Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In the present work, we performed a study of the structural, electrical and optical properties of the compound LaCr1-xAlxO3 (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.5, 0.95 and 1.0) produced by the combustion method. The structural analyzes were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement, the electrical measurements using impedance spectroscopy and IV measurements, and optical measurements using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results of XRD allied to the Rietveld method of refinement indicate that the samples with x = 0.0 and 0.05, have an orthorhombic structure belonging to the space group Pnma (62), and for x = 0.5, 0.95 and 1.0, a rhombohedral structure belonging to the space group R-3c (167), thus taking place a structural transition in the material. The impedance spectroscopy measurements associated to the IV curves show that the samples with higher concentration of Al present higher resistance, and the samples with lower concentration of Al present less resistance. We observe that for high frequencies a decrease of dielectric constant with frequency occurs. In addition, the appearance of only a semicircle establishes the presence of non-Debye type relaxation, where an equivalent circuit composed of two resistors (R1 and R2) and a constant phase element (CPE) were used. By means of the absorption measurements in the ultraviolet to visible region (UV-Vis), we estimated the optical gap of the samples, through the tauc equation, which vary between 3.27 - 3.43 eV. Still, we observed that the increase in Al concentration favors the increase in transmittance in the material. / No presente trabalho, realizamos um estudo das propriedades estruturais, elétricas e ópticas do composto LaCr1-xAlxO3 (x=0,0; 0,05; 0,5; 0,95 e 1,0) produzido pelo método da combustão. As análises estruturais foram realizadas por meio de difração de raios-X (DRX) e refinamento Rietveld, as elétricas por meio de espectroscopia de impedância e medidas IV, e ópticas por meio de espectroscopia de UV-Vis. Os resultados de DRX aliados ao método de refinamento Rietveld indicam que as amostras com x = 0,0 e 0,05, apresentam uma estrutura ortorrômbica pertencente ao grupo espacial Pnma (62), e para x = 0,5; 0,95 e 1,0, uma estrutura romboédrica pertencente ao grupo espacial R-3c (167), ocorrendo assim uma transição estrutural no material. As medidas de espectroscopia de impedância associadas às curvas IV mostram que as amostras com maior concentração de Al apresentam maior resistência, e as amostras com menor concentração de Al apresentam menor resistência. Observamos que para altas frequências ocorre uma diminuição da constante dielétrica com a frequência. Além disso, o aparecimento de apenas um semicírculo estabelece a presença do relaxamento do tipo não-Debye, onde foi utilizado um circuito equivalente composto por duas resistências (R1 e R2), e um elemento de fase constante (CPE). Através das medidas de absorção na região do ultravioleta ao visível (UV-Vis) estimamos o gap óptico das amostras, através da equação de tauc, os quais variam entre 3,27 - 3,43 eV. Além disso, observamos que o aumento da concentração de Al favorece o aumento da transmitância no material. / São Cristóvão, SE

O objetivo sintético do presente trabalho é a síntese, caracterização e aplicação do polímero conjugado inédito de baixa Egap, poli(9,9-n-dioctil-2,7-fluorenilenovinilenoalt- 4,7-dibenzotiadiazol-2,5-tiofeno) (PF-BTB). A rota sintética proposta envolve 10 passos, dentre os quais destacam-se reações como a de Wittig e acoplamentos de paládio (Stille e Heck). A caracterização da molécula envolveu as técnicas de RMN de 1H, espectroscopias de infravermelho, UV-VIS e fluorescência, voltametria cíclica, análises térmicas (TGA e DSC) e cromatografia por permeação em gel. A primeira aplicação do polímero se deu na construção de um nariz eletrônico capaz de identificar com ótima precisão três variedades de tabaco (Burley, Flue Cured e Oriental), além de oito diferentes marcas comerciais de cigarro. Esses estudos, além da aplicação prática, serviram para mostrar a eficiência de um tipo novo de sensor para narizes eletrônicos, composto por um mesmo polímero condutor dopado com diferentes porfirinas, denominado sensor híbrido. Por fim, filmes finos do polímero PF-BTB, depositados sobre eletrodos de ouro, tiveram suas propriedades magnetorresistivas testadas em diferentes condições, apresentando valores maiores que 40%, o que é considerado muito alto para esse tipo de fenômeno em filmes poliméricos. / The aim of this work is the synthesis, characterization and application of a novel low Egap conjugated polymer, poly(9,9-n-octyl-2,7-fluorenevinylene-alt-4,7- benzothiadiazole-2,5-thiophene) (PF-BTB). The synthetic pathway comprises 10 steps, involving reaction such as Wittig\'s and palladium cross-couplings (Heck\'s and Stille\'s). The molecule was characterized by the following techniques: 1H NMR, spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, UV-VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy), cyclic voltammetry, thermal analyses (TGA and DSC) and gel permeation chromatography. The polymer was first used to build an electronic nose, which successfully identified three tobacco types (Burley, Flue Cured and Oriental) with high accuracy. The same system could also identify eight different cigarette brands. Besides this practical application, the experiments were designed to show the power of a new sensor type, composed by a single conductive polymer doped with different porphyrins, a composite sensor. Finally, thin films of PF-BTB deposited onto gold electrodes had their magnetoresistive properties tested under different conditions. The material showed magnetoresistance values higher than 40%, which is considered outstanding for this kind of polymeric films.

