Ce travail de thèse porte sur la synthèse organo-métallique de nanoparticules (NPs) semi-conductrices colloïdales de phosphures d'indium (InP), de zinc (Zn3P2) et de structures cœur/coquille obtenues par la croissance d'une couche de sulfure de zinc (ZnS) à la surface des NPs. Les objectifs consistent à comprendre et maîtriser la synthèse dans le but de décaler les longueurs d'onde d'absorption et d'émission vers le proche infra-rouge, domaine spectral intéressant pour l'imagerie biomédicale. Le premier chapitre présente l'état de l'art sur les nanocristaux (NCx) d'InP et d'InP/ZnS. Un bref rappel sur les propriétés physico-chimiques des NCx semi-conducteurs est présenté et différentes synthèses sont décrites. Une attention toute particulière a été portée sur la taille des NCx, le décalage de l'émission de fluorescence vers les plus grandes longueurs d'onde et l'optimisation des rendements quantiques. Les potentialités offertes par ces objets soit pour les diodes électroluminescentes (LED) blanches soit pour l'imagerie biomédicale montrent l'intérêt d'utiliser les NCx de type InP/ZnS plutôt que d'autres matériaux à base d'éléments toxiques (Cd, Pb, ...). Le deuxième chapitre porte sur une synthèse à partir des carboxylates d'indium connue de la littérature. Le but est alors de caractériser la structure des NPs pour comprendre le déroulement de la synthèse et de l'enrobage. Des mesures par résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) en phase solide et spectroscopie photo-électronique par rayons X (XPS) révèlent l'oxydation des NPs d'InP. La couche d'oxyde qui se forme durant la synthèse des NPs d'InP s'épaissit lors de l'enrobage. Cette oxydation provient d'un couplage décarboxylant des acides carboxyliques à haute température en présence des NPs. Elle serait à l'origine de l'inhibition de croissance des objets, ce qui limiterait les gammes de longueurs d'onde atteignables. Le troisième chapitre concerne une nouvelle synthèse à partir d'amidinate d'indium au lieu des carboxylates d'indium. L'intérêt de cette approche est la possibilité d'abaisser considérablement la température de réaction (150°C au lieu de 280°C) et ainsi d'éviter la réaction secondaire de décarboxylation. Un enrobage à basse température (150°C) est aussi mis en place. La synthèse induit également une oxydation de la surface des NPs d'InP. Un nouveau couplage a lieu entre les ligands, l'acide palmitique et l'hexadécylamine, et donne de nouvelles conditions oxydantes. Le jeu sur les ratios des ligands montre qu'en bouleversant le milieu réactionnel, les NPs d'InP ne présentent pas de réponse en luminescence concluante. La synthèse et l'enrobage sont alors réalisés sous atmosphère de dihydrogène (H2) en réacteur Fisher-Porter dans le but de contrer ces conditions oxydantes. La synthèse et l'enrobage donnent des tailles de NPs de l'ordre de 3,4 nm (condition nécessaire pour s'approcher d'une émission dans l'infra-rouge) et un rendement quantique de 18-20 %, résultats encore jamais atteints lors de cette thèse. Le dernier chapitre est consacré à une étude exploratoire sur les NPs de Zn3P2. Le phosphure de zinc est un matériau prometteur du fait de l'abondance de ses constituants non toxiques et des longueurs d'onde potentiellement accessibles. Différents paramètres de synthèse sont étudiés et les propriétés structurales et optiques sont caractérisées. Des résultats préliminaires sur l'enrobage montrent des difficultés liées à la stabilité des NPs de Zn3P2. L'utilisation de l'oxyde de trioctylphosphine (TOPO) semble permettre la passivation de ces NPs à l'air et en travaillant sous H2 une meilleure stabilité est envisageable.

