Les travaux de recherche effectués lors de cette thèse s'articulent autour de matériaux graphène. Une méthode est développée pour produire graphène en masse avec solution de graphenure. Les études effectuées les solutions de graphenure sont basées sur les composés d'intercalation du grpahite (GICs) synthétisé avec du potassium et l'exfoliation de GIC dans un solvant organique. Différentes techniques d'analyse ont été employées pour caractériser les graphène produits. Afin de tirer parti des propriétés électriques du graphène, les solutions de graphenure ont ensuite été utilisées pour produire des films transparents conducteurs. Des traitements de recuit à sous atmosphère d'argon ont été effectués pour améliorer les propriétés électriques du film. Les résultats de caractérisation montrent que l'élimination des groupes fonctionnels contenant des atomes d'oxygène et l'amélioration structurale peuvent largement améliorer les propriétés électriques des films de graphène avec ce traitement de recuit. / The graphene is promising materials in future industrial applications due to its excellent properties. In recent years, different production methods have been developed in order to pave the way for applications. One topic of this thesis focuses on graphenidesolutions, which provide an efficient route to produce graphene. Using this method, graphite intercalation compounds(GICs)can be exfoliated into negativelz charged grapheme organic solvent under inert atmosphere. Withits high conductivity and bendable feature, one of the promising applications of graphene is flexible transparent conductive films. The second main topic of this thesis consists in applying produced graphene to produce transparent conductive films.With mild thermal treatments, the electrical properties of graphene film can be largely improved.

Des études dans le domaine plasma-biologie ont démontré l'effet biocide des jets plasma à pression atmosphérique (JPPAs), faisant de ces dispositifs une alternative aux traitements classiques de décontamination microbiologique. Le gaz (ou mélange de gaz) utilisé et la puissance injectée dans le plasma ont été identifiés comme des paramètres importants influençant l'efficacité biocide des jets plasmas. Récemment, il a été rapporté qu'un autre facteur pouvait influencer l'effet biocide des jets plasmas : la nature de la cible en interaction avec le jet. Cette thèse propose d'étudier l'influence de la nature d'une cible sur les propriétés physiques et biocides des jets plasmas. Dans un premier temps, le jet plasma a été caractérisé en l'absence de cible à l'aide d'outils de diagnostics électriques (sonde de tension, sonde de courant, oscilloscope) et optiques (caméra ICCD, spectromètre optique). Ainsi, la caméra ICCD a permis l'observation de la propagation d'une onde d'ionisation à des vitesses très élevées (de l'ordre du km.s-1). Dans un second temps, la caractérisation a porté sur l'interaction du jet plasma avec d'une part une cible diélectrique (10-10 S.m-1) et d'autre part une cible conductrice (6.0 107 S.m-1). Les résultats montrent que lorsque l'onde d'ionisation atteint la cible diélectrique, celle-ci se propage de manière radiale sur la surface de la cible formant une onde d'ionisation surfacique. Pour la cible conductrice, un canal s'établit entre la source plasma et la surface de la cible, suivi éventuellement par la propagation d'une onde d'ionisation secondaire de la surface de la cible en direction de la sortie de la source plasma. Enfin, afin d'évaluer l'influence de la nature de la cible sur l'efficacité biocide du jet plasma, des suspensions d'endospores de Bacillus atrophaeus et de bactéries Escherichia Coli ont été utilisées comme indicateur biologique. Les endospores et les bactéries ont été inoculées sur la surface des cibles diélectriques et conductrices, puis exposées au jet plasma. Les résultats montrent des modifications différentes sur le manteau des spores et une efficacité biocide plus élevée pour la cible conductrice comparée à la cible diélectrique. En résumé, cette thèse montre que les effets biocides des jets plasmas doivent être évalués dans les conditions expérimentales qui correspondent à l'application envisagée. / Studies in the plasma-biology field have demonstrated the biocidal effect of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (JPPAs), making these devices an alternative to conventional biological decontamination treatments. The gas (or gas mixture) used and the power injected into the plasma were identified as the parameters influencing the biocidal efficacy of plasma jets. Recently, it has been reported that another factor may influence the biocidal effect of plasma jets: the nature of the target in interaction with the jet. This thesis proposes to study the influence of the nature of a target on the biocidal properties of plasma jets. Initially, the plasma jet was characterized in the absence of a target using electrical (voltage probe, current probe, oscilloscope) and optical (ICCD camera, optical spectrometer) diagnostic tools. The ICCD camera allowed the observation of the propagation of an ionization wave at very high velocities (of the order of km.s-1). Secondly, the characterization focused on the interaction of the plasma jet with a dielectric target (10-10 S.m-1) and a conductive target (6.0 107 S.m-1). The results show that when the ionization wave reaches the dielectric target, it propagates radially on the surface of the target forming a surface ionization wave. For the conductive target, a channel is established between the plasma source and the target surface, possibly followed by propagation of a secondary ionization wave from the target surface towards the plasma source outlet. Finally, the influence of the target nature on the biocidal efficacy of the plasma jet was studied. Endospores suspensions of Bacillus atrophaeus and Escherichia coli bacteria were used as biological indicator. Endospores and bacteria were inoculated on the surface of the dielectric and conductive target and exposed to the plasma jet. The results show different changes on the spores coat's and higher biocidal efficiency for the conductive target compared to the dielectric target. In summary, this thesis shows that the biocide effects of plasma jets should be evaluated under the experimental conditions corresponding to the intended applications.

