A vehicle flying at hypersonic speeds, i.e. at speeds greater than Mach 4, needs to be able to withstand the heat arising from friction and shock waves, which can reach temperatures of up to 3000oC. The current project focuses on producing thermal protection systems based on ultra high temperature ceramic (UHTC) impregnated carbon-carbon composites. The carbon fibres offer low mass and excellent resistance to thermal shock; their vulnerability is to oxidation above 500oC. The aim of introducing HfB2, a UHTC, as a coating on the fibre tows or as particulate reinforcement into the carbon fibre preform, was to improve this property. The objectives of this project were to: i) identify a low temperature synthesis route for group IV diborides, ii) produce a powder fine enough to reduce the difficulties associated with sintering the refractory diborides, iii) develop sol-gel coating of HfB2 onto carbon fibre tows iv) improve the solid loading of the particulate reinforcement into the carbon fibre preform, which should, in turn, increase the oxidation protection. In order to achieve the above set objectives, fine HfB2 powder was synthesized through a low temperature sol gel and boro/carbothermal reduction process, using a range of different carbon sources. Study of the formation mechanism of HfB2 revealed an intermediate boron sub-oxide and/or active boron formation that yielded HfB2 formation at 1300oC. At higher temperatures the formation of HfB2 could be via intermediate HfC formation and/or B4C formation. Growth mechanism analysis showed that the nucleated particles possessed screw dislocations which indicated that the formation of HfB2 was not only through a substitution reaction, but there could have been an element of a precipitation nucleation mechanism that lead to anisotropic growth under certain conditions. The effect of carbon sources during the boro/carbothermal reduction reaction on the size of the final HfB2 powders was analysed and it was found that a direct relation existed between the size and level of agglomeration of the carbon sources and the resulting HfB2 powders. A powder phenolic resin source led to the finest powder, with particle sizes in the range 30 to 150 nm. SPS sintering of the powder revealed that 99% theoretical density could be achieved without the need for sintering aids at 2200oC. Sol-gel coatings and slurry impregnation of HfB2 on carbon fibres tows was performed using dip coating and a 'squeeze-tube' method respectively. Crack free coatings and non-porous matrix infiltration were successfully achieved. The solid loading of the fine HfB2 into the carbon fibre preform was carried out through impregnation of a HfB2 / phenolic resin/acetone slurry using vacuum impregnation. Although the sub-micron Loughborough (LU) powders were expected to improve the solid loading, compared to the commercially available micron sized powders, due to the slurry made from them having a higher viscosity because of the fine particle size, the solids loading achieved was consequently decreased. Optimisation of the rheology of the slurry with LU HfB2 still requires more work. A comparison of the oxidation and ablation resistance of the Cf-HfB2 composites prepared with both commercial micron sized HfB2 powder and Loughborough sub-micron sized HfB2 powder, each with similar level of solid loading, was carried out using oxyacetylene torch testing. It was found that the composite containing the finer, Loughborough powders suffered a larger erosion volume than the composite with the coarser commercial powders indicating that the former offered worse ablation and oxidation resistance than the latter. A full investigation of the effect of solids loading and particle size, including the option of using mixtures of fine and coarse powders, is still required.

