Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) or rods are semiconductor nano-particles that may be used for a wide array of applications such as in electro-optical devices, spectral bar coding, tagging and light filtering. In the case under investigation, the nano-particles are cadmium-selenide (CdSe), though they can be made from cadmium-sulfide, cadmium-telluride or a number of other II-VI and III-V material combinations. The CdSe quantum dots emit visible light at a repeatable wavelength when excited by an ultraviolet source. The synthesis of colloidal quantum dot nanoparticles is usually an organo-metallic precursor, high temperature, solvent based, airless chemical procedure that begins with the raw materials CdO, a high boiling point ligand, and a Se-trioctylphosphine conjugate. This investigation explores the means to produce quantum dots by this method and to activate the surface or modify the reaction chemistry with such molecules as trioctylphosphine oxide, stearic acid, dodecylamine, phenyl sulfone, aminophenyl sulfone, 4,4'dichlorodiphenyl sulfone, 4,4'difluorodiphenyl sulfone, sulfanilamide and zinc sulfide during the production to allow for further applications of quantum dots involving new chemistries of the outer surface. Overall, the project has been an interesting and successful one, producing a piece of equipment, a lot of ideas, and many dots with varied capping structures that have been purified, characterized, and stored in such a way that they are ready for immediate use in future projects. / Master of Science

This thesis describes the development and improvement of prompt gamma neutron activation analysis and x-ray fluorescence techniques with the goal of reducing the minimum detection limit of cadmium and mercury for non-invasive measurement of occupationally exposed individuals. The detection of cadmium in the liver and kidneys with prompt gamma neutron activation analysis was investigated in this thesis. The cadmium minimum detection limit was determined to be 1.7 mg in the kidney and 3.3 ppm in the liver. This represents a reduction in the minimum detection limit by a factor of 2 in the kidney and 1.4 in the liver, and this improvement was achieved through optimization of a 238Pu-Be-based prompt gamma neutron activation analysis system at McMaster University. This system is now ready for in vivo measurement of cadmium-exposed workers, and possibly for individuals with high levels of environmental exposure. The prompt gamma neutron activation analysis technique was determined to be unsuitable for in vivo mercury measurement in the kidney due to a high detection limit of 315 ppm. This figure was a factor of 23 worse than the detection limit of cadmium in the kidney, when a factor of 10 worse was expected. A comparison was made of mercury and cadmium to chlorine, which is a well-known neutron activation element, and the source of discrepancy was determined to be the enhanced detectability of cadmium due to the non-thermal nature of the 238Pu-Be neutron energy spectrum and the non-l/v behaviour of the cadmium thermal neutron capture cross-section. Since the prompt gamma neutron activation analysis technique was not sensitive enough for mercury detection, a source-based x-ray fluorescence system was developed. This system is based on a 109Cd source that emits 88 keV gamma-rays, a source collimator and planar hyperpure germanium detector in a backscatter (approximately 180°) geometry. Minimum detection limits of 3.9 ppm for a bare kidney phantom and 5.0 ppm for a kidney phantom at 1 cm depth in a torso phantom were obtained. The planar detection system reduced the bare phantom minimum detection limit by a factor of 11 compared to previous source-based x-ray fluorescence studies, however the torso phantom minimum detection limit remains comparable to that of polarized x-ray fluorescence studies. Attempts at improving the mercury minimum detection limit with a cloverleaf detection system (detector consisting of four electronically separate hyperpure germanium crystals) and stronger gamma-ray source were not successful, and currently both the planar and cloverleaf detection systems have a similar minimum detection limit of about 5 ppm at 1 cm kidney depth. In addition, the in vivo measurement of two patients with possible mercury exposure using the cloverleaf x-ray fluorescence system is discussed. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The epithelial cell of the kidney proximal convoluted tubule, like that of the small intestine, consists of two distinct plasma membrane surfaces referred to as the brush border, or luminal surface, and the basal-lateral, or contraluminal surface. Once isolated, membrane vesicles formed from the kidney cell can serve as models for the study of heavy metal mephrotoxin interaction with the two different plasma membrane surfaces. For ideal comparison between the two membranes, the isolation procedure should be identical for both. This has been accomplished by other investigators using differential centrifugation followed by free-flow electrophoresis or sucrose density centrifugation. Utilizing the self-forming gradient capabilities of Percoll, we have developed a less cumbersome procedure to effect simultaneous isolation of brush border and basal-lateral membrane vesicles. Brush border membrane vesicles isolated by this procedure exhibited 8 to 13-fold enrichment in marker enzyme activity but appeared to have impaired glucose uptake activity. Since the Percoll-prepared vesicles seemed unsuitable for uptake studies, brush border membrane vesicles isolated by a differential precipitation method were used to investigate the effect of cadmium on glucose uptake. Of the concentrations of cadmium tested, 0.1 mM CdCl slightly inhibited glucose uptake whereas 1 mM CdCl greatly reduced glucose uptake in these vesicles. / Master of Science

The genus Gluconobacter is industrially important due to the ability to accomplish unusual and almost complete oxidation reactions (bioconversions) and to contaminate high sugar content products. Following preliminary evidence that some strains of Gluconobacter were resistant to cadmium, and realizing that cadmium resistance among gram-negative organisms is often encoded by an operon which also encodes cobalt and zinc resistance via an efflux mechanism, 10 strains of Gluconobacter were tested for heavy-metal resistance. Three of the 10 representative strains appeared to be resistant to cadmium chloride, and two were also resistant to cobalt- and zinc chloride. These strains, as well as two cadmium-sensitive strains were analyzed using PCR and sequencing to establish gene homology with Ralstonia eutropha, the most frequently studied Gram-negative bacterium exhibiting cadmium resistance. Amplification of two genes from the czc operon, known to encode cadmium, cobalt and zinc resistance in Ralstonia, was attempted in the three resistant and two sensitive strains of Gluconobacter. The gene, czcA, thought to encode the main pump protein of the efflux mechanism, was found in all Gluconobacter strains tested. However, amplification of a regulatory gene czcD, thought to sense the extracellular metal ion concentration, was not possible in the Gluconobacter strains tested. The PCR products were sequenced and analyzed for homology to the czc operon in Ralstonia. From the data gathered, it appears as though some strains of Gluconobacter contain at least a portion of the czc operon , encoding cadmium, cobalt and zinc resistance in Ralstonia eutropha. / Master of Science

Numerical simulations of current-voltage characteristics of nanowire CdS/CdTe solar cells are performed as a function of temperature using SCAPS-1D. This research compares the experimental current-voltage (I-V) characteristics with the numerical (I-V) simulations obtained from SCAPS-1D at various temperatures. Various device parameters were studied which can affect the efficiency of the nanowire-CdS/CdTe solar cell. It was observed that the present simulated model explains the important effects of these solar cell devices, such as the crossover and the rollover effect. It was shown that the removal of defect in i-SnO2 is responsible for producing the crossover effect. In the past, the rollover effect has been explained by using back to back diode model in the literature. In this work, simulations were performed in order to validate this theory. At the back electrode, the majority carrier barrier height was varied from 0.4 to 0.5 eV, the curve corresponding to the 0.5 eV barrier showed a strong rollover effect, while this effect disappeared when the barrier was reduced to 0.4 eV. Thus, it was shown that the change of barrier height at the contact is a critical parameter in the rollover effect.

