A aplicação do processo de fotoeletrocatálise à eliminação de interferentes orgânicos em baixa concentração na eletroanálise de metais foi abordada tomando o quelato Cu(II)-EDTA como sistema modelo e o restabelecimento da onda voltamétrica do cobre como indicador de efetividade. Desenvolveram-se células eletroquímicas de camada delgada (espessura de 600 micrômetros) nas quais alguns microlitros de amostra são tratados sobre um eletrodo modificado com TiO2 (tipo P25, rico em anatase), cuja superfície é irradiada através de uma janela por um LED (370 nm). Foram construídos e avaliados os seguintes eletrodos: pasta de carbono, TiO2 e óleo parafínico (CPE-TiO2), compósitos de grafite, TiO2 e adesivo epóxi ou de silicone e ouro com oclusão de TiO2 por eletrodeposição. Estudo do efeito de parâmetros como potencial aplicado ao eletrodo, composição do eletrólito e concentração de EDTA sobre a fotocorrente permitiu selecionar condições de trabalho e estabelecer algumas correlações. Por exemplo, observou-se linearidade entre a fotocorrente e a concentração de EDTA até 1,0 mmol/L, aparente limite superior do controle difusional do processo para potência radiante aplicada, acima do qual, a cinética de oxidação passa a sobrepujar o transporte no controle da velocidade de reação. O restabelecimento pleno da onda de Cu(II) 1,0 mmol.L-1 foi observado após a irradiação por 10 min quando a concentração de EDTA não excedia 0,94 mmol.L-1. Descobriu-se um procedimento mais rápido que consiste na aplicação do tratamento fotoeletrocatalítico simultâneo ao registro de voltamogramas cíclicos repetitivos (eletrodo de Au-TiO2, 0,3 a 0,7 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 100 mV.s-1). Após o sexto ciclo, a altura do pico de redissolução anódica do Cu (reduzido durante a varredura no sentido negativo) estabiliza, permitindo a quantificação sem etapa prévia de abertura. / The photoelectrocatalysis process was investigated for the elimination of organic compounds interference on the electroanalysis of trace metals. Cu(II)-EDTA chelate was chosen as model system and the recovery of copper voltammetric peak, as effectiveness indicator. Thin layer cells (thickness of 600 micrometers) were designed for the treatment of some microliters of sample by irradiation (370 nm LED) of an electrode modified with TiO2 (P25, anatase rich). The following modified electrodes were prepared and evaluated: carbon paste with TiO2 and paraffin oil (CPE-TiO2), composites of graphite, TiO2 and epoxy or silicone binders and TiO2 occluded in electrodeposited gold on a gold substrate. The effect of parameters like potential bias, electrolyte composition and EDTA concentration on the photocurrent was evaluated to setup working conditions. Some correlations were observed, e.g., a linear dependence between photocurrent and EDTA concentration up to 1.0 mmol/L. For the irradiance applied, this concentration is possibly the upper limit of operation diffusion transport control, above which, the kinetics of the oxidation at the TiO2 modified electrode becomes the controlling process. For EDTA concentrations not exceeding 0.94 mmol.L-1, full recovery of 1.0 mmol.L-1 Cu(II) voltammetric peaks was observed after 10 min of irradiation. A faster procedure was discovered and consists in recording repetitive cyclic voltammograms (Au-TiO2 electrode, 0,3 to 0,7 V vs. Ag/AgCl scans, 100 mV.s-1) simultaneously with continuous irradiation. After the sixth cycle, the copper anodic stripping peak height stabilizes allowing quantification without previous sample pre-treatment step.

