Podophyllotoxin is a natural medicine possessing an outstanding anti-tumour activity. It can be extracted from the rhizome of Podophillum peltatum (American Podophyllum). Volumetric heating of a packed bed of particles including solvent during the extraction can eliminate the solvent pre-heating time and provide uniform and quick heating of the bed. RF-assisted extraction has a potential to be a promising extraction alternative over conventional methods. The characterization and assessment of RF-assisted extraction of podophyllotoxin is crucial. Thermal properties including specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity of a packed bed of P. peltatum with and without ethanol solutions were determined and the associated multiples regression equations were obtained for the purpose of thermal analysis of RF-assisted packed bed extraction process and related modeling investigations.<p> The dielectric properties of the packed bed of rhizome particles were measured from 10 to 30 MHz using a precision LCR meter and a liquid test fixture. The effects of temperature, particle moisture content, volumetric concentration of ethanol and bed porosity on the dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and power penetration depth were investigated. The dielectric loss factor significantly increased with the particle moisture content for the beds with 100% and 70% ethanol but not with 30% ethanol. The dielectric loss factor was proportional to temperature directly and to frequency inversely. With 30% ethanol (and therefore 70% water), the dielectric loss factor of the bed dramatically increased compared to 70% and 100% ethanol. Porosity had a significant effect on the dielectric constant but not on the dielectric loss factor. The power penetration depth of a packed bed with 100% ethanol was significantly larger than those of the packed bed with 30% and 70% ethanol. Empirical regression equations were developed for simulation and design of an RF-assisted packed bed extraction of podophyllotoxin.<p> A RF-transparent batch reactor was made of glass filled Teflon and the extraction kinetics of podophyllotoxin was characterized. The effects of temperature, ethanol volumetric concentration, solid/liquid ratio, RF heating and particle moisture content on the extraction rate and yield of podophyllotoxin were investigated at different extraction conditions. A generalized diffusion mathematical model taking into account three major particle geometries was developed and coupled with genetic algorithm for determination of effective diffusivity and partition coefficient through an inverse simulation approach. The approach was first verified by reported experimental data of andrographolide extraction followed by determining the effective diffusivity and partition coefficient of podophyllotoxin for different conditions. The optimum batch extraction condition was achieved with 30% ethanol-water solution at 53¢XC. A prototype was developed for RF-assisted extraction of podophyllotoxin using two optical and RF-transparent reactors with horizontal and vertical orientations. Applying the optimum conditions obtained from batch experiments, the potential of RF heating for providing a uniform temperature in the packed bed was evaluated. The effect of solvent dielectric loss factor on uniform RF heating was investigated and the chemical effect of NaCl used for increasing dielectric loss factor of the solvent on podophyllotoxin was assessed. The horizontal packed bed demonstrated a large temperature gradient across the thickness of the bed during RF heating; however, a uniform RF heating was achieved when the vertical packed bed reactor was used for RF-assisted extraction of podophyllotoxin. The concentration of 2.5 g NaCl/L of the solvent at the temperature controller set point of 40aC provided a relatively good uniform temperature of 50aC within the bed. Evaluating three flow rates of 130, 160 and 200 ml/min for the solvent of 30% ethanol with 2.5 g NaCl/L indicated that the flow rate of 160 ml/min could provide better temperature overlap of four positions of the bed height.

No description available.

The main objective was to determine the variation of physical properties of different cake formulations during baking in microwave and infrared-microwave combination ovens. In the first part of the study, rheological and dielectric properties of cake batter with different formulations were determined. Different concentrations of fat and different types of emulsifier and fat replacer were used. The variation of formulation had a significant effect on the apparent viscosity of the cake batter. Cake batter was found to show shear thinning and time independent behaviour for all formulations. Dielectric properties of cake batter were dependent on formulation, frequency and temperature. In the second part of the study, physical properties (dielectric properties, volume, texture, color and porosity) of cakes baked in microwave and infrared-microwave combination oven were determined. In addition, starch gelatinization during baking was investigated. For comparison, cakes were also baked in conventional oven. Formulation and baking time were found to affect physical properties and gelatinization degree of cakes. Addition of fat to the formulation was found to increase the dielectric properties and gelatinization degree of microwave and infrared-microwave combination baked cakes. For both microwave and combination baking, cake samples with SimplesseTM had the highest volume but the firmest texture. Addition of maltodextrin resulted in a more uniform structure for infrared-microwave combination baking. There was insufficient gelatinization in microwave baked cakes ranging from 70 to 78% depending on fat content. The gelatinization degree ranged from 88 to 93% in conventionally baked cakes. Combining infrared with microwaves increased gelatinization degree (80-90%).