Les travaux présentés ici portent sur les P1B-ATPases HMA2, HMA3 et HMA4 d'Arabidopsis thaliana, transporteurs de cations présents sur différentes membranes chez les plantes. L'étude du contenu cationique de plantes mutantes hma2 et hma4 a précisé le rôle important de HMA4 dans la translocation du Zn et du Cd vers les parties aériennes et sa forte affinité pour le Cd. La mesure du contenu cationique de graines de différents génotypes a montré un effet complexe des modulations de l'expression des gènes correspondants, la surexpression du gène HMA4 conduisant à une teneur en Zn de la graine similaire à celle du mutant perte de fonction. Ces résultats confirment l'importance de HMA4, et montrent la nécessité d'adapter la construction aux objectifs biotechnologiques visés. Afin de préciser le rôle de résidus conservés au sein de la famille des P1B-ATPases, j'ai étudié l'effet de l'expression d'un variant de HMA4 pour le domaine fortement conservé CPC. Les résultats obtenus in planta suggèrent une interaction avec la version native du transporteur entraînant une perte de l'activité de HMA4. Pour mener une approche structure/fonction sur ces transporteurs, L. lactis a été défini comme le meilleur candidat pour produire HMA3. Suite à l'expression de HMA3, un gain de tolérance au Cd a été observé et a permis de valider 3 variants de HMA3, mutés au niveau du pore ou du site d'hydrolyse de l'ATP, comme affectés dans l'activité de la protéine. Les membranes de L. lactis enrichies en transporteur HMA3 ou de ses variants ont permis une reconstitution in vitro en protéoliposomes permettant de mesurer une activité de transport du Cd compétitive avec le Zn et inhibée par le vanadate. / Work presented here is about Arabidopsis thaliana P1B-ATPases HMA2, HMA3 et HMA4, cation transporters found in different plant membranes. Cation content study of mutant plants hma2 and hma4 precised important role of HMA4 in upward translocation of Zn and Cd, and its high affinity for Cd. Cation content measure of seeds from different genotypes showed a complex effect of modulations of related genes expression levels, HMA4 overexpression leading to a seed Zn content similar the loss-of-function mutant one. These results confirm the importance of HMA4 and show the needs to adapt construction to biotechnological aims. To precise the role of residus conserved among the P1B-ATPases family, I studied the effect of the expression of a HMA4 variant for the highly conserved domain CPC. Obtained in planta results suggest an interaction with the native transporter leading to a loss of HMA4 activité. To perform a structure/function study on these transporters, L.lactis has been shown as the best candidate to produce HMA3. Due to HMA3 expression, a gain of Cd tolerance has been observed and allowed to validate three HMA3 variants, mutated in the pore or the ATP hydrolysis site, as affected in the protein activity. L.lactis membranes enriched with HMA3 or variants allowed an in vitro reconstitution in proteoliposomes and the measurement of a Cd transport activity competing with Zn and inhibited by vanadate.

Atualmente, os materiais luminescentes que apresentam a luminescência persistente tem ganhando um destaque devido a capacidade de emitir luz por um período de tempo que pode variar de minutos à horas depois de cessada a excitação. Todavia, não há um grande número de estudos quantitativos a respeito dos fatores que influenciam esse fenômeno. Dessa forma, para o estudar do efeito do band gap na luminescência persistente comparou-se as propriedades de duas matrizes similares. A matriz ortossilicato de cádmio, Cd2SiO4, foi comparada com a matriz metassilicato de cádmio, CdSiO3, já descrita na literatura. A matriz ortossilicato de cádmio não dopada e dopada com íons terra rara foi sintetizada via síntese de estado sólido pelo método cerâmico a 1050 °C. A caracterização e o estudo da pureza se deram através das técnicas difração de raios X (DRX) usando radiação Síncrotron e CuKα. O estado de oxidação foi estudado usando espectroscopia de absorção de raios X próximo a borda (XANES) com radiação Síncrotron. As propriedades luminescentes foram compreendidas pelos experimentos de fotoluminescência no UV-Vis e espectroscopia com radiação Síncrotron na região do UV vácuo. Os difratogramas mostraram a presença de pequenas porcentagens