A aplicação do processo de fotoeletrocatálise à eliminação de interferentes orgânicos em baixa concentração na eletroanálise de metais foi abordada tomando o quelato Cu(II)-EDTA como sistema modelo e o restabelecimento da onda voltamétrica do cobre como indicador de efetividade. Desenvolveram-se células eletroquímicas de camada delgada (espessura de 600 micrômetros) nas quais alguns microlitros de amostra são tratados sobre um eletrodo modificado com TiO2 (tipo P25, rico em anatase), cuja superfície é irradiada através de uma janela por um LED (370 nm). Foram construídos e avaliados os seguintes eletrodos: pasta de carbono, TiO2 e óleo parafínico (CPE-TiO2), compósitos de grafite, TiO2 e adesivo epóxi ou de silicone e ouro com oclusão de TiO2 por eletrodeposição. Estudo do efeito de parâmetros como potencial aplicado ao eletrodo, composição do eletrólito e concentração de EDTA sobre a fotocorrente permitiu selecionar condições de trabalho e estabelecer algumas correlações. Por exemplo, observou-se linearidade entre a fotocorrente e a concentração de EDTA até 1,0 mmol/L, aparente limite superior do controle difusional do processo para potência radiante aplicada, acima do qual, a cinética de oxidação passa a sobrepujar o transporte no controle da velocidade de reação. O restabelecimento pleno da onda de Cu(II) 1,0 mmol.L-1 foi observado após a irradiação por 10 min quando a concentração de EDTA não excedia 0,94 mmol.L-1. Descobriu-se um procedimento mais rápido que consiste na aplicação do tratamento fotoeletrocatalítico simultâneo ao registro de voltamogramas cíclicos repetitivos (eletrodo de Au-TiO2, 0,3 a 0,7 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 100 mV.s-1). Após o sexto ciclo, a altura do pico de redissolução anódica do Cu (reduzido durante a varredura no sentido negativo) estabiliza, permitindo a quantificação sem etapa prévia de abertura. / The photoelectrocatalysis process was investigated for the elimination of organic compounds interference on the electroanalysis of trace metals. Cu(II)-EDTA chelate was chosen as model system and the recovery of copper voltammetric peak, as effectiveness indicator. Thin layer cells (thickness of 600 micrometers) were designed for the treatment of some microliters of sample by irradiation (370 nm LED) of an electrode modified with TiO2 (P25, anatase rich). The following modified electrodes were prepared and evaluated: carbon paste with TiO2 and paraffin oil (CPE-TiO2), composites of graphite, TiO2 and epoxy or silicone binders and TiO2 occluded in electrodeposited gold on a gold substrate. The effect of parameters like potential bias, electrolyte composition and EDTA concentration on the photocurrent was evaluated to setup working conditions. Some correlations were observed, e.g., a linear dependence between photocurrent and EDTA concentration up to 1.0 mmol/L. For the irradiance applied, this concentration is possibly the upper limit of operation diffusion transport control, above which, the kinetics of the oxidation at the TiO2 modified electrode becomes the controlling process. For EDTA concentrations not exceeding 0.94 mmol.L-1, full recovery of 1.0 mmol.L-1 Cu(II) voltammetric peaks was observed after 10 min of irradiation. A faster procedure was discovered and consists in recording repetitive cyclic voltammograms (Au-TiO2 electrode, 0,3 to 0,7 V vs. Ag/AgCl scans, 100 mV.s-1) simultaneously with continuous irradiation. After the sixth cycle, the copper anodic stripping peak height stabilizes allowing quantification without previous sample pre-treatment step.

Les aciers inoxydables martensitiques sont utilisés dans l'industrie aéronautique où de hautes propriétés mécaniques sont requises. Cependant, dû à leur faible teneur en chrome, ils sont relativement sensibles à la corrosion localisée et particulièrement à la corrosion caverneuse qui se développe en milieu confiné. Tout d'abord, le comportement électrochimique de l'acier inoxydable martensitique X12CrNiMoV12-3 a été étudié dans une solution neutre et chlorurée (NaCl 0,1 M + Na2SO4 0,04 M) en plein bain. Des mesures électrochimiques (courbes de polarisation et mesures d'impédance) couplées à des analyses de surface par XPS ont permis de caractériser les films passifs formés pour différentes conditions. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de montrer le rôle important joué par l'oxygène dissous sur la formation et/ou la modification du film passif pendant l'immersion dans l'électrolyte. Les diagrammes d'impédance obtenus au potentiel de corrosion et en milieu aéré sont caractérisés par deux constantes de temps qui ont été attribuées au film passif (hautes fréquences) et au transfert de charges (basses fréquences). L'analyse de la partie hautes fréquences des diagrammes d'impédance électrochimique à l'aide du modèle en loi de puissance a permis de montrer de faibles variations de l'épaisseur des films pendant l'immersion. Des mesures électrochimiques ont ensuite été réalisées à l'aide du montage de la cellule à couche mince qui permet de travailler avec des épaisseurs d'électrolyte rigoureusement contrôlées. Les essais réalisés ont montré l'aptitude à la repassivation de l'acier inoxydable martensitique dès qu'il est en contact avec l'oxygène dissous en particulier pour des faibles épaisseurs d'électrolyte (inférieur à 100 µm). Lorsque le milieu est confiné entre deux parois en acier