Despite extensive previous studies, the peak metamorphic conditions within the 2.0-1.8 Ga Svecokarelian orogen remain unclear, particularly regarding the deformation and migmatization events occurring between 1.87-1.80 Ga within the Ljusdal lithotectonic unit. While earlier observations indicate granulite facies metamorphism, the exact metamorphic conditions and nature of these events are still unclear. This thesis aims to determine the pressure-temperature range associated with the peak metamorphic conditions by analyzing mineral assemblages in the leucogranite of Sörfjärden, located east of Gnarp, Sweden. Through optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis, a complex mineral assemblage was identified, including alkali feldspar, plagioclase, garnet, quartz, biotite, sillimanite, and Fe-Zn-rich spinel, with accessory minerals such as monazite, zircon, and rutile. Secondary chlorite and kaolinite were also observed. Ternary-feldspar thermometry revealed crystallization temperatures of 750 ˚C. Thermobarometric modeling of the bulk rock chemical composition, using the software GeoPS, indicated peak pressure-temperature conditions of 2.0–2.4 kbar and 740–770 ˚C, defined by the peak mineral assemblage garnet, plagioclase, quartz, sillimanite, and spinel. Melt structures on biotite and alkali feldspar were inferred to have formed during the second migmatization event, suggesting that granulite facies conditions were reached during the first migmatization event. While these findings provide insights into the metamorphic history of the Svecokarelian orogen, further investigations into the influence of Zn on the produced models are warranted. Addressing the limitations of current thermodynamic models would improve our understanding of this complex geological system. / Trots omfattande tidigare studier är de metamorfa förhållandena i den Svekokarelska orogenesen (2.0–1.8 Ga) fortfarande oklara, särskilt gällande de deformations- och migmatiseringsprocesser som inträffade mellan 1.87–1.80 Ga. Även om tidigare observationer tyder på metamorfos med granulitfacies är de exakta metamorfa förhållandena hos och karaktären av dessa processer fortfarande osäkra. Denna studie syftar till att fastställa det tryck-temperaturintervall som är förknippat med de högsta graderna av metamorfos genom att analysera mineralsammansättningar i leukograniten i Sörfjärden, beläget öster om Gnarp, Sverige. Genom optisk mikroskopi och elektronmikrosonderingsanalys identifierades en komplex mineralsammansättning: alkalifältspat, plagioklas, granat, kvarts, biotit, sillimanit och Fe-Zn-rik spinell, där monazit, zirkon och rutil är accessoriska mineral. Klorit och kaolinit är sekundära. Ternär fältspatstermometri påvisade en kristalliseringstemperatur vid 750 ˚C. Termobarometrisk modellering av bergartens kemiska sammansättning med programmet GeoPS indikerade maximala tryck-temperaturförhållanden på 2.0–2.4 kbar och 740–770 ˚C; mineralsammansättningen under dessa förhållanden var granat, plagioklas, kvarts, sillimanit och spinell. Smältstrukturer på biotit och kalifältspat tolkades ha bildats under den andra migmatiseringen, vilket medför att granulitfacies uppnåddes under den första migmatiseringen. Fastän dessa resultat ger insikter i den Svekokarelska orogenesens metamorfa historia är det motiverat att vidare undersöka inverkan av Zn på de framställda modellerna. Att hantera begränsningarna i nuvarande termodynamiska modeller skulle förbättra vår förståelse av detta komplexa geologiska system.

Cette étude s’intéresse à l’amélioration et l’allégement des protections balistiques transparentes. L’utilisation conventionnelle de verre assure une haute efficacité face à un projectile, cependant associée à une masse élevée et à une forte épaisseur du blindage. Le remplacement de la face avant par une céramique polycristalline, telle que le spinelle MgAl2O4, assure un gain de performance et une réduction du volume de l’assemblage. L’élaboration de ce matériau requiert la combinaison d’une haute qualité optique dans le domaine du visible et de propriétés mécaniques élevées. Dans ce travail, l’application d’un frittage naturel sous vide d’une poudre commerciale de haute pureté a permis de limiter l’introduction d’impuretés néfastes à la transparence et la croissance granulaire. Une étape supplémentaire de pressage isostatique à chaud s’est montrée nécessaire à l’élimination des pores résiduels et à l’obtention de spinelles transparents de haute qualité optique (80% à 400-800 nm, e = 2 mm, Ø21 mm). Une étude de la microstructure avant et après post-traitement a permis de mettre en relation la taille des grains et des pores avant post-frittage avec la croissance granulaire observée pendant ce traitement. Une optimisation du procédé a ainsi pu être mise en place afin de limiter l’augmentation de la taille des grains et obtenir une microstructure homogène (~ 12 μm). Après un changement des dimensions des échantillons réussi (e = 4 mm, Ø60 mm), différents spinelles à propriétés microstructurales et mécaniques distinctes ont été sélectionnés pour une évaluation en conditions balistiques. / This work focuses on the improvement and the lightening of transparent ballistic armours. The conventional use of glass provides high efficiency against a projectile, however associated with a heavy and thick armour. The replacement of the strike face by a polycrystalline ceramic, such as MgAl2O4 spinel, leads to a performance gain and a decrease of the protection volume. The development of this material requires the combination of a high optical quality in the visible domain and high mechanical properties. In this work, pressureless sintering under vacuum of a high purity commercial powder allowed to minimize the addition of impurities, detrimental to the transparency, and the grain growth phenomenon. An additional step of hot isostatic pressing was necessary to eliminate residual porosity and to obtain transparent spinel with high optical quality (80% at 400-800 nm, t = 2 mm, Ø21 mm). An analysis of the microstructure before and after the post-treatment made it possible to determine the link between the grain and pore sizes before post-sintering and the observed grain growth during this treatment. An optimisation of the process was established in order to restrain the grain size increase, and thus to obtain a homogeneous microstructure (~ 12 μm). After a successful up-scaling of the samples (t = 4 mm, Ø60 mm), several spinel samples with distinctive microstructural and mechanical properties were selected in order to evaluate their performances through ballistic tests.

