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This work was initially launched to study the synthesis of low-valent group 13 compounds bearing the bis(imino)pyridine ligand framework. Since its inception, this project has grown beyond the boundaries of group 13 to include low valent tin, silver, and rhenium. Alongside the reports of novel coordination compounds, we utilized computational chemistry to uncover unprecedented interactions which challenge conventional concepts of bonding. Synthesis, characterization, and complimentary computational studies are presented herein. Chapter 1 presents a historical overview of the bis(imino)pyridine ligand as well as our synthetic methodology and characterization of new ligand variants we have contributed to the literature. Chapter 2 presents the synthesis of a series of In(I) and In(III) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics. Ligand-metal interaction and effect of ligand steric bulk on complex stability, as well as computational studies highlighting weak covalent interactions will be discussed. Chapter 3 presents the synthesis of Ga(III) bis(imino)pyridine complexes. Reactivity with “GaI” synthon as well as varied-stoichiometry one-pot synthesis attempts to generate low valent Ga-bis(imino)pyridine complexes will be discussed. Chapter 4 presents the synthesis of a series of Tl(I) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics analogous to the approach taken with indium(I). Unprecedented weak ligand-metal as well as Tl-arene interactions will be discussed. Chapter 5 presents the synthesis of a series of Sn(II) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics and halide substituents. Preferential cation-anion pair formation and attempted reactivity will be discussed. Chapter 6 presents the synthesis of a series of Ag(I) bis(imino)pyridine complexes with varied sterics. Resulting ligand-metal interactions as well as reactivity towards Lewis basic donor ligands will be discussed. Chapter 7 presents the synthesis of first crystallographically authenticated examples of rhenium(I) pincer complexes utilizing the bis(imino)pyridine ligand. Chapter 8 presents a general conclusion to the work.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Synthese von neuartigen Zinn(II)alkoxiden, deren Potential für die Zwillingspolymerisation und die Darstellung von zinnhaltigen organisch-anorganischen Nanokompositen beschrieben. Partielle Hydrolyse der Zinn(II)alkoxide führt zur Bildung von fünf- und sechskernigen Zinnoxidoclustern, die eine gute Löslichkeit in organischen polaren Lösungsmitteln besitzen. Eine Nachbehandlung der durch Zwillingspolymerisation erhaltenen Hybridmaterialien unter reduzierenden Bedingungen (Ar/H2) liefert Nanokomposite bestehend aus Zinnnanopartikeln eingebettet in eine Kohlenstoff/Siliziumdioxid-Matrix. Weiterhin werden verschiedene metallhaltige Additive wie z.B. Carboxylate in der Zwillingspolymerisation verwendet und deren Eignung zur Darstellung von zinnhaltigen Nanokompositen sowie zur Legierungsbildung mit Zinn im Nanokomposit untersucht. Mit ausgewählten Materialien werden elektrochemische Messungen durchgeführt, wobei deren potentieller Einsatz als Anodenmaterial für Lithiumionen-Batterien geprüft wird (Kooperation BASF SE, Research Performance Materials GMV/P). Die Charakterisierung der neu synthetisierten Verbindungen und Nanokomposite erfolgt unter anderem mittels Einkristallröntgenstrukturanalyse, Röntgenpulverdiffraktometrie, NMR-Spektroskopie, Infrarotspektroskopie, Elektronenmikroskopie sowie thermischen Analysemethoden