This work details the synthesis and growth mechanisms of 1D magnetic and semiconducting nanostructures. Specifically, magnetic iron oxide and ZnS-SiO2 nanowires are examined. These materials are chosen due to their promise for biomedical and electronic applications and the perceived need to both create these structures as tools for these applications and to understand their formation processes so that they can be manufactured at a scale and efficiency suitable for commercialization. The current state and impact of nanotechnology is discussed through the lens of continuing technological advances and environmental factors, and the term is defined according to a specific set of criterion involving size, utility, and uniqueness. Details of synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4, ε-Fe2O3, and ZnS-SiO2 core-shell nanowires are presented. Observations regarding the growth of these structures are paired with additional experiments, simple simulations, and other literature to discuss the classical VLS growth process in general, and its applicability to these structures in particular. Finally, some exciting future applications are discussed, with details for initial experimental work presented in the appendix.

Quantum dots (QDs) are potentially advantageous tools for both diagnostics and therapeutics due to their light emitting characteristics. The impact of QDs on biological systems however, is not fully understood. The aim of this project therefore, was to investigate the interaction of a series of different surface modifies QDs with macrophages and their subsequent toxicity. CdTe/CdSe (core), ZnS (shell) QDs with either an organic, COOH or NH2 polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface coatings were used. Fluorescent COOH polystyrene beads (PBs) at (Ø) 20nm and 200nm were also studied. J774.A1 murine ‘macrophage-like' cells were treated for two hours with QDs (40nM) of PBs ($50μg.ml^{-1}$) in the presence of 10% FCS prior to assessment of cellular uptake via confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. COOH and $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs, as well as 20nm and 200nm PBs entered macrophages within 30 minutes, and were found to locate within endosomes, lysosomes and the mitochondria. T.E.M. also illustrated particles, including organic QDs, to be present inside J774.A1 cells within membrane- bound vesicles at two hours. Organic QDs were unable to be visualised via fixed cell confocal microscopy. Live cell confocal microscopy (without 10% FCS) did suggest however, that organic QDs entered cells in low quantities up to 30 minutes, after which fluorescence declined. Particle toxicity was determined over 48 hours via the MTT, LDH and GSH assays, as well as via assessment of their potential to produce the pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and effect cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ signalling in the J774.A1 cells. Organic QDs were found to be highly toxic at all time points and concentrations used. Both COOH and $NH_{2 }$ (PEG) QDs induced significant (p<0.0001) cytotoxicity (MTT and LDH assays) at 80nM after 48 hours, as well as significant (p<0.01) GSH depletion over 24 hours at all doses, as well as increasing the level of cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ at 40nM when assessed over 30 minutes. Organic and NH2 (PEG) QDs were found to significantly increase TNF-α production after 24 hours at 80nM. The findings of this study demonstrate that QDs differ in their uptake by macrophages according to their surface coating, with the organic surface coated QDs being the most toxic. At sub-lethal concentrations, in the presence of 10% FCS, the COOH and $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs are taken up resulting in GSH depletion and modulated $Ca^{2+}$ signalling, with $NH_{2}$ (PEG) QDs and organic QDs only eliciting limited TNF-α production. Interestingly however, despite these observations, QD surface coating does not affect the intracellular fate of these NPs, with all of the different surface coated QDs observed to be present in endosomes, lysosomes and the mitochondria within J774.A1 macrophage cells. Therefore, in conclusion, the surface coating of QDs plays a significant role in their interaction with macrophages, their uptake and their subsequent toxicity.