Les travaux de recherche actuels menés dans le domaine des supercondensateurs s’orientent vers l’augmentation des densités d’énergie, notamment via le développement de supercondensateurs hybrides "oxydes de métaux de transition / carbones activés". Dans ce contexte, les présents travaux avaient pour objectif d’évaluer les propriétés d’oxydes de cobalt nanométriques en tant que matériaux d’électrode positive pour supercondensateur hybride.Ces oxydes de cobalt, de structure spinelle, sont préparés par précipitation de nitrate de cobalt en milieu basique (T < 90 °C). Ils possèdent une formule chimique du type HxLiyCo3-δO4•zH2O et présentent une bonne conductivité électronique grâce à la présence d’ions H+, Li+ et Co4+. Les analyses par DRX, ATG, RMN et les mesures de conductivité électroniques ont mis en évidence une réorganisation de la structure spinelle de ces matériaux sous l’effet d’un traitement thermique, conduisant à une augmentation du rapport Co4+/Co3+ ainsi qu’à une amélioration des propriétés de transport électrique. L’association d’une conductivité électronique élevée et d’une forte surface spécifique confère à ces oxydes des performances prometteuses en tant que matériaux d’électrode.L’étude des propriétés électrochimiques a montré la présence de deux modes de stockage des charges, l’un électrostatique (double couche électrochimique) et l’autre faradique via l’oxydation et la réduction du cobalt. Elle a également permis de déterminer la signature électrochimique de ces oxydes (capacité, fenêtre de potentiels), prérequis indispensable à leur intégration dans une cellule complète. Finalement, un supercondensateur hybride "oxyde de cobalt / carbone activé" a été assemblé et équilibré, donnant lieu à des performances attractives (61,6 F/g sur 1,60 V). / Investigations on supercapacitors are focusing on increasing energy densities, in particular with the development of hybrid supercapacitors "metal oxides / activated carbons". In this field, the present work aims at evaluating nanometric cobalt oxides as positive electrode material for hybrid supercapacitors.These oxides, with spinel structure, are synthesized by precipitation of cobalt nitrate in a basic medium (T < 90 °C). They exhibit formulae such as HxLiyCo3-δO4•zH2O and good electronic properties thanks to the presence of H+, Li+ and Co4+ ions. XRD, TGA, NMR analysis as well as electronic measurements have highlighted a structural reorganization of the spinel structure under thermal treatment, resulting in increase of the Co4+/Co3+ ratio and an enhancement of the electronic transport properties. The high electronic conductivity together with a huge specific surface area imparts these oxides promising performances as electrode material.The study of the electrochemical properties underlines two charge storage mechanisms, one electrostatic (electrochemical double layer) and the other one faradic through the oxidation and the reduction of cobalt. The electrochemical signature (capacity, potential window) of these oxides was also determined in order to develop a complete cell. Finally, a hybrid supercapacitor "cobalt oxide / activated carbon" was assembled and balanced, revealing attractive performances (61,6 F/g over 1,60 V).

