abstract: Spider dragline silk is an outstanding biopolymer with a strength that exceeds steel by weight and a toughness greater than high-performance fibers like Kevlar. For this reason, structural and dynamic studies on the spider silk are of great importance for developing future biomaterials. The spider dragline silk comprises two silk proteins, Major ampullate Spidroin 1 and 2 (MaSp1 and 2), which are synthesized and stored in the major ampullate (MA) gland of spiders. The initial state of the silk proteins within Black Widow MA glands was probed with solution-state NMR spectroscopy. The conformation dependent chemical shifts information indicates that the silk proteins are unstructured and in random coil conformation. 15N relaxation parameters, T1, T2 and 15N-{1H} steady-state NOE were measured to probe the backbone dynamics for MA silk proteins. These measurements indicate fast sub-nanosecond timescale backbone dynamics for the repetitive core of spider MA proteins indicating that the silk proteins are unfolded, highly flexible random coils in the MA gland. The translational diffusion coefficients of the spider silk proteins within the MA gland were measured using 1H diffusion NMR at 1H sites from different amino acids. A phenomenon was observed where the measured diffusion coefficients decrease with an increase in the diffusion delay used. The mean displacement along the external magnetic field was found to be 0.35 μm and independent of the diffusion delay. The results indicate that the diffusion of silk protein was restricted due to intermolecular cross-linking with only segmental diffusion observable. To understand how a spider converts the unfolded protein spinning dope into a highly structured and oriented in the super fiber,the effect of acidification on spider silk assembly was investigated on native spidroins from the major ampullate (MA) gland fluid excised from Latrodectus hesperus (Black Widow) spiders. The in vitro spider silk assembly kinetics were monitored as a function of pH with a 13C solid-state Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) NMR approach. The results confirm the importance of acidic pH in the spider silk self-assembly process with observation of a sigmoidal nucleation-elongation kinetic profile. The rates of nucleation and elongation and the percentage of β-sheet structure in the grown fibers depend on pH. The secondary structure of the major ampullate silk from Peucetia viridians (Green Lynx) spiders was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. From XRD measurement, β-sheet nano-crystallites were observed that are highly oriented along the fiber axis with an orientational order of 0.980. Compare to the crystalline region, the amorphous region was found to be partially oriented with an orientational order of 0.887. Further, two dimensional 13C-13C through-space and through-bond solid-state NMR experiments provide structural analysis for the repetitive amino acid motifs in the silk proteins. The nano-crystallites are mainly alanine-rich β-sheet structures. The total percentage of crystalline region is determined to be 40.0±1.2 %. 18±1 % of alanine, 60±2 % glycine and 54±2 % serine are determined to be incorporated into helical conformations while 82±1 % of alanine, 40±3 % glycine and 46±2 % serine are in the β-sheet conformation. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2015

Inspiré par la technique couche par couche traditionnelle (LBL), Ce travail de thèse démontre le premier effort pour développer une nouvelle méthodologie pour l’auto-assemblage des multicouches sur la base des interactions hydrophobes et d'adsorption physique pour fabriquer des films composites stratifié en Polyéthylène (LLDPE) - organoargile (OMMT). Contrairement à la technique LbL électrostatique, ici, les films multicouches ont été synthétisés en partant d'un substrat de polymère non polaire/non chargé et successivement le dépôt de couches d’organo-argile apolaire et de couches de PE non polaires/non chargés avec des dépôts répétitifs qui se suivent. La variation alternative de l'angle de contact (85° en moyenne pour l’organo-argile et 107° pour les couches de PE) a confirmé la profilométrie et les résultats de la microscopie électronique à balayage, ainsi que le modèle de croissance linéaire, la formation très stratifiée réussie de bicouches répétitives composées de 450 nm couches d’organo-argiles et 2,25 µm couches de PE. Ultérieurs essais de caractérisation ont été effectués pour évaluer l'effet de la variation des principaux paramètres de processus identifiés (concentration, température, les étapes de rinçage et de séchage, et le type de solvant), sur la formation et la croissance d'épaisseur des films. En conséquence, la forte dépendance de l'auto-assemblage aux paramètres du procédé testés a été montrée par les résultats expérimentaux obtenus. Les propriétés de barrière des films multicouches ont également été évaluées par la caractérisation de la perméabilité à la