Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WashingtonCMG_TESE.pdf: 1906631 bytes, checksum: 6b7dc12db13ffeb89c11288d55cea5a8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-09 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / In this work, the structures of LaCoO3, La0,8Ba0,2CoO3 and La0,8Ca0,2CoO3 perovskites were characterized as a function of temperature (LaCoO3 structure being analyzed only at room temperature). The characterization of these materials were made by X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), in the cobalt K-edge, taking into account the correlated Einstein model X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The first part of the absorption spectrum corresponded the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). These materials were prepared by the combustion method. The combustion products were calcinated at 900 0C, for 6 hours in air. Noted that the sample LaCoO3 at room temperature and samples doped with Calcium and Barium in the temperature range of 50 K to 298 K showed greater distortion to monoclinic symmetry with space group I2/a. However, the sample doped with barium at the temperatures 50 K, 220 K, and 260 K showed a slight distortion to rhombohedral symmetry with space group R-3c. The La0,8Ca0, 2CoO3 structure was few sensitive to temperature variation, showing a higher local distortion in the octahedron and a higher local thermal disorder. These interpretations were in agreement with the information electronic structural on the XANES region and geometric in the EXAFS region / Neste trabalho foram investigados estruturas de perovskitas LaCoO3, La0,8Ba0,2CoO3 e La0,8Ca0,2CoO3 em fun??o de temperatura, sendo que a estrutura LaCoO3 foi analisada apenas em temperatura ambiente. As caracteriza??es destes materiais foram realizadas pela espectroscopia de absor??o de raios X (XAS) na borda K do cobalto levando em considera??o modelo de Einstein correlacionado na estrutura fina de absor??o (EXAFS). A primeira parte do espectro de absor??o de raios X corresponde absor??o de raios X pr?xima ? borda de absor??o (XANES) e a outra estende ? espectroscopia da estrutura fina de absor??o (EXAFS). Estes materiais foram preparados pelo m?todo de combust?o. Os produtos obtidos da combust?o foram tratados termicamente por 9000C por 6 horas nesses materiais. Observou que a amostra LaCoO3 em temperatura ambiente e as amostras dopadas com C?lcio e B?rio na faixa de temperatura entre 50 K a 298 K apresentaram uma maior distor??o com simetria monocl?nica com grupo espacial I2/a. No entanto, a amostra dopada com B?rio nas temperaturas 50 K, 220 K e 260 K mostrou uma leve distor??o com simetria rombo?drica com grupo espacial R-3c. A estrutura La0,8Ca0,2CoO3 foi pouco sens?vel com a varia??o de temperatura, apresentando uma maior distor??o local no octaedro e uma maior desordem t?rmica local. Estas interpreta??es est?o de acordo com as informa??es estruturais eletr?nica na regi?o XANES e geom?trica na regi?o EXAFS

Cette thèse présente une analyse approfondie et comparative des résultats de mesures µ-XRD et µ-XAS sur des combustibles UO2 standard, dopé au sesquioxyde de chrome (Cr2O3) et MOX, irradiés ou non. Elle présente également l'interprétation des résultats en regard des effets induits par le chrome en tant que dopant ainsi que par la présence de plusieurs produits de fission. Les paramètres de maille de l’UO2 et les paramètres de densité d'énergie de déformation élastique dans les matériaux irradiés ou non ont été mesurés et quantifiés. Les données de µ-XRD ont en outre permis l'évaluation de la taille des domaines cristallins, ainsi que l’étude de la formation de sous-grains à différentes positions au sein des pastilles de combustibles irradiés. Le paramètre de maille et l'environnement atomique local du chrome dans des précipités d’oxyde de chrome présents dans les pastilles de combustible non-irradié ont également été déterminés. La structure locale du Cr dans la matrice du combustible dopé et l'influence de l'irradiation sur l'état du chrome dans la matrice de combustible ont été étudiées. Enfin, pour une comparaison du comportement des gaz de fission et du phénomène de re-solution induite par l'irradiation dans l’UO2 standard ou dopé, la dernière partie de ce travail propose une tentative d'analyse de l’environnement atomique du Kr dans ces deux combustibles irradiés. Le travail effectué par micro-faisceau XAS sur ce gaz de fission a permis la détermination des distances du Kr avec ses proches voisins, une estimation des densités atomiques des gaz de fission dans les agrégats et des pressions internes apparentes dans ces nano-phases de gaz inertes. / This thesis work reports in depth analyses of measured µ-XRD and µ-XAS data from standard UO2, chromia (Cr2O3) doped UO2 and MOX fuels, and interpretation of the results considering the role of chromium as a dopant as well as several fission product elements. The lattice parameters of UO2 in fresh and irradiated samples and elastic strain energy densities in the irradiated UO2 samples have been measured and quantified. The µ-XRD patterns have further allowed the evaluation of the crystalline domain size and sub-grain formation at different locations of the irradiated fuel pellets. Attempts have been made to determine lattice parameter and next neighbor atomic environment in chromia-precipitates found in fresh chromia-doped fuel pellets. The local structure around Cr in as-fabricated chromia-doped UO2 matrix and the influence of irradiation on the state of chromium in irradiated fuel matrix have been addressed. Finally, for a comparative understanding of fission gases behavior and irradiation induced re-solution phenomenon in standard and chromia-doped UO2, the last part of the present work tries to clarify the fission gas Kr atomic environment in these irradiated fuels. The work performed on Kr, by micro-beam XAS, comprises the determination of Kr next neighbor distances, an estimation of gas atom densities in the aggregates, and apparent internal pressures in the gas bubbles.