afin de reproduire une situation de corrosion caverneuse, il a été montré la corrosion est fortement accélérée lorsque l'épaisseur d'électrolyte est faible (inférieur à 500 µm). / Martensitic stainless steels are mainly used for applications where high mechanical performance is required. However, due to the low chromium content, they are relatively sensitive to localised corrosion, and particularly, to crevice corrosion encountered in confined environments. First, the electrochemical behavior of X12CrNiMoV12-3 martensitic stainless steel has been studied in a bulk neutral chloride solution (0.1 M NaCl + 0.04 M Na2SO4). Electrochemical measurements (polarisation curves and impedance measures) and XPS surface analysis were performed in order to characterise the passive films formed under different experimental conditions. The results showed the important role of dissolved oxygen to form and/or modify the passive film during immersion in electrolyte. The impedance diagrams are characterised by two time constants wich are attributed to passive film response (high frequency range) and to charge transfert resistance (low frequency range). The analyse of the high frequencies part of the diagrams by using the "power law model" showed low evolution of passive films thickness during immersion. Then, electrochemical measurements were perfomed in confined environments by using a thin layer cell where the electrolyte thickness were rigourosly adjusted. The measurements showed that the martensitic stainless steel is in passive state even for low electrolyte thickness (inferior in 100 µm). When the electrolyte is confined between two stainless electrodes in order to reproduce the same conditions find during crevice corrosion, the corrosion is sharply accelerated when the electrolyte thickness is above 500 µm

Les cellules photovoltaïques en couches minces de silicium cristallin sont des candidates prometteuses pour réduire le prix du watt-crête de l'énergie photovoltaïque, grâce à une très faible utilisation de silicium de haute pureté. Dans notre cas, les couches actives de silicium sont supportées par des substrats, de bas coût et compatibles avec les conditions de haute température nécessaires à une croissance cristalline rapide et de bonne qualité des couches. La société S’TILE développe ces substrats, par frittage à partir de poudres de silicium, et en recristallisant les plaquettes ainsi obtenues. Le but de cette thèse est de valoriser ce substrat pour l’industrie photovoltaïque et de démontrer qu’il est adapté à la fabrication de cellules solaires à bas coût et rendement élevé. Ces travaux utilisent le procédé d’épitaxie de silicium, qui est central pour fabriquer des cellules minces. Ils s’articulent autour de deux axes principaux. Le premier est la fabrication de cellules solaires et leur optimisation sur des substrats de référence monocristallins. Dans ce cadre, de nombreuses voies ont été explorées : l’utilisation de réflecteurs de Bragg en silicium poreux, l’optimisation du dopage de l’émetteur, la formation de gradients de dopage dans la base et l’utilisation de structures à émetteur en face arrière. Ces études ont permis d’évaluer le potentiel de ces différentes voies ; des résultats prometteurs pour l’amélioration du rendement de conversion des cellules sur couches minces ont été obtenus. Le second axe de la thèse est la fabrication de cellules sur les substrats frittés préparés par S’TILE et l’application des moyens développés dans le cadre du premier axe pour améliorer ces cellules. Les rendements encoura-geants obtenus ont ainsi démontré la faisabilité de cellules solaires sur les substrats réalisés par le procédé de frittage à bas coût développé par la société S’TILE. / Crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells are promising candidates to reduce the watt-peak prices of photovoltaic energy, thanks to a much smaller use of high purity silicon. In our case, the active layers of silicon are supported by substrates. These substrates have low production costs and are compatible with the high temperature process steps, which are necessary to a rapid and high-quality crystalline growth. The company S’TILE develops these substrates, by sintering silicon powders and recrystallizing the obtained wafers. The objective of this PhD thesis is to pinpoint the relevance of this substrate for the photovoltaics industry and demonstrate that it is adapted to the fabrication of solar cells with low cost and high efficiency. This work uses the epitaxy process, which is central to fabricate these thin-film cells. It is organized in two main axes. The first one is the fabrication of solar cells and their optimization on monocrystalline reference substrates. Several optimization pathways have been tested: the use of porous silicon Bragg reflectors, the optimization of emitter doping, the base variable doping and the use of rear emitter structures. The studies permitted to unveil the potential of each pathway; promising results were obtained for the improvement of thin-film solar cell conversion efficiency. The second axis of the thesis is the cell fabrication on the substrates prepared by S’TILE and the application of the means developed in the first axis to improve these cells. Encouraging efficiencies have demonstrated the feasibility of solar cells on the substrates made by the low-cost process developed by S’TILE.

