abstract: A new nanoparticle deposition technique, Aerosol Impaction-Driven Assembly (AIDA), was extensively characterized for material structures and properties. Aerogel films can be deposited directly onto a substrate with AIDA without the long aging and drying steps in the sol-gel method. Electron microscopy, pore size analysis, thermal conductivity, and optical measurements show the nanoparticle (NP) films to be similar to typical silica aerogel. Haze of nanoparticle films modeled as scattering sites correlates strongly with pore size distribution. Supporting evidence was obtained from particle sizes and aggregates using electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. NP films showed interlayers of higher porosity and large aggregates formed by tensile film stress. To better understand film stress and NP adhesion, chemical bonding analyses were performed for samples annealed up to 900 °C. Analysis revealed that about 50% of the NP surfaces are functionalized by hydroxyl (-OH) groups, providing for hydrogen bonding. Ellipsometric porosimetry was used to further understand the mechanical properties by providing a measure of strain upon capillary pressure from filling pores. Upon annealing to 200 °C, the films lost water resulting in closer bonding of NPs and higher Young’s modulus. Upon further annealing up to 900 °C, the films lost hydroxyl bonds while gaining siloxane bonds, reducing Young’s modulus. The application of ellipsometric porosimetry to hydrophilic coatings brings into question the validity of pore size distribution calculations for materials that hold onto water molecules and result in generally smaller calculated pore sizes. Doped hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon was grown on crystalline silicon NPs, as a test case of an application for NP films to reduce parasitic absorption in silicon heterojunction solar cells. Parasitic absorption of blue light could be reduced because microcrystalline silicon has a mix of direct and indirect bandgap, giving lower blue absorption than amorphous silicon. Using Ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy, the crystallinity of films as thin as 13 nm was determined rapidly (in 1 minute) and non-destructively. A mono-layer of nanocrystals was applied as seeds for p-doped microcrystalline silicon growth and resulted in higher crystallinity films. Applications of the method could be explored for other nanocrystalline materials. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2020

abstract: Global industrialization and urbanization have led to increased levels of air pollution. The costs to society have come in the form of environmental damage, healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and premature mortality. Measuring pollutants is an important task for identifying its sources, warning individuals about dangerous exposure levels, and providing epidemiologists with data to link pollutants with diseases. Current methods for monitoring air pollution are inadequate though. They rely on expensive, complex instrumentation at limited fixed monitoring sites that do not capture the true spatial and temporal variation. Furthermore, the fixed outdoor monitoring sites cannot warn individuals about indoor air quality or exposure to chemicals at worksites. Recent advances in manufacturing and computing technology have allowed new classes of low-cost miniature gas sensor to emerge as possible alternatives. For these to be successful however, there must be innovations in the sensors themselves that improve reliability, operation, and their stability and selectivity in real environments. Three novel gas sensor solutions are presented. The first is the development of a wearable personal exposure monitor using all commercially available components, including two metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors. The device monitors known asthma triggers: ozone, total volatile organic compounds, temperature, humidity, and activity level. Primary focus is placed on the ozone sensor, which requires special circuits, heating algorithm, and calibration to remove temperature and humidity interferences. Eight devices are tested in multiple field tests. The second is the creation of a new compact optoelectronic gas sensing platform using colorimetric microdroplets printed on the surface of a complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) imager. The nonvolatile liquid microdroplets provide a homogeneous, uniform environment that is ideal for colorimetric reactions and lensless optical measurements. To demonstrate one type of possible indicating system gaseous ammonia is detected by complexation with Cu(II). The third project continues work on the CMOS imager optoelectronic platform and develops a more robust sensing system utilizing hydrophobic aerogel particles. Ammonia is detected colorimetrically by its reaction with a molecular dye, with additives and surface treatments enhancing uniformity of the printed films. Future work presented at the end describes a new biological particle sensing system using the CMOS imager. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Materials Science and Engineering 2020

No description available.

