Les matériaux à propriétés thermoélectriques sont utilisés pour des applications de récupération d'énergie thermique, de génération de froid ou encore de détection de flux de chaleur. L'efficacité de ces matériaux, caractérisée par les facteurs de mérite et de puissance thermoélectriques, est optimale lorsque le coefficient Seebeck, la conductivité électrique, et la résistivité thermique sont élevés. Aux températures ambiantes, les meilleurs rendements sont atteints pour des alliages basés sur le tellurure de bismuth Bi2Te3 dont le coût et la toxicité sont des verrous pour le développement d'applications à grande échelle. Dans l'optique du développement d'alternatives à ces matériaux, les polymères conjugués sont envisagés depuis quelques années. Leurs propriétés sont toutefois largement inférieures à celles du Bi2Te3.Cette thèse a pour objectif l'étude et l'amélioration des performances thermoélectriques de matériaux basés sur le poly(3,4-éthylènedioxythiophène) ou PEDOT. Elle s'organise principalement autour de trois axes de travail. La première partie présente l'étude de propriétés thermoélectriques de formulations commerciales de PEDOT. L'influence de divers paramètres (l'ajout d'inclusions, l'utilisation d'un dopant secondaire, la modification de son taux d'oxydation…) sur les propriétés thermoélectriques est mesurée. Notamment, l'efficacité du dopage secondaire pour améliorer le facteur de puissance du matériau, ainsi que la relation entre le taux d'oxydation et le coefficient Seebeck du matériau, sont mis en évidence.Dans un second temps, le PEDOT est synthétisé avec des contre-ions à faible encombrement stérique et peu coordinants. Les propriétés thermoélectriques des matériaux obtenus sont supérieures à celles offertes par les formulations commerciales. La forte dépendance entre le transport de charge et la structure du matériau est mise en évidence. De plus, une méthode de dopage primaire du matériau permettant une forte augmentation de la conductivité électrique a été étudiée.Enfin, des pistes de réflexion pour l'intégration des matériaux développés dans cette thèse ont été explorées. Dans ce cadre, des méthodes de mises en forme originales ont notamment été démontrées.Cette thèse a permis d'apporter des éléments de compréhension sur les relations entre les propriétés thermoélectriques des polymères conjugués, leur taux d'oxydation, la nature de leurs dopants, et leur structure. Les résultats obtenus laissent envisager plusieurs voies d'optimisation des propriétés des matériaux organiques qui devront faire l'objet de futurs travaux. / Thermoelectric materials are useful for applications such as heat waste recovery, cold production or heat flux detection. The factor of merit and the power factor of the materials characterize their efficiency. These factors are optimal for high Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal resistivity. The higher yields for room-temperature applications are achieved with materials based on bismuth telluride alloys, but the cost and the toxicity of these materials prevent the development of large-scale applications. In recent years, conjugated polymers have been contemplated as alternatives for Bi2Te3, however, their thermoelectric properties are significantly lower.This thesis aims at studying and improving the thermoelectric performances of materials based on poly3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) or PEDOT. It consists of three areas of work. In the first part the thermoelectric properties of commercial formulations of PEDOT is presented. The influence of various parameters (such as additional loads, secondary doping species or redox reactions) on the thermoelectric properties is studied. Notably, the propensity of secondary doping to improve the power factor of the material, and the relationship between the oxidation and the Seebeck coefficient of the material rate, are set evidences.In a second part of the work, PEDOT is synthetized with less sterically hindered, poorly coordinating counter-ions. Thermoelectric properties of the resulting materials are higher than those offered by commercial formulations and the strong dependence of the charge transport and the material structure are highlighted. Moreover, a method of doping the primary material allowing great increases of the electrical conductivity was also studied.Finally, several routes for the integration of the above mentioned materials in thermoelectric modules are explored. Original shaping methods have been demonstrated.This thesis provides understandings on the relationship between the thermoelectric properties, the oxidation rate and the structure of conjugated polymers. The results suggest that several ways can be considered in order to improve the thermoelectric efficiency of these materials. These routes will be the subject of future work.