Les céramiques polycristallines pour application dentaire sont aujourd’hui majoritairement des zircones dopées à l’yttrium (Y-TZP). Ce matériau présente des avantages indéniables en terme de résistance à la rupture, de propriétés esthétiques ou encore de ténacité grâce au phénomène de renforcement par transformation de phase. Les problèmes de stabilité de la Y-TZP en présence d’eau peuvent être limités par un travail d’optimisation des poudres, mais la sensibilité intrinsèque du matériau vis-à-vis de l’eau ou des fluides biologiques demeure et représente un risque, spécialement dans le cadre d’applications cliniques. Les matériaux à base de zircone dopée au cérium (Ce-TZP) présentés dans cette étude ont été développés afin de répondre au triple objectif de ténacité, résistance et stabilité. A partir de la Ce-TZP, connue pour sa ténacité et sa stabilité en présence d’eau importantes, un travail d’optimisation de la microstructure a été réalisé afin d’obtenir une résistance à la rupture maximale. Différentes voies ont été explorées afin d’élaborer des microstructures permettant une augmentation de la résistance mécanique de la Ce-TZP, notamment le frittage SPS ou l'élaboration de composites par mélange de poudres commerciales. Parmi les résultats présentés, le plus marquant est sans doute l’élaboration de composites dans le système 10Ce-TZP/MgAl2O4, caractérisés par une combinaison de propriétés mécaniques inédite (Sigma R = 900 MPa, KIc >15MPa.m1/2), et une stabilité à très long terme en présence d’eau . La mise en forme de ce matériau par des procédés industriels de pressage a été rendue possible grâce à une étape de granulation par atomisation ultrasonique. Enfin, un axe de recherche a été dédié à l’élaboration de poudres composites à base de Ce-TZP en une seule étape, par synthèse chimique. Ces travaux plus prospectifs montrent qu’un mélange très intime de deux phases peut-être obtenu par des méthodes de chimie douce dans une poudre composite. Ces poudres permettent l’élaboration de matériaux nanostructurés, dont les propriétés pourraient dépasser celles des composites conventionnels. / Yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia ceramics (often referred as Y-TZP) are today of major interest in biomedical and particularly dental applications, due to their excellent combination of strength and aesthetic features. Nevertheless, the moderate toughness of 3Y-TZP, and its still possible low temperature degradation (LTD) leaves space for new materials development. The purpose of this study is to assess the potential benefit of using ceria-doped zirconia (Ce-TZP) based ceramics as an tough, strong and stable alternative to Y-TZP. Ce-TZP generally possesses high toughness, but moderate strength when compared to 3Y-TZP, which is related to a larger grain size. In order to improve the strength of Ce-TZP, three microstructural optimizations have been carried out. First, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) has been used, showing a good potential for the development of nanostructured materials, which can be dense and mainly tetragonal, but aesthetically incompatible with a dental application. Cerium reduction effects on color and phase repartition have been studied. Adding a second step of conventional sintering in air has led to fully dense submicron 12Ce-TZP with acceptable color, but unsufficient strengthening. In a second step, a conventional composite approach has been used, by mixing commercial powders. The most striking result is certainly the uncommon combination of mechanical properties (Sigma R = 900 MPa, KIc > 15MPa.m1/2) obtained in the system 10Ce-TZP/MgAl2O4, together with a long term stability in presence of water. Pilot scale processing of this material has been set up by mean of ultrasonic spray-drying. Finally, a third research axis has been devoted to the synthesis of composite powders based on Ce-TZP, in one step. This work has shown that a very close mix of two phases can be obtained par soft chemistry methods in a composite powder. Nanostructured materials can be obtained from these powders, which properties could exceed those of conventional composites.

Aluminas have had some form of chemical and industrial use throughout history. For little over a century corundum (α-Al2O3) has been the most widely used and known of the aluminas. The emerging metastable aluminas, including the γ, δ, η, θ, κ, β, and χ polymorphs, have been growing in importance. In particular, γ-Al2O3 has received wide attention, with established use as a catalyst and catalyst support, and growing application in wear abrasives, structural composites, and as part of burner systems in miniature power supplies. It is also growing in importance as part of the feedstock for aluminium production in order to affect both the adsorption of hydrogen fluoride and the feedstock solubility in the electrolytic solution. However, much ambiguity surrounds the precise structure of γ-Al2O3. Without proper knowledge of the structure, understanding the properties, dynamics and applications will always be less than optimal. The aim of this research was to contribute towards settling this ambiguity. This work was achieved through extensive computer simulations of the structure, based on interatomic potentials with refinements of promising structures using density functional theory (DFT), and a wide range of supporting experiments. In addition to providing a more realistic representation of the structure, this research has also served to advance knowledge of the evolution of the structure with changing temperature and make new insights regarding the location of hydrogen in γ-Al2O3. / Both the molecular modelling and Rietveld