In this thesis, four studies using different geophysical electromagnetic methods are presented. In the first study dealing with airborne measurements, the noise response due to the rotation of the aircraft and the aircraft itself as a metallic conductive body on the Earth's electromagnetic response in very low frequency and low frequency band was investigated. The magnetic fields are independent of the aircraft in the VLF band and part of the LF band. But at higher frequencies (above 100 kHz), the signals are more influenced by the aircraft. The aircraft also generates its own noise frequencies which are mixed with the radio transmitter signals. The second and third studies are applications of radio-, controlled source-magnetotellurics and electrical resistivity tomography methods at a quick-clay landslide site in southwest Sweden. The data are processed and modeled in 2D and 3D, and the models are compared with high-resolution seismic and geotechnical data. The obtained results were further validated and refined by performing synthetic tests in the second study. The third study shows that the 3D models provide larger and more continuous volume of the quick clay structure than traditional 2D models. Both studies have shown that integrated application of geophysical methods for landslides is ideal. Quick clays often overlie the coarse-grained layers showing an increase of resistivity values in the models. In the fourth study, a new audio magnetotelluric data acquisition technique is developed and is named moving magnetotellurics (MMT). In this new technique, the magnetic sensors are placed on the ground and only 15 to 20 minutes data are acquired for each station, which usually is enough to cover the frequency range 30-300 Hz. The new technique is more efficient and convenient than the traditional magnetotelluric method, and test measurements have shown that it is an applicable method in shallow depth studies.

This study focused on determining the groundwater flow paths in the crystalline subsurface rocks of the Bulawayo metropolitan, Zimbabwe, through analysing the discontinuities of the electrical properties of the ground, as well as in the magnetic field of the underlying rocks. Further, borehole water quality was analysed by measuring and mapping several chemical parameters, specifically TDS, salinity and the electrical conductivity. The electrical and magnetic anomalies were measured at two field sites within the Bulawayo province, the Harry Allen Golf Course and the Barbour Fields dumpsite, while 120 boreholes were sampled for water quality in a large part the province. Two magnetometers were used to measure the magnetic field and the time and location of the measurements, which resulted, after processing in SURFER, into the magnetic field map of these areas. This was used, in conjunction with the geologic map of the Bulawayo province, in order to determine useful locations for the electrical resistivity surveys. These included electrical resistivity tomography and vertical electrical sounding and were performed with an earth resistivity/induced polarization (IP) meter in order to measure the electrical resistivity of the ground. Inverse modelling was used in the RES2DINV software program to produce the topographic image of resistivity. The results for the borehole sampling showed that the maps for the three chemical parameters were very similar, with the western and northern parts of the mapped area displaying higher concentration values. The results of the electrical resistivity surveying showed probable areas of groundwater flow with its relationship to electric conductivity.

The mixing of additives into a plastic is an extremely important step in the plastics industry, necessary for the manufacture of almost every conceivable product. Therefore the costs in developing new products can prove very expensive as the testing is usually carried out using full scale machines, usually using twin screw extruders because they are able to provide good dispersive and distributive mixing. This is particularly important when compounding difficult to disperse additives and nano-additives. What is required is a machine that can replicate the mixing abilities of a twin-screw extruder but on a laboratory scale. There have been attempts by industry to develop smaller machines, such as the Thermo Scientific HAAKE Minilab II Micro Compounder which processes on the scale of 7 cm3 of material volume. This can be too small for some needs and therefore a machine is required to produce material on the 10g to 100g scale. To this end a laboratory mixer of novel design was devised and its mixing performance was assessed using conductive carbon black and compared against the Thermo Scientific HAAKE Minilab II Micro Compounder, a 19 mm co-rotating twin-screw extruder and a 40 mm co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Carbon black was used because mixing performance can be assessed by measuring the minimum carbon loading necessary to induce electrical conductivity. It was found that the minimixer was able to induce electrical conductivity at loading of 5.75% but the comparison with the other machines proved difficult as the achievement of the threshold at which semi-conductivity occurred appeared independent of shear rate and mixing duration.