The current state of wireless sensing technologies possesses a good reliability in terms of time response and sensing on movable parts or in embedded structures. Nevertheless, these tech- nologies involve energy supply such as battery and suffer from low resolution and bulky signal conditioning system for data processing. Thus, a RFID passive wireless sensor is a good candidate to overcome these issues. The feasibility of implementing microstrip patch antennas for sensing application were successfully investigated; however, low sensitivity was always a big issue to be concerned. Sensors based on nanocomposites attracted a lot of attention because of their excellent performance in term of light weight, high sensitivity, good stability and high resistance to corrosion but it lacks the capability of high conductivity, which limit their implication into RFID applications. This work introduces a novel high sensitive passive wireless strain and temperature sensors based on nanocomposites as sensing layer. To accomplish this, intrinsically conductive polymer based on carbon nanofillers nanocomposites are deeply studied and characterized. Then it’s performance is evaluated. Among them a novel tertiary nanocomposite is introduced, which opens the gate to new nanocomposite applications and thus broad- ens the application spectrum. Understanding the transport mechanism to improve the conductivity of the nanocomposite and extracting individually different models based on physical explanation of their piezoresistivity, and behavior under temperature and humidity have been developed. Afterwards, selected nanocomposites based on their high sensitivity to either strain or temperature are chosen to be used as sensing layer for patch antenna. The fabricated patch antenna has only one fundamental frequency, by determining the shift in its resonance frequency as function of the desired property to be measured; the wireless sensor characteristics are then examined. For strain sensing, the effect of strain is tested experimentally with the help of end-loaded beam measurement setup. For temperature sensing, the sensors are loaded in a controlled temperature/humid chamber and with the help of a vector network analyzer, the sensitivity of the antennas are extracted by acquiring the shift in the resonance frequency. The fabricated wireless sensors based on patch antenna are fabricated on very low lossy material to improve their gain and radiation pattern. This approach could be expanded also to include different type of substrates such as stretchable substrates i.e. elastomer polymer, very thing substrates such as Kapton, paper-based substrates or liquid crystal polymer.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The link between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from breath and various diseases and specific conditions has been identified since long by the researchers. Canine studies and breath sample analysis on Gas chromatography/ Mass Spectroscopy has proven that there are VOCs in the breath that can detect and potentially predict hypoglycemia. This project aims at developing a smart nanosensor system to detect hypoglycemia from human breath. The sensor system comprises of 1-Mercapto-(triethylene glycol) methyl ether functionalized goldnanoparticle (EGNPs) sensors coated with polyetherimide (PEI) and poly(vinylidene fluoride -hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) and polymer composite sensor made from PVDF-HFP-Carbon Black (PVDF-HFP/CB), an interface circuit that performs signal conditioning and amplification, and a microcontroller with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to control the interface circuit and communicate with an external personal digital assistant. The sensors were fabricated and tested with 5 VOCs in dry air and simulated breath (a mixture of air, small portion of acetone, ethanol at high humidity) to investigate sensitivity and selectivity. The name of the VOCs is not disclosed herein but these VOCs have been identified in-breath and are identified as potential biomarkers for other diseases as well. The sensor hydrophobicity has been studied using contact angle measurement. The GNPs size was verified using Ultra-Violent-Visible (UV-VIS) Spectroscopy. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) image is used to show GNPs embedded in the polymer film. The sensors sensitivity increases by more than 400\% in an environment with relative humidity (RH) of 93\% and the sensors show selectivity towards VOCs of interest. The interface circuit was designed on Eagle PCB and was fabricated using a two-layer PCB. The fabricated interface circuit was simulated with variable resistance and was verified with experiments. The system is also tested at different power source voltages and it was found that the system performance is optimum at more than 5 volts. The sensor fabrication, testing methods, and results are presented and discussed along with interface circuit design, fabrication, and characterization. / 2022-05-8

<p>As the future of energy looks increasingly electrified, the development of safe and sustainable battery technologies has never been more relevant. This is particularly critical for applications in stationary energy storage and transportation, where batteries must be produced and stored at large scale. Sustainability is necessary to meet the volume of demand at reasonable cost without straining resources. Safety is also paramount since fires can easily spread from one cell to the next and result in catastrophe when batteries are stored in proximity for large power banks or EVs. The focus of this thesis is thus to design and engineer materials for rechargeable batteries, which improve safety and sustainability while still enhancing the electrochemical performance. Towards this end, polymers play a central role throughout this thesis work due to their tunable chemical and physical properties.</p>

A new method for pre-impregnating nickel coated carbon fiber with a thermoplastic polymer to make towpreg, similar to a recently developed coating-line by João P. Nunes et al and a new electrically conductive thermoplastic are developed. A melted bath was used to help mitigate health concerns and waste for dispersion of nickel coated carbon fibers (NCF) in low density polyethylene (LDPE). This towpreg was then mixed with more LDPE or a mixture of LDPE and nickel nanostrands (NiNS) to a desired filler volume fraction to test the electrical conductivity of the composite. Some of these mixtures were then injection molded and tested again for conductivity as well as tensile and impact strength and compared to each other and the non-injection molded samples. It was found that mixing NiNS into the polymer in addition to NCF created a more conductive part than with NCF alone, in a couple orders of magnitude. Also, the shorter the NCF were, the greater the contribution of the NiNS to the electrical properties of the NCF filled material. The tensile strength was increased by adding the NCF and NiNS, while the impact strength (toughness) decreased.