vapeur d'eau, à l'oxygène (O2) et au dioxyde de carbone (CO2), ainsi que la sorption de la vapeur d'eau. Un revêtement de 5 bicouches (OMMT/PE) (~ 14 µm d'épaisseur) a réduit la perméabilité à l'O2 d'un film de PE de 160 µm d'épaisseur de 84,4% et la perméabilité au CO2 de 70%, tandis que la perméabilité a la vapeur d’eau a été réduite de 45%. Ces réductions de perméabilité obtenues par seulement l’ajout de 2,4% (v/v) de nano-argile se sont révélés être significativement plus élevée par rapport aux valeurs de réduction rapportées dans la littérature pour les nanocomposites dispersés préparés à base de PE/organo-argile. Cette connaissance peut être utilisée dans la mise en place d'une approche pour produire des micro/nanostructures stratifiés ayant des propriétés de barrière sur mesure pour l'application dans l'emballage alimentaire. / Inspired by the traditional Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly technique, this PhD study demonstrates the first effort to develop a novel methodology for multilayer self-assembly on the basis of hydrophobic interactions and further physical adsorption to fabricate stratified Polyethylene(LLDPE)-organoclay(OMMT) nano-enabled composite film. In contrary to the electrostatic LbL technique, here, the multilayer films were synthesized by starting from an uncharged apolar polymer substrate and successively depositing apolar organoclay and uncharged apolar PE layers with subsequent repeating depositions. The alternate variation of contact angle (85° average for organoclay and 107° for PE layers) confirmed the profilometry and the scanning electron microscopy results as well as the linear growth pattern, i.e. the successful highly stratified assembly of repetitive bilayers comprised of 450 nm organoclays and 2.25 µm PE layers. Further characterization tests were performed to evaluate the effect of the main identified process parameters (concentration, temperature, rinsing and drying steps, and solvent type) variation on the formation and thickness growth of the films. As a consequence, the high dependence of the self-assembly’s growth to the tested process parameters was showed by the obtained experimental results. The barrier properties of the multilayer films were also evaluated by characterizing the Water vapour, Oxygen (O2), and Carbon dioxide (CO2) permeability as well as the water vapour sorption. A 5-bilayer (OMMT/PE) coating (∼14 µm thick) reduced the O2 permeability of a 160 µm-thick PE film by 84.4% and the CO2 permeability by 70%, while the WVP was reduced by 45%. These permeability reductions obtained by only 2.4 v/v % of nanoclay addition level were found to be significantly greater compared to the reduction values reported in the literature for prepared blend PE/organoclay nanocomposites. This knowledge can be used in the establishment of an approach to produce stratified micro/nanostructures with tailored barrier properties for food packaging application.

O estudo do ordenamento de nanopartículas em estruturas bi e tridimensionais, também conhecidas como superredes, é de grande interesse científico e tecnológico, tanto pelo interesse em se explicar a origem e as consequências deste fenômeno, quanto pelas possibilidades de aplicação oriundas das propriedades observadas nestes sistemas. Quando são utilizados dois tipos de nanomateriais diferentes em tamanho e/ou composição química, tem-se a formação de superredes binárias. Estas estruturas apresentam propriedades que são resultado das propriedades individuais de seus constituintes e, além disso, do conjunto de interações que existem no sistema. Graças a este conjunto de propriedades e interações coletivas, o princípio de se empregar nanopartículas como \"building blocks\" para a criação ou aprimoramento de dispositivos funcionais. Assim, neste trabalho são discutidas as sínteses de óxidos magnéticos do tipo MFe2O4 (com M = Co, Fe ou Mn) e as características necessárias para o emprego destes na formação de superredes de nanopartículas. Os materiais foram sintetizados procurando-se alcançar uma estreita distribuição de tamanho e homogeneidade quanto à forma. Foram empregados sistemas de nanopartículas nos estudos para a formação de superredes que apresentaram polidispersividade entre 6 e 20%, de forma a discutir o efeito desta propriedade no ordenamento das nanopartículas. Observou-se que o ordenamento em escala macroscópica é fortemente influenciado pela tensão de superfície da subfase, enquanto que o arranjo local das nanopartículas em relação aos seus vizinhos mais próximos é mais influenciado pela taxa de evaporação do solvente e pelas interações interpartículas. Para a formação de superestruturas binárias foram empregadas as nanopartículas de CoO/CoFe2O4 com 9,6 nm ou de Fe3O4 de 10,7 nm, com nanopartículas de CdSe de 3,6 nm. Os sistemas de nanopartículas binárias apresentaram arranjos do tipo AlB2 e tiveram, em sua maioria, crescimento na forma de supercristais facetados. A formação de estruturas