Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Paul Edward Smith / The activity and function of many macromolecules in cellular environments are coupled with the binding of ions such as alkaline earth metal ions and poly oxo anions. These ions are involved in the regulation of important processes such as protein crystallization, nucleic acid and protein stability, enzyme activity, and many others. The exact mechanism of ion specificity is still elusive. In principle, computer simulations can be used to help provide a molecular level understanding of the dynamics of hydrated ions and their interactions with the biomolecules. However, most of the force fields available today often fail to accurately reproduce the properties of ions in aqueous environments. Here we develop a classical non polarizable force field for aqueous alkaline earth metal halides (MX₂) where M = Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ and X = Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, and for some biologically important oxo anions which are NO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ and SO₄²⁻, for use in biomolecular simulations. The new force field parameters are developed to reproduce the experimental Kirkwood-Buff integrals. The Kirkwood-Buff integrals can be used to quantify the affinity between molecular species in solution. This helps to capture the fine balance between the interactions of ions and water. Since this new force field can reproduce the experimental Kirkwood-Buff integrals for most concentrations of the respective salts, they are capable of reproduce the experimental activity derivatives, partial molar volumes, and excess coordination numbers. Use of these new models in MD simulations also leads to reasonable diffusion constants and dielectric decrements. Attempts to develop force field parameters for CO₃²⁻, HPO₄²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ ions were unsuccessful due to an excessive aggregation behavior in the simulations. Therefore, in an effort to overcome this aggregation behavior in the simulations, we have investigated scaling the anion to water interaction strength, and also the possibility of using a high frequency permittivity in the simulations. The strategy of increasing relative permittivity of the system to mimic electronic screening effects are particularly promising for decreasing the excessive ion clustering observed in the MD simulations.

Les complexes organométalliques de métaux alcalino-terreux lourds (Ca, Sr, Ba), ont émergé ces deux dernières décennies en tant que précatalyseurs efficaces, biocompatibles et disponibles à bas coûts pour des réactions d'hydroélémention d'oléfine ou de polymérisation de cycloesters. Cette thèse décrit la synthèse de complexes de métaux du groupe 2 (Ca, Sr, Ba) et leur utilisation en catalyse de couplage déshydrogénant N-H/H-Si. Le précatalyseur Ba[CH(SiMe3)2]2(THF)3 s'est montré le plus efficace pour le couplage d'amines avec des hydrosilanes, présentant une activité catalytique parmi les plus élevées à ce jour (TOF jusqu' 3600 h-1 ; TON jusqu'à 396). La combinaison de résultats théoriques (calculs DFT en collaboration avec le Dr. Sven Tobisch) et expérimentaux ont permis de comprendre les mécanismes opératoires de ces réactions. Le développement de procédés de synthèse pour la production d'oligo- ou polysilazanes a été mené par l'intermédiaire de ces couplages déshydrogénants. Des structures macromoléculaires linéaires ou cycliques de type polycarbosilazane, présentant de nombreuses applications en chimie des matériaux, ont notamment été synthétisées par polycondensation catalysée par Ba[CH(SiMe3)2]2(THF)3. Dans un dernier temps, la synthèse de complexes innovants de métaux des groupes 12 (Zn, Cd, Hg) et 14 (Pb) a été effectuée en collaboration avec l'équipe du Pr. Silvestru de l'université de Babeş-Bolyai (Cluj-Napoca, Roumanie). / In the past two decades, heavier alkaline-earth (Ca, Sr, Ba) complexes have emerged as highly efficient and biocompatible precatalyst for hydroelementation or polymerisation reactions. This PhD thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of heavier alkaline-earth complexes and their applications as precatalyst for cross-dehydrocoupling of hydrosilanes and amines. The homoleptic precatalyst Ba[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₂(THF)3 displayed high catalytic activity (TOF up to 3600 h⁻¹ ; TON up to 396), with excellent chemoselectivity in reaction of (di)amines with (di)hydrosilanes. Combination of experimental and DFT investigations (collaboration with Dr. Sven Tobisch) revealed the reactions proceed by nucleophilic attack of a metal amide at the incoming silane and subsequent turnover-limiting hydrogen transfer to the metal center. Development of synthesis of oligo- and polysilazanes was performed using our best barium precatalysts. Cyclic or linear polycarbosilazanes (Mw up to 10 000 g.mol⁻¹) were also produced by fast and controlled barium-catalyzed N-H/H-Si polycondensation. In a collaboration with Prof. Silvestru from Babeş-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca, Roumanie), synthesis of interesting zinc, cadmium, mercury and lead complexes were achieved in complement of this work.