Over the last 100 years there has been an increase of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O) in the atmosphere. These gases cause several problems with the climate on Earth, such as increasing problems with extreme weather. One way to decrease the outlet of carbon dioxide is by adsorption and capture of CO2. Biobased aerogels are one way to adsorb CO2. In this project the goal is to increase the CO2 adsorption capacity of a biobased carbon aerogel with zeolite nanoplates. The biobased carbon aerogel is prepared via freeze-casting a suspension made of LignoBoost lignin and (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical)-mediated oxidized cellulose nanofibers, also called TEMPO-cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF). The freeze-casted structure is, after freeze-drying and carbonization, decorated with zeolite nanoplates. To find the optimal decorating method, three different decoration methods were tested. Thesemethods are called “decoration assisted by cationic polymer solution” (DC), “direct decoration” (DD) and “decoration incorporated directly in lignin suspension” (DS). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) together with Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), showed that the highest concentration of zeolite nanoplates in the samples, was achieved by the “decoration incorporated directly in lignin suspension” method. CO2 adsorption capacity test was performed at temperatures of 273.150K, 298.150K and 323.150K. The DS-sample did not perform better than the reference sample at low pressures (10kPa). At higher pressure (100kPa) the DS-sample had the highest adsorption capacity at test temperatures 273.150K and 323.150K.

La chimie se doit de développer de nouveaux axes de recherche à la fois respectueux de la nature et s’inscrivant dans une démarche globale éco-compatible. Dans ce contexte, l’utilisation des polymères naturels, notamment les polysaccharides, permet de synthétiser des matériaux innovants des applications dans de nombreux secteurs industriels. L’objectif de ce travail est de valoriser les polysaccharides marins tels que le chitosane et le κ-carraghénane à travers l’exploration de deux axes de recherches. Le premier axe est consacré à l’amélioration des propriétés mécaniques, électriques et de sorption de biopolymères par l’incorporation de graphène. Un protocole original a permis de disperser très efficacement du graphène au sein du chitosane pour la conception de films et d’aérogels nanocomposites. L’analyse des films a mis en évidence une amélioration simultanée de la rigidité, de la résistance, et de l’élongation à rupture, pour de faibles teneurs en graphène. Le seuil de percolation permettant l’obtention d’une conductivité électrique n’a pas été atteint aux faibles taux de charges utilisés. L’étude des aérogels chitosane/graphène a, quant à elle, révélé que l’incorporation de graphène aux aérogels de chitosane permettait d’augmenter leur capacité d’adsorption de colorants.Le deuxième axe concerne l’introduction d’hétéroatomes dans la structure carbonée du graphène. Pour obtenir du graphène dopé en azote et en soufre, des aérogels de polysaccharides marins ont été synthétisés, puis pyrolysés dans des conditions contrôlées. Les aérogels carbonés obtenus sont ensuite exfoliés dans l’eau par l’utilisation d’ultrasons. Les groupements amine du chitosane ont permis d’obtenir avec un haut rendement un graphène dopé avec un taux de 5 % d’azote. De plus, il a été possible de moduler de 5 % à 11 %ce taux d’azote par l’emploi de liquide ionique tel que le [EMIm][dca]. De façon similaire, les groupements sulfate du κ-carraghénane ont permis de doper du graphène en soufre avec un taux d’atomes de soufre de 1,5 %. / The chemistry have to develop new research axis both respectful of the nature and joining an eco-compatible global approach. In this context, use natural polysaccharides allow to synthesize innovative materials for applications in many industries fields. The aim of this work is add value to the marine polysaccharide such as chitosan and κ-carrageenan through two research axis.The first axis is consecrated to increase the mechanical, electrical and color sorption properties by introduce graphene filler in biopolymer matrice. An easy and original protocol allowed scattering very effectively graphene in chitosan to design films and aerogels nanocomposites. The analyse of nanocomposite films show an improvement of stiffness, tensile strength and elongation break at the same time with low content of graphene. However, the percolation threshold was not reach to bring electrics properties in films. The study of chitosan/graphene aerogel reveals that graphene allows an increase of color agent adsorbing power such as eosin Y compared with aerogels chitosan.The second axis concerns the introduction of heteroatom in graphene carbon structure. To obtain nitrogen-doped graphene and sulphur-doped graphene, it requires the synthesis of marine polysaccharide aerogel, and their pyrolysis under controlled conditions. The carbon aerogels are exfoliated in water with sonification. Amine groups in chitosan allowed through this process a nitrogen-doped graphene with high yield and nitrogen rate of 5 %. Moreover, it was possible to modulate nitrogen rate with ionic liquid such as [EMIm][dca]. So the nitrogen atom rate increases from 5% to 11%. In similar way, sulfate group in κ-carrageenan gives sulphur-doped graphene with sulphur rate of 1,5%.