ABSTRACT Thus far, literature is scant in assessing the ability of children with conductive hearing impairment to understand everyday speech. This assessment is important in determining the functional ability of children with conductive hearing impairment. In order to identify the hearing ability of children with conductive hearing impairment, many assessments to date have used speech stimuli, such as syllables, words and sentences, to measure how well children perform. In general, these tests are useful in measuring speech recognition ability, but are not adequate in measuring the functional ability of children to understand the conversations they encounter in their daily lives. In addition, many of these tests are not designed to be interesting or engage the children whom they are assessing. The University of Queensland Understanding of Everyday Speech (UQUEST) Test was developed to address the above issues by providing a stimulating speech perception assessment for children aged 5 to 10 years. This overall objectives of this thesis were to: (1) determine the applicability of a computer-based, self-driven assessment of speech comprehension, the UQUEST, (2) establish normative UQUEST data for school children, (3) compare the UQUEST results in children with and without histories of otitis media in understanding everyday speech, and (4) measure speech understanding in noise by children with minimal conductive hearing impairment. A total of 1094 children were assessed using the UQUEST. All children were native speakers of English and attended schools in the Brisbane Metropolitan and Sunshine Coast regions within the state of Queensland, Australia. All children were firstly assessed using otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry testing and tympanometry. Children with sensorineural hearing impairment were excluded from the study. Following the initial audiological assessments, the UQUEST was administered to all participants. Three experiments were performed on three cohorts of children selected from the pool of 1094 children. Experiment 1 aimed to assess whether the UQUEST is a feasible speech perception assessment tool for school children and to establish normative data in a sample of normally hearing children. ix In this experiment, participants were a total of 99 children (55 boys / 44 girls), attending Grade 3 and grade 4 (41/58, mean age = 8.3 yr, range = 7 – 10 yr, SD = 0.7). The results showed that the UQUEST is a feasible test of speech understanding in children aged 7 to 10 years. In general, the UQUEST scores decreased as the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) decreased from 10 to 0 dB. Normative data based on the scores of six passages of equal difficulty were established for the 0 dB and 5 dB SNR conditions. In addition, the children appeared to be captivated with the UQUEST task and the attention of all the children was sustained throughout the duration of the test. Experiment 2 determined whether children with histories of otitis media (experimental group) performed worse on the UQUEST in comparison to those children without histories of otitis media (OM). A total of 484 children (246 boys / 238 girls), attending Grade 3 (272, mean age = 8.25 yr, SD = 0.43) and Grade 4 (212, mean age = 9.28 yr, SD = 0.41), were assessed. Children were grouped according to the number of episodes of otitis media as per parental report (control: < 4 episodes; mild history group: 4-9 episodes; and moderate history group: > 9 episodes OM). All children had normal hearing as determined by otoscopy, pure tone audiometry screening and tympanometry results. Results showed no significant difference in UQUEST scores between the control group in comparison to the experimental groups. However, children with a history of OM demonstrated varying speech comprehension abilities. Some children had severe difficulty with the speech comprehension task, suggesting that in cases with extensively reported episodes of OM, performance on the UQUEST was compromised. Experiment 3 determined the prevalence of conductive hearing loss in the Australian primary school population and investigated the ability of school children with minimal conductive hearing loss to understand everyday speech under noisy conditions. Based on a sample of 1071 children (mean age = 7.7 yr; range = 5.3 - 11.7 yr), 10.2% of children were found to have conductive hearing loss in one or both ears. To evaluate the binaural speech comprehension ability of children, a sample of 542 children were divided into four groups according to their audiological assessment results: Group 1: 63 children (34 boys, 29 girls, mean age = 7.7 yr, SD = 1.5) who failed the pure tone audiometry and tympanometry tests in both ears; Group 2: 38 children (17 x boys, 21 girls, mean age = 7.5 yr, SD = 1.2) who passed pure tone audiometry and tympanometry in one ear but failed both tests in the other ear; Group 3 (control group): 357 children (187 boys, 170 girls, mean age = 7.8 yr, SD = 1.3) who passed pure tone audiometry and tympanometry in both ears; Group 4: 84 children (41 boys, 43 girls, mean age = 7.2 yr, SD = 1.3) who passed pure tone audiometry in both ears, but failed tympanometry in one or both ears. The results showed that Group 1 had the lowest mean scores of 60.8% - 69.3% obtained under noise conditions. Their scores were significantly lower than the corresponding scores of 69.3% - 75.3% obtained by children in Group 4; 70.5% - 76.5% obtained by children with unilateral conductive hearing loss (Group 2); and 72.0% - 80.3% obtained by their normally hearing peers (Group 3). This study confirmed that young children, who are known to have poorer speech understanding in noise than adults, show further disadvantage when a bilateral conductive hearing loss is present In summary, the UQUEST has been found to be a useful tool to measure children‟s understanding of everyday speech. This test could be successfully used as a measure of speech comprehension in background noise in children. The UQUEST met expectations of being an interesting and engaging test for children aged 5-10 years. In addition, the UQUEST scores showed that children performed worse when challenged by the more difficult noise conditions incorporated in the test design. The findings from this thesis demonstrated that, at the group level, children with histories of OM did not perform any differently from those without significant histories of OM. However, at the individual level, children with significant OM histories had degraded functional performance with low UQUEST scores. Lastly, this thesis provided much needed speech comprehension data obtained from children with minimal conductive hearing impairment and provided evidence that young children were more affected by the co-occurrence of environmental noise and bilateral conductive hearing loss than their normally hearing peers in understanding everyday speech.