refinements of neutron diffraction data showed that the traditional cubic spinel-based structure models, based on m Fd3 space group symmetry, do not accurately describe the defect structure of γ-Al2O3. A more accurate description of the structure was provided using supercells of the cubic and tetragonal unit cells with a significant number of cations on c symmetry positions. These c symmetry based structures exhibited diffraction patterns that were characteristic of γ-Al2O3. The first three chapters of this Thesis provide a review of the literature. Chapter One provides a general introduction, describing the uses and importance of the aluminas and the problems associated with determining the structure of γ-Al2O3. Chapter Two details the research that has been conducted on the structure of vi γ-Al2O3 historically. Chapter Three describes the major principles behind the computational methods employed in this research. In Chapter Four, the specific experimental and computational techniques used to investigate the structure of γ-Al2O3 are described. All preparation conditions and parameters used are provided. Chapter Five describes the methodology employed in computational and experimental research. The examination of the ~ 1.47 billion spinel-based structural possibilities of γ-Al2O3, described using supercells, and the selection of ~ 122,000 candidates for computer simulation, is detailed. This chapter also contains a case study of the structure of κ-Al2O3, used to investigate the applicability of applying interatomic potentials to solving complex structures, where many possibilities are involved, and to develop a systematic procedure of computational investigation that could be applied to γ-Al2O3. Chapters Six to Nine present and discuss the results from the experimental studies. / Preliminary heating trials, performed to determine the appropriate preparation conditions for obtaining a highly crystalline boehmite precursor and an appropriate calcination procedure for the systematic study of γ-Al2O3, were presented in Chapter Six. Chapter Seven details the investigation of the structure from a singletemperature case. Several known structural models were investigated, including the possibility of a dual-phase model and the inclusion of hydrogen in the structure. It was demonstrated that an accurate structural model cannot be achieved for γ-Al2O3 if the cations are restricted to spinel positions. It was also found that electron diffraction patterns, typical for γ-Al2O3, could be indexed according to the I41/amd space group, which is a maximal subgroup of m Fd3 . Two models were presented which describe the structure more accurately; Cubic-16c, which describes cubic γ-Al2O3 and Tetragonal-8c, which describes tetragonal γ-Al2O3. The latter model was found to be a better description for the γ-Al2O3 samples studied. Chapter Eight describes the evolution of the structure with changing calcination temperature. Tetragonal γ-Al2O3 was found to be present between 450 and 750 °C. The structure showed a reduction in the tetragonal distortion with increasing temperature but at no stage was cubic γ-Al2O3 obtained. Examination of the progress of cation migration indicates the reduction in the tetragonal nature is due to ordering within inter-skeletal oxygen layers of the unit cell, left over from the breakdown of the hydroxide layers of boehmite when the transformation to γ-Al2O3 occurred. Above 750 °C, δ-Al2O3 was not observed, but a new phase was identified and designated γ.-Al2O3. / The structure of this phase was determined to be a triple cell of γ-Al2O3 and is herein described using the 2 4m P space group. Chapter Nine investigates the presence of hydrogen in the structure of γ-Al2O3. It was concluded that γ-Al2O3 derived from highly crystalline boehmite has a relatively well ordered bulk crystalline structure which contains no interstitial hydrogen and that hydrogen-containing species are located at the surface and within amorphous regions, which are located in the vicinity of pores. Expectedly, the specific surface area was found to decrease with increasing calcination temperature. This trend occurred concurrently with an increase in the mean pore and crystallite size and a reduction in the amount of hydrogen-containing species within the structure. It was also demonstrated that γ-Al2O3 derived from highly crystalline boehmite has a significantly higher surface area than expected, attributed to the presence of nano-pores and closed porosity. The results from the computational study are presented and discussed in Chapter Ten. Optimisation of the spinel-based structural models showed that structures with some non-spinel site occupancy were more energetically favourable. However, none of the structural models exhibited a configuration close to those determined from the experimental studies. Nor did any of the theoretical structures yield a diffraction pattern that was characteristic of γ-Al2O3. This discrepancy between the simulated and real structures means that the spinel-based starting structure models are not close enough to the true structure of γ-Al2O3 to facilitate the derivation of its representative configuration. / Large numbers of structures demonstrate migration of cations to c symmetry positions, providing strong evidence that c symmetry positions are inherent in the structure. This supports the Cubic-16c and Tetragonal-8c structure models presented in Chapter Seven and suggests that these models are universal for crystalline γ-Al2O3. Optimisation of c symmetry based structures, with starting configurations based on the experimental findings, resulted in simulated diffraction patterns that were characteristic of γ-Al2O3.