bidimensionais com crescimento ao longo do plano da membrana foi favorecida pelo aumento na proporção das nanopartículas de maior diâmetro em relação às menores. A compreensão do fenômeno de auto-organização em membranas de superredes binárias possibilita a obtenção de novos materiais nanoestruturados e que apresentem propriedades moduladas. / Self-assembly nanoparticles into superlattices array have attracted significant attention both for the scientific understanding of nanocrystals ordering process and the development of new functional devices using bottom up techniques. The co-assembly of two types of nanoparticles in binary nanoparticles superlattices provides a new way to design metamaterials with unusual and modulated properties. These unusual properties arise from interparticle interactions in the superlattice structure, and from nanoparticles physical properties. To obtain highly ordered structures, it is required that nanocrystals have narrow size distribution. This thesis presents the synthesis of oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MFe2O4; M = Co, Fe, or Mn) and their application as building blocks in nanocrystal superlattices. Nanoparticles presented size distribution from 6% to 20%, and their assemblies has shown amorphous structure when samples have size distribution above 10%. Self-assembled nanoparticles superlattices in the liquid-air interface were obtained using either single or binary components. Single component superlattices were used as model for the understand of self-assembly process, which depends on subphase surface tension and dispersion evaporation rate. Nanocrystals superlattices were obtained from CdSe nanoparticles, with average size of 3,6 nm, and CoO/CoFe2O4 with size of 9,6 nm, and was observed a AlB2-type superstructure. The same superlattice structure was obtained for CdSe and Fe3O4, with average size of 10,7 nm, which indicate that AlB2 is the equilibrium phase for a rage of radii ratios and nanoparticles stoichiometry. These findings enable to better understand self-assembled binary nanocrystal superlattices formation and how to manipulate interparticle interactions in order to synthesize highly ordered structures.

La thèse intitulée « Zeolites as key-components for electronics and biomedicine » traite de travaux sur des cristaux de zéolite-L avec des tailles et des formes différentes pour des applications dans les domaines de l’électronique et de la biomédecine. Il a été montré que, lorsque les monocouches de zéolites-L sont munies d’un biofilm, elles peuvent être utilisées comme des substrats pour une croissance de longue durée de neurones primaires. De plus, les pores des zéolites peuvent être remplies d’un spécial semi-conducteur organique, pour permettre un transport d’électrons à travers les canaux et, plus important, ces matériaux présentent une très haute magnétorésistance en y appliquant un champ magnétique externe. Enfin, les monocristaux de zéolites-L peuvent être utilisés en tant que plateforme pour un oligo-nucléotide multifonctionnel et l’administration d’un médicament-modèle à l’intérieur de cellules vivantes. Les oligo-nucléotides sont attachés aux particules de la surface externe et le médicament modèle est encapsulé dans les pores. Ces premières expériences-modèles confirment que ces systèmes offrent un grand potentiel dans le domaine de la thérapie génique. En résumé, cette thèse montre que les cristaux de zéolites-L peuvent être appliqués avec succès dans des domaines très variés, de l’électronique à la biomédecine. / The aim of this thesis titled “Zeolites as key-components for electronics and biomedicine” is the synthesis, functionalization and applications of zeolite-L particles for applications in electronics and biomedicine. This thesis is organized into 8 chapters, starting in chapter 1 with giving a general overview about nanotechnology and biomedicine. After that the concept of using nanocontainer in biomedicine are briefly discussed. In the following the nanocontainer zeolite-L is introduced and a summary of zeolite- L for applications in nanomedicine is given. Finally, the self-assembly of zeolites in monolayers and their further functionalization is discussed. Chapter 2 describes the zeolite-L synthesis, functionalization and their assembly into functional materials in detail. Three different types of zeolite-L have been used in this thesis: Nanozeolite-L particles with a size of just a few tenths of nanometers, disc-shaped zeolite-L with a diameter of around 200 nm and micrometer sized crystals with a length of about 1000 nm. Then different methods to functionalize the crystals with the desired groups and to obtain specific properties of the crystals are reported. In detail, the exchange with different counter cations, the insertion of guest molecules and the functionalization of the external crystal surface are reported. Finally the assembly into monolayers and their further functionalization by soft lithography is discussed. [...]