<p>Sukcinimidi su jedinjenja koja pokazuju vi&scaron;estruke farmakolo&scaron;ke efekte uključujući i antiproliferativnu aktivnost, zahvaljujući prisustvu farmakofore sa dva hidrofobna regiona i dva regiona bogata elektronima. Savremeni dizajn lekova ima za cilj da se modifikacijama u strukturi (promena vrste, položaja i orijentacije supstituenata) i in silico računarskim metodama predvide i optimizuju farmakokinetske osobine i bezbednosni profil kandidata za lek. U ranoj fazi razvoja lekova se koriste postojeće baze podataka o molekulskim, farmakokinetskim i toksikolo&scaron;kim parametrima već ispitanih jedinjenja i pomoću matematičkih modela i algoritama predviđaju se osobine novih molekula, elimini&scaron;u se neodgovarajući kandidati i postiže se u&scaron;teda u vremenu i materijalnim sredstvima. Da se ispitaju fizičko-hemijske karakteristike 11 novosintetisanih metil-etil-N-aril-sukcinimida na osnovu strukture, primenom različitih softverskih paketa; da se na osnovu strukture odrede farmakokinetski i toksikolo&scaron;ki parametri, primenom različitih softverskih paketa; da se ispita retenciono pona&scaron;anje, odnosno odrede retencione konstante za svako jedinjenje primenom visokoefikasne hromatografije na tankom sloju (HP-TLC) i ispita mogućnost primene retencionih konstanti kao mere lipofilnosti ispitivanih jedinjenja; da se ispita antiproliferativna aktivnost na odabranim kulturama ćelija karcinoma i na zdravim ćelijama fibroblasta pluća; da se analizom molekulskog dokinga ustanovi vezivanje za estrogene receptore. Ispitano je retenciono pona&scaron;anje 11 novosintetisanih derivata sukcinimida primenom visokoefikasne hromatografije na tankom sloju (HP-TLC) obrnute faze uz primenu dvokomponentne sme&scaron;e vode i organskog rastvarača (metanola, acetonitrila ili acetona), sa odgovarajućim zapreminskim udelom organskog rastvarača kao mobilne faze. Iz razvijenih hromatograma su izračunate retencione konstante RM0 i S. Logaritam podeonog koeficijenta (logP) određen je in silico, kori&scaron;ćenjem različitih računarskih programa. In silico su određene fizičko-hemijske karakteristike, farmakokinetski parametri, toksikolo&scaron;ki parametri, akvatična toksičnosti i afinitet vezivanja za estrogene receptore. Izračunate su vrednosti afiniteta za 4 vrste receptora (G-protein spregnuti receptori, jonski kanali, inhibitori kinaza, nuklearni receptori). Antiproliferativna aktivnost ispitivanih derivata sukcinimida određena je primenom kolorimetrijskog testa sa tetrazolijum solima (MTT testa) na komercijalnim kulturama ćelija (MRC-5, A549, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, HT-29) i izračunate su IC50 vrednosti. Urađena je i doking analiza sukcinimida prema ERA (estrogen receptor alfa) i ERB (estrogen receptor beta) i dobijene su vrednosti energije formiranja kompleksa sa posmatranim receptorima (MolDock Score). Statistički najznačajnije linearne korelacije dobijene su između eksperimentalno određenih hromatografskih parametara (RM0 i S) i in silico parametara lipofilnosti MlogP i ClogP. Ispitivanjem uticaja promene RM0 i S na farmakokinetske karakteristike dobijeni su rezultati koji pokazuju paraboličnu zavisnost konstante apsorpcije (Ka) i procenta vezivanja za proteine plazme (PPB) od posmatranih retencionih konstanti, dok je zavisnost sa volumenom distribucije (Vd) i sposobno&scaron;ću prolaska kroz krvno-moždanu barijeru (logBBB) bila linearnog tipa. Toksičnost ispitivanih jedinjenja, procenjena na osnovu in silico dobijenih LD50 vrednosti, nije bila vi&scaron;a od toksičnosti već registrovanih lekova sa strukturom sukcinimida, i dala je parabolične zavisnosti u odnosu na RM0 i S vrednosti. Eksperimentalno nijedno od ispitivanih jedinjenja nije pokazalo aktivnost u odnosu na zdrave fibroblaste pluća. Najznačajniju antiproliferativnu aktivnost (najniže IC50) su pokazala jedinjenja 6 i 7 u odnosu na ćelije linije MCF-7 i jedinjenje 11 u odnosu na A549 ćelijsku liniju. Doking analiza je pokazala niže energije formiranja kompleksa sa ERA, u odnosu na ERB. Eksperimentalno određeni parametri RM0 i S se mogu koristiti kao alternativne i pouzdane mere lipofilnosti analiziranih sukcinimida. Ispitivana jedinjenja pokazuju povoljne fizičko-hemijske karakteristike, predviđene in silico metodama i povoljne farmakokinetske karakteristike: male vrednosti konstante apsorpcije, umeren volumen distribucije, povoljan afinitet vezivanja za proteine plazme, favorizovan prolazak kroz krvno-moždanu barijeru za lipofilnija jedinjenja. Procenjuje se da sva ispitivana jedinjenja, izuzev derivata sa &ndash;CN supstituentom, imaju zahtevani nizak stepen toksičnosti. Po antiproliferativnoj aktivnosti u odnosu na ćelije ER-zavisnog karcinoma dojke (MCF-7) izdvajaju se jedinjenja sa metil i nitro supstituentom u para položaju. Na osnovu malih energija formiranja kompleksa sa ERA, koji su eksprimirani na ćelijama MCF-7 linije, pretpostavlja se da bi mehanizam njihovog delovanja delimično mogao biti obja&scaron;njen uticajem na ERA, ali su potrebna dodatna istraživanja na tom polju.