Small molecule hydrogen bond donors have emerged as versatile catalysts in asymmetric synthesis. Within this class, chiral BINOL phosphoric acid is regarded as one of the pioneer catalysts used in several asymmetric transformations. The ability of the catalyst to activate the substrates could be controlled in two different ways. (1) Dual activation/bifunctional activation of substrate by hydrogen bond interactions or ion pairing with phosphoric acid or (2) By forming chiral BINOL phosphate metal complex that could significantly alter the interactions in chiral space. In particular, chiral alkaline earth metal phosphate complexes have unique advantages as catalysts owing to the ubiquitous availability of alkaline earth metals, strong Brønsted basicity of their counterions, mild but significant Lewis acidity of the metal and their ability to coordinate at multiple reactive sites due to large ionic radius. Chapter 1 summarizes the recent development of alkaline earth metal complexes in asymmetric catalysis. My thesis dissertation is focused on the application of chiral alkaline earth metal phosphate complexes in novel asymmetric reactions. In Chapter 2, we disclosed an efficient asymmetric one-pot synthesis of chiral 1,3-oxazolidines and chiral 1,3-oxazinanes. Chiral oxazolidines and oxazinanes are widely used as auxiliaries in asymmetric transition metal catalysis and also key structural motifs in natural products with biological activities. We developed a new synthetic method for chiral 1,3-oxazolidines which follows the enantioselective addition of alcohols to imines catalyzed by chiral 3,3’-(triisopropylphenyl)-derived BINOL magnesium phosphate to form hemiaminal intermediate, which then undergoes mild base mediated intramolecular nucleophilic substitution to afford highly enantioselective 1,3-oxazolidines and 1,3-oxazinanes in good yields. In Chapter 3, we developed the first catalytic enantioselective desymmetrization process for the synthesis of novel axially chiral cyclohexylidene oxime ethers. Even though these molecules were found to be optically active in 1910, methods to synthesize these molecules are scarce. We have developed an efficient desymmetrization process of 4-phenyl cyclohexanones with phenoxyamines catalyzed by chiral BINOL strontium phosphate complex to afford highly enantioselective products. We then extended this methodology to the dynamic kinetic resolution of 2-substituted cyclohexanones to form chiral 2-substituted cyclohexyl oximes in good enantioselectivities, as demonstrated in Chapter 4. We further demonstrated the utility of these compounds by converting them to chiral 2-aryl cyclohexylamines which are important synthetic intermediates.

Missing page 48 / <p> The low ambient air temperatures, together with the low annual rainfall and complete lack of vegetation in the Canadian High Arctic, results in a breakdown of the carbonate rock material by mechanical means. The importance of chemical decomposition, soil formation and transport of ionic material in solution is negligible, when compared with the role played by these same processes in more temperate climates. </p> <p> The purpose of this thesis is to investigate certain aspects of the alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metal geochemistry of selected components of the weathering cycle. The discussion will deal with concentration levels of these parameters in stream waters and, to a lesser extent, soils and stream sediments. </p> <p> Analytical results show that element distributions in the streams resemble those of more temperate carbonate terrains. However, the solute levels are, in general, lower, indicating that a greater proportion of the metals is travelling in colloidal form and/or adsorbed to slit-sized material carried by the streams. </p> <p> These findings confirm the belief that chemical weathering and transport in solution are of little importance in the area studied. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The main focus of the present work was the Ge-rich part of the binary Ba – Ge system, in which by inspecting the behavior of the clathrate-I Ba8Ge43 under pressure, several new phases were found. The new phases in this system have the following compositions: BaGe3 (with two modifications), BaGe5, BaGe5.5 and BaGe6, therefore they are quite close in composition range: 75% - ~85% at. Ge. Concerning the conditions required for the synthesis of each phase, several combinations of temperature and pressure were employed in order to find a stability range. It was possible to establish such a formation range for all phases. In some cases two phases were found for a given conditions and in many other cases three or more phases were found to coexist. Thus, the stability range of pressure and temperature for single phase formation turned out to be very narrow. By inspecting of some structural features, for instance the interatomic distances, it is found that the average of the Ge – Ge distances change in line with the composition, i.e. the shorter contacts belong to BaGe6 while the longer distances are present in BaGe3 (both modification). An opposite trend is observed for the calculated density of each phase (neglecting the tI32 form of BaGe3): the lower density is found for BaGe3 and the denser compound is found to be BaGe6. Of course this is not coincidence, since due to the Ge content, BaGe6 has the largest molar mass. Similarly, by examining the density as a function of the interatomic distance. In such case, the denser compound is characterized by shorter Ge – Ge contacts, while the less dense phase holds the longest Ge – Ge contacts. This is in agreement with the building motifs within each crystal structure: columns in BaGe3 (open framework) passing through layers in BaGe5, ending in a three-dimensional network (closed framework) in BaGe6.