Dans cette thèse CIFRE nous avons élaboré une solution originale d’assemblage de cristaux optiques pour applications lasers avec les sociétés Cristal Laser et Oxxius. Nous avons ensuite optimisé notre composition de colle ainsi que le procédé d’encollage des cristaux avec la réalisation d’un robot par nos partenaires industriels. De nombreux tests d’assemblage ont été effectués avec des homo-assemblages de paires de cristaux de SiO2, Quartz, YAG, KTP, LBO, BBO et RTP. Ces homo-assemblages sont ensuite traités thermiquement pour stabiliser notre interface de colle et nos résultats sont satisfaisants. Nous avons également réalisé des hétéro-assemblages avec des paires de cristaux de nature différente parmi les cristaux précédemment étudiés comme YAG/Quartz ou SiO2/KTP. Les résultats que nous obtenons avec ces hétéro-composites semblent indiquer que le différentiel de CTE entre les pièces assemblée limite fortement le bon déroulement des traitements thermiques. Nous avons donc étudié le CTE ainsi que le comportement de notre interface de colle en fonction de la température afin de proposer une composition et un traitement adapté à la réalisation de ces hétéro-composites. / In this CIFRE thesis we elaborate a bonding solution, with Cristal Laser and Oxxius companies, for non-linear optical crystals for laser applications. We had to optimize solution’s composition and the bonding process, this resulted in the creation of a bonding robot by our industrial partners. Numerous homo-assemblies bonding tests has been realized with the following crystal pairs of SiO2, Quartz, YAG, KTP, LBO, BBO and RTP. Those homo-assemblies have been thermally treated to stabilize our bonding solution interface and we obtained relatively good results. We also bonded hetero-assemblies with different crystal pairs like YAG/Quartz or SiO2/KTP. The results we get with these hetero-composites suggest that the difference in CTE between the assembled parts greatly limits the smooth heat treatments. We therefore investigated the CTE and the behavior of our adhesive interface depending on the temperature to provide adapted composition and treatment to the realization of these hetero-composites.

In the present research, a novel method, namely sol-gel/laser-induced technique (SGLIT), has been developed to generate nano-structured TiO2-based films. The TiO2 films based on unloaded (pure) TiO2, Ce-TiO2, W-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2, have been investigated in attempt to stabilise the formation of anatase and consequently of enhancing photo-catalytic and anti-bacterial activities. The TiO2 precursor loaded with Ce2+, W6+ and Ag2+ ions (Ce-TiO2, W-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2) were separately prepared by sol-gel method and spin-coated on microscopic glass slides. A pulsed KrF excimer laser with a wavelength of 248 nm and pulse width of 13-20 ns was employed to irradiate on the sol-gel prepared films at various operating parameters, in terms of laser fluence, number of laser pulses and repetition rate. The work has been focussed on microstructural characterisation of various films prepared by both SGLIT and furnace, in the consideration of crystallographic structure, phase transformation, crystallite sizes, surface morphology, film thickness and optical properties, by means of Raman spectroscopy, XRD, FEG-SEM/EDX, TEM/HR-TEM/EDX, AFM and UV-Vis spectroscopy etc. The results showed that nano-crystallisation of the films after laser irradiation has been achieved, with controllable amount of anatase formation. These coatings presented a unique feature of surface morphology with meso-porosity and much enlarged surface areas, compared with the films prepared by furnace sintering technique. The addition of Ce and Ag, stabilized the anatase structure during the laser irradiations, whereas the addition of W destabilized the anatase structure. The Ce-TiO2 films prepared by SGLIT exhibited anatase structure which was stable up to 500 laser pulses at 35 mJ cm-2 fluence. The anatase was formed after 10 laser pulses only at 65-75 mJ cm-2 fluence in the W-TiO2 films. When a higher number of laser pulses, fluence or higher W6+ loading were chosen, rutile structure started to form. On the other hand, the Ag-TiO2 nano-composite films prepared by SGLIT presented the anatase up to 200 laser pulses at 85 mJ cm-2 fluence. On average, anatase crystallite size of about 38 nm was achieved from both the W-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 films prepared by SGLIT. In contrast, the furnace-sintered W-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 films produced anatase crystallite size of 49.4 nm and 29.8 nm respectively. Another achievement of the present research is the development of a single-step laser irradiation technique to generate an Ag-TiO2 nano-composite film on the glass substrate. A pulsed laser beam produced hexagonal Ag nanoparticles along with the crystallization of anatase-based nano-structured TiO2 film which was accomplished in 1 µs only. The films prepared by SGLIT displayed a higher photo-absorption compared to their furnace-sintered counterparts due to the unique surface features with a higher surface roughness. Overall, an enhanced bactericidal activity against E. coli cells was demonstrated under UV light by each of the W-TiO2 films compared to furnace-sintered films except the 1W-TiO2. The E. coli cells did not survive on the W-TiO2 films prepared by SGLIT, after 80 minutes under UV (365 nm) light. In contrast, E. coli cells still survived on the surface of furnace-sintered W-TiO2 films under the same conditions. Ag-TiO2 nano-composite films prepared by SGLIT, demonstrated an enhanced anti-bacterial activity against E. coli compared to the conventionally- made Ag-TiO2 films. No bacteria survived on the Ag-TiO2 films prepared by 50 laser pulses at 85 mJ cm-2 fluence, whereas E. coli colonies always survived on the furnace-sintered Ag-TiO2 films under the UV, natural light and the dark room conditions.