Abstract This research is designed to investigate the occurrence of interdiffusion-induced mesopores, Brownian motion, cleaving and healing and defect clusters in three binary composites, i.e. Ni1-xO/Co1-xO, Ni1-xO/ZrO2 and Co1-xO/ZrO2 of the Ni1-xO-Co1-xO-ZrO2 system. Firstly, the (NimCo1-m)1-£_O/Ni-doped Co3-dO4 composites prepared by reactive sintering Ni1-xO and Co1-xO powders (1:2 molar ratio, denoted as N1C2) at 1000oC with or without further annealing at 720oC in air were studied by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy to clarify the formation mechanism of mesoporous spinel precipitates. Submicron-sized inter- and intragranular pores, due to incomplete sintering and grain boundary detachment, prevails in (Ni0.33Co0.67)1-£_O protoxide with rock salt structure; whereas nanosize pores due to Kirkendall effect were restricted to the spinel precipitates having Ni component progressively expelled upon annealing. A rapid net vacancy flux and a tensile misfit stress perpendicular to the protoxide/spinel interface caused the formation of elongated and aligned {100}-faceted mesopores in the spinel precipitates with a relatively low equilibrium vacancy concentration. Aligned mesopores in diffusion zone of nonstoichiometric metal oxides have potential applications on thermal barrier bond coating and mass-transport limited heterogeneous catalysis. Also, this thesis deals with the reorientation and shape change of low-crystal-symmetry (non-cubic) ZrO2 within the high-crystal-symmetry grains of Co1-xO/Ni1-xO cubic rock salt-type structure. ZrO2/Co1-xO composites 1:99 and ZrO2/Ni1-xO composites 1:9 in molar ratio were sintered and then annealed at 1650oC for 24 and 100 h in air to induce reorientation of the embedded particles. Transmission electron microscopic observations in both systems indicated that the submicron tetragonal/monoclinic (t/m) ZrO2 particles fell into three topotaxial relationships with respect to the host Co1-xO/Ni1-xO grain: (1) parallel topotaxy, (2) ¡§eutectic¡¨ topotaxy i.e. [100]Z//[111]C,N, [010]Z//[0 1]C,N and (3) ¡§occasional¡¨ topotaxy [100]Z//[111]C,N, [01 ]Z//[0 1]C,N. The parallel topotaxy has a beneficial low energy for the family of {100}Z/C,N and {111}Z/C,N interfaces. The change from the occasional topotaxy to an energetically more favorable eutectic topotaxy was likely achieved by a rotation of the ZrO2 particles over a specific (100)Z/(111)C,N interface. Brownian-type rotation is probable for the embedded t-ZrO2 particles in terms of anchorage release at the interphase interface with the Co1-xO/Ni1-xO host. Detachment or bypassing of rock salt type grain boundaries could also cause orientation as well as shape changes of intergranular ZrO2 particles. Zirconia-polymorphism-induced cleaving and spontaneous healing by precipitation was studied in Co1-xO polycrystals containing a dispersion of ZrO2 particles. Conventional, analytical, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy indicated that the Co1-xO matrix cleaves parallel to {100} and {110} planes and heals itself by co-precipitation of parallel-topotaxial ZrO2/Co3-£_O4 particles upon cooling. Due to size effect and matrix constraint, nanometer-size ZrO2 precipitates at cleavages were able to retain tetragonality upon further cooling to room temperature. Paracrystalline array of defect cluster was shown to form in Zr-doped Ni1-xO and Co1-xO polycrystals while prepared by sintering at relative high temperature, i.e., 1650oC to increase the defect concentration. Paracrystalline array of defect clusters in Co3-£_O4 spinel structure also occurred when doped with Zr4+ at high temperature or cooled below 900oC to activate oxy-precipitation of Co3-dO4 at dislocations. transmission electron microscopic observations indicated the spinel precipitate and its paracrystal predominantly formed at the ZrO2/Co1-xO interface and the cleavages/dislocations of the Co1-xO host. Defect chemistry consideration suggests the paracrystal is due to the assembly of charge- and volume-compensating defects of the 4:1 type with four octahedral vacant sites surrounding one Co3+-filled tetrahedral interstitial site. The spacing of paracrystalline distribution is 3.3, 2.9 and 4.9 times the lattice parameter for Zr-doped Ni1-xO, Zr-doped Co1-xO and Zr-doped Co3-dO4. This spacing between defect clusters is about 0.98 times that of the previously studied undoped Co3-dO4. There is much larger (3.4 times difference) paracrystalline spacing for Zr-doped Co3-£_O4 than its parent phase of Zr-doped Co1-xO.