Materiais luminescentes contendo íons terras raras (TR3+) dopados nas matrizes de tungstatos [WO4]2- têm se mostrado excelentes candidatos como fósforos. Portanto, neste trabalho os materiais MWO4:TR3+ (M: Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+ e TR3+: Eu, Tb) foram preparados pelo método da coprecipitação com concentração de dopantes 0,1, 1,0, 5,0 e 10 % em mol. Este método comparado aos convencionais (cerâmico, combustão etc.), apresenta vantagens por ser um método simples de operação e rápido, baixo custo, preparado a temperatura ambiente, o processo de obtenção ambientalmente é correto e também produzem-se nanopartículas. Na caracterização destes fósforos foram utilizadas as técnicas: espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (IV), análise termogravimétrica (TG), difração de raios X - método do pó (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e energia dispersiva de raios X (EDS). Os picos de difração de raios X foram indexados na estrutura tetragonal scheelita. Os fósforos dopados com Eu3+ e Tb3+ apresentaram cristalitos com dimensões nanométricas. Os estados de oxidação dos íons terras raras foram investigados com a espectroscopia de absorção de raios X com radiação Síncrotron (XANES), onde indicaram a presença apenas do estado trivalente para o európio nos materiais \"como preparados\" e calcinados. No entanto, foram detectados os estados trivalente e tetravalente do térbio dopado nas matrizes CaWO4 e BaWO4, calcinados à 500 ºC. As propriedades fotoluminescentes dos compostos foram investigadas com base nas transições intraconfiguracionais 4f6 (Eu3+) e 4f8 (Tb3+). Os espectros de excitação apresentaram bandas largas na região do UV, atribuídas às bandas de transferência de carga LMCT O&#8594;W e O&#8594;Eu3+. Os espectros de excitação dos fósforos MWO4:Tb3+ apresentaram as bandas de absorção largas atribuídas transferência de carga LMCT O2-(2p)&#8594;W6+(5d) sobrepostas às transições 4f8&#8594;4f75d e também picos finos oriundos das transições 4f8 do íon Tb3+. Ademais, os seus espectros de emissão exibiram bandas finas características das transições das 5D4&#8594;7FJ do íon térbio trivalente. Os valores altos do parâmetro de intensidade experimental (&#937;2 ~18 x 10-20 cm2) indicam que o sítio de simetria ocupado pelo íon Eu3+ dopado nas matrizes de tungstatos não apresentam caráter centrossimétrico, uma vez que os altos valores de &#937;2 são mais influenciados pelas pequenas mudanças angulares da geometria local do íon terra rara. Os valores de eficiência quântica de emissão &#951; do nível 5D0 dos fósforos MWO4:Eu3+ estão em torno de 30 %, sugerindo que não há variação significativa quando se altera os íons metálicos alcalinos terrosos. As coordenadas CIE (Commission Internationale l\'Eclairage) sugerem emissões multicolores dos sistemas MWO4:Eu3+ X mol-% que podem ser ajustáveis, em função das intensidades de emissão das bandas largas LMCT e dos picos finos das transições 5D0&#8594;7F0-4 e da concentração de dopagem (X mol-%) do íon Eu3+. Estes materiais luminescentes exibem cores de emissão vermelha, verde assim como cores intermediárias. / Luminescent materials containing rare earth ions (RE3 +) doped in [WO4]2- tungstate matrices have demonstrated excellent candidates as phosphors. Therefore, in this work the materials MWO4:TR3+ (M: Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+ e TR3+: Eu, Tb) were prepared by the coprecipitation method with doping concentration 0.1, 1.0, 5.0 and 10% mol. This method compared to conventional ones (ceramic, combustion, etc.), has