In this dissertation, I present that at a vacuum of 3×10-7 Torr, residual O2, CO2, H2 and Ar exposure do not significantly degrade the field emission (FE) properties of ZnO nanorods, but N2 exposure significantly does. I propose that this could be due to the dissociation of N2 into atomic nitrogen species and the reaction of such species with ZnO. I also present the effects of O2, CO2, H2O, N2, H2, and Ar residual gas exposure on the FE properties of GaN and ZnS nanostructure. A brief review of growth of ZnO, GaN and ZnS is provided. In addition, Cs deposition on GaN nanostructures at ultra-high vacuum results in 30% decrease in turn-on voltage and 60% in work function. The improvement in FE properties could be due to a Cs-induced space-charge layer at the surface that reduces the barrier for FE and lowers the work function. I describe a new phenomenon, in which the resistivity of CVD-grown graphene increases to a higher saturated value under light exposure, and depends on the wavelength of the light—the shorter the wavelength, the higher the resistivity. First-principle calculations and theoretical analysis based on density functional theory show that (1) a water molecule close to a graphene defect is easier to be split than that of the case of no defect existing and (2) there are a series of meta-stable partially disassociated states for an interfacial water molecule. Calculated disassociation energies are from 2.5 eV to 4.6 eV, that match the experimental observation range of light wavelength from visible to 254 nm UV light under which the resistivity of CVD-grown graphene is increased.

The Větrníky national nature reserve, located in the South Moravian region north of the village of Letonice, is one of the largest steppe reserves in Southern Moravia. This whole area is characterized by the presence of both stable and active landslides, and the occurrence of suffosion sinkholes has been monitored there in the long-term. The aim of the thesis was to investigate whether it was possible to observe subsurface phenomena, caused by the washing out of fine rock particles by ground water, by means of geophysical methods. This phenomenon is known as suffosion. The measurements took place in the areas where the suffosion manifestation was very distinctive, that is around two sinkholes that were visible on the surface. In order to identify the suffosion structural-geological causes and their manifestations at a given location, the gravimetric and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) methods were used in the first stage of the research. Measured data was further processed and geologically interpreted. The gravimetric method has proved suitable when identifying rocks affected by suffosion, in which case we assume that their density is lower than the density of the surrounding rocks. Using the ERT method, it was possible, in the vertical profile, to distinguish the sandy-gravelly sediments...