Aluminium och aluminiumlegeringar har ganska bra korrosionsbeständighet, men dessa material kan fortfarande korrodera. Metallkorrosion är aldrig önskvärt och det kan leda till katastrofala resultat i olika branscher och applikationer. Det finns olika metoder för att skydda aluminium och dess legeringar från korrosion, såsom anodisering och användning av olika beläggningstekniker. Inte mycket forskning har gjorts på aluminium belagd med en organisk beläggning innehållande ledande polymer. Ännu mindre är känt om aluminium belagt med en vattenbaserad polymer matris innehållande ledande polymer.  Tre system undersöktes i mitt examensarbete om deras korrosionsskyddande egenskaper. För detta ändamål användes elektrokemisk impedansspektroskopi, öppen kretspotential och potentiodynamisk polarisering, samt gjordes även en del atomkraftsmikroskopi, AFM, mätningar. Aluminium belagt med en vattenbaserad polymer matris i frånvaro av PANI hade ett bra korrosionsskydd först men reducerade barriäregenskaper över tiden i 1 M NaCl. Hållbarheten för den vattenbaserade polymer matrisen i frånvaro av PANI undersöktes också kort. Det visades att en nygjord vattenbaserad polymer matris uppvisade bättre korrosionsskydd än en 2 år gammal vattenbaserad polymer matris lagrad vid rumstemperatur.  Aluminium belagt med den vattenbaserade polymer matrisen i närvaro av PANI visade initialt tecken på aktivt korrosionsskydd men övergick till passivt korrosionsskydd med tiden. Atomkraftmikroskop användes i olika lägen för att få insikt om den vattenbaserade polymer matrisen i närvaro av PANI. Ett ledande nätverk observerades i AFM-mätningarna och konfokalt ljusmikroskop antydde verkligen att detta skulle vara fallet. Det ledande nätverket i den vattenbaserade polymer matrisen kan förklara det aktiva korrosionsskyddet som observerades initialt. Fler studier behövs för att få insikt om de kemiska processerna vid gränssnittet mellan aluminiumlegeringen och den vattenbaserade polymer matrisen i närvaro av PANI. / Aluminum and aluminum alloys have rather good corrosion resistance, but these materials can still corrode. Metal corrosion is never wanted, and it can lead to disastrous outcomes in various industries and applications. There are different methods to protects aluminum and its alloys from corrosion, such as anodization and the use of various coatings techniques. Not a lot of research have been done on aluminum coated with an organic coating containing conductive polymer. Even less is known about aluminum coated with a waterborne polymer matrix containing conductive polymer.  Three systems were investigated in my diploma thesis work regarding their anti-corrosion properties. To this end electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, open circuit potential and potentiodynamic polarization were utilized, and also some atomic force microscopy, AFM, measurements were done. Aluminum coated with a waterborne polymer matrix in the absence of PANI had a good corrosion protection at first but reduced barrier properties over time in 1 M NaCl. The shelf-life of the waterborne polymer matrix in the absence of PANI was also briefly investigated. It was shown that a freshly made waterborne polymer matrix exhibited better corrosion protection than a 2 years old waterborne polymer matrix stored at room temperature.  Aluminum coated with the waterborne polymer matrix in the presence of PANI showed signs of active corrosion protection initially, but it transitioned to passive corrosion protection with time. Atomic force microscopy was used in various modes to gain insight on the waterborne polymer matrix in the presence of PANI. A conducting network was observed in the AFM measurements and confocal light optical microscopy indeed suggested that this would be the case. The conducting network in the waterborne polymer matrix could explain the active corrosion protection observed initially. More studies are needed to gain insight on the chemical processes at the interface of the aluminum alloy and the waterborne polymer matrix in presence of PANI.