Le travail de thèse présenté dans ce mémoire, est consacré à l'étude des interactions interfaciales entre une espèce active électrochimiquement (l'étain) et une matrice (le borophosphate) capable d'absorber les variations volumiques dues à la formation électrochimique des diverses compositions Li-Sn (« buffer »). L'objectif de cette étude est de comprendre la nature des réactions ayant lieu avec l'introduction du Li dans le matériau composite. Pour cela, nous avons réalisé une étude détaillée d'un composite de référence mis au point dans des études précédentes Sn-0,4 BPO4 ; nous avons évalué l'influence du type de matrice et de la voie de synthèse sur son comportement global. Le matériau composite a pu être décrit comme possédant une interface vitreuse contenant de l'étain oxydé (SnII) qui lui donne la structuration suivante : Elément actif Sn0(1-w)/SnIIwBxPyOz/BPO4 Phase support Interphase. Des études in situ operando complémentaires en diffraction des rayons X et spectrométrie Mößbauer ont permis d'analyser le comportement électrochimique du matériau composite : un premier processus correspond à l'extrusion d'une petite partie d'étain métallique de la zone interfaciale qui augmente la conductivité électronique du composite ; il est suivi par une réorganisation de l'interface avec extrusion de tout le contenu en étain et la formation des premières compositions Li-Sn. Enfin, le cyclage galvanostatique se poursuit grâce à la formation de plusieurs compositions Li-Sn riches en étain (Li2Sn5 et LiSn) et puis enrichies en lithium (Li13Sn5 et Li7Sn2). / The Phd work, presented in this manuscript, is devoted to the study of the interface interactions between an electroactive species (tin) and a matrix (borophosphate). The latter has a buffer role and is thus able to absorb the volume variations taking place during the Li-Sn electrochemical reaction.The aim of this study is to understand the nature of the reactions occurring during lithium introduction in the composite. In order to do that, a detailed study of a previously studied reference composite (Sn-0,4 BPO4) has been undertaken. The effect of some modified matrixes as well as the synthesis route has also been evaluated. The composite material can be described as having a glassy interface containing some oxidized tin (SnII) which leads to the following global structure: Active element Sn0(1-w)/SnIIwBxPyOz/BPO4 Buffering phase Interphase. A complementary in situ operando study (X-ray diffraction and Mößbauer spectroscopy) gave the possibility to analyze the electrochemical behavior of the material. A first process corresponds to a small tin extrusion from the interfacial zone. This contributes to the increase of the electrical conductivity of the composite material which is followed by the interphase reorganization with the extrusion of the whole tin content. Li-Sn reactions take place then, with the galvanostatic cycling going on between the tin rich compositions (Li2Sn5 and LiSn) and the lithium rich ones (Li13Sn5 and Li7Sn2).

This thesis will attempt to scrutinize Günter Grass's message to his people and show his concern for the spiritual health of his country. Each of his three novels bears directly upon political, religious, and moral issues vital to Germany and to the world. The examination is based upon the assumption that Grass as an author is more concerned that Germans see themselves as they are and as they have been than he is concerned with the image of Germany which his novels present to the world. It is, paradoxically, this very special and sincere concern which gives his work universal appeal.

The Generalization of the Digital Terrain Model Based on the TIN Abstract This diploma thesis deals with the up to now way and the possibilities of the digital terrain model generalization based on the TIN (the triangulate irregular network). New suitable way of the generalization of the digital terrain model procured from laser scanning data is proposed on the base of the existing generalization methods designated for digital models. Laser scanning data is characterized by a high areal density so the basic requirement is computing speed, maintaining the terrain features, such as a ridge, valley, steep hill, saddle, depression … and so on. The proposed algorithm is compared with the results of suggested algorithms and results from the generalization by the geographic software, such as Atlas DMT and ArcGIS.

In 2013, the worldwide production of renewable electricity accounted for 22.1% of the total energy production with 0.9% coming from solar photovoltaics (PVs). Recently, there has been a growing interest for Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) quaternary semiconductor due to the abundance and low cost of its precursors. Moreover, this chalcopyrite material has an ideal direct band gap around 1.5 eV, high absorption coefficient (α >104 cm-1) and high conductivity, making it suitable for nanostructured and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Here, CZTS nanoparticles have been synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and simultaneously deposited in the interstitial space of ZnO nanowire arrays to form bulk heterojunction 3D nanostructured solar cells. Secondly, vertically oriented CZTS nanoplates have been synthesized by PLD and used as counter electrode in platinum-free dye-sensitized solar cells. These CZTS nanostructures proved to be suitable in achieving workable solar cells, which could significantly cut down the cell cost and provide environmentally friendly photovoltaic devices. Alternately, hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite solar cells have become one of the most attractive photovoltaic technologies with easy solution fabrication and high conversion efficiencies. However, the devices remain unstable under certain processing and environmental conditions. Herein, formamidinium lead tri-halide perovskite (FAPbI3) planar heterojunction solar cells have been fabricated under a controlled environment. The fabrication parameters (precursor concentration, annealing, etc) and the effect of humidity on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of FAPbI3 thin films and devices have been investigated and proved to be critical in the processing of efficient devices. Solar cells with conversion efficiency of 16.6% have been obtained. Furthermore, in-situ techniques such as in-situ (scanning) transmission electron microscopy and in-situ XRD were performed to understand the crystallization and degradation mechanisms of FAPbI3 thin films.The in-situ data were correlated with planar heterojunction FAPbI3 devices efficiency data in order to improve the device fabrication process.