Des films et revêtements composés de phases et composés intermétalliques présentent des propriétés et des combinaisons de propriétés attractives qui ne sont que très partiellement explorées aujourd’hui. Ils sont porteurs de solutions potentielles pour conférer à des matériaux avancés des multifonctionnalités nécessaires dans pratiquement toutes les industries manufacturières et deviennent ainsi source de rupture et d’innovation. Cette situation prévaut pour le système Al-Cu-Fe, au sein duquel même les binaires à base d’Al présentent des propriétés remarquables. Si des techniques de dépôt physique en phase vapeur sont le plus souvent utilisées pour l’élaboration de tels films et revêtements métalliques, l’utilisation de procédés de dépôt chimique en phase vapeur à partir de précurseurs métalorganiques (MOCVD) permettrait à terme le traitement et la fonctionnalisation de surfaces de géométrie complexe. Le présent travail s’inscrit dans cette logique. Il vise la mise au point de procédés MOCVD de films d’Al, de Cu et de Fe. Ces procédés doivent être compatibles afin de constituer la base pour l’élaboration de protocoles complexes permettant le codépôt ou le dépôt séquentiel de ces éléments. La MOCVD d’Al à partir de dimethylethyl amine alane (DMEAA) a été adaptée pour satisfaire les contraintes de codépôt, pour valider le dispositif expérimental utilisé pour le dépôt des films unaires et binaires, pour valider certains aspects mécanistiques du dépôt et pour illustrer la capacité de la technique de couvrir de manière conforme des surfaces de géométrie complexe. Le protocole mise au point permet d’opérer à une pression de 10 Torr, dans une fenêtre de températures entre 160 °C et 240 °C. La modélisation du procédé permet son optimisation dans ces conditions, conduisant à des films d’épaisseur uniforme sur une surface de diamètre 58 mm. La microstructure désordonnée des films est améliorée par un prétraitement plasma des substrats d’acier 304L in situ avant dépôt.Le besoin d’utiliser des précurseurs de Cu et de Fe exemptes d’oxygène (en vue d’un codépôt avec Al) a conduit à tester pour ces deux éléments la famille originale des composés moléculaires à base de ligands amidinates. Il est montré que des films purs de Cu sont obtenus entre 200 °C et 350 °C à partir de [Cu(i-Pr-Me-AMD)]2 dans une phase gazeuse riche en hydrogène, la limite entre les régimes cinétique et diffusionnel étant à 240 °C. Le criblage de précurseurs analogues pour Fe a révélé que, dans les mêmes conditions, le composé [Fe(tBu-MeAMD)2] conduit à des films contenant Fe, Fe4N ainsi qu’à des carbures Fe3C et Fe4C.Des bicouches de Cu et Al ont été déposées à partir des protocoles mis au point. Leur recuit post dépôt a été suivi in situ par diffraction de rayons X et par mesure de la résistance électrique. Il a permis de stabiliser des phases θ-Al2Cu, η-AlCu et, pour la première fois reportée dans la littérature, de la phase approximante γ-Al4Cu9. Il a été démontré que la technique MOCVD associée avec des recuits post dépôt est une méthode appropriée pour obtenir des films composés d’alliages intermétalliques. Des dépôts conformes de tels films peuvent ainsi être envisagés pour des nombreuses applications. / Films and coatings intermetallic phases and intermetallic compounds present proprieties and combination of proprieties which are just partially explored today. They carry potential solutions to confer multifunctionality for advanced materials needed by industries and become a source of disruption and innovation. This situation prevails for the Al-Cu-Fe, in which even the binary Al-based exhibit remarkable properties. While techniques of physical vapor deposition are most often used for the development of such films and metallic coatings, the use of processes of chemical vapor deposition from metallorganic precursors (MOCVD) lead to the treatment and functionalization of surfaces with complex geometry. The present work joins in this logic.It aims at the development of MOCVD processes of Al, Cu and Fe films. These processes must be compatible to constitute the base for the elaboration of complex protocols allowing the codeposition or the sequential deposition of these elements. The MOCVD of Al from dimethylethyl amine alane (DMEAA) was adapted to satisfy the constraints of codeposition to validate the experimental device. Used for the deposition of unary and binary films, to validate certain aspects mechanistic of the deposition and to illustrate the capacity of the technique to cover in a shape way surfaces of complex geometry. The protocol development allows to operate at pressure of 10 Torr, in a window of temperatures between 160 °C and 240 °C. The modeling of the process allows its optimization in these conditions, leading to films with uniform thickness. The disorderly microstructure of these films is improved by a plasma pretreatment of the substrate of 304L steel in situ before deposition. The need to use precursors of Cu and Fe-free oxygen (for a co-deposition with Al) has led to testing for these two elements the original family of molecular compounds based ligands AMIDINATES. It is shown that pure Cu films are obtained between 200 ° C and 350 ° C from [Cu (i-Pr-Me-AMD)]2 in a gaseous phase rich in hydrogen, the boundary between the kinetic schemes and diffusion regyme being at 240 ° C. Screening similar to Fe precursors revealed that, under the same conditions, the compound [Fe (tBu-MeAMD)2] leads to films containing Fe, as well as Fe4N carbides Fe3C and Fe4C. Bilayers of Cu and Al were deposited from the protocols developed. Their post deposition annealing was followed by in situ X-ray diffraction and by measuring the electrical resistance. It has stabilized θ-Al2Cu, η-AlCu phases and, for the first time reported in the literature, the approximant phase γ-Al4Cu9. It was demonstrated that the MOCVD technique associated with post-deposition annealing is a suitable method to obtain films composed of intermetallic alloys. Deposits conform such films can thus be considered for many applications.

The utilization of thermal fluctuations or Johnson/Nyquist noise as a spectroscopic method to determine transport properties in conductors or semiconductors is developed in this paper. The autocorrelation function is obtained from power spectral density measurements thus enabling electronic transport property calculation through the Green-Kubo formalism. This experimental approach is distinct from traditional numerical methods such as molecular dynamics simulations, which have been used to extract the autocorrelation function and directly related physics only. This work reports multi-transport property measurements consisting of the electronic relaxation time, resistivity, mobility, diffusion coefficient, electronic contribution to thermal conductivity and Lorenz number from experimental data. Double validation of the experiment was accomplished through the use of a standard reference material and a standard measurement method, i.e. four-probe collinear resistivity technique. The advantages to this new experimental technique include the elimination of any required thermal or potential gradients, multi-transport property measurements within one experiment, very low error and the ability to apply controlled boundary conditions while gathering data. This research has experimentally assessed the gas pressure and flow effects of helium and argon on 30 nm Au and Cu thin films. The results show a reduction in Au and Cu electronic thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity when subjected to helium and argon pressure and flow. The perturbed electronic transport coefficients, attributed to increased electron scattering at the surface, were so dominant that further data was collected through straight-forward resistance measurements. The resistance data confirmed the thermal noise measurements thus lending considerable evidence to the presence of thin film surface scattering due to elastic and inelastic gas particle scattering effects with the electron ensemble.