Ces dernières années, les matériaux fonctionnels hybrides ont commencé à être employés pour des applications de la haute technologie, allant des senseurs bio/médicaux, à la production d’énergie renouvelable. Pour cette raison, ils sont devenus le centre de plusieurs études dans le domaine des sciences des matériaux. Simultanément, des molécules conjuguées ont été examinée intensément à cause de leurs propriétés venant de leurs longs systèmes π, allant de la possibilité de conduire l’électricité, à leur capacité d’absorber la lumière dans une grande fenêtre spectrale. Le travail de cette thèse se concentre sur l’introduction de tels systèmes dans deux sortes de matériaux hybrides, les dispositifs photovoltaïques pour la production d’électricité (en particuliers les cellules solaires à pigment photosensible) et de carburants alternatifs (hydrogène), et pour les hydrogels biocompatibles sensibles aux stimuli (capables de conduire l’électricité et de réagir sous irradiation), et sur l’étude de leur influence sur les caractéristiques du matériau final. / In recent years hybrid functional materials began to be employed in a series of technologically advanced applications spanning from bio/medical sensors, to renewable energy generation. For this reason, they became the focus of several studies in the field of materials science. At the same time, conjugated molecules have also been intensively investigated, due to the properties arising by the presence of long π-conjugated systems, from the possibility to conduct electricity to the ability to absorb light in a wide range of wavelengths. This PhD work focused on the introduction of such systems in two different kinds of hybrid materials, namely photovoltaic devices for the production of electricity (in particular Dye Sensitzed Solar Cells) and alternative fuels (hydrogen), and biocompatible stimuli-responsive hydrogels (capable to conduct electricity and to react upon irradiation), and on the study of their influence on the characteristics of the final material.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:53:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rebeque_pvs_me_ilha.pdf: 2184375 bytes, checksum: 85d1dba31d0aecfc00a6316b5737526f (MD5) / Compósitos poliméricos condutores, também chamados de polímeros condutores extrínsecos, têm sido alvo de intensa pesquisa científica devido ao seu grande potencial de aplicação nos mais diversificados setores industriais. Esses materiais combinam as características de um polímero (leveza, flexibilidade, fácil processamento) com as de cargas condutoras (alta condutividade). O poliuretano derivado de óleo de mamona (PUR) é um polímero obtido pela mistura de pré-polímero e poliol (derivado de óleo de mamona) que apresenta grande potencial para ser utilizado como matriz polimérica em compósitos. Ele possui propriedades equivalentes aos dos poliuretanos (PU) convencionais e tem como vantagem ser um polímero biodegradável e proveniente de fonte renovável. Em relação às cargas condutoras, o negro de fumo (NF) é um dos materiais mais utilizados para esse fim, enquanto que pouco se encontra na literatura sobre o carvão ativado nano em pó (CANP), mesmo possuindo estrutura semelhante e maior condutividade que o NF. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo viabilizar os processos de síntese e fazer a caracterização elétrica dos compósitos poliuretano derivado de óleo de mamona/carvão ativado nano em pó (PUR/CANP) e poliuretano derivado de óleo de mamona/negro de fumo (PUR/NF) na forma de filmes pelo método “casting”, mantendo fixa a razão pré-polímero/poliol e variando a fração de volume de CANP e NF. A análise térmica foi feita por Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC), o estudo da condutividade dc e ac foram feitas pelo Método de Duas Pontas (tensão x corrente) (MDP) e pela técnica de Espectroscopia de Impedância Elétrica (EIE), respectivamente, e a análise morfológica foi feita em Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura com canhão de elétrons por... / Conductive polymer composites, also called extrinsic conducting polymers, has been the subject of intense scientific research due to its great potential for industrial application. These materials combine the characteristics of a polymer (lightness, flexibility, easy processing) with the conductive fillers (high conductivity). The castor oil based polyurethane (PUR) is a polymer obtained from pre-polymer and polyol (based castor oil) mixing which has great potential to be used as matrix polymer in composites. It has properties equivalent to those of conventional polyurethane (PU) and has the advantage of being a biodegradable polymer and from a renewable source. In relation to conductive fillers, carbon black (CB) is one of the most widely used materials for this purpose, while in the literature there are few data about activated carbon nanopowder (ACNP), despite having similar structure and that the higher conductivity than CB. In this context, this work aims to provide the synthesis processes and electrically characterize of composite castor oil based polyurethane/activated carbon nanopowder (PUR/ACNP) and castor oil based polyurethane/carbon black (PUR/CB) in the form of films by casting, keeping the ratio pré-polímero/poliol fixed and varying the volume fraction ACNP and CB. The sample were characterized using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Two Points Method (voltage x current) (TPM), Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Scanning Electron Microscope with electron gun for field emission (FEG-SEM). DSC results showed that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of composites do not depend of type or volume fraction of conductive fillers. The results of electrical analysis showed that the samples of PUR/CB have lower percolation threshold than those of PUR/ACNP (20% vs. 40%). This result is due the distribution... (Summary complete electronic access click below)