de impurezas e a obtenção da fase pura para o Cd2SiO4:Pr3+. O espectro de XANES mostrou a presença apenas de íons terras raras trivalentes. O valor do band gap para a matriz ortossilicato de cádmio em 4,1 eV foi determinado utilizando espectros de excitação e emissão em 77 K dos materiais Cd2SiO4 e Cd2SiO4:Gd3+. Os espectros de excitação e emissão dos materiais Cd2SiO4:Pr3+ e Cd2SiO4:Tb3+ permitiram a comparação das propriedades luminescentes entre a fase ortossilicato e metassilicato, além de indicar a posição de alguns níveis 5d dentro da banda de condução. Com os dados obtidos foi proposto um mecanismo de luminescência persistente para o íon Pr3+ que mostrou-se muito mais eficiente nessa matriz em relação ao metassilicato de cádmio, comportamento oposto ao observado com os íons Tb3+, devido às suas posições dentro do band gap da matriz / Persistent luminescence materials have gained special attention lately due to their special property of emitting light for long time after ceased irradiation. However, hitherto, there is no deep quantitative analysis on the factors that affects this phenomenon. On this way, we compared the persistent luminescence properties on two similar inorganic hosts differing only in their band gap energies. The cadmium orthosilicate (Cd2SiO4) was compared to the cadmium metasilicate (CdSiO3) already well described in literature. The non-doped and rare earth doped cadmium orthosilicate were prepared with solid state synthesis at 1050 °C. The characterization and phase purity study were made with X-ray diffraction techniques using both Synchrotron and CuαK radiation. The oxidation state was studied with Synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption Near Edge structure measurements (XANES). The photoluminescence study was done with UV-Vis and VUV-UV emission and excitation spectroscopies. The XRD patterns allowed the determination of the phase purity and confirmed the preparation of pure Cd2SiO4:Pr3+. XANES data confirmed the presence of only trivalent rare earths. The band gap was determined as 4.1 eV with the 77 K excitation spectra of Cd2SiO4 and Cd2SiO4:Gd3+. The excitation spectra of Cd2SiO4:Pr3+ and Cd2SiO4:Tb3+ allowed the comparation between the optical properties of meta- and orthosilicate crystal phases like the position of 5d levels which are inside Cd2SiO4 conduction band. The obtained data allowed the proposition of a persistent luminescence mechanism for Pr3+ ion, considerably more efficient on orthosilicate when compared to metasilicate. This behavior is on the opposite way to the one observed for Tb3+ ions, due to their position in the band gap.

Atualmente, os materiais luminescentes que apresentam a luminescência persistente tem ganhando um destaque devido a capacidade de emitir luz por um período de tempo que pode variar de minutos à horas depois de cessada a excitação. Todavia, não há um grande número de estudos quantitativos a respeito dos fatores que influenciam esse fenômeno. Dessa forma, para o estudar do efeito do band gap na luminescência persistente comparou-se as propriedades de duas matrizes similares. A matriz ortossilicato de cádmio, Cd2SiO4, foi comparada com a matriz metassilicato de cádmio, CdSiO3, já descrita na literatura. A matriz ortossilicato de cádmio não dopada e dopada com íons terra rara foi sintetizada via síntese de estado sólido pelo método cerâmico a 1050 °C. A caracterização e o estudo da pureza se deram através das técnicas difração de raios X (DRX) usando radiação Síncrotron e CuKα. O estado de oxidação foi estudado usando espectroscopia de absorção de raios X próximo a borda (XANES) com radiação Síncrotron. As propriedades luminescentes foram compreendidas pelos experimentos de fotoluminescência no UV-Vis e espectroscopia com radiação Síncrotron na região do UV vácuo. Os difratogramas mostraram a presença de pequenas porcentagens de impurezas e a obtenção da fase pura para o Cd2SiO4:Pr3+. O espectro de XANES mostrou a presença apenas de íons terras raras trivalentes. O valor do band gap para a matriz ortossilicato de cádmio em 4,1 eV foi determinado utilizando espectros de excitação e emissão em 77 K dos materiais Cd2SiO4 e Cd2SiO4:Gd3+. Os espectros de excitação e emissão dos materiais Cd2SiO4:Pr3+ e Cd2SiO4:Tb3+ permitiram a comparação das propriedades luminescentes entre a fase