Wearable systems continue to gain new markets by addressing improved performance and lower size, weight and cost. Both civilian and military markets have incorporated wearable technologies to enhance and facilitate user's tasks and activities. A wearable system is a heterogeneous system composed of diverse electronic modules: data processing, input and output modules. The system is constructed to be body-borne and therefore, several constraints are put on wearable systems regarding wearability (size, weight, placement, etc.) and robustness rendering the task of designing wearable systems challenging. In this thesis, an overview of wearable systems was given by discussing definition, technology challenges, market analysis and design methodologies. Main research targeted at network architectures and robustness to environmental stresses and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The network architecture designated the data communication on the intermodule level - topology and infrastructure. A deeper analysis of wearable requirements on the network architecture was made and a new architecture is proposed based on DC power line communication network (DC-PLC). In addition, wired data communication was compared to wireless data communication by introducing statistical communication model and looking at multiple design attributes: power efficiency, scalability, and wearability. The included papers focused on wearable systems related issues including analysis of present situation, environmental and electrical robustness studies, theoretical and computer aided modelling, and experimental testing to demonstrate new wearable architectural concepts. A roadmap was given by examining the past and predicting the future of wearable systems in terms of technology, market, and architecture. However, the roadmap was updated within this thesis to include new market growth figures that proved to be far less than was predicted in 2004. User and application environmental requirements to be applied on future wearable systems were identified. A procedure is presented to address EMI and evaluated solutions in wearable application through modelling and simulation. Environmental robustness and wearability of wearable systems in general, and washability and conductive textile in particular are investigated. A measurement-based methodology to model electrical properties of conductive textile when subjected to washing was given. Employing a wired data communication network was found to be more appropriate for wearable systems than wireless networks when prioritizing power efficiency. The wearability and scalability of the wired networks was enhanced through conductive textile and DC-PLC, respectively. A basic wearable application was built to demonstrate the suitability of DC-PLC communication with conductive textile as infrastructure. The conductive textile based on metal filament showed better mechanical robustness than metal plated conductive textile. A more advanced wearable demonstrator, where DC-PLC network was implemented using transceivers, further strengthened the proposed wearable architecture. Based on the overview, the theoretical, modelling and experimental work, a possible approach of designing wearable systems that met several contradicting requirements was given.

