, such as gratings, micro-optic lenslet arrays, and binary "on-off" patterned devices.

Realizamos a caracterização elétrica de alexandrita (BeAl2O4:Cr3+), formas sintética e natural, através de medidas de Corrente de Despolarização Termicamente Estimulada (CDTE). Obtivemos evidências conclusivas do fenômeno de relaxação dipolar em ambos os tipos de amostra, e que as cwas experimentais devem ser ajustadas por urna distribuição contínua dos parârnetros de relaxação. Para a amostra sintética a banda de CDTE está centralizada em tomo de 179K e para as naturais em 187 a 195K. Utilizando o método de Havriliak-Negarni são necessárias duas distribuições continuas de Ea e &#9640 para ajustar as curvas experimentais, sendo que uma delas, em torno de 177 K, com Ea &#8773 0,56 e &#9640 &#8773 1,2x10-14s sente em ambos os tipos de amostras. As bandas de CDTE são atribuídas a dipolos do tipo impureza-vacância de oxigênio ou a deformação local da estrutura causada pela diferença de raio iônico entre os íons Cr3+ (0,615 &#197) e A13+(0,535 &#197). Também realizamos medidas de CDTE fotoinduzidas, onde as amostras são irradiadas com um laser sintonizado em comprimentos de onda entre 3373 e 676,4nm. Verificamos que as bandas de CDTE podem ser \"destruídas\" ou \"criadas\" com a incidência de luz com diferentes condições iniciais de polarização. Para ajudar a interpretação dos resultados de CDTE nós usamos outras técnicas de caracterização, tais como Absorção Óptica, Luminescência, Difração de Raios X e micro análises de EDX e WDX. Todas estas técnicas foram também aplicadas às amostras naturais após tratamentos térmicos consecutivos / We have done electrical characterization of natural and synthet ic alexandrite (BeAl2O4:Cr3+), usimg the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique. We have obtained conclusive evidences of dipole relaxation in both kinds of samples. Besides, the experimental data must be fitted by a continuous distribution of relaxation parameters. For the synthetic sample, TSDC band has a peak about 179K and for natural samples, TSDC bands have peaks about 187K at 195K. Using Havriliak-Negami method, we need two continuous distributions of activation energy (Ea) and relaxation time constant (&#9640) to fit experimental data. One of these two curves, centered at 177K, is present for both kinds of sarnples and has Ea &#8773 0,56 e &#9640 &#8773 1,2x10-14s. T SDC bands are attributed to impurity-oxygen vacancy dipoles or local structure deforrnation caused by the dserence between ionic radius of Cr3+ (0,615 &#197) and A13+(0,535 &#197) ions. We have also carried out photo-induced TSDC, where sarnples are irradiated with a tunable laser with wavelength fiom 337.5nm to 676.5nm. We have observed that TSDC bands rnay be destroyed or created with illumination fiom daerent polarization conditions. To help the interpretation of TSDC results we have used other techniques of characterization such as optical absorption, luminescence, X-ray difliaction, besides EDX and WDX rnicroanalyses. All of these techniques were also applied to natural samples afier consecutive annealing

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"An apparatus for the delivery of radiation to the tip-sample interface of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is demonstrated. The Pulsed Light Delivery System (PLDS) was fabricated to probe photoinduced conformational changes of molecules using an AFM. The PLDS is 67 mm long, 59 mm wide, and 21 mm high, leaving clearance to mount the PLDS and a microscope slide coated with a thin film of photoactive molecules beneath the cantilever tip of a stand-alone AFM. The PLDS is coupled into a fiber pigtailed Nd:Yag frequency doubled laser, operating at a wavelength of 532 nm. The radiation delivered to a sample through the PLDS can be configured for continuous or pulsed mode. The maximum continuous wave (CW) power delivered was 0.903 mW and the minimum pulse width was 12.3 ms (maximal 401 ms), corresponding to a minimal energy of 0.150 nJ (maximal 362 nJ), and had a cycle duration of 10.0 ms. The PLDS consists of micro-optical components 3.0 mm and smaller in diameter. The optical design was inspired by the three-beam pick-up method used in CD players, which could provide a method to focus the pulse of light onto the sample layer. In addition, the system can be easily modified for different operational parameters (pulse width, wavelength, and power). As proof that the prototype design works, we observed a photoinduced ‘bimetallic’ bending of the cantilever, as evidenced by observing no photoinduced bending when a reflective-coated cantilever was replaced by an uncoated cantilever. Using the apparatus will allow investigation of many different types of molecules exhibiting photoinduced isomerization."