advantages because it is a simple operation and fast, low cost, prepared at room temperature, the process of obtaining is environmentally correct and also make up the nanoparticles. The characterization techniques of these phosphors were investigated by infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction patterns - powder method (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). The tungstate matrices doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+ showed crystallite sizes with nanometer dimensions. The rare earth oxidation states were investigated using absorption spectroscopy X-ray synchrotron radiation (XANES), which indicated the presence of only trivalent europium state materials \"as prepared\" and calcined. However, it was observed the trivalent and tetravalent state of terbium doped in CaWO4 and BaWO4 matrices, calcined at 500 º C. The photoluminescent properties of the compounds were investigated based on 4f6 (Eu3+) and 4f8 (Tb3+) intraconfigurational transitions. The excitation spectra showed broad bands in the UV region, assigned to the bands of charge transfer LMCT O&#8594;W e O&#8594;Eu3+. The excitation spectra of MWO4Tb3+ phosphors showed the broad absorption bands attributed charge transfer LMCT O2-(2p)&#8594;W6+(5d) overlapping with 4f8&#8594;4f75d transitions and narrow peaks arising from 4f8 transitions of Tb3+ ion. Moreover, their emission spectra exhibited narrow characteristic bands assigned to the 5D4&#8594;7FJ transitions of trivalent terbium ion. The high values of experimental intensity parameters (&#937;2 ~ 18 x 10-20 cm2) indicate that the site symmetry occupied by the Eu3+ ion doped in the tungstates matrix not present centrosymmetric character, since high values of &#937;2 are more affected by small angular changes of the local geometry around of rare earth ion. The values of emission quantum efficiencies (&#951;) of the 5D0 level MWO4:Eu3+ phosphors were at around 30%, suggesting that there is no significant variation when changing the alkaline earth metal ions. The CIE coordinates (Commission Internationale l\'Eclairage) data suggest multicolored emissions for the MWO4:Eu3+ X mol-% systems can be tuneable, which depending on the emission intensities of the LMCT broad bands and 5D0&#8594;7F0-4 narrow peaks and concentration doping (X mol-%) of the Eu3+ ion. These materials exhibit luminescent emissions with red, green and intermediate colors.

A comprehensive investigation was reported into the synthesis, characterization and photoluminescence properties of calcium metaniobates and associated alkali earth alloy systems. Previous studies have shown that calcium metaniobate exhibits a strong self-activated blue luminescence at room temperature in stark contrast to the pyroniobates which are known to exhibit a temperature dependent luminescence that quenches above 100 K. The mechanism of this behavior has been studied by measuring the spectral characteristics of the photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra on the crystalline and morphological properties of the powders as determined from x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. By correlating the synthesis parameters with the physical, chemical and optical properties of calcium metaniobate, the optimum conditions for efficient blue-visible emission and chemical stability under vacuum ultraviolate (VUV) radiation has been determined. These materials have the potential to replace Barium Magnesium Aluminate, which is currently used as the blue phosphor in plasma displays.