Progress in nanotechnology has promoted an increasing interest in the rational design of the emerging hierarchical aerogels, which represents a second stage of the NC-based aerogel research. By fine-tuning the surface properties of the backbones, metallic hierarchical aerogels are able to address the growing demands of advanced electrocatalysts. In this dissertation, three types of metallic hierarchical aerogels were designed by introducing different nanostructures (i.e. hollow, porous/dendritic and core-shell) and alloy effects (with noble or transition metals) into the aerogels. Thus, as a proof-of-concept for fuel cells, advanced electrocatalytic performances have been achieved on the resulting metallic hierarchical aerogels towards both anode (oxidation of ethanol) and cathode (reduction of oxygen) reactions. First, alloyed PdxNi hollow nanospheres with controlled composition and shell thickness were utilized as building blocks for the design of hierarchical aerogels. The combination of transition-metal doping, hollow interior, as well as the 3D aerogel structure make the resulting aerogels promising electrocatalysts for ethanol oxidation with a mass activity up to 5.6-fold higher than that of the Pd/C. Second, continuously shape-engineering of the building blocks (ranging from hollow shells to dendritic shapes) was achieved by the synthesis of a series of multimetallic Ni-PdxPty hierarchical aerogels. By optimization of the nanoscale morphology and the chemical composition, the Ni-Pd60Pt40 aerogel exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of ethanol. Moreover, the particle growth mechanism underlying the galvanic replacement was revealed in terms of nanowelding of the nanoparticulate reaction intermediates based on experimental and theoretical results. Third, a universal approach was demonstrated for core-shell structuring of metallic aerogels by coating of an ultrathin Pt shell on a composition-tunable Pd-based alloyed core. Their activities for oxygen reduction exhibit a volcano-type relationship as a function of the lattice parameter of the core substrate. Largely improved Pt utilization efficiency was accomplished based on the core-shell motifs, as the mass activity reaches 5.25 A mg-1Pt which are 18.7 times higher than those of Pt/C. Different from the conventional aerogels with nanowire-like backbones, those hierarchical aerogels are generally comprised of at least two levels of architectures, i.e. an interconnected porous structure on the macroscale and a specially designed configuration at local backbones at the nanoscale. This combination “locks in” the inherent properties of the NCs, so that the beneficial genes obtained by nano-engineering are retained in the resulting monolithic hierarchical aerogels. These results expand the exploitation approach of the electrocatalytic properties of aerogels into morphology control of their NBBs and are of great importance for the future development of aerogels for many other electrochemical reactions.

This thesis involves the study of dust particles trapped in silica aerogel for fusion dust diagnostics purpose. The low velocity impact experiments are done by implanting predefined dust particles into silica aerogel by using a springpiston air gun. The impact experiment results show that the hypervelocity impact model may not suitable for describing the fusion characteristic dust particles. The samples made by impact experiment are analyzed by ion microbeam analysis methods: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and Particle-induced X-ray Emission spectrometry (PIXE). The elements of dust particles are well identified by the X-ray spectra. The X-ray maps clearly show the dust shape. RBS and NRA spectra of an individual particle or a specific region show the depth information of the trapped particles, which is useful for determining the dust velocities. For the interpretation of ion beam analysis result, simulation of dust particles for RBS and NRA are done. The accessible depth for ion beam analysis in silica aerogel can be several hundred micrometers, which is adequate for dust diagnostics.

The European Green Deal 2020 goals for reducing emissions are enforcing rules on the energy performance of buildings. Therefore thermally insulating materials used as coatings are researched to reduce the energy emissions of buildings. An essential field of interest are nanomaterials. Traditional aerogel is a nanomaterial used for insulating applications due to its high porosity and large surface area, resulting in a longer path for heat to travel. However the cost and manufacturing process are highly energy demanding. Svenska Aerogel AB produces Quartzene® (Qz), a silica-based nanomaterial with similar properties as traditional aerogel. Qz can be incorporated into different paint systems to improve their thermal insulating properties. The aim of this project was to investigate the thermal insulating effects of Qz on three different painting systems (A, B, and C). Samples were moulded and their thermal properties were measured with TPS (Transient Plane Source). The thermal conductivity decreased as the wt% of Qz increased, up until around 10 wt% for system C. It became apparent that at higher wt%, it became harder to properly mix the samples into a good dispersion. The thermal conductivity started to increase above 10 wt%. Experiments showed that bigger particles were easier to mix into the paint than smaller.

No description available.

No description available.