The study of self-sensing cementitious materials is a constantly expanding topic of study in the materials and civil engineering fields and refers to the creation and utilization of cement-based materials (including cement paste, cement mortar, and concrete) that are capable of sensing (i.e. measuring) stress and strain states without the use of embedded or attached sensors. With the inclusion of electrically conductive fillers, cementitious materials can become truly self-sensing. Previous researchers have provided only qualitative studies of self-sensing material stress-electrical response. The overall goal of this research was to modify and apply previously developed predictive models on cylinder compression test data in order to provide a means to quantify stress-strain behavior from electrical response. The Vipulanandan and Mohammed (2015) stress-resistivity model was selected and modified to predict the stress state, up to yield, of cement cylinders enhanced with nanoscale iron(III) oxide (nanoFe2O3) particles based on three mix design parameters: nanoFe2O3 content, water-cement ratio, and curing time. With the addition of a nonlinear model, parameter values were obtained and compiled for each combination of nanoFe2O3 content and water-cement ratio for the 28-day cured cylinders. This research provides a procedure and lays the framework for future expansion of the predictive model.

Novel uses of wheat gluten (WG) proteins, obtained e.g. as a coproduct from bio-ethanol production, are presented in this thesis. A flame-retardant foam was prepared via in-situ polymerization of hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in a denatured WG matrix (Paper I). The TEOS formed a well-dispersed silica phase in the walls of the foam. With silica contents ≥ 6.7 wt%, the foams showed excellent fire resistance. An aspect of the bio-based foams was their high sensitivity to fungi and bacterial growth. This was addressed in Paper II using a natural antimicrobial agent Lanasol. In the same paper, a swelling of 32 times its initial weight in water was observed for the pristine WG foam and both capillary effects and cell wall absorption contributed to the high uptake. In Paper III, conductive and flexible foams were obtained using carbon-based nanofillers and plasticizer. It was found that the electrical resistance of the carbon nanotubes and carbon black filled foams were strain-independent, which makes them suitable for applications in electromagnetic shielding (EMI) and electrostatic discharge protection (ESD). Paper IV describes a ‘water-welding’ method where larger pieces of WG foams were made by wetting the sides of the smaller cubes before being assembled together. The flexural strength of welded foams was ca. 7 times higher than that of the same size WG foam prepared in one piece. The technique provides a strategy for using freeze-dried WG foams in applications where larger foams are required. Despite the versatile functionalities of the WG-based materials, the mechanical properties are often limited due to the brittleness of the dry solid WG. WG/flax composites were developed for improved mechanical properties of WG (Paper V). The results revealed that WG, reinforced with 19 wt% flax fibres, had a strength that was ca. 8 times higher than that of the pure WG matrix. Furthermore, the crack-resistance was also significantly improved in the presence of the flax. / <p>QC 20170524</p>