Oxides of ABO3 composition (A = alkali, alkaline earth or rare earth metal in general, B = transition metal) constitute a large family of metal oxides of current interest to solid state and materials chemistry. Among the several structure types exhibited by ABO3 oxides (ilmenite, LiNbO3, perovskite, YAIO3/YMnO3, KSbO3, pyrochlore, among others), the perovskite structure is probably the most well known and widely investigated. The ideal perovskite structure consists of a three-dimensional (3D) framework of corner-sharing BO6 octahedra in which the A cation resides in the dodecahedral site surrounded by twelve oxide ions. The ideal cubic structure occurs when the Gold Schmidt’s tolerance factor, t = (rA + ro)/{V2 (rB + ro)}, adopts a value of unity and the A-O and B-O bond distances are perfectly matched. The flexibility of the perovskite structure towards a wide variety of substitutions at both A and B sites gives rise to a very large number (several hundreds) of perovskite derivatives with subtle variations in structure. The perovskite structure can also tolerate vacancies at both the A and O sites giving ordered superstructures. Members of y4BO3 oxides have numerous properties that find technological application, such as nonlinear optical response (LiNbO3), Ferro electricity (BaTiO3), piezoelectricity (PbZn_xTixO3), magneto ferroelectricity (YMnO3), superconductivity (Bai_xKxBi03)5 colossal magnetoresistance (La^xCaxMnO3) and ionic conductivity [(Lil_a)TiO3] Ordering of cations at the A and B sites of the perovskite structure is an important phenomenon. Ordering of B site cations in double (/42BB'O6) and multiple (/43BB'2Og) perovskites gives rise to newer and interesting materials properties For example, 1*1 ordered Sr2FeMoO6 and Sr2FeReO6 are half-metallic ferrimagnets; Pb3MgNb2O9 is a relaxor ferroelectric; Ba3ZnTa2O9 is a low loss dielectric used in telecommunication and, last but not least, Ba3CoNb2O9 is a visible light driven photocatalyst. Realization of these properties in these materials depends crucially on the ordering/or otherwise of the B site cat ions in the perovskite structure. Furthermore, ordering of not only the metal atoms but also the oxygen/oxygen vacancies in the perovskite structure is equally important for the occurrence of superconductivity in the cuprate superconductor, YBa2Cu3O7. The ideal perovskite structure gives way to hexagonal YMnO3/YAIO3 structure for smaller A cations (tolerance factor, t < 1). Oxides of this structure are attracting current attention for the realization of multiple magnetoferroic properties. On the other hand, for larger A cations (tolerance factor, t > 1), various perovskite polytypic structures are formed. For example, BaNiO3 forms a 2H polytypic structure, SrMnO3 and BaRuO3 adopts a 4H and 9R structures respectively, where the SO6 octahedra share faces or faces and corners. Besides the foregoing 3D perovskites, a number of layered variants of the perovskite structure are also known. The most common layered perovskites are the Aurivillius phases, (Bi2O2)[A»-iBnO3n+iL the Ruddlesden-Popper phases, /4'2|7ln_iBnO3n+1], and the Dion-Jacobson phases, A[An^BnOzn+-\]' The two-dimensional (2D) perovskite unit, [^n-iBnOsn+i], which could be visualized as formed by slicing the 3D perovskite structure along <001>p is common for all the three layered perovskite series. The perovskite slabs are stacked alternately with various charge-balancing units, for example, with [Bi2O2]2+ in the Aurivillius phases and two alkali/alkaline earth cations (A+JA2+) in the Ruddlesden-Popper phases etc. Members of the layered perovskites are also important from the point of view of materials properties. For example, 2D magnetism (K2NiF4), superconductivity (La2-xSrxCuO4), ion exchange, Bronsted acidity, intercalation, exfoliation (K2La2Ti3Oio and CsCa2Nb3O10), photo catalysis (Rb2La2Ti30io) are some of the important materials properties found in layered perovskites. The high Tc-superconductors, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+XJ TI2Ba2Ca2Cu3Oi0, TIBa2Ca2Cu3O9 and HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+x, also belong to the family of layered perovskites where the defective perovskite cuprate sheets are interleaved by other 2D entities like (Bi2O2), (TI2O2), (TIO) or (HgOx). In addition, Aurivillius phases, such as Bi2SrTa209 and Bi325Lao75Ti3Oi2, in thin film geometry are candidate materials for non-volatile ferroelectric memory devices. Synthesis plays a key role in realizing new structures and materials properties for ABO3 oxides. The conventional synthetic methods (ceramic method) involve mixing and heating of solid reactants at elevated temperatures. Although this approach continues to be employed to synthesize new materials, it is often limited by the fact that it yields thermodynamically stable phases. Since many of the perovskite oxides showing