Conductive hearing loss (otitis media) in young children can effect speech and language development. However, little is known about the effects of conductive loss on neural activity in the auditory system. Hypothesis: Conductive hearing loss will change resting activity levels at the inner hair cell synapse, and lead to auditory deprivation of central auditory pathways. A conductive loss was produced by blocking the ear canals in mice. Resting neural activity patterns were quantified in brainstem and midbrain using c-fos immuno-labelling. Experimental subjects were compared to normal hearing controls and subjects with cochlear ablation. Conductive loss subjects showed a trend in reduction in c-fos labelled cells in cochlear nucleus and the central nucleus of inferior colliculus compared to normal controls. Results seen in this study may indicate the influence of conductive hearing loss on the developing auditory brain during early postnatal years when the system is highly plastic.

Conductive hearing loss (otitis media) in young children can effect speech and language development. However, little is known about the effects of conductive loss on neural activity in the auditory system. Hypothesis: Conductive hearing loss will change resting activity levels at the inner hair cell synapse, and lead to auditory deprivation of central auditory pathways. A conductive loss was produced by blocking the ear canals in mice. Resting neural activity patterns were quantified in brainstem and midbrain using c-fos immuno-labelling. Experimental subjects were compared to normal hearing controls and subjects with cochlear ablation. Conductive loss subjects showed a trend in reduction in c-fos labelled cells in cochlear nucleus and the central nucleus of inferior colliculus compared to normal controls. Results seen in this study may indicate the influence of conductive hearing loss on the developing auditory brain during early postnatal years when the system is highly plastic.

The electronics industry is shifting its emphasis from reducing transistor size and operational frequency to increasing device integration, reducing form factor and increasing the interface of electronics with their surroundings. This new emphasis has created increased demands on the electronic package. To accomplish the goals to increase device integration and interfaces will undoubtedly require new materials with increased functionality both electrically and mechanically. This thesis focuses on developing new interconnect and printable conductive materials capable of providing power, ground and signal transmission with enhanced electrical performance and mechanical flexibility and robustness. More specifically, we develop: 1.) A new understanding of the conduction mechanism in electrically conductive composites (ECC). 2.) Develop highly conductive stretchable silicone ECC (S-ECC) via in-situ nanoparticle formation and sintering. 3.) Fabricate and test stretchable radio frequency devices based on S-ECC. 4.) Develop techniques and processes necessary to fabricate a stretchable package for stretchable electronic and radio frequency devices. In this thesis we provide convincing evidence that conduction in ECC occurs predominantly through secondary charge transport mechanism (tunneling, hopping). Furthermore, we develop a stretchable silicone-based ECC which, through the incorporation of a special additive, can form and sinter nanoparticles on the surface of the metallic conductive fillers. This sintering process decreases the contact resistance and enhances conductivity of the composite. The conductive composite developed has the best reported conductivity, stretchability and reliability. Using this S-ECC we fabricate a stretchable microstrip line with good performance up to 6 GHz and a stretchable antenna with good return loss and bandwidth. The work presented provides a foundation to create high performance stretchable electronic packages and radio frequency devices for curvilinear spaces. Future development of these technologies will enable the fabrication of ultra-low stress large area interconnects, reconfigurable antennas and other electronic and RF devices where the ability to flex and stretch provides additional functionality impossible using conventional rigid electronics.