The aim of this study is to produce Nb doped PZT thin films and then investigate the effects of Nb+5 ion on the structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties. Niobium (Nb) doped lead zirconate titanate thin films (PNZT) were produced by solution deposition with nominal compositions, Pb(1-0.5x)(Zr0.53Ti0.47)1-xNbxO3 where x = 0.00 - 0.07. Single and multi-layered films were deposited onto (111)-Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si-(100) substrates by spin coating. PZT compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) was chosen because excellent ferroelectric and dielectric properties were achieved in this area. The effects of sintering temperature, sintering time, variation of thickness in the films and change of niobium content were investigated with regard to phase development, microstructure, and ferroelectric and dielectric characteristics. The best results were obtained in double layered films (390 nm) which were sintered at 600 &deg / C for 1 h. Grain size of the films decreases with increasing Nb content except for 1 at % Nb doped films. The average grain size of 1 at % Nb doped thin films was calculated as 130 nm by using FESEM. Optimum doping level was found in 1 at % Nb doped films. For 1 at % Nb doped [Pb0.995(Zr0.53Ti0.47)0.99Nb0.01O3] films, remnant polarization (Pr) of 35.75 &amp / #956 / C/cm2 and coercive field (Ec) of 75.65 kV/cm have been obtained. The maximum dielectric constant was achieved in 1 at % Nb doped films which was 689. Tangent loss values were found between 2-4 % and these values were independent of Nb concentrations. Ferroelectric and dielectric properties were decreased at higher Nb doping levels because of the changes in the grain size, distortion of the crystal structure and pinning of the domains.

The miniaturization of chemical and biological sensors has received considerable attention in recent years for medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical screening, military applications, etc. One interesting area of development in microfluidic system is detecting dielectric properties of MUT (Material Under Test) using IDC (Interdigital Capacitor) electrodes. The IDC chemical sensor has been investigated by many researchers because they are cheap to manufacture and can be easily integrated with other sensing components and signal processing electronics. This dissertation presents the design, fabrication, and testing of an IDC (interdigital capacitor) electrode sensor for a fluid property monitoring component that can be integrated into a microfluidic system. One practical point of this research is the analytical evaluation of the interdigital electrode capacitance for the detection of conductivity and permittivity of the aqueous solutions, which is not apparently analyzed in other chemical sensor applications. In addition, a new noble methodology of remotely accessing the IDC sensor by wireless inductive coupling similar to EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) tags is presented. / text