Les films de nitrures métalliques nanostructurés sont généralement utilisés comme revêtements protecteurs. Ti1-xAlxN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) peut être considéré comme un système modèle, où TiN (cubique) et AIN (hexagonal) sont partiellement miscibles. L’élaboration par dépôt physique en phase vapeur donne au film une microstructure colonnaire complexe composée de phase métastable pouvant cohabiter avec des précipités localisés aux joints de grains. Une haute dureté et une grande résistance à l’oxydation sont observées pour un maximum d’atomes de Ti substitué par des atomes de Al en réseau cubique. Les conditions de dépôt et la composition jouent un rôle majeur sur la substitution des éléments métalliques (Ti ,Al). Nous avons préparé deux séries de films déposés par pulvérisation cathodique magnétron réactive à partir de cibles TiAl compartimentées et frittées. La micro- et nanostructure des films ont été analysées par Diffraction, Spectroscopie d’Absorption des rayons X et Microscopie Electronique à Transmission. L’usure des revêtements a été étudiée par microtribologie. Nous observons pour les films riches en Ti (x < 0,5) des directions de croissances [200]c et [111]c, caractéristiques d’un réseau cubique. Tandis que, les films riches en Al (x > 0,7) présentent une croissance de domaines bien cristallisés suivant la direction [002]h du réseau hexagonal. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence l’apparition de la transition cubique / hexagonal à des teneurs en Al plus élevée pour les films issus de cible frittée. Ces films montrent une meilleure résistance à la fissuration et à l’usure que ceux déposés à partir de cible compartimentées. / Ti1-xAlxN (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) is considered as a model system, where TiN (fcc) and AlN (hcp) do not mix over the whole composition range due to their low miscibility. However, the physical vapour deposition (PVD) allows achieving metastable phases of Ti1-xAlxN, where Al atoms are partially substituting for Ti in fcc lattice. Ti1-xAlxN coatings exhibit high hardness and oxidation resistance for the maximum Al substituted to Ti in fcc lattice (about x=0.6). The proportion of grain boundaries and the limit solubility play a major role on the mechanical properties and resistance to wear of the coatings. Several techniques are employed to investigate two sets of Ti1-xAlxN thin films deposited by magnetron reactive sputtering from two types of metallic targets onto Si (100). Lattice symmetry of crystallised domains and columnar growth structure of the films are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (TEM, HRTEM). Several local probes such as X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), diffraction anomalous fine structure (DAFS) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopies (EELS) which are very sensitive to the symmetry of the atomic sites either octahedral for fcc lattice or tetrahedral for hcp one are carried out. For Ti-rich films (x < 0.5), the competitive growth of cubic domains between [200]c and [111]c is observed. For Al-rich films (x > 0.7) have a domain growth well crystallized in the direction [002]h the hexagonal lattice. In addition, the cubic / hexagonal transition in Al contents higher is observed for films from sintered target. These films show better wear resistance than those deposited from target compartmentalized.