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals (SNC) has been reported as the research foccus in several works owing to the optical and luminescent properties as well as the broad fields of application. In the first stage of this work, 2-mercaptoethanol-capped ZnS nanocrystals were prepared and characterized. The resulting nanocrystals were incorporated into a pre-formed polyurethane matrix playing the role of polyol-type monomer. In the second stage,the ZnS nanocrystals were doped with Mn2+ cations, considering that this strategy may improve the optical properties of the nanocrystals. In this study, it was observed that the changes in experimental parameters may allow the controlled formation of ZnO instead of ZnS, introducing a new route to ZnO obtainment. Concentration values of Mn2+ were lower than 1 %. Moreover, a study was carried out in order to clarify the structure-property relation, observing that the substitution of Zn2+ ions by Mn2+ ones may influence the optical properties of ZnO. From characterization data, the formation of ZnO was confirmed and it became clear that dissolving or notpreviously the capping agent in water was the key factor for the formation of ZnO instead of ZnS.Since small dopant concentrations lead to interesting results for ZnO, the same conditions were used to study the doping of ZnS in the third stage. This lead, however, to self-assembly of nanocrystals into nanowires after the doping process. Self-assembly did not cause changes in the absorption energies according to UV/visible spectra.This was the case even when the dopant concentration in the ZnS nanocrystals increased, as analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. On the other hand, emission spectra were sensitive to changes in Mn2+ concentration, showing a behavior consistent with increases in point defects such as sulfur vacancies and interstitial sulfur. It was evidenced that Mn2+ ions are presente in the ZnS structure.The last study reveals a novel supramolecular arrangement of the crystalline structure of a zinc-thiosemicarbazone complex [Zn(TPTSC)2], which exhibits potentiality as a single-source molecular precursor to ZnS nanocrystals in future works. / A preparação de nanocristais semicondutores (NCS) tem sido objeto de pesquisa devido às propriedades ópticas de luminescência que apresentam e à ampla área de aplicação. Na primeira etapa deste trabalho foram preparados nanocristais de ZnS passivados com 2-mercaptoetanol (ME) e caracterizados. Os nanocristais obidos foram incorporados em uma matriz polimérica pré-formada funcionando como um precursor do tipo poliol. Na segunda etapa, uma vez que as propriedades ópticas podem ser melhoradas com a dopagem dos nanocristais, os mesmos foram dopados com Mn2+, porém uma modificação na parte experimentalà levou a formação controladade ZnO no lugar de ZnS, introduzindo uma nova rota para a obtenção de ZnO. Os valores das concentrações de Mn2+utilizadas foram inferiores a 1%. Além disso, foi feito um estudo para correlacionar a estrutura-propriedade no qual foi observado que a substituição dos íons Mn2+ pelos íons Zn2+ influencia as propriedades ópticas do ZnO. Através das caracterizações, ficou confirmada a formação do ZnO e que a forma com a qual o passivante foi adicionado ao sistema favorecia a formação de ZnS (quando o passivante foi adicionado diretmente) e de ZnO (quando feita uma solução aquosa do passivante). Como pequenas concentrações do dopante conduziram a resultados interessantes para o ZnO, os mesmos valores foram utilizados para dopar o ZnS sendo, portanto, a terceiraetapa deste trabalho. O ZnS apresentou uma automontagem após o processo de dopagem. Esta automontagem não influenciou a energia obtida através de espectros de absorção na região UV-Vis. No entanto, observou-se que a concentração dos íons Mn2+aumenta no ZnS quando a presença do dopante foi analisada através da absorção atômica.Este aumento está em concordância com os espectros de emissão, os quais mostram um aumento do defeito proveniente de vacância de enxofre ou enxofre intersticial após o processo de dopagem indicando que os íons manganês, apesar da pequena concentração utilizada, estão presentes na estrutura do ZnS. A etapa final do trabalho consta de um novo arranjo supramolecular da estrutura cristalina do complexotiossemicarbazona de zinco [Zn(TPTSC)2], um potencial precursor molecular do tipo single-source para a obtenção de nanocristais semicondutores de ZnS em trabalhos futuros.