Chromium is an important alloying element in stainless steel but also environmentally harmful element. A number of mineralogical phases present in the slag matrix can contain chromium and lead to chromium leaching. Chromium in slag if not stabilized, could oxidize to the cancerogenic hexavalent state, and leach out if exposed to acidic and oxygen rich environment. Other environmental concerns are slag dusting and chromium escape to the atmosphere. Despite the fact that there is a certain risk of Cr-emission from slags at operating conditions, still very little is known regarding the emission of the oxides of chromium during the slag tapping. Spinel phase is known to be important for controlling the leaching properties of chromium from the slag. The objective of the present study was to get an understanding of the phase relationships and chromium partition in the chromium-containing industrial slags and synthetic slags with a view to control the chromium stabilization in spinel phase. The impact of slag basicity, heat treatment, oxygen partial pressure and Al2O3 addition, on the phase relationships and chromium partition has been determined. The experimental results were compared with the phase equilibrium calculations. It was found that the oxygen partial pressure in the gas phase had a strong impact on chromium partition. The experimental results show that the impact of the slag basicity on chromium partition at lower oxygen partial pressures was negligible in contrast to that in air. The amount of spinel phase was found to increase with increased Al2O3 content. Slow cooling of slag and soaking at low oxygen partial pressure would improve the spinel phase precipitation. This treatment will also lead to less Cr dissolved in the unstable matrix phases. Chromium oxide was found to be emitted when chromium containing slags were exposed to oxidizing atmosphere. The results indicate that chromium oxide evaporation increases with increase in temperature and oxygen partial pressure, but decreases with slag basicity and sample thickness. / <p>QC 20131114</p> / Steel Eco-Cycle

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde der Einfluss von Defekten auf die Eigenschaften von Ferrit-Dünnfilmen untersucht. Die Dünnfilme wurden mit Hilfe von gepulster Laserabscheidung bei verschiedenen Züchtungsparametern hergestellt. Durch Variation der Substrattemperatur und des Sauerstoffpartialdrucks wurden Dünnfilme verschiedener kristalliner Qualität gezüchtet. Diese wurden hinsichtlich ihrer chemischen Komposition mit Hilfe von energie-dispersiver Röntgenspektroskopie und Röntgenphotoelektronenspektroskopie untersucht. Durch Korrelation der Ergebnisse mit Messungen zum zirkularen magnetischen Röntgendichroismus, konnte eine partielle Inversion der Spinellstruktur nachgewiesen werden. Der Grad der Inversion ist höher für geringe Abscheidetemperaturen. Für diese defektreichen Dünnfilme zeigen Röntgenbeugungsuntersuchungen eine geringere kristalline Ordnung der Dünnfilme. Die strukturellen Defekte haben einen maßgeblichen Einfluss auf die elektrischen und magnetischen Eigenschaften der Ferrit-Dünnfilme. So zeigen die Ferrit-Dünnfilme für geringe Züchtungstemperaturen eine erhöhte elektrische Leitfähigkeit, während Dünnfilme, die bei hohen Substrattemperaturen gezüchtet wurden, isolierend sind. Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der elektrischen Leitfähigkeit kann auf thermisch aktivierte Hopping-Leitung oder die Leitung zwischen Clustern, die in einer Matrix eingebettet sind, zurückgeführt werden. Die magnetischen Eigenschaften von Zinkferrit-Dünnfilmen werden maßgeblich durch Defekte in der Spinellstruktur bestimmt, da es nominell in der normalen Spinellstruktur kristallisiert und daher antiferromagnetisch ist. Die partielle Inversion der Eisen- und Zinkionen führt zu Ferrimagnetismus in den Zinkferrit-Dünnfilmen, der mit Hilfe von SQUID-Messungen in dieser Arbeit eingehend untersucht wurde. Durch Korrelation der Ergebnisse der verschiedenen Untersuchungsmethoden konnten Rückschlüsse auf die dominierenden Defekte in den Ferrit-Dünnfilmen geschlossen werden. So sind zum einen Defekte auf atomarer Skala, wie Antisite-Defekte und divalenten Fe-Ionen für die erhöhte elektrische Leitfähigkeit und die größere Magnetisierung der defektreichen Dünnfilme verantwortlich. Zum anderen können ausgedehnte Defekte, im Speziellen Cluster, die in einer amorphen Matrix eingebettet sind, nicht ausgeschlossen werden.