ortossilicato e metassilicato, além de indicar a posição de alguns níveis 5d dentro da banda de condução. Com os dados obtidos foi proposto um mecanismo de luminescência persistente para o íon Pr3+ que mostrou-se muito mais eficiente nessa matriz em relação ao metassilicato de cádmio, comportamento oposto ao observado com os íons Tb3+, devido às suas posições dentro do band gap da matriz / Persistent luminescence materials have gained special attention lately due to their special property of emitting light for long time after ceased irradiation. However, hitherto, there is no deep quantitative analysis on the factors that affects this phenomenon. On this way, we compared the persistent luminescence properties on two similar inorganic hosts differing only in their band gap energies. The cadmium orthosilicate (Cd2SiO4) was compared to the cadmium metasilicate (CdSiO3) already well described in literature. The non-doped and rare earth doped cadmium orthosilicate were prepared with solid state synthesis at 1050 °C. The characterization and phase purity study were made with X-ray diffraction techniques using both Synchrotron and CuαK radiation. The oxidation state was studied with Synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption Near Edge structure measurements (XANES). The photoluminescence study was done with UV-Vis and VUV-UV emission and excitation spectroscopies. The XRD patterns allowed the determination of the phase purity and confirmed the preparation of pure Cd2SiO4:Pr3+. XANES data confirmed the presence of only trivalent rare earths. The band gap was determined as 4.1 eV with the 77 K excitation spectra of Cd2SiO4 and Cd2SiO4:Gd3+. The excitation spectra of Cd2SiO4:Pr3+ and Cd2SiO4:Tb3+ allowed the comparation between the optical properties of meta- and orthosilicate crystal phases like the position of 5d levels which are inside Cd2SiO4 conduction band. The obtained data allowed the proposition of a persistent luminescence mechanism for Pr3+ ion, considerably more efficient on orthosilicate when compared to metasilicate. This behavior is on the opposite way to the one observed for Tb3+ ions, due to their position in the band gap.

Le microbiote intestinal constitue un élément important pour l’hôte, il est impliqué notamment au niveau immunologique ou physiologique. La connaissance de la composition de ce microbiote est la première étape dans la compréhension des phénomènes qui lui sont associés. Les travaux de cette thèse se sont articulés selon plusieurs objectifs. La première étape a été de faire un état des lieux de la composition du microbiote de deux types génétiques parentaux : le canard Pékin (Anas Platyrhynchos), le canard de Barbarie (Cairina Moschata) ainsi que de leur hybride ; le canard mulard. Nous avons ainsi pu observer des compositions différentes selon le type génétique avec tout de même la prédominance dans chacune des trois espèces de deux phyla : les Firmicutes et les Bacteroidetes. Différentes conditions rencontrées dans l’environnement sont à même de créer un déséquilibre dans la composition du microbiote. Une des conditions possibles est un changement dans l’alimentation ainsi la seconde étape a été de voir l’impact du gavage sur les communautés bactériennes composant le microbiote. Celui-ci induit bien des modifications au sein du microbiote en privilégiant certaines classes bactériennes notamment les Bacilli et les Clostridia selon le type génétique. Un effet du gavage a été montré au niveau du microbiote iléal tandis que l’on retrouve un effet du type génétique ainsi que du gavage mais plus faible que dans l’iléon au niveau des caeca. Deux autres travaux ont été réalisés, le premier concernait l’ajout d’un probiotique (Lactobacillus sakei) sur le microbiote des canards mulards durant la phase de gavage. Nous avons montré que lors de cet ajout, nous observions une forte augmentation des lactobacilli au niveau de l’iléon. Enfin suite aux fortes contaminations retrouvées dans le sud-ouest ainsi que ses effets toxiques montrés dans différentes études, le dernier travail effectué a été de voir l’effet du cadmium sur le microbiote des canards Pékin et Barbarie. Nous avons pu ainsi observer les modifications de la communauté microbienne lors de l’ajout de cadmium ainsi l’accumulation de celui-ci dans les reins au cours du gavage. Des