</p> / <p>Succinimides have exhibited various pharmaceutical effects including antiproliferative activity due to an important structural fragment (a pharmacophore) presented in form of two hydrophobic regions and two electron-rich centers. Current development of new drugs involves modifications in structure (type, position and orientation of substituents) and usage of in silico computational programs to predict and optimize pharmacokinetic and safety profile of drug candidates. In early phase of drug development, databases regarding the molecular, pharmacokinetic and toxicological parameters of already tested compounds are used, mathematical models and algorithms are applied for predicting the properties of new molecules and inadequate candidates are eliminated saving time and resources. Determination of physico-chemical properties of the analyzed methyl-ethyl-N-phenilsuccinimide derivatives by software packages; virtual pharmacokinetic and toxicology screening; investigation of retention behavior of the compounds by the reversed-phase HPTLC analysis and calculation of retention constants and their correlation with lipophilicity; in vitro evaluation of antiproliferative activity toward five carcinoma cell lines and normal fetal lung cell line; molecular behavior study on target estrogen receptors by molecular docking and correlation of antiproliferative activity toward ER+ breast carcinoma cell lines and in silico estrogen receptor affinity binding. Retention behavior of 11 newly synthesized succinimide derivatives was determined by reversed phase high performance thin layer chromatography (RP HPTLC) with the application of two-component mixtures water - organic solvent (methanol, acetonitrile or acetone) with adequate volume fractions of the organic modifier. After chromatographic development RM0 and S parameters were calculated. The logarithm of partition coefficient, logP for the analyzed compounds were calculated by different softwares. Physico-chemical properties, pharmacokinetic and toxicological parameters, aquatic toxicity and relative affinity to estrogen receptors were predicted in silico. The affinity toward 4 types of receptors (G-proteine coupled receptors, ion channels, kinase inhibitors, nuclear receptors) were calculated as well. Standard MTT assay was applied to evaluate cytotoxic activities of the analyzed succinimides after cells were exposed. Antiproliferative activity were investigated toward commercial MRC-5, A549, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, HT-29 cell lines and IC50 values were calculated for each compound. MolDock Score that represents energy of binding to estrogen alfa and estrogen beta receptors was determined by molecular docking. Statistically significant linear correlations were determined between the chromatographic retention constants (RM0 and S) and calculated logP, and the best two were obtained in correlation of retention constants with MlogP and ClogP. The examination of RM0 and S influence on pharmacokinetics indicated parabolic dependence of the absorption constant (Ka) and plasma protein binding predictor (PPB) from the observed constants while the volume of distribution (Vd) and the ability to cross the brain blood barrier (logBBB) had linear association with the retention parameters. The toxicity of the analysed compounds evaluated in silico as LD50 on rodents was lower in comparison with the drugs with succinimide structure that are on the market and had parabolic correlation with the RM0 and S values. The experiments indicated that none of the compounds examined had cytotoxic activity toward the healthy lung fibroblast cells. The results of the in vitro assay shown that none of the investigated compounds demonstrated antiproliferative activity toward fetal lung cells. The most potent antiproliferative agents were compounds 6 and 7 toward MCF-7 cell line, and compound 11 toward A549 cell line. Molecular docking shown lower energy for binding to ERA in comparison to ERB.</p>