Verbindungen mit Spinellstruktur im quasiternären System &amp;quot;LiO0.5-MnOx-FeOx&amp;quot; finden industriell als keramische Werkstoffe in der Elektrotechnik und Elektronik Verwendung. So werden Lithium-Mangan-Spinelloxide der Form Li1+xMn2-xO4 (x =&amp;gt; 0) als Kathodenmaterial für wiederaufladbare Lithiumbatterien untersucht. Sowohl Lithium- als auch Manganferrit finden Einsatz als steuerbare Komponenten in der Mikrowellentechnik und Manganferrite als Leistungsüberträger in Spulen und Transformatoren der Hochfrequenztechnik. Für einen solchen technischen Einsatz sind die Kenntnisse der Bedingungen für die Synthese phasenreiner Spinelle und deren Struktur unerlässlich. Die Darstellung der Spinelle erfolgte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit aus gefriergetrockneten Lithium-Mangan-Eisenformiaten. Diese Precursoren zeichnen sich durch hohe Reaktivität und exakte Metallionenstöchiometrie aus. Der Zersetzungsablauf von gefriergetrockneten Li-Mn(II)-Fe(III)-Formiaten unter Argon wurde mittels thermischer Analyse, gekoppelt mit der Massenspektroskopie, sowie durch Röntgenpulveraufnahmen der Zwischenprodukte untersucht. Aus den vorzersetzten Precursoren gewünschter Zusammensetzung wurden unter kontrollierten Temperatur- und Sauerstoffpartialdruckbedingungen einphasige Spinelloxide dargestellt. Die so erhaltenen Verbindungen mit Spinellstruktur wurden mittels Röntgenbeugung und Strukturverfeinerung sowie XANES- und Mößbauerspektroskopie und magnetischen Messungen untersucht. Aus der Kombination dieser Methoden konnten Schlussfolgerungen bezüglich der Struktur, Kationenverteilung und Eigenschaften der jeweiligen Spinelle gewonnen werden. Im Mittelpunkt der Arbeit steht die in der Literatur nicht beschriebene Mischkristallreihe LixMn1+xFe2?2xO4, die Mn(II) und Mn(III) oder Mn(III) und Mn(IV) für x &amp;lt; 0.5 oder x &amp;gt; 0.5 enthält. Mit zunehmendem x-Wert vergrößert sich der Anteil von Lithiumionen auf Tetraeder-plätzen. Bei einem Wert x = 4/7 erreicht dieser Anteil 100%. Unter Einbeziehung der Ergebnisse der Mößbaueruntersuchungen ergeben sich für die Spinellverbindungen mit x = 2/7, 3/7 und 4/7 die folgenden Kationenverteilungen: (Li1.04Mn2+2.81-[delta]Fe3+3.15Mn3+[delta])A[Li0.96Fe3+6.85Mn3+6-[delta]Mn2+0.19+[delta]]BO28 (Li2.37Mn2+1.0-*Fe3+2.98Mn3+0.65+*)A[Li0.63Fe3+5.02Mn3+8.35-*Mn2+*]BO28 (Li4.0Fe3+2.37Mn3+0.63)A[Fe3+3.63Mn3+9.37Mn4+1.0]BO28. Eine theoretisch vorhersehbare Zunahme der Sättigungsmagnetisierung bei kleinen x-Werten wird durch Abnahme der kooperativen Kopplungseffekte mit Abnahme des Eisengehaltes nicht beobachtet. Zusammenfassend kann festgehalten werden, dass die Darstellung phasenreiner Spinelloxide aus den vorzersetzten gefriergetrockneten Li-Mn-Fe-Formiaten im gesamten Bereich zwischen den bekannten quasibinären Spinellverbindungen MnFe2O4, Li0.5Fe2.5O4, LiMn2O4 und Li4/3Mn5/3O4 im quaternären System Li-Mn-Fe-O unter jeweils definierten pO2/T-Bedingungen möglich ist. Die Synthesetemperaturen sind teilweise um 100°C bis 200°C niedriger als bei vergleichbaren Proben aus den Festkörpereaktionen. Manganreiche Spinelle außerhalb dieses Bereiches konnten nicht synthetisiert werden.

Ce travail de thèse a porté sur l'élaboration de nanoparticules et de couches minces d'oxydes spinelles mixtes de MxCo2-xMnO4 (M = Ni, Cu, Zn ; x = 0, 0,15, 0,30, 0,60) semi-conducteurs, absorbants de lumière avec d'intéressantes applications potentielles pour la photo-catalyse et le photovoltaïque. Le premier chapitre présente tout d'abord une vue globale du contexte énergétique à l'échelle mondiale et des ressources d'énergie renouvelables, alternatives aux énergies fossiles les plus répandues. Une revue détaillée est ensuite faite des différents matériaux et systèmes employés dans la fabrication de cellules solaires, en portant une attention plus particulière à un nouveau type de cellules photovoltaïques en couches minces, dites " Tout-oxyde ", basées notamment sur l'utilisation d'oxydes de type spinelle utilisés comme absorbeurs solaires. Le deuxième chapitre présente les techniques expérimentales de synthèse et de caractérisation utilisées lors de ce travail de thèse. Le procédé de polycondensation inorganique, optimisé au laboratoire, utilisé pour synthétiser les poudres d'oxydes à basse température (T < 120 °C) sans agent organique complexe est décrit. Ensuite, les méthodes de préparation de dispersions colloïdales à l'ambiante dans l'éthanol et de films minces homogènes d'oxydes par trempage-retrait sont explicitées. Le troisième chapitre présente les résultats détaillés des structures atomiques et électroniques des matériaux de base à l'étude, issus de calculs par la méthode Density Functional Theory (DFT), réalisés en collaboration avec le laboratoire CEMES de Toulouse. Les résultats des calculs de densités électroniques et détermination de structures de bandes, réalisés pour la première fois à notre connaissance, sur l'ensemble de la solution solide MnxCo3-xO4 (0 = x = 3), sont comparés à nos données expérimentales, obtenues notamment sur les largeurs de bande interdite (gap) à partir de mesures optiques faites sur couches minces. Un gap de 0,8 eV est calculé, qui serait dû à des transitions inter-métalliques en sites B. Deux gaps à 1,5 et 2,2 eV, obtenus expérimentalement dans l'UV-VIS, qui augmentent avec la quantité de manganèse, correspondraient à des transitions respectives B-A et