Durable, cheap, and lightweight polymer based solar cells are needed, if simply to meet the demand for decentralized electrical power production in traditionally “off-grid” areas. Using a blend of Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and the low band-gap polymer Poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2- ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene)-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT), we have fabricated devices with a wide spectral response and 3% power conversion efficiency in AM 1.5 conditions; however, this thin film system exhibits only 0.43 optical density at 500 nm. To improve the performance of this polymer blend photovoltaic, we aim to increase absorption by adding CdSe(ZnS) core (shell) quantum dots. Four groups of devices are fabricated: a control group with an active polymer layer of 16 mg/mL P3HT, 16 mg/mL PCBM, and 4 mg/mL PCPDTBT; and three groups with dispersed quantum dots at 4 mg/ml, 1 mg/mL, and 0.25 mg/mL. The (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots are coated with octadecylamine ligands and have a peak absorbance at 560 nm and peak emission at 577 nm. The active layer was dissolved in chlorobenzene solvent and spun on glass substrates, patterned with indium tin oxide. The devices were then annealed for fifteen minutes at 110° C, 140° C, and 170° C. Current-voltage characteristic curves v and optical density data were taken before and after the anneal step. Finally, surface characterization was conducted with atomic force microscopy and electrostatic force microscopy. When compared to the control, the sensitized devices exhibited increased absorption and depressed electrical performance with increasing quantum dot loading. The surface morphology, both electrical and physical, showed deviation from the typical values and patterns shown by the control that increased with quantum dot loading. When the degrading electrical characteristics, increasing optical absorbance, and surface changes, are considered together, it becomes likely that the quantum dots interact in a significant manner with the morphology of the P3HT phase, which leads to an overall decrease in performance.

This diploma thesis is studing the possibilities of influencing the optoelectric properties of printed light emitting panels, which work on the principle of electroluminescence excited by alternating electric field. The aim of this worrk is to monitor the influence od dielectric properties of electroluminescent phosphor binder on the targeted electroluminescence. In the theoretical part of this thesis, there are described principles of electroluminescence, suitable materials methods of characterization and preparation of panels using printing techniques. Experiment part contains electrical characterization of selected binders to determine their dielectric constants. Subsequently, printing pastes were formulated in different weight ratios of binder electroluminescent phosphor and model light-emitting panels were prepared. Optoelectric characterization was used to determine the change in irradiance. It was found that the dielectric properties of the binder significantly affect the resulting irradinace. It has same irradiance for a smaller amount od phosphor than with the binder with a low dielectric constant. The finding of this work can be used to improve the luminosity at the electroluminescent panels.

M.Tech. (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Phenol, 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) is used in the manufacture of several chemical compounds including other chlorophenols, dyes, dentifrice and pesticides. The usage of these chemicals results in the discharge of 2-CP that is harmful to most biota in the environment. Therefore there is need to remove or degrade 2-CP from the environment, especially in water. This research focused on the synthesis, characterization and application of Ag doped semiconductor (TiO2, ZnO, and ZnS) nanoparticles for the removal of 2-CP from water. Sol-gel and co-precipitation methods were used to synthesize the nanoparticles with different Ag contents (1%, 3% and 5%). Silver metal was used as a doping agent due to its antibacterial activity and ability to improve the photocatalytic activity of the semiconductors for 2-CPdegradation under UV irradiation. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence spectra (PL) were used to characterize the structural, optical and physical properties of the nanoparticles, while Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the surface of the nanoparticles. The XRD results confirmed the formation of anatase, wurtzite and blend phases of TiO2, ZnO and ZnS nanoparticles, respectively. The band gaps of the synthesized nanoparticles were 3.42 eV, 3.23 eV and 3.12 eV for TiO2, ZnO and ZnS nanoparticles respectively. The TEM images showed that all synthesized nanoparticles were uniform in shape. Photocatalytic degradation of 2-CP under UV irradiation confirmed that the semiconductor’s photocatalytic activities improved with the addition of Ag ions. The best removal percentage was obtained at doped Ag percentages of 5, 1 and 5 % using TiO2, ZnO and ZnS, respectively. In addition, the effects of various parameters affecting the photocatalytic degradation such as pH, initial concentrations of 2-CP and amount of catalyst (Ag doped TiO2, ZnO and ZnS, respectively) loading were examined and optimized. At the different initial concentrations of 2-CP, namely, 8, 20 and 50 ppm, the highest degradation efficiency was obtained at pH of 10.5 and 5 mg of catalyst dosage. However a decrease in initial concentration of 2-CP showed an increase in the photocatalytic efficiency. The degradation percentage of 2-CP obtained with Ag doped TiO2; ZnO and ZnS nanoparticles were 74.74, 57.8 and 45.49 %, respectively. Doping of these materials with Ag enhanced their photocatalytic activity; thus, they have the potential of degrading phenolic compounds, especially 2-chlorophenol, in water.