abstract: Liquid-liquid interfaces serve as ideal 2-D templates on which solid particles can self-assemble into various structures. These self-assembly processes are important in fabrication of micron-sized devices and emulsion formulation. At oil/water interfaces, these structures can range from close-packed aggregates to ordered lattices. By incorporating an ionic liquid (IL) at the interface, new self-assembly phenomena emerge. ILs are ionic compounds that are liquid at room temperature (essentially molten salts at ambient conditions) that have remarkable properties such as negligible volatility and high chemical stability and can be optimized for nearly any application. The nature of IL-fluid interfaces has not yet been studied in depth. Consequently, the corresponding self-assembly phenomena have not yet been explored. We demonstrate how the unique molecular nature of ILs allows for new self-assembly phenomena to take place at their interfaces. These phenomena include droplet bridging (the self-assembly of both particles and emulsion droplets), spontaneous particle transport through the liquid-liquid interface, and various gelation behaviors. In droplet bridging, self-assembled monolayers of particles effectively "glue" emulsion droplets to one another, allowing the droplets to self-assembly into large networks. With particle transport, it is experimentally demonstrated the ILs overcome the strong adhesive nature of the liquid-liquid interface and extract solid particles from the bulk phase without the aid of external forces. These phenomena are quantified and corresponding mechanisms are proposed. The experimental investigations are supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which allow for a molecular view of the self-assembly process. In particular, we show that particle self-assembly depends primarily on the surface chemistry of the particles and the non-IL fluid at the interface. Free energy calculations show that the attractive forces between nanoparticles and the liquid-liquid interface are unusually long-ranged, due to capillary waves. Furthermore, IL cations can exhibit molecular ordering at the IL-oil interface, resulting in a slight residual charge at this interface. We also explore the transient IL-IL interface, revealing molecular interactions responsible for the unusually slow mixing dynamics between two ILs. This dissertation, therefore, contributes to both experimental and theoretical understanding of particle self-assembly at IL based interfaces. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2013

abstract: Proteins and peptides fold into dynamic structures that access a broad functional landscape, however, designing artificial polypeptide systems continues to be a great chal-lenge. Conversely, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) engineering is now routinely used to build a wide variety of two dimensional and three dimensional (3D) nanostructures from simple hybridization based rules, and their functional diversity can be significantly ex-panded through site specific incorporation of the appropriate guest molecules. This dis-sertation describes a gentle methodology for using short (8 nucleotide) peptide nucleic acid (PNA) linkers to assemble polypeptides within a 3D DNA nanocage, as a proof of concept for constructing artificial catalytic centers. PNA-polypeptide conjugates were synthesized directly using microwave assisted solid phase synthesis or alternatively PNA linkers were conjugated to biologically expressed proteins using chemical crosslinking. The PNA-polypeptides hybridized to the preassembled DNA nanocage at room tempera-ture or 11 ⁰C and could be assembled in a stepwise fashion. Time resolved fluorescence anisotropy and gel electrophoresis were used to determine that a negatively charged az-urin protein was repelled outside of the negatively charged DNA nanocage, while a posi-tively charged cytochrome c protein was retained inside. Spectroelectrochemistry and an in-gel luminol oxidation assay demonstrated the cytochrome c protein remained active within the DNA nanocage and its redox potential decreased modestly by 10 mV due to the presence of the DNA nanocage. These results demonstrate the benign PNA assembly conditions are ideal for preserving polypeptide structure and function, and will facilitate the polypeptide-based assembly of artificial catalytic centers inside a stable DNA nanocage. A prospective application of assembling multiple cyclic γ-PNA-peptides to mimic the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) catalytic active site from photosystem II (PSII) is described. In this way, the robust catalytic capacity of PSII could be utilized, without suffering the light-induced damage that occurs by the photoreactions within PSII via triplet state formation, which limits the efficiency of natural photosynthesis. There-fore, this strategy has the potential to revolutionize the process of designing and building robust catalysts by leveraging nature's recipes, and also providing a flexible and con-trolled artificial environment that might even improve them further towards commercial viability. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Bioengineering 2014