La détection de cavités en milieu urbain est importante pour prévenir différentes causes d'accidents liés à des possibles effondrements. Les cavités sont aussi des cibles d'intérêts pour les archéologues, car les cavités oubliées sont de potentielles sources de matériel révélant des usages passés. Ces cavités sont de tailles différentes, d'origine anthropique ou non, en milieu extérieur ou sous des bâtiments. Leur taille, ainsi que les propriétés physiques du milieu extérieur dans lequel elles se situent, permettent l'utilisation de différentes méthodes géophysiques. Nous nous sommes concentrés sur l'utilisation de deux méthodes géophysiques, le radar de sol et la tomographie par mesures de résistivité électrique, pour localiser et déterminer les cavités métriques à sub-métrique dans le proche sous-sol (6 premiers mètres). Les mesures de radar de sol sont sensibles aux variations de permittivité diélectrique entre la cavité et le milieu extérieur. Nous montrons par des modélisations numériques un effet sur l'amplitude de la réfléchie en fonction du déport qui permet de discriminer entre une cavité vide et une cavité pleine d'eau. Nous étudions aussi l'amplitude de la réfléchie à incidence normale sur le toit d'une cavité à section carrée en fonction de sa profondeur et de sa taille. Nous mettons en évidence une relation logarithmique profondeur versus taille de cavité pour laquelle l'amplitude de la réfléchie est maximum pour les fréquences de prospection typiques du radar de sol. Par ailleurs nous confirmons qu'alors que les mesures radar permettent de déterminer avec précision les dimensions d'une anomalie dans un sous-sol homogène et peu conducteur, les mesures de résistivité électrique permettent elles de déterminer des zones de hautes résistivités à l'emplacement des cavités. Nous couplons ces deux méthodes géophysiques dans deux études de cas, en utilisant la profondeur des interfaces déterminées sur des radargrammes pour contraindre les modèles de résistivité inversés par l'ajout d'information a priori. / The detection of cavities in urban areas is important to prevent different causes of accidents related to possible collapse. The cavities are also interesting targets to archaeologists because forgotten cavities are potential sources of material revealing past uses. These cavities are of different sizes, of anthropogenic origin or not, in an outdoor setting or under buildings. Their size and the physical properties of the external environment in which they are located, allow the use of different geophysical methods. We focused on the use of two of them, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), to locate and determine cavities in the near subsurface (first 6 meters). GPR data are sensitive to variations in dielectric permittivity between the cavity and the external environment. We show by numerical modelling an effect on the amplitude of the reflected signal depending on the offset which could enable discrimination between an empty cavity and a cavity filled with water. We also study the amplitude of the reflected wave at normal incidence on the roof of a cavity of square cross section in terms of its depth and size. We show a logarithmic relationship between the cavity size and its depth at which the amplitude of the reflection is maximum for frequencies of typical exploration with GPR. Furthermore, we confirm that while GPR data determine accurately the size of an anomaly in homogeneous low conductive medium, ERT helps to determine areas with high resistivity at the location of cavities. We combine these two geophysical methods in two case studies, using the depth of interfaces detected on radargrams as a priori information to constrain the inversion of electrical resistivity models.