Ce travail concerne l'extraction d'enzymes de la famille des polyphénol oxydases à partir de champignons, leur caractérisation biochimique et leur immobilisation dans des matrices solides. Ces enzymes ont tout d'abord été extraites du champignon de Paris (Agaricus bisporus) puis partiellement purifiées. Une étude de leur activité enzymatique, de leur domaine de stabilité et de leur comportement thermique a été effectuée, ainsi que l'identification d'inhibiteurs. Cette approche a été étendue à la polyphénol oxydase de la truffe de désert (Terfezia leonis Tul.). Ces deux enzymes ont ensuite été piégées dans des gels de silice pour le dosage de la dopamine par un biocapteur optique et dans un gel d'alginate pour la dégradation du phénol. / This work is devoted to the extraction of enzymes belonging to the polyphenol oxidase family from mushrooms, their biochemical characterization and their immobilization in solid hosts. These enzymes were first extracted from Paris mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) and partially purified. A study of their enzymatic activity, stability conditions and thermal behavior was performed, together with the identification of inhibitors. A similar approach was applied to polyphenol oxidase extracted from desert truffle (Terfezia leonis Tul.). These enzymes were then trapped in silica gels for dopamine determination using an optical biosensor and in an alginate gel for phenol degradation.

Este trabalho consiste na utilização de técnicas de caracterização elétrica e óptica para filmes de SnO2 puro e dopado com Sb+3 ou Nb+5, preparados através da técnica de molhamento -\'dip coating\'- a partir de suspensões coloidais. Em contraste com a extensa aplicação deste filmes e ao sucesso empírico dos dispositivos em comercialização, a compreensão dos passos elementares dos mecanismos de transporte elétricos, dos processos de espalhamento, do papel dos dopantes, dos possíveis estados de carga das armadilhas presentes, das barreiras devido aos contornos de grãos e da microestrutura ainda é pequena. Utilizando-se técnicas de caracterização tais como: corrente-voltagem em função da temperatura,corrente-voltagem com incidência de luz, absorção óptica e fotocondutividade objetivou-se o conhecimento dos mecanismo de transporte dos portadores de carga e a presença de defeitos-armadilha nestes filmes visando a melhoria das propriedades de transporte dos filmes de SnO2 produzidos pela técnica de molhamento. Esta técnica de deposição influencia nas propriedades elétricas e óticas. Filmes recém-depositados apresentam alta resistividade. Posterior tratamento térmico em vácuo e incidência de luz ultravioleta melhoram a condutividade das amostras. Este fenômeno está ligado a adsorção química e a fotodesorção de oxigênio na superfície do filme / This work is a contribution to optical and electrical characterization of pure and Sb+3 or Nb+5 doped SnO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel dip coating technique. In contrast to widespread applications of these films, and in contrast to the success of device commercialization, the elementary steps of the electrical transport mechanisms, electron scattering, influence of dopants, possible charge state of traps, potential barrier due grain boundary and microstructure are not fully understood yet. We have used characterization techniques such as current-voltage as function of temperature, current-voltage under steady monochromatic light, optical absorption and photoconductivity, which have yield knowledge of carrier transport and electron trapping in these films, giving an improvement of SnO2 films deposited by dip-coating. This deposition technique has influence on electrical and optical properties. Freshly deposited films exhibit high resistivity. Heat-treatment under vacuum and ultra-violet photo-excitation improve the conductivity of the samples. Chemisorptions and photo-desorption of oxygen are suggested to be the principal cause