useful materials properties are metastable in nature and are required in the form of fine particles (free-standing / monodisperse / submicron or nanometer dimensions) for application, the ceramic methods are of no avail for this purpose. Therefore, materials chemists constantly endeavor to develop alternate synthetic routes that enable them to synthesize novel oxides under mild conditions. Typical examples of metastable perovskites are: the super conducting cuprates (e.g. TlosPbosS^CaC^Og) and perovskite based lithium ion conductors (La2/3-xLi3XDi/3-2xTiO3). Also the control of oxidation states in double perovskites, such as Sr2FeMoO6 and Sr2FeRe06 and pyrochlores such as Pb2MnReC>6, cannot be achieved by conventional means. Therefore, the synthesis of such metastable phases requires special synthetic strategies that involve soft chemistry (chimie douce) methods where mild reactions/reaction conditions are employed to access metastable phases. The present thesis is mainly devoted to an investigation of perovskite related oxides towards developing new synthetic strategies and materials as well as exploring hydrogen insertion - a novel materials property - in certain members of this family. Solid-state metathesis (SSM) reactions provide a convenient route for the synthesis of a wide variety of non-oxide ceramic materials such as, bondes, carbides, silicides, pnictides and chalcogenides. A typical metathesis reaction, for example, M0CI5 + 5/2 Na2S -» MoS2 + 5 NaCI + 1/2 S (1) involves exchange of atoms/ions between the reactants and is accompanied by a large enthalpy change (AHm = - 890 kJ mol"1) and high adiabatic reaction temperature (Tm = 1413 °C). The reactions are often self-propagating and believed to be driven by the formation of stable salt byproducts such as alkali halides with high lattice energy. In our laboratory we have developed a different kind of metathesis reaction for the synthesis of perovskite related oxides, a typical example being, K2La2Ti30io + 2 BiOCI -* [Bi2O2]La2Ti3O10 + 2 KCI. A major difference between metathesis reactions (1) and (2) is that unlike (1), reaction (2) is not self-propagating, requiring longer duration. In this study, we have investigated metathesis reactions of the second kind at some length for the synthesis of perovskite related oxides. We found that rocksalt oxides such as UMO2 (M = Mn, Co) and Li2TiO3 constitute convenient precursors for the formation of v4BO3 perovskite oxides in metathesis reactions with appropriate reaction partners such as halides, oxyhalides or sulphates, LiCoO2 + LaOCl -» LaCoO3 + LiCt (3) LiMnO2 + LaOCl + x/2 O2 -> LaMnO3+x + LiCI (4) Li2TiO3 + PbSO4 -» PbTiO3 + Li2SO4. (5) We could synthesize not only well known ABO3 oxides but also functional perovskites such as PbZr0 4sTio 52O3 (PZT), La2/3Cai/3MnO3 as well as superconducting BaPbo75Bio2s03 by this method. We could also synthesize La2CuO4 and its superconducting analogues, La185^oi5Cu04 (A = Sr, Ba), by the same method using Li2CuO2 and LaOCl. For the synthesis of double perovskites A2BB%OQ by this method however, appropriate lithium containing rocksalt precursor oxides are not known in the literature. Therefore, we first synthesized rocksalt precursor oxides of the general formula Li4MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni) and established their identity. Using these precursor oxides, we could synthesize the double perovskite oxides Sr2MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni) in the metathesis reaction Li4MWO6 + 2 SrCI2 -» Sr2MWO6 + 4 LiC Significantly, the double perovskites are formed with an ordered structure at relatively low temperatures (750 - 800 °C) as compared to the high temperatures (up to 1400 °C) usually employed for the synthesis of these materials by conventional ceramic approach. Next, we investigated ABO$ compositions corresponding to the formula for 6 = Cu and Ni, where we could obtain a YAIO3 superstructure consisting of triangular Cu clusters for 6 = Cu, whereas a perovskite phase for B = Ni. Moreover, the Cu-phase appears to be a unique line phase formed around LasCi^VOg composition, whereas a continuous series of GdFeO3-like perovskite oxides are formed for LaNii»xVxO3 (0 < x < 1/3)forS = Ni. Considering the current interest in bringing different transition metal ions (d°/dn electronic configuration) in the same perovskite related structure towards developing multiferroic materials, we investigated the substitution of aliovalent cations in a typical Aurivillius phase, Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2. We have characterized new aliovalent cation substituted Aurivillius phases, Bi2SrNaNb2TaOi2, Bi2Sr2Nb2Zr012J Bi2Sr2Nb2 5Feo50i2 and Bi2Sr2Nb2 ezZno 33O12. Lastly, we investigated the interaction of hydrogen with perovskite oxides, /\MnO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) in an attempt to characterize possible