In this research were studied electrochemical properties of films polypyrrole, poly[(12-pyrrol-1’yldodecanoic acid)], poly[1-(3-brominepropylpyrrole)], poly[1-(3-iodinepropylpyrrole) and poly[4-(3-pyrrolyl)butyric acid] prepared by electrochemical methods and deposited onto Indium Tin doped Oxide. The polymers were obtained from the electrochemical deposition methods potentiodynamic, potentiostatic and galvanostatic and characterized by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The polypyrrole and poly [4 - (3-pyrrolyl) butyric acid] showed capacitive behavior as poly[(12-pyrrol-1’yl dodecanoic acid)] e poly[1-(3-iodinepropylpyrrole) presented a redox couple attributed to the process of doping - undoping of polymers. The capacitive properties of the polymer were obtained from calculations coulombic efficiency and specific capacitance obtained from the charge-discharge curves of the films. The values obtained for these parameters demonstrated the possibility of application of these films in capacitors. All films showed color variations depending on the applied potential and the UV-Vis spectra for the films showed characteristic absorption bands and decrease of the energy gap by increasing the doping level of the polymer. The films were characterized by atomic force microscopy and showed good homogeneity. The values obtained for these parameters demonstrated the possibility of application of these films in electrochromic devices. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho foram estudadas as propriedades eletroquímicas dos filmes de polipirrol, poli[ácido(12-pirolildodecanóico)], poli[1-(3-bromopropilpirrol)], poli[1-(3-iodopropilpirrol)] e de poli[ácido4-(3-pirrolil)-butírico] preparados por métodos eletroquímicos e depositados sobre eletrodos de óxido de índio dopado com estanho. Os polímeros foram obtidos através dos métodos eletroquímicos de deposição potenciodinâmico, potenciostático e galvanostático e caracterizados por técnicas eletroquímicas e espectroscópicas. O polipirrol e poli[ácido-4-(3-pirrolil)-butírico] apresentaram comportamento capacitivo enquanto o poli [ácido (12-pirolildodecanóico)], poli[1-(3-bromopropilpirrol)] e o poli[1-(3-iodopropilpirrol)] apresentaram um par redox atribuído ao processo de dopagem-desdopagem dos polímeros. As propriedades capacitivas dos polímeros foram investigadas através de cálculos da eficiência coulômbica e da capacitância específicas obtidas a partir das curvas de carga-descarga dos filmes. Os valores obtidos para esses parâmetros demonstraram a possibilidade de aplicações destes filmes em capacitores. Todos os filmes apresentaram variações de coloração conforme o potencial aplicado e os espectros por UV-Vis para os filmes mostraram bandas de absorção características e diminuição da energia de gap pelo aumento do nível de dopagem dos polímeros. Os filmes foram caracterização por microscopia de força atômica e apresentaram boa homogeneidade. Os valores obtidos para esses parâmetros demonstraram a possibilidade de aplicações destes filmes em dispositivos eletrocrômicos.

O objetivo sintético do presente trabalho é a síntese, caracterização e aplicação do polímero conjugado inédito de baixa Egap, poli(9,9-n-dioctil-2,7-fluorenilenovinilenoalt- 4,7-dibenzotiadiazol-2,5-tiofeno) (PF-BTB). A rota sintética proposta envolve 10 passos, dentre os quais destacam-se reações como a de Wittig e acoplamentos de paládio (Stille e Heck). A caracterização da molécula envolveu as técnicas de RMN de 1H, espectroscopias de infravermelho, UV-VIS e fluorescência, voltametria cíclica, análises térmicas (TGA e DSC) e cromatografia por permeação em gel. A primeira aplicação do polímero se deu na construção de um nariz eletrônico capaz de identificar com ótima precisão três variedades de tabaco (Burley, Flue Cured e Oriental), além de oito diferentes marcas comerciais de cigarro. Esses estudos, além da aplicação prática, serviram para mostrar a eficiência de um tipo novo de sensor para narizes eletrônicos, composto por um mesmo polímero condutor dopado com diferentes porfirinas, denominado sensor híbrido. Por fim, filmes finos do polímero PF-BTB, depositados sobre eletrodos de ouro, tiveram suas propriedades magnetorresistivas testadas em diferentes condições, apresentando valores maiores que 40%, o que é considerado muito alto para esse tipo de fenômeno em filmes poliméricos. / The aim of this work is the synthesis, characterization and application of a novel low Egap conjugated polymer, poly(9,9-n-octyl-2,7-fluorenevinylene-alt-4,7- benzothiadiazole-2,5-thiophene) (PF-BTB). The synthetic pathway comprises 10 steps, involving reaction such as Wittig\'s and palladium cross-couplings (Heck\'s and Stille\'s). The molecule was characterized by the following techniques: 1H NMR, spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, UV-VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy), cyclic voltammetry, thermal analyses (TGA and DSC) and gel permeation chromatography. The polymer was first used to build an electronic nose, which successfully identified three tobacco types (Burley, Flue Cured and Oriental) with high accuracy. The same system could also identify eight different cigarette brands. Besides this practical application, the experiments were designed to show the power of a new sensor type, composed by a single conductive polymer doped with different porphyrins, a composite sensor. Finally, thin films of PF-BTB deposited onto gold electrodes had their magnetoresistive properties tested under different conditions. The material showed magnetoresistance values higher than 40%, which is considered outstanding for this kind of polymeric films.