O-B, respectivement. Les propriétés magnétiques de ces matériaux sont également discutées. Le quatrième chapitre présente l'élaboration et la caractérisation (micro-)structurale des poudres et des couches minces d'oxydes de type spinelle. Toutes les compositions (Co2MnO4 dopé au Ni, Cu ou Zn) cristallisent dans une phase cubique. Les nanoparticules sont sphériques avec la taille variant entre 20 et 50 nm. Les couches minces homogènes ont été déposées sur quartz, alumine, nitrure de titane et platine afin de mesurer leurs propriétés électriques et optiques. Une température de frittage environ de 1000 °C sous air a été déterminée par dilatométrie et les couches sont stables jusqu'à 900 °C quel que soit le substrat. En revanche, seules les couches déposées sur platine permettent d'atteindre la température de frittage sous air (et d'accroitre la compacité donc la conductivité des couches) sans réaction avec le substrat. Le chapitre cinq présente les variations des propriétés optiques et électriques des couches minces avec le frittage. Les propriétés d'absorbance de lumière des couches minces ainsi préparées, mesurées sur une gamme de longueurs d'ondes du domaine spectral UV-visible, montrent deux bandes d'absorbance, correspondantes à deux valeurs de gap pour chaque composition. La propriété d'absorbance des couches minces augmente dans la gamme du visible après frittage et les gaps diminuent. Les couches minces sont plus compactées. La résistivité des couches minces diminue de 105 à 102 Omega.cm avec l'augmentation de la température de 20 à 300 ºC. Une étude parallèle, basée sur la préparation de films minces absorbants de lumière de Co2MnO4 et Cu2O par la technique de Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) est également présentée. / The present thesis deals with the synthesis and structural characterization of transition metals doped cobalt and manganese based spinel oxides MxCo2-xMnO4 (with M = Ni, Cu, Zn and x = 0, 0.15, 0.30, 0.60), in relationships with their conduction and optical properties. These materials are good p-type semiconductors and light absorbers in the UV and visible regions, therefore interesting for photo-catalysis and photovoltaics. The first chapter is a brief overview of the energy context and nature of global warming, renewable energy resources and a literature review of materials used for solar cells including the newly studied system type based on all-oxide photovoltaics. Chapter two presents all the experimental methods and characterization techniques used for this research work. The inorganic polycondensation method optimized in our laboratory and used for synthesizing spinel oxide powders at low temperature (T < 120 °C) without complex organic agents is described. Then, the preparation of colloidal dispersions stabilized at room temperature using an azeotrope solution based on absolute ethanol and water only is described, in order to obtain homogenous oxide thin films by the dip-coating technique. The third chapter presents detailed results on the atomic and electronic structures of the materials under study performed by using a full density functional theory investigation thanks to a collaboration with the CEMES. First principles electronic structure calculations were performed for the first time to our knowledge over the whole spinel oxide solid solution range MnxCo3-xO4 (0 = x = 3), and compared with our experimental data. A small band gap of ~ 0.8 eV is calculated, due to metal-metal transitions in B sites. The experimental band gaps observed at 1.5 and 2.2 eV, which increase with the amount of manganese, would correspond to B-A and O-B transitions, respectively. The magnetic properties of these materials are also discussed. Chapter four shows the experimental details of the preparation and characterization of the spinel oxide powders, colloidal dispersions and thin films. All samples (Ni, Cu or Zn-doped Co2MnO4) are well crystallized with a single cubic spinel oxide phase. Nanoparticles are spherical and their diameters vary from 20 to 50 nm, doping with Zn, Ni to Cu, mainly due to steric effects. Homogenous oxide thin films were deposited on quartz, alumina, titanium nitride and platinum in order to measure their optical and electrical properties, and to increase the film compactness (thus electrical conductivity and light absorbance) after thermal treatment. Thin films are well preserved up to 900 °C in air and can handle higher temperatures (up to 1000 ºC) on platinum without reaction with the substrate. Chapter five deals with the optical and electrical properties of thin films before and after sintering. The optical properties were measured over a wide range of wavelengths (UV-VIS). The optical properties of spinel oxide thin films show two strong absorption band gaps for each composition at the UV front and close to 700 nm in wavelength. These band gaps are direct and mostly lower than 2 eV for the first band. Both band gaps increase with further doping and decrease after annealing. Thin film resistivity is about 105 .cm at room temperature and decreases with increasing temperature (a few tens of 20cm at 300 ºC). In parallel to the soft chemistry method and dip-coating technique used to prepare our spinel oxide thin layers, Pulsed Laser Deposition technique was used to prepare pure Co2MnO4 and Cu2O dense thin films. Their structural and optical main features are discussed.