existence of hydrogen-inserted oxide materials. An oxide-hydride of the formula LaSrCoO3H07 has recently been reported in the literature. Conventionally, the interaction of hydrogen with perovskite related oxides is known to result in either anion deficient phases (e.g. CaMnO3 -> Ca2Mn205), or hydrogen inserted materials, 'hydrogen bronzes', (e. g. HXWO3, HxBaRuO3), where hydrogen acts as an electron donor (H -^ H+ + e). We have characterized a new mode of hydrogen incorporation in Pt dispersed BaMnO3 and SrMnO3. Detailed investigation of the hydrogen sorption behaviour of 1 atom % Pt dispersed materials showed that about 1.25 mass % of hydrogen is inserted per mole of BaMnO3/Pt, corresponding to an insertion of - 3 hydrogen atoms giving 'BaMnOsHs'. While the exact nature of inserted hydrogen is yet to be established unambiguously, our results suggest that the inserted hydrogen is unlikely to be protonic (H+) in the hydrogen insertion product, BaMnO3H3. The results of these investigations are presented in the thesis consisting of seven chapters. Chapter 1 gives an overview of perovskite related oxides - structure, properties and synthesis. Chapter 2 presents metathesis as a general route for the synthesis of ABO3 oxides and illustrates the method by transforming several rocksalt oxides such as LiCoO2, Li2Mn03 and Li2Ti03 to corresponding ABO3 oxides, LaCoO3, /\MnO3 and ATiO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba). Uniformly in all the cases, the perovskite oxides are obtained in the form of loosely connected submicron sized particles at considerably lower temperatures than those usually employed for their synthesis by ceramic methods. Thermodynamic calculations have also been carried out to probe into the driving force of metathesis reactions involved in the synthesis. Chapter 3 describes an extension of the metathesis route for the synthesis of double perovskites, Sr2MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni). For this purpose, first we synthesized new rocksalt oxides of the general formula, Li4MWO6 (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Ni). The oxides adopt rocksalt superstructures related to Li4MgReO6 (for M = Mg, Mn, Ni) and U4WO5 (for M = Fe). Metathesis reaction between Li4MWO6 and SrCi2 at 750 - 800 °C yields the corresponding double perovskites where the octahedral site M and W are ordered in the long range. Formation of ordered perovskite oxides at relatively low temperatures (750 - 800 °C) by the metathesis route is a significant result, considering that synthesis of these oxides by conventional ceramic method requires much higher temperatures (1300 - 1400 °C) and prolonged annealing. Synthesis of La2CuO4, Nd2CuO4 and super conducting La-j 85>4oi5Cu04 (A = Sr, Ba) by the metathesis route is described in Chapter 4. Chapter 5 deals with synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of mixed-metal oxides of ABO3 composition in the La-6-V-O (6 = Ni, Cu) systems. While the B = Ni oxides adopt GdFeO3-like perovskite structure containing disordered nickel and vanadium at the octahedral B site, La3Cu2VO9 crystallizes in a YAIO3-type structure. A detailed investigation of the superstructure of nominal La3Cu2VO9 by WDS analysis and Rietveld refinement of powder XRD data reveals that the likely composition of the phase is Lai3Cu9V4O38 5, where the Cu and V atoms are ordered in a Vi3ah (ah = hexagonal a parameter of YAlCMike subcell) superstructure. Magnetic susceptibility data support the proposed superstructure consisting of triangular Cu3 clusters. The present work reveals the contrasting behaviour of La-Cu-V-O and La-Ni-V-0 systems, while a unique line-phase related to YAIO3 structure is formed around La3Cu2VO9 composition in the copper system, a continuous series of perovskite-GdFeO3 solid solutions, LaNi1.0CVxO3 for 0 < x < 1/3 seems to obtain in the nickel system. The chapter also describes the formation of a new transparent Cu(l) oxide, Lai4V6CuO365, and its characterization. This oxide was obtained during attempts to grow single crystals of LasC^VOg. Single crystal structure determination of Lai4V6CuO36 5 showed that the structure contains isolated VO43" tetrahedra and [OCuO]3" sticks dispersed in a lanthanum oxide network. Films of Lai4V6CuO36 5 were grown on R-plane sapphire by using pulsed laser deposition. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses of the films showed oriented growth of the title phase, with an optical band gap of -~ 5 eV and n-type conductivity Chapter 6 presents the work on the flexibility of the Aurivillius structures for substitution of aliovalent/isovalent cations at both A and 6 sites of the perovskite slabs. For example, in a typical n = 3 member, Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2, substitution of both Sr and Na at the A site and Ta at the B site has enabled us to synthesize a new n = 3 member, Bi2SrNaNb2Ta0i2, where we see a preference of Nb for the terminal octahedral sheets. Similarly, aliovalent substitution only at the B site of the perovskite slabs of Bi2Sr2Nb2TiOi2 has yielded new members for specific compositions, Bi2Sr2Nb2ZrOi2, Bi2Sr2Nb2 5Feo50i2 and Bi2Sr2Nb2 67Zno33012 that tend to be oxygen-stoichiometric. The latter phases again show a preference of Nb for the terminal octahedral sites that are strongly distorted as compared to the middle octahedral site. This chapter also describes substitution of La3+ for Bi3+ in the perovskite slabs of Bi4Nb30i5 stabilizing a new series of n = 1/ n = 2 intergrowth Aurivillius phases of the formulas, Bi4LnNb3Oi5 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) and Bi4LaTa30i5. The present work suggests that replacement of Bi3+: 6s2 lone pair ion by non-6s2 cations such as Sr2"* and La3+ in the perovskite slabs of Aurivillius phases tends to render the structure Centro symmetric and the materials lose NLOSHG response. Chapter 7 describes our investigation of the interaction of hydrogen with alkaline earth manganites (IV) >AMnO3 (>A = Ca, Sr, Ba) dispersed with 1 atom % Pt. The result shows an unprecedented uptake of hydrogen by BaMnO3/Pt to the extent of - 1.25 mass % at moderate temperatures (190 - 260 °C) and ambient pressure. Gravimetric sorption isotherms and mass spectrometric analysis of the desorption products indicate that approximately three hydrogen atoms per mole of BaMnCVPt is inserted reversibly. The nature of hydrogen in the insertion product, BaMnO3H3, is discussed in the light of the structure of BaMnC>3. The work presented in the thesis is carried out by the candidate as a part of the Ph. D. training programme and most of it has been published in the literature. He hopes that the studies reported here will constitute a worthwhile contribution to the materials chemistry of ABO3 oxides in general.

This thesis deals with first-principles calculations based on density functional theory to investigate hydrogen storage related properties in various high-surface area materials and the ground state crystal structures in alkaline earth dicarbide systems. High-surface area materials have been shown to be very promising for hydrogen storage applications owing to them containing numerous hydrogen adsorption sites and good kinetics for adsorption/desorption. However, one disadvantage of these materials is their very weak interaction with adsorbed hydrogen molecules. Hence, for any feasible applications, the hydrogen interaction energy of these materials must be enhanced.  In metal organic frameworks, approaches for improving the hydrogen interaction energy are opening the metal oxide cluster and decorating hydrogen attracting metals, e.g. Li, at the adsorption sites of the host.  In covalent organic framework-1, the effects of the H2-H2 interaction are also found to play a significant role for enhancing the hydrogen adsorption energy. Moreover, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that hydrogen molecules can be trapped in the host material due to the blockage from adjacent adsorbed hydrogen molecules. In light metal hydride systems, hydrogen ions play two different roles, namely they can behave as "promoter" and "inhibitor" of Li diffusion in lithium imide and lithium amide, respectively.  By studying thermodynamics of Li+ and proton diffusions in the mixture between lithium amide and lithium hydride, it was found that Li+ and proton diffusions inside lithium amide are more favorable than those between lithium amide and lithium hydride. Finally, our results show that the ground state configuration of BeC2 and MgC2 consists of five-membered carbon rings connected through a carbon atom forming an infinitely repeated chain surrounded by Be/Mg ions, whereas the stable crystal structure of the CaC2, SrC2 and BaC2 is the chain type structure, commonly found in the alkaline earth dicarbide systems. / Felaktigt tryckt som Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 712

Ultra-cold atoms in optical lattices provide a versatile and robust platform to study fundamental condensed-matter physics problems and have applications in quantum optics as well as quantum information processing. For many of these applications, Rydberg atoms (atoms excited to large principal quantum numbers) are ideal due to its long coherence times and strong interactions. However, one of the pre-requisite for such applications is identical confinement of ground state atoms with Rydberg atoms. This is challenging for conventionally used alkali atoms. In this thesis, I discuss the potential of using alkaline-earth Rydberg atoms for many-body physics by implementing simultaneous trapping for the relevant internal states. In particular, I consider a scheme for generating multi-particle entanglement and explore charge transport in a one dimensional atomic lattice.