<p>Atoms, molecules and clusters all constitute building blocks of macroscopic matter. Therefore, understanding the electronic and geometrical properties of such systems is the key to understanding the properties of solid state objects.</p><p>In this thesis, some atomic, molecular and cluster systems (clusters of O₂, CH₃Br, Ar/O₂, Ar/Xe and Ar/Kr; dimers of Na; Na and K atoms) have been investigated using synchrotron radiation, and in the two last instances, laser light. We have performed x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) on all of these systems. We have also applied ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), resonant Auger spectroscopy (RAS) and near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) to study many of the systems. Calculations using <i>ab initio</i> methods, namely density functional theory (DFT) and Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP), were employed for electronic structure calculations. The geometrical structure was studied using a combination of <i>ab initio</i> and molecular dynamics (MD) methods.</p><p>Results on the dissociation behavior of CH₃Br and O₂ molecules in clusters are presented. The dissociation of the Na₂ molecule has been characterized and the molecular field splitting of the Na 2<i>p</i> level in the dimer has been measured. The molecular field splitting of the CH₃Br 3<i>d</i> level has been measured and the structure of CH₃Br clusters has been determined to be similar to the structure of the bulk solid. The diffusion behavior of O₂, Kr and Xe on large Ar clusters, as a function of doping rate, has been investigated. The shake-down process has been observed from excited states of Na and K. Laser excited Na atoms have been shown to be magnetically aligned. The shake-down process was used to characterize the origin of various final states that can be observed in the spectrum of ground-state K.</p>

Atoms, molecules and clusters all constitute building blocks of macroscopic matter. Therefore, understanding the electronic and geometrical properties of such systems is the key to understanding the properties of solid state objects. In this thesis, some atomic, molecular and cluster systems (clusters of O2, CH3Br, Ar/O2, Ar/Xe and Ar/Kr; dimers of Na; Na and K atoms) have been investigated using synchrotron radiation, and in the two last instances, laser light. We have performed x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) on all of these systems. We have also applied ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), resonant Auger spectroscopy (RAS) and near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (NEXAFS) to study many of the systems. Calculations using ab initio methods, namely density functional theory (DFT) and Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP), were employed for electronic structure calculations. The geometrical structure was studied using a combination of ab initio and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. Results on the dissociation behavior of CH3Br and O2 molecules in clusters are presented. The dissociation of the Na2 molecule has been characterized and the molecular field splitting of the Na 2p level in the dimer has been measured. The molecular field splitting of the CH3Br 3d level has been measured and the structure of CH3Br clusters has been determined to be similar to the structure of the bulk solid. The diffusion behavior of O2, Kr and Xe on large Ar clusters, as a function of doping rate, has been investigated. The shake-down process has been observed from excited states of Na and K. Laser excited Na atoms have been shown to be magnetically aligned. The shake-down process was used to characterize the origin of various final states that can be observed in the spectrum of ground-state K.

In this thesis we have performed core-electron spectroscopy studies of gas phase molecular systems starting with smaller diatomic, continuing with triatomic and extending our research to more complex polyatomic ones. We can subdivide the results presented here into two categories: the first one focusing on electronic fine structure and effect of the chemical bonds on molecular core-levels and the other one dealing with nuclear dynamics induced by creation of a core hole. In our research we have mostly used synchrotron radiation based techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron (XPS), X-ray Absorption (XAS), normal and Resonant Auger (AES and RAS, respectively) and Energy-Selected Auger Electron PhotoIon COincidence (ES-AEPICO) spectroscopies. We have demonstrated that resonant Auger spectroscopy can be used to aid interpretation of the features observed in XAS for Rydberg structures in the case of Cl2 and C1s−1π*1 states of allene molecules. The combined use of high-resolution spectroscopy with ab initio calculations can help the interpretation of strongly overlapped spectral features and disentangle their complex profiles. This approach enabled us to determine the differences in the lifetimes for core-hole 2p sublevels of Cl2 which are caused by the presence of the chemical bond. We have shown that contribution in terms of the Mulliken population of valence molecular orbitals is a determining factor for resonant enhancement of different final states and fragmentation patterns reached after resonant Auger decays in N2O. We have also performed a systematic study of the dependence of the C1s resonant Auger kinetic energies on the presence of different substituents in CH3X compounds. For the first time we have studied possible isomerization reaction induced by core excitation of acetylacetone. We could observe a new spectral feature in the resonant Auger decay spectra which we interpreted as a signature of core-excitation-induced keto-enol tautomerism.