Orientador: Peter Hammer / Banca: Assis Vicente Benedetti / Banca: Katia Jorge Ciuffi / Resumo: Revestimentos anticorrosivos híbridos siloxano-PMMA reforçados por nanotubos de carbono, óxido de grafite e óxido de grafite reduzido foram sintetizados utilizando-se o processo sol-gel. Inicialmente as nanoestruturas de carbono foram caracterizadas por espectroscopia de fotoelétrons induzidos por raios X (XPS), espectroscopia Raman, microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM). Os híbridos siloxano-PMMA foram preparados a partir da polimerização radicalar do monômero metacrilato de metila (MMA) com o 3-metacriloxipropiltrimetoxisilano (MPTS), utilizando o iniciador térmico peróxido de benzoíla (BPO), seguida da hidrólise e condensação do tetraetoxisilano (TEOS) catalisada por ácido. Os nanotubos de carbono de parede única foram dispersos utilizando-se o surfactante dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) e ácido palmítico, e então foram adicionados na concentração molar de C/Si = 0,018%. O óxido de grafite (GO) foi adicionado tanto na forma de pó quanto na forma de solução disperso em água/etanol, nas concentrações 0,01%, 0,05%, 0,1% e 0,5% (razão molar C/Si). A amostra contendo 0,05% de solução dispersa de óxido de grafite foi utilizada para estudo da redução do óxido de grafite, utilizando o agente redutor ácido ascórbico em três concentrações (razão molar ácido ascórbico/GO: 0,24, 2,4 e 24). A análise estrutural e morfológica dos híbridos foi realizada por ressonância magnética nuclear de 29Si (RMN), espectroscopia de fotoelétrons induzidos por raios X (XPS), espectroscopia Raman, microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e medidas de molhabilidade. Termogravimetria foi realizada para análise das propriedades térmicas e medidas de microdureza e microscratch para análise das propriedades mecânicas dos híbridos. Espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) foi usada para avaliar a eficiência anticorrosiva dos... / Abstract: Anticorrosive coatings siloxane-PMMA hybrid reinforced by carbon nanotubes, graphite oxide and reduced graphite oxide were synthesized using the sol-gel process. Initially, the carbon nanostructures were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The siloxane-PMMA hybrids were prepared from the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) using the thermal initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO), followed by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) acid catalyzed. The single-walled carbon nanotubes were dispersed using the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and palmitic acid, and then they were added in a molar concentration of C/Si = 0.018%. Graphite oxide (GO) was added both in powder form and in the form of dispersed solution in water/ethanol at 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5% concentrations (molar ratio C/Si). The sample containing 0.05% of dispersed graphite oxide solution was used to study the reduction of graphite oxide using the ascorbic acid reducing agent in three concentrations (molar ratio of ascorbic acid/GO: 0.24, 2.4 and 24). The structural and morphological analysis of the hybrids were performed by 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and wettability measurements. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed for analysis of thermal properties, and hardness measurements and microscratch for analysis of mechanical properties of the hybrids. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to evaluate the coatings anticorrosion efficiency after long-term exposure in saline environment. The presence of low concentrations of graphite oxide and carbon nanotubes led to increased thermal stability, hardness, scratch... / Mestre

Ce travail concerne la synthèse et la caractérisation structurale de nanocristaux de faible taille (~1-3 nm) d’oxydes métalliques simples, à savoir le dioxyde de titane (TiO2), le dioxyde d’étain (SnO2) et le monoxyde de zinc (ZnO). Les synthèses ont été réalisées au moyen de méthodes sol-gel non-aqueuses voire strictement non-hydrolytiques sous contrôle cinétique. La caractérisation structurale s’est principalement appuyée sur la diffraction des rayons X, la microscopie électronique en transmission et la méthode des fonctions de distribution de paires atomiques, obtenues grâce à la diffusion totale des rayons X, couplées à des méthodes de modélisation à l’échelle atomique. Dans le cas de TiO2, des nanoparticules d’anatase bien cristallisées de 4 nm à 8 nm ont été synthétisées. Le ratio molaire de donneur d’oxygène par rapport au titane s’est avéré être un paramètre influençant fortement la taille des particules. Nous avons également mis en évidence la formation d’une phase intermédiaire caractérisée par des nanoparticules faiblement cristallisées de très faible taille dont la structure pourrait s’apparenter à une structure brookite désordonnée. Pour SnO2, des nanocristaux présentant une structure rutile ont été obtenus avec des tailles comprises entre 