Da Kunststoffe im Allgemeinen einen spezifischen Oberflächenwiderstand von >10E12 Ω besitzen, müssen die Materialien zur Vermeidung von elektrostatischen Aufladungen bei Bauelementen der Elektroindustrie antistatisch ausgerüstet werden. Durch elektrostatische Aufladungen können die Bauelemente eine Beeinträchtigung ihrer Funktion erfahren und Personen gefährden. Weiterhin ermöglicht die Absenkung des spezifischen Oberflächenwiderstandes eine elektrostatische (Pulver-)Lackierung. Für die Herstellung von Kunststoffen mit kleinem spezifischen Durchgangswiderstand ist der Zusatz von leitenden Substanzen, wie z. B: Leitfähigkeitsruß, Graphit, Eisenoxid-, Kupfer- oder Aluminiumteilchen, metallisierte Glasfasern oder –kugeln, Edelstahlfasern oder Kohlenstofffasern, üblich. Die Substanzen werden dabei physikalisch in die Polymermatrix eingemischt. Je höher der Volumenanteil der Additive für die benötigte Ableitfähigkeit bezogen auf die Gesamtrezeptur ist, desto größer ist jedoch auch der Einfluss dieser Additive auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften in Relation zum unadditivierten Ausgangsmaterial. Unterschiedliche Polaritäten und Oberflächenspannungen von Additiv und Matrix bedingen zudem Probleme bei der Homogenisierung der Additive in der Matrix. Eine homogene Verteilung über das Volumen ist jedoch Voraussetzung dafür mit möglichst wenig Additiv die Perkolationsschwelle zu erreichen. Aus dieser Sicht hat sich eine reaktive Ankopplung von leitfähigen Gruppen an Matrix- oder sonstige geeignete Rezepturbestandteile in der Vergangenheit, z.B. für MDF, als erfolgreicher Weg erwiesen. Ziel war es, dieses Konzept auf duroplastische Kunststoffe zu übertragen und dessen spezifischen Oberflächenwiderstand von >10E12 Ω abzusenken. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit sollten die Materialien SMC (Sheet molding compound) und Epoxidharzlaminate eine antistatische Ausrüstung erhalten.

The synthesis of enantiopure compounds can be achieved by using dehydrogenases as biocatalysts. For instance, reduction reactions of prochiral compounds (ketones, aldehydes and nitriles) into chiral compounds can be achieved by dehydrogenases. These dehydrogenases are cofactor dependent where cofactor is Nicotinamide Adenin Dinucleotite having some restrictions that confines usage of dehydrogenases in organic synthesis including instability of cofactor in water and high cost. Therefore, suitable recycling methods are required and developed which are enzymatic and electrochemical. We will use an electrochemical approach for the regeneration of reduced co-factors. All active compounds / mediator, cofactor and enzyme, will be immobilized on the electrode surface of the constructed reactor surface. Therefore only educts and products will exist in the reactor medium. A gas diffusion electrode will be employed as a counter electrode / which delivers clear protons to the system. Mediator will carry electrons to the cofactor for cofactor regeneration. Then, enzyme will utilize the cofactor and change the substrates to the products in high stereoselectivity. Our aim in this project is the synthesis of mediators and suitable linkers for enzyme, cofactor and mediator immobilization. In the first part of the study, mediators were synthesized which are pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium bipyridine complexes. In the second part of the study, a conductive monomer (SNS) and linker were synthesized for immobilization of the enzyme. In the last part of the study, the reaction of galactitol dehydrogenase with monomer (SNS) was achieved.

One of the aim of this study is to prepare conductive polymer nanocomposites of polypropylene to obtain better mechanical and electrical properties. Composite materials based on conductive fillers dispersed within insulating thermoplastic matrices have wide range of application. For this purpose, conductive polymer nanocomposites of polypropylene with nano dimentional conductive fillers like carbon black, carbon nanotube and fullerene were prepared. Their mechanical, electrical and thermal properties were investigated. Polypropylene (PP)/carbon black (CB) composites at different compositions were prepared via melt blending of PP with CB. The effect of CB content on mechanical and electrical properties was studied. Test samples were prepared by injection molding and compression molding techniques. Also, the effect of processing type on mechanical and electrical properties was investigated. Composites become semiconductive with the addition of 2 wt% CB. Polypropylene (PP) / Carbon Nanotube (CNT) and Polypropylene / Fullerene composites were prepared by melt mixing. CNT&rsquo / s and fullerenes were surface functionalized with HNO3 : H2SO4 before composite preparation. The CNT and fullerene content in the composites were varied as 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 % by weight. For the composites which contain surface modified CNT and fullerene four different compatibilizers were used. These were selected as TritonX-100, Poly(ethylene-block-polyethylene glycol), Maleic anhydride grafted Polypropylene and Cetramium Bromide. The effect of surface functionalization and different compatibilizer on mechanical, thermal and electrical properties were investigated. Best value of these properties were observed for the composites which were prepared with maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene and cetramium bromide. Another aim of this study is to built and characterize transistors which have polyethylene as dielectric layers. While doing this, polyethylene layer was deposited on gate electrode using vacuum evaporation system. Fullerene , Pentacene ve Indigo were used as semiconductor layer. Transistors work with low voltage and high on/off ratio were built with Aluminum oxide - PE and PE dielectrics.