Ever since the discovery of exotic phenomena like high temperature (Tc) superconductivity in the cuprates and colossal magnetoresistance in the manganites, strongly correlated electron systems have become the center of attention in the field of condensed matter physics research. This renewed interest has been further kindled by the rapid development of sophisticated experimental techniques and tremendous computational power. Computation plays a pivotal role in the theoretical investigation of these systems, because one cannot explain their complicated phase diagrams by simple, exactly solvable models. Among the plethora of experimental techniques, various kinds of high energy electron spectroscopies are fast gaining importance due to the multitude of physical properties and phenomena which they can access. However the physical processes involved and the interpretation of the spectra obtained from these spectroscopies are extremely complex and require extensive theoretical modelling. This thesis is concerned with the theoretical modelling of a certain class of high energy electron spectroscopies, viz. the core-level electron spectroscopies, for strongly correlated systems of various kinds. The spectroscopies covered are Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), core-level photoemission spectroscopy (core-level PES) and X-ray absorption spec- troscopy (XAS), which provide non-magnetic information, and also X-ray magnetic circular and linear dichroism (XMCD and XMLD), which provide magnetic information. .

No description available.

The Phthalocyanines (Pc’s) are a group of macro-cyclic molecules, widely investigated due to the possibility to use them in a variety of applications. Electronic and geometrical structure investigations of molecular model systems of Pc’s adsorbed on surfaces are important for a deeper understanding of the functionality of different Pc-based devices. Here, Pc’s monolayers and films, deposited on different surfaces, were investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). In addition Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations were performed. For molecular films of Metal-free (H2Pc) and Iron (FePc) Pc’s, on surfaces, it is found that the intermolecular interaction is weak and the molecules arrange with their molecular plane mainly perpendicular to the surface. Several monolayer systems were characterized, namely H2Pc and FePc adsorbed on Graphite, ZnPc on InSb(001)-c(8x2), H2Pc on Al(110) and on Au(111). For all the studied monolayers it was found that the molecules are oriented with their molecular plane parallel to the surface. The electronic structure of the molecules is differently influenced by interaction with the surfaces. For H2Pc adsorbed on Graphite the nearly negligible effect of the surface on the molecular electronic structure allowed STM characterization of different molecular orbitals. A strong interaction is instead found in the case of H2Pc on Al(110) resulting in molecules strongly adsorbed, and partly dissociated. Modifications of the electronic and geometrical structure induced by alkali doping of H2Pc films and monolayers were characterized. It is found both for the H2Pc film on Al(110) and monolayer adsorbed on Au(111), that the molecular arrangement is changed upon doping by Potassium and Rubidium, respectively. Potassium doping of the H2Pc films results in a filling of previously empty molecular orbitals by a charge transfer from the alkali to the molecule, with significant modification of the molecular electronic structure.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide well-defined and ordered films of molecules spontaneously chemisorbed on a surface. By designing molecules with desired functionalities, such molecular film can be interesting for a range of applications from molecular electronics to catalysis. Important parameters for SAM applications are the film structure and quality, which are dependent on the structure of molecular constituents, the substrate, and the self-assembly process. In this work, SAMs on Au(111) of a variety of functionalized molecules, with thiol and silane headgroups, have been studied using high-resolution X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HRXPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), contact angle measurements and Kelvin probe measurements. In particular, the effects of varying the size of the backbone, varying the headgroup, inclusion of a porphyrin tailgroup, different ways of deprotection of the headgroups, and mixed molecular layers have been investigated. The first part of thesis work is focused on SAMs of oligo(phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) derivatives. First the effect of the extent of the conjugated system on the structure of SAM was investigated. As the lateral π-system in the OPE backbone increases, molecular surface densities become lower and molecular inclinations larger. Subsequently, a bulky porphyrin tailgroup was added onto the OPE molecule. Porphyrin-functionalized OPE with several headgroups were compared and the thioacetyl anchor group was found to form a high quality SAM. In the second part of the work, the molecular orientation of thiol-derivatized tetraphenylporphyrin layers was studied. The geometry of the molecular layer and the number of linkers that bind to the gold surface depend strongly on preparation schemes, i.e. whether or not the acetyl protection groups on the thiol were removed before adsorption. Finally, mixed SAMs of a ferrocene-terminated alkanethiol and alkanethiols were studied. By diluting the ferrocene-functionalized molecules in unfunctionalized alkanethiols, the orientational order and the packing density improved. The geometrical structure and the fraction of the ferrocene-terminated molecules can be tuned by controlling the parameters in the preparation scheme.