2 nm et 4 nm. Dans le cas de l’utilisation d’un éther, nous avons mis en évidence la formation concomitante d’une phase organique polymérisée et de nanoparticules primaires dont la structure intermédiaire présente de fortes similitudes avec la structure rutile. L’utilisation de solvants possédant une fonction benzyle en présence de tétrachlorure d’étain a conduit à la formation d’eau dans le système. Dans le cas de ZnO, nous avons montré que l’utilisation d’une base organique pour initier la formation du réseau oxyde dans une solution méthanolique d’acétate de zinc en présence d’un agent complexant du zinc permettait d’obtenir des nanoparticules de l’ordre de 1 nm. Même pour les faibles valeurs de taille, les nanoparticules présentent une structure très proche de la wurtzite avec un désordre croissant au niveau du réseau cationique. / The aim of this work was to synthesize small size (~1-3 nm) metal oxide nanocrystals namely titanium dioxide (TiO2), tin dioxide (SnO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO), and to study their structure. Syntheses were conducted via non-aqueous or even strictly non-hydrolytic sol-gel methods under kinetic control. The structural characterization was mainly carried out by X-Ray diffraction methods, transmission electronic microscopy and the study of pair distribution functions, obtained by X Ray total scattering, coupled with atomic scale modelling methods. In the case of TiO2, anatase nanocrystals were obtained with sizes ranging between 4 nm and 8 nm. The molar ratio of the oxygen donor with respect to titanium was shown to be an important parameter to control the nanoparticle size. In peculiar conditions we have been able to isolate an intermediate phase characterized by very small sized and poorly crystallized nanoparticles which the structure can be assimilated to a disordered brookite structure. Concerning SnO2, rutile-type nanocrystals were synthesized with sizes ranging between 2 nm and 4 nm. The use of an ether as oxygen donor led to the simultaneous formation of an organic polymeric phase and of primary nanoparticles characterized by an intermediate structure close but still different from the rutile-type structure. Moreover, the use of benzyl-type solvents in the presence of tin tetrachloride led to the formation of water in the system. Lastly, for ZnO, we have shown that using an organic base to induce the formation of the metal oxide network in a methanolic solution of zinc acetate in the presence of a strong complexing agent of the zinc allowed us to obtain wurtzite nanocrystals of ultrasmall sizes around 1 nm. Even for the smallest sizes, the nanoparticles exhibit a structure very close to that of wurtzite with an increasing disorder of the cationic network.

A series of fluorinated LiCoO2 compounds, LiCoO2−xFx with x = 0.05 − 0.65, were synthesised by both a sol-gel and a solid-state method. The sol-gel method utilises LiNO3 and Co(NO3)2.6H2O as Li and Co sources respectively, water and 1-butanol as solvent for the fluoride precursor LiF, and citric acid as the chelating agent. The prepared materials were compared using pXRD, SEM, Raman, TG and DTA analyses. pXRD revealed a secondary phase appearing at x= 0.25 in materials prepared by the sol-gel method and as early as x= 0.08 in materials prepared by the thermal solid-state method. Materials prepared by the thermal solid-state method required higher temperatures and longer times than materials prepared by the sol-gel method. The results showed that more fluorine can be incorporated in the LiCoO2 structure by the sol-gel than the solid-state method. The secondary phase was identified as lithium oxydifluoride, LiCoOF2. Relatively pure material with stoichiometry could be prepared by both methods. The space was determined as either 𝐶2 or 𝑃1 and the unit cell dimensions for the two alternatives are reported. This secondary phase has been reported in the literature, but had not been positively identified at the time of submission of this dissertation. Keywords: fluorinated LiCoO2; LiCoO2−xFx; sol-gel fluorination; solid-state fluorination; lithium oxydifluoride. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Chemical Engineering / MEng / Unrestricted

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第22277号 / 理博第4591号 / 新制||理||1659(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科化学専攻 / (主査)教授 北川 宏, 教授 竹腰 清乃理, 教授 吉村 一良 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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