Neste trabalho foi estudada a viabilidade de preparação do catalisador Au-SnO2/TiO2 pelo método da redução por álcool, o qual apresentou excelentes resultados na preparação de eletrocatalisadores PtSnO2/C aplicados em células a combustíveis. Inicialmente a preparação dos catalisadores Au-SnO2/TiO2 foi efetuada sem modificações em relação a metodologia de preparação dos catalisadores PtSnO2/C por meio da qual foi possível obter nanopartículas de Pt e SnO2 da ordem de 2-4 nm bem dispersas no suporte de carbono. Os resultados iniciais não se mostraram adequados obtendo-se para o catalisador Au/TiO2 nanopartículas de Au da ordem 100-200 nm, enquanto que para os catalisadores Au-SnO2/TiO2 com diferentes % em massa de SnO2, apesar da fase SnO2 apresentar-se bem dispersas sobre o suporte, as nanopartículas de Au apresentaram tamanhos da ordem de 10 nm, sendo desejável nanopartículas menores que 10 nm para a reação preferencial do monóxido de carbono em misturas ricas em hidrogênio (reação CO-PROX). Os catalisadores Au/TiO2, Au/SnO2 e AuSnO2/TiO2 com diferentes % em massa de SnO2 obtidos dessa maneira apresentaram baixa atividade e seletividade na reação CO-PROX. Dessa forma, modificações foram efetuadas na metodologia de preparação por meio de diferentes rotas visando à diminuição e uma melhor dispersão das nanopartículas de Au na preparação do catalisador Au/TiO2. Por meio do uso de citrato de sódio como agente estabilizante e por modificações na forma de adição do precursor de Au foi possível diminuir o tamanho das nanopartículas de Au e melhorar sensivelmente a atividade e a seletividade do catalisador Au/TiO2 na reação CO-PROX. Os catalisadores Au-SnO2/TiO2 foram também preparados por esta nova rota obtendo-se também para estes materiais um menor tamanho de partícula de Au e uma melhor dispersão sobre o suporte TiO2. A atividade catalítica e a seletividade dos catalisadores AuSnO2/TiO2 obtidos por esta nova rota também apresentaram uma melhora significativa na atividade e seletividade na reação CO-PROX. / In this work the feasibility of preparation of the Au-SnO2/TiO2 catalyst by the alcohol reduction method was studied, which presented excellent results in the preparation of PtSnO2/C electrocatalysts applied in fuel cells. Initially the preparation of the Au-SnO2/TiO2 catalysts was carried out without modifications in relation to the methodology of preparation of the catalysts PtSnO2/C through which it was possible to obtain nanoparticles of Pt and SnO2 of the order of 2-4 nm well dispersed in the carbon support. The initial results were not shown to be adequate for the Au/TiO2 catalyst. Au nanoparticles of the order 100-200 nm, while for the Au-SnO2/TiO2 catalysts with different mass% of SnO2, if well dispersed on the support, Au nanoparticles presented sizes of the order of 10 nm, with nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm being desirable for the preferential reaction of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-rich mixtures (CO-PROX reaction). The Au/TiO2, Au/SnO2 and AuSnO2/TiO2 catalysts with different wt% of SnO2 obtained in this way showed low activity and selectivity for CO-PROX reaction. Thus, modifications were carried out in the preparation methodology by means of different routes aiming at the decrease and a better dispersion of the Au nanoparticles in the preparation of the Au/TiO2 catalyst. By using sodium citrate as a stabilizing agent and by modifications in the addition form of the Au precursor it was possible to decrease the size of the Au nanoparticles and to improve significantly the activity and selectivity of the Au/TiO2 catalyst for CO-PROX reaction. The Au-SnO2/TiO2 catalysts were also prepared by this new route obtaining also for these materials a smaller Au particle size and a better dispersion on the TiO2 support. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the Au-SnO2/TiO2 catalysts obtained by this new route also showed a significant improvement in the activity and selectivity for CO-PROX reaction.