No description available.

Electronic textiles, or smart textiles, is a field that is growing due to the opportunities it provides. Textile integrated electronics enables soft, flexible, lightweight electronic devices that enable long term monitoring within the medical field. Pressure sensors is one device within this field that has been researched. A textile integrated pressure sensor enables monitoring of heart rate, muscle activity, posture, gait phases and finger movements. In this project a resistive pressure sensor has been produced using embroidery with the purpose of investigating how construction and design parameters influence the resistance-pressure relationship. The study consisted in different phases where in Phase I parameters such as fabric substrate, stitch length and yarn type was examined. Phase II investigated design parameters like electrode pattern design, sensor shape, trace distance and size. In the design phase a new electrode pattern and sensor shape was tested. Finally in Phase III a sensor matix and sensor chain was constructed in order to evaluate the possibility of obtaining touch location. The findings in this study showed that the shape, size and yarn type had the most distinct influence on the sensor performance in regards to the resistance-pressure relationship. In an additional recovery test the results indicated that both textile substrate and stitch length could influence the ability to recover to its original shape after applying cyclic pressure. It was also found that the new pattern design performed equally to the conventional pattern designs and at the same time reduced material consumption as well as the embroidery time. The sensor matrix and sensor chain could display a change in resistance when applying a weight at each sensing element, implying that touch location could be detected, but would need further development in construction before potential implementation.

The presented master’s thesis deals with antennas transmitting energy along conductive materials. Surface waves are used for energy transmission. According to its properties, the horn antenna was chosen for the problem solution. This thesis includes the theoretical analysis of surface waves, waveguides and horn antennas. The concept of antennas includes the comparison of two different materials and two different frequencies. From the set of 8GHz antennas, the structure of two antennas where one wearing the other was chosen as the most suitable. The FoamClad material was also selected due to achievement of better parameters and properties then material CuClad. This structure was designed by two identical horn antennas where the energy between them is transmitted via slot. The suitable feeding and parallel plates were designed, and further the current structure was modified to SIW structure. The designed antenna was manufactured and its properties were measured for further comparison with simulation results. Furthermore, achieved differences between simulated and real antenna are discussed.

<p>By using flexible and stretchable materials in place of fixed components, soft robots can materially adapt or change to their environment, providing built-in safeties for robotic operation around humans or fragile, delicate objects. And yet, building a robot out of only soft and flexible materials can be a significant challenge depending on the tasks that the robot needs to perform, for example if the robot were to need to exert higher forces (even temporarily) or self-report its current state (as it deforms unexpectedly around external objects). Thus, the appeal of multifunctional materials for soft robots, wherein the materials used to build the body of the robot also provide actuation, sensing, or even simply electrical connections, all while maintaining the original vision of environmental adaptability or safe interactions. Multifunctional material systems are explored throughout the body of this dissertation in three ways: (1) Sensor integration into high strain actuators for state estimation and closed-loop control. (2) Simplified control of multifunctional material systems by enabling multiple functions through a single input stimulus (<i>i.e.</i>, only requiring one source of input power). (3) Presenting a solution for the open challenge of controlling both well established and newly developed thermally-responsive soft robotic materials through an on-body, high strain, uniform, Joule-heating energy source. Notably, these explorations are not isolated from each other as, for example, work towards creating a new material for thermal control also facilitated embedded sensory feedback. The work presented in this dissertation paves a way forward for multifunctional material integration, towards the end-goal of full-functioning soft robots, as well as (more broadly) design methodologies for other safety-forward or adaptability-forward technologies.</p>