Les métamatériaux sont des matériaux artificiels, formés par l’assemblage de nano-résonateurs, qui ont la capacité d’interagir avec les ondes qui les traversent et de conférer des propriétés inaccessibles aux matériaux homogènes. Afin de fabriquer de tels métamatériaux agissant dans le domaine du visible, un contrôle précis de l’organisation des résonateurs à l’échelle nanométrique est requis. Dans ce projet nous avons donc élaboré des voies de fabrication de type bottom-up, en organisant de façon anisotrope des nanoparticules d’or (AuNPs), qui sont des résonateurs du fait de leurs propriétés plasmoniques, dans un film de copolymères à blocs poly(styrène)-b-poly(vinylpyridine) (PS-b-PVP) nano-structuré en rangées de cylindres de PVP perpendiculaires au substrat.Au cours de ce projet, nous avons élaboré des routes de formulation permettant de produire des films de phase cylindrique hexagonale de copolymères alignés contenant des nanoparticules d’or. L’orientation des cylindres perpendiculaires au substrat a été obtenue en déposant le copolymère grâce à un solvant neutre dont la composition dépend de la fraction volumique en PVP du copolymère. La structure des films avec et sans nanoparticules a été caractérisée par microscopie et diffusion des rayons X en incidence rasante (GISAXS). Plusieurs méthodes d’incorporation des nanoparticules d’or ont été étudiées, soit en synthétisant les nanoparticules au sein du copolymère, en solution avant dépôt ou directement dans le film organisé ; soit en incorporant des nanoparticules pré-formées, en solution de copolymère ou dans le film déposé. Dans le cas de la synthèse in situ, nous avons formé les AuNPs par réduction chimique ou physique (sonication, radiolyse) d’un sel d’or dans le copolymère. L’incorporation des AuNPs pré-formées, elle, a été réalisée grâce à la fonctionnalisation des AuNPs ou par un traitement du film de copolymère afin de faciliter l’insertion des AuNPs. / Metamaterials are artificial materials, made from the assembly of nano-resonators, which can interact with incoming waves and get properties unknown for homogeneous materials. In order to fabricate metamaterials with an effect over visible light, a precise control over the organization at the nanoscale is required. The goal of this project was then the use of bottom-up approaches to achieve the anisotropic organization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which are resonators due to their plasmonic properties, into a poly(styrene)-b-poly(vinylpyridine) block copolymer film, with a nanostructuration in arrays of PVP cylindrical domains perpendicular to the substrate.During this work, we investigated routes for the fabrication of copolymer films containing ordered gold nanoparticles in a hexagonal cylindrical phase. The orientation of the cylinders normal to the substrate was obtained by casting the copolymer with a neutral solvent whose composition was found dependent on the volumic fraction of PVP in the copolymer. The film structure with and without AuNPs was characterized by microscopy and Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-rays Scattering (GISAXS). Several incorporation methods for the insertion of AuNPs were studied, either by the in situ synthesis of the nanoparticles in solution before casting or directly into the ordered film; or by incorporating pre-formed AuNPs in the copolymer solution or in the film as-cast. In the case of the in situ synthesis, the AuNPs were formed by chemical or physical (sonication, radiolysis) reduction of a gold salt in the copolymer. The incorporation of pre-formed AuNPs was, achieved thanks to the functionalization of the AuNPs or by a treatment of the copolymer film in order to facilitate the insertion of the AuNPs.

Le sujet principal de ces travaux de thèse concerne la synthèse et la caractérisation de nouveaux matériaux membranaires bioinspirés dont la fonction première est le transport dirigé d'espèces chimiques. La réalisation de ces systèmes est basée sur l'auto-assemblage de briques élémentaires (moléculaires, polymériques) dont les propriétés vont induire la création de chemins de transport directionnels au sein des nouveaux matériaux. Tout d'abord, la synthèse de nouveaux composés bola-amphiphiles a tout d'abord été présentés. Ces derniers ont ensuite été étudiées par spectroscopie de fluorescence et par diffusion dynamique de la lumière ont permis de mettre en évidence leur capacité à former des canaux ioniques, des canaux protoniques et des canaux d'eau au sein d'une bicouche lipidique. Une seconde étude a consisté en l'élaboration de nanomatériaux membranaires mésoporeux. Ces derniers ont été fonctionnalisés par des groupements hydrophobes afin de permettre le confinement de composés au sein des mésopores via des interactions de van der Waals. Enfin ,une dernière étude a porté sur la l'élaboration de matériaux membranaires à base d'Aquaporines artificielles dans le but d'obtenir un matériau permettant un transport dirigé d'eau au travers de la membrane. / The main topic of this thesis concerns the synthesis and characterization of novel bioinspired membrane materials whose primary function is the transport of chemical species directed . The realization of these systems is based on the self-assembly of building blocks ( molecular , polymeric ) whose properties will induce directional transport in new materials.First, the synthesis of new bola - amphiphilic compounds was shown . They were then examined by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering allowed to highlight their ability to form ion channels, proton channels and water channels in a lipid bilayer.A second study involved the development of mesoporous nanomaterials membrane. These have been functionalized with hydrophobic groups to allow the confinement of the compounds in the mesopores via van der Waals interactions.Finally, a recent study has focused on the development of materials membrane based on artificial Aquaporins in order to obtain a material to transport water directed through the membrane.