Massiver wirtschaftlicher Schaden und der Verlust des Verbrauchervertrauens hervorgerufen durch die BSE - Krise führten zu einer radikalen Änderung in der Futtermittel- und Lebensmittelgesetzgebung. Neben diversen anderen Maßnahmen wurden u. a. das Gehirn und Rückenmark von über 12 Monate alten Wiederkäuern vom Gesetzgeber als so genanntes spezifiziertes Risikomaterialien (SRM) definiert. Die spezielle Entsorgung und das Verarbeitungsverbot dieser Materialien in Lebens- und Futtermitteln hatte zum Ziel die Infektkette zu unterbrechen und dadurch das Risiko einer Infektion mit dem BSE-Erreger für den Verbraucher zu senken. Um die Einhaltung des Verarbeitungsverbotes von SRM in Lebensmitteln zu überprüfen, wurden diverse ZNS-Nachweisverfahren entwickelt. Jedoch ist keines, der hierfür entwickelten molekularbiologischen und immunochemischen Verfahren in der Lage sowohl Spezies, als auch Tieralter des nachgewiesenen ZNS zu bestimmen und damit eine potentielle Einordnung zum SRM zu ermöglichen. Darüber hinaus hat sich für fast alle ZNS-Marker der Einfluss von hohen Prozesstemperaturen als nachteilig für die Nachweisbarkeit erwiesen. NIEDERER und BOLLHALDER (2001) entwickelten ein auf Fettsäureanalytik basierendes ZNS-Nachweisverfahren, welches am Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene der Universität Leipzig weiterentwickelt wurde. Vorteile dieses Verfahrens sind die hitzestabilen Marker und die Möglichkeit mit Hilfe von spezifischen Fettsäureverhältnissen Spezies und Tieralters des nachgewiesenen ZNS zu ermitteln. Somit ist es mit diesem Verfahren erstmals möglich das nachgewiesene ZNS der Gruppe der spezifizierten Risikomaterialien zuzuordnen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, das am Institut für Lebensmittelhygiene weiterentwickelte Verfahren auf Praxistauglichkeit anhand eines externen Blindversuchs zu testen. Hierbei sollten mögliche Schwachstellen identifiziert und im weiterführenden Verlauf dieser Arbeit Lösungen erarbeitet werden. Für den Blindversuch wurden vom Max-Rubner-Institut, Standort Kulmbach, insgesamt 72 Brühwurstproben zur Verfügung gestellt, welche mittels des nach LÜCKER et al. (2005) beschriebenen Verfahrens untersucht wurden. Die Ergebnisse des Blindversuchs deuten auf eine grundsätzliche Eignung des Verfahrens für den Nachweis von spezifiziertem Risikomaterial in Fleischerzeugnissen hin. Jedoch konnte bei der Tierartdifferenzierung und vor allem bei der Altersbestimmung ein Optimierungsbedarf ermittelt werden. Somit ergaben sich für diese Arbeit folgende weiterführende Aufgabenstellungen: 1. Die Optimierung der Tierartbestimmung auch im Hinblick auf Erweiterung des Speziesspektrums und 2. die Optimierung der Tieraltersbestimmung von Rinder- und Schaf-ZNS. Insgesamt 257 ZNS-Proben der Spezies Rind, Schaf, Schwein, Ziege und Geflügel wurden einer Fettsäureanalyse unterzogen. Aus allen analysierten Fettsäuren wurden 67 Fettsäureverhältnisse gebildet. Zur Identifikation für die Speziesdifferenzierung geeigneter Fettsäureverhältnisse wurde das statistische Verfahren der Partial Least Square – Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) eingesetzt. Hierbei ergab sich, dass von den 67 untersuchten Fettsäureverhältnissen insgesamt 14 für die Differenzierung zwischen den Tierarten Rind, Schwein, Schaf, Ziege und Geflügel geeignet sind. Für die Optimierung der Tieraltersbestimmung wurden 37 ZNS-Proben vom Rind und elf ZNS-Proben vom Schaf untersucht. Die analysierten Fettsäuren wurden auf ihre Korrelation mit dem Alter untersucht. Stark korrelierende Fettsäuren und deren Verhältnisse wurden mit Hilfe der Regressionsanalyse auf ihre Vorhersagefähigkeit geprüft. Hierbei gelang die Identifikation von vier neuen Fettsäureverhältnissen. Für die Altersschätzung bei der Tierart Rind scheinen sich die FS-Verhältnisse 2OH-C24:0/2OH-C25:0 und 2OH-C24:1(n-7)/2OH-C25:0 am besten zu eignen. Für die Tierart Schaf sollten die Verhältnisse 2OH-C25:0/2OH-C26:0 und 2OH-C25:0/2OH-C26:1(n-7) bevorzugt eingesetzt werden. Im Vergleich zur bisherigen Verfahrensweise ist mit Hilfe dieser