Realizar a modelagem de um aqüífero não é tarefa fácil. Em se tratando de um sistema aqüífero, a empreitada se torna ainda mais complexa. Neste trabalho, alguns dos parâmetros importantes para esse fim foram estimados a partir de simulações. Na região de estudo, existem poços tubulares que, em sua maioria, não foram perfurados somente na Formação Adamantina, mas também na Formação Serra Geral. Tal configuração conduziu à formulação de dois conjuntos de cenários a partir dos quais foi possível estimar valores de condutividade hidráulica para as duas formações. Com essa estimativa conseguiu-se também simular testes de bombeamento, seus respectivos cones de rebaixamento, bem como a interferência causada entre cones de rebaixamento. Com essa abordagem foi possível estimar o quanto um poço em funcionamento pode influenciar no nível estático de um vizinho. A contribuição da geofísica está no uso da eletroresistividade. Foram executadas 23 Sondagens Elétricas Verticais (SEV), das quais dezenove são SEV´s curtas (AB/2 500m) e quatro, longas (AB/2 1500), que forneceram informações sobre a espessura saturada do arenito e posição do topo do basalto, especialmente na região com poucos poços. Também foram realizados quatro Caminhamentos Elétricos (CE) no estudo de possíveis estruturas. Unindo os resultados da modelagem (simulação) e da geofísica, pôde-se relacionar os parâmetros hidrogeológicos e geoelétricos. Embora o conjunto de dados para a região não tenha sido o ideal, a metodologia se mostrou adequada e os resultados bastante razoáveis. Deste modo, foi possível a determinação de parâmetros hidrogeológicos em subsuperfície através de parâmetros geoelétricos medidos em superfície. / To perform the aquifer modelling is not an easy task. In the case of an aquifer system, the work becomes even more complex. In this work, some of important parameters for this purpose have been estimated from simulations. In the study area, there are wells that in most cases were not only drilled in Adamantina Formation but also in Serra Geral Formation. This configuration led to the formulation of two sets of scenarios from which it was possible to estimate values for hydraulic conductivity of these formations. With this estimate it could also simulate pumping tests, their cones of depression as well as the interference caused between cones of depression. With this approach it was possible to estimate how much a operating well can influence static level of a neighbour one. Geophysics contribution is in the use of electrical resistivity. Twenty-three Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were performed, nineteen of them are short (AB/2 500m), that provided information about the saturated thickness of sandstone as well as top of basalt, especially in the region with few wells, and four are long (AB/2 1500) VESs. Four electrical profiling (EP) were also carried out to study possible structures. Joining modelling (simulation) and geophysics results, it could be related hydrogeological and geoelectrical parameters. Although dataset for region was not the ideal, methodology was satisfactory, and results quite reasonable. Thus, it was possible to determine hydrogeological parameters in subsurface through measured geoelectrical parameters in surface.

Milhares de cones siliciosos foram mapeados próximo de Anhembi, estado de São Paulo, e sugere tratar-se do mais importante registro geológico resultante de uma intensa atividade hidrotermal ocorrida no Período Permiano. Essa ocorrência é única no mundo devido à grande quantidade de cones silicosos e sua distribuição em pequena área. Na realidade, esses cones siliciosos foram classificados como geiseritos, registrando a existência de gêiseres no final do Permiano. Os geiseritos encontrados em Anhembi desenvolveram-se simultaneamente à sedimentação do siltitos e arenitos da Formação Teresina. Os cones encontram-se bem preservados, pois estão sendo exumados pela erosão moderna. No entanto, há indícios da presença de corpos ainda soterrados nos sedimentos da Formação Teresina. A fim de identifica-los foi usado os métodos geofísicos do georradar e da resistividade para mapeamento de subsuperfície. Os resultados mostram que há corpos enterrados até seis metros de profundidade nas localidades em que os geiseritos encontram-se exumados. Portanto, o campo de ocorrência desses cones é maior que o inicialmente conhecido pelas evidências em superfície. / Thousands of siliceous mounds have been found near to Anhembi, state of São Paulo, which are supposed to be the geological record of a huge hydrothermal activity of Late Permian. This occurrence is unique in the world due to the number of siliceous mounds and its distribution in a small area. Actually, these siliceous mounds are nominated geyserites since they record the existence of geysers at Late Permian. Geyserites found in Anhembi developed simultaneously with sedimentation of siltstones and sandstones of the Teresina Formation. These geyserites are being exhumed by modern erosion and this is the reason they are well preserved. However, it´s presumed there are a lot of buried geyserites still within sediments of the Teresina Formation. In order to identify them we used GPR - ground penetrating radar - and resistivity to subsurface mapping. Results show buried geyserites four meters below the ground surface where exhumed geyserites are found. Therefore, this geyserite field is much bigger than it is supposed to be just seeing on the ground surface.