As metaloftalocianinas (MPcs) são compostos de coordenação macrocíclicos amplamente estudados, e já utilizados em várias aplicações tecnológicas. Sua estabilidade química e térmica e seu caráter semicondutor as tornam materiais promissores no desenvolvimento de dispositivos eletrônicos. A imobilização deste material através da técnica de automontagem tem proporcionado, nos últimos anos, uma nova alternativa de arquitetura e de interação molecular, principalmente entre analitos e transdutores na área de sensores. Neste trabalho, foram produzidos e estudados filmes automontados com ftalocianina tetrassulfonada de cobalto (CoTsPc) e polímeros poli(alilamina hidroclorada) (PAH) ou poli(amido amina) geração 4 (PAMAM G4), com os objetivos de investigar a organização estrutural dos polieletrólitos nos filmes e de utilizar estes sistemas como sensores de umidade. A espectroscopia de absorção no UV-visível revelou que a quantidade de CoTsPc adsorvida nos filmes varia linearmente com o número de bicamadas para substratos de vidro. Medidas de FTIR mostraram que os filmes são formados, principalmente, pela atração eletrostática entre os grupos sulfônicos da ftalocianina e as aminas dos policátions. Um estudo abrangente realizado através da técnica de SPR exibiu a dinâmica de crescimento dos filmes e permitiu a estimativa das espessuras das camadas que os compõem. A condutividade elétrica destas nanoestruturas se mostrou muito sensível à presença de vapor de água. Os valores de corrente variaram três ordens de grandeza para um pequeno intervalo de umidade relativa, indicando o grande potencial destes filmes para sensores. Esta sensibilidade acentuada está profundamente associada à organização dos anéis de ftalocianina nas multicamadas, que é ditada pelo método de automontagem. Estes resultados acenam para a alternativa de obter sensores de umidade com ftalocianinas a partir de uma técnica simples de deposição de filmes finos, cujo destaque é promover uma conformação molecular específica, e consequentemente determinar a sensibilidade dos dispositivos. / Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) are conjugated macrocyclic compounds that have been widely investigated in different scientific and technological fields. Their chemical and thermal stability, as well as their semiconductor nature make them suitable for the development of electronic devices. Immobilization of MPc molecules in self-assembly films has allowed new possibilities of molecular architecture, from which new, interesting properties may be achieved. This dissertation describes the fabrication of layer-by-layer films obtained from cobalt tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (CoTsPc) and the polyelectrolytes poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(amido amine) generation 4 (PAMAM G4). In addition to the structural investigations that revealed the nanoscale organization of the films, the possibility of using the films as humidity sensors has also been explored. UV-vis spectroscopy showed a linear film growth on glass substrates in both systems, while FTIR measurements provided evidence on the interactions between sulfonate groups from CoTsPc and amines from the polycations. A comprehensive SPR investigation on film growth reproduced dynamically the deposition process and provided an estimation of the layers thicknesses. The electrical conductivity of the films deposited on interdigitated electrodes was found to be very sensitive to water vapor. This sensitivity is caused by the positioning of the Pc rings along the multilayers, which is a consequence of the self-assembly method. These results point to the development of a phthalocyanine-based humidity sensor obtained from a simple thin film deposition technique, whose outstanding ability to tailor molecular organization was crucial to achieve such high sensitivity.

Orientadores: Fernando Galembeck, Lay Theng Lee / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T12:01:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rezende_CamilaAlvesde_D.pdf: 9244452 bytes, checksum: 5d4f1598e74adcbed09c1807dde14a2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Quimica