Fettsäureverhältnisse und deren Regressionsformeln eine deutlich präzisere Altersschätzung für die Tierarten Rind und Schaf möglich. Der neue Ansatz bietet die Möglichkeit flexibel auf zukünftige Änderungen der Altersgrenze von SRM zu reagieren. / The immense economical damage and the loss of consumer trust caused by the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) - crisis resulted in a radical alteration of the feed- and foodlegislation. Besides several other measures, the legislator defined the brain and spinal cord of ruminants older than 12 month as specified risk material (SRM). The special disposal and the processing prohibition of these materials in food and feedstuffs aimed to interrupt the infection chain and to reduce the risk of an infection caused by the BSE pathogen for the consumer. In order to control the processing prohibition of SRM in food, several CNS detection methods were developed. But none of the designed molecular biological or immuno chemical methods has the ability to detect species and age of the CNS. Therefore, a classification of the detected CNS as SRM is not possible. Furthermore, high process temperatures influence nega-tively the detection of almost all CNS markers. NIEDERER and BOLLHALDER (2001) developed a CNS detection procedure based on the analysis of fatty acids, which was improved at the Institute of Food Hygiene, University Leipzig. Advantages of this procedure are the heat stability of the markers and the possibility to identify species and age of the detected CNS. Therefore, this procedure is the first, which facilitates the potential of identifying SRM. The aim of this work was to test the practicability of the improved CNS detection procedure in an external blind trial. During this, possible weak points should be identified and solutions for their elimination presented. Furthermore, the sample preparation of the method should be optimized with regard to cost and time reduction. For the external blind trial the Max-Rubner-Institute, Kulmbach, produced 72 emulsion type sausages. These sausages were analysed according to the procedure described by LÜCKER et al. 2005. The results of the blind trial show the suitability of the procedure for the detection of SRM in meat products in principle. However, some results revealed that the species and age identification required further enhancement. Therefore, the following additional topics of this work were: 1. Optimization of species identification especially with regard to other species 2. Optimization of animal age prediction for cattle and sheep CNS. Selected fatty acids of total 257 CNS samples from cattle, pig, sheep, goat and several poultry species were analysed. These fatty acids were combined to 67 fatty acid ratios. Afterwards, the application of these ratios for the species detection was tested by using the statistical method of Partial Least Square – Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA). In result, 14 out of 67 fatty acid ratios are suitable for differentiation between the species cattle, pig, sheep, goat and poultry. For the optimization of animal age prediction 37 CNS samples from cattle and eleven CNS samples from sheep were examined. All analyzed fatty acids were checked for their correlation with age. Afterwards strong correlating fatty acids and their fatty acid ratios were examined for their predictive ability by the application of regression analysis. In result, four new fatty acid ratios for age prediction could be identified. For the age prediction of cattle CNS the fatty acid ratios 2OH-C24:0/2OH-C25:0 and 2OH-C24:1(n-7)/2OH-C25:0 are the best choice. In sheep CNS the ratios 2OH-C25:0/2OH-C26:0 and 2OH-C25:0/2OH-C26:1(n-7) should be preferred for prediction of age. In comparison to the previous age prediction method, the application of these fatty acid ratios and their regression formula led to more accurate results. Furthermore, it offers the possibility to adopt to possible variations of the age limits within the SRM definition in future.

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