effets combinés entre le cadmium et la période de gavage ainsi qu’avec le type génétique ont été mis en lumière. Une tendance à une accumulation différentielle du cadmium a été observé selon le type génétique. / The intestinal microbiota is an important element for the host; it is particularly involved in immunological or physiological level. Knowledge of the composition of the microbiota is the first step in understanding the phenomena associated with it. The work of this PhD was organized according to several objectives. The first step was to realize a molecular inventory of the microbiota composition of the two parental genetic types: the Pekin duck (Anas Platyrhynchos), the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) and their hybrid, the mule duck. We have observed different compositions depending on the genetic type although with a predominance of two phyla: the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes for all ducks species. Different conditions encountered in the environment are likely to create an imbalance in the composition of the microbiota. One is a change in diet; therefore the second step was to see the impact of overfeeding on bacterial communities. Overfeeding causes many changes in the bacterial microbiota and increase two classes: Bacilli and Clostridia according to the genetic type. The effect of overfeeding has been shown principally on the ileal microbiota while genetics and overfeeding both affected weekly cecal microbiota. We then studied the impact of adding a probiotic strain (Lactobacillus sakei) on the microbiota of mule ducks during the overfeeding period. We could see here a significant effect of this addition only in the ileum with a sharp increase in lactobacilli. Finally, due to high levels of contamination found in the southwest of France and its toxic effects on metabolism shown in various studies, the last work was to see the effect of cadmium on the microbiota of Pekin and Muscovy ducks. We observed changes in the microbial community when adding cadmium and see the accumulation of it in the kidneys during overfeeding. Combined effects between cadmium and the feeding period as well as the genetic type were highlighted. Finally

This thesis aims to investigate structural, optical and photoelectrochemical behavior of CdS nanowires and their heterojunctions with CdTe and polypyrrole nanowires. In the first part, CdS nanowires have been synthesized via electrochemical template-based route. It has been observed that synthesis conditions, such as bias voltage and deposition time, affect the morphology, optical and photoelectrochemical characteristics of CdS nanowires. Depending on the deposition time, length of the CdS nanowires changed from 100-200 nm to 3-4 m. Also the diameter of the nanowires increased with increasing the deposition time. Structure of the CdS nanowires has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction spectrometry and EDX analysis. Phototelectrochemical performances of the CdS nanowires have been changed dramatically with bias voltage and deposition time.In the second part of this thesis, CdTe nanostructures have been deposited on CdS nanowires. Change in optical and photoelectrochemical behavior of CdS nanowires after CdTe deposition has been investigated. Organic semiconductors and their composites with inorganic materials have been gaining attention due to tunable optical, electrical and magnetic properties. Also, ease of fabrication techniques, and therefore, low cost made these materials attractive for lots of applications including photovoltaic devices and flexible electronics. In the last part of this thesis, heterojunctions of CdS and Polypyrrole (Ppy) nanowires have been synthesized. Like CdS/CdTe heteronanostructures, first the CdS nanowires have been electrochemically deposited in anodized alumina template and then Ppy has been successfully deposited on CdS nanowires. In order to investigate the effects of polypyrrole synthesis conditions on CdS/Ppy heteronanostructures, CdS nanowire synthesis conditions have been kept constant. It has been observed that morphology and photoelectrochemical behavior of the Ppy nanowires has been affected from Ppy synthesis conditions. The photoelectrochemical performance changes of CdS/Ppy heteronanostructures have been also investigated in this part.