Τα σύνθετα συστήματα πολυμερικής μήτρας – κεραμικών εγκλεισμάτων φαίνεται ότι μπορούν να αποτελέσουν μία νέα γενιά υλικών υψηλού τεχνολογικού ενδιαφέροντος. Από την άλλη μεριά η σημασία των νανουλικών και νανοδομημένων υλικών είναι ευρέως αποδεκτή στις μέρες μας, τόσο σε επίπεδο βασικής έρευνας όσο και σε τεχνολογικό επίπεδο. Το σύγχρονο αυτό ερευνητικό πεδίο περιλαμβάνει τη μελέτη των νανοσύνθετων ή πολυφασικών υλικών, στα οποία μια ή περισσότερες από τις χωρικές διαστάσεις κάποιας φάσης βρίσκεται στην περιοχή των νανομέτρων (1 nm = 10-9 m = 10 ). Αυτό που ξεχωρίζει τα νανοσύνθετα από τα άλλα συμβατά σύνθετα υλικά είναι η ικανότητα τους να συνδυάζουν ιδιότητες, οι οποίες είναι απαγορευτικές για τα παραδοσιακά υλικά, αλλά και η μεγάλη λειτουργικότητα που παρουσιάζουν. Η διασπορά μίκρο- και νάνο-κεραμικών εγκλεισμάτων στο εσωτερικό πολυμερούς, οδηγεί σε σύνθετα συστήματα με βελτιωμένη μηχανική απόκριση, που όμως διατηρούν την ηλεκτρική συμπεριφορά των εγκλεισμάτων. Υλικά υψηλής ηλεκτρικής διαπερατότητας (high-K materials) είναι απαραίτητα σε πολλές εφαρμογές της ηλεκτρονικής, επειδή είναι σε θέση να μειώνουν τα ρεύματα διαρροής, ενώ παράλληλα λειτουργούν και ως ενσωματωμένοι μικρο-πυκνωτές. Σύνθετα πολυμερικά υλικά που ενσωματώνουν σιδηροηλεκτρικά κεραμικά στοιχεία παρουσιάζουν μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον καθώς, η ηλεκτρική τους απόκριση πέραν των αναμενόμενων εξαρτήσεων (περιεκτικότητα, γεωμετρία και τρόπος διασποράς των εγκλεισμάτων) σχετίζεται και με τη θερμοκρασιακά ελεγχόμενη μετάβαση των εγκλεισμάτων από τη σιδηροηλεκτρική στην παραηλεκτρική φάση. Τέτοιου είδους λειτουργικά σύνθετα, αναφέρονται συχνά και ως ευφυή συστήματα. Στην παρούσα εργασία παρασκευάσθηκαν συστήματα πολυμερικής μήτρας – μικρο- και νανο-σωματιδίων κεραμικού BaTiO3 και στη συνέχεια εξετάσθηκαν οι διηλεκτρικές τους ιδιότητες, με παραμέτρους την περιεκτικότητα σε BaTiO3, τη θερμοκρασία και τη συχνότητα του εφαρμοζόμενου πεδίου. Η διηλεκτρική φασματοσκοπία (Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy) έχει αποδειχθεί ως ένα ισχυρό εργαλείο για την έρευνα της μοριακής κινητικότητας, των αλλαγων φάσης, των μηχανισμών αγωγιμότητας και των διεπιφανειακών φαινομένων στα πολυμερή και τα σύνθετα πολυμερικά συστήματα. Η διηλεκτρική απόκριση των νανοσυνθέτων εξετάστηκε με τη βοήθεια της διηλεκτρικής φασματοσκοπίας (BDS) στο εύρος συχνοτήτων 10-1-10 7 Hz και στο διάστημα θερμοκρασιών από 30οC έως 160οC. Από τα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα προκύπτει πως παρατηρούνται διηλεκτρικές χαλαρώσεις που οφείλονται τόσο στην πολυμερική μήτρα, όσο και στην ενισχυτική φάση. Τρεις διακριτοί τρόποι χαλάρωσης καταγράφηκαν στα φάσματα των συστημάτων που μελετήθηκαν και αποδίδονται στη διεπιφανειακή πόλωση (IP) μήτρας/εγκλεισμάτων, στην υαλώδη μετάβαση (α - χαλάρωση) των πολυμερών και στην κίνηση πλευρικών πολικών ομάδων (β - χαλάρωση) των αλυσίδων. Η λειτουργική συμπεριφορά των μίκρο- και νάνο-σύνθετων βασίζεται στην μετάβαση “αταξίας”- “τάξης” που παρατηρείται στο BaTiO3 στην κρίσιμη θερμοκρασία Curie (~130oC). Η μετάβαση από την σιδηροηλεκτρική φάση στην παραηλεκτρική μελετήθηκε τόσο μέσω της Διηλεκτρικής Φασματοσκοπίας όσο και με φάσματα ακτίνων-Χ (XRD). Η μεταβολή της πόλωσης και η δημιουργία κορυφής στα διαγράμματα του πραγματικού μέρους της ηλεκτρικής διαπερατότητας με τη θερμοκρασία μπορεί να αποτελέσει τη βάση ανάπτυξης ευφυών συστημάτων και νανο-διατάξεων καθώς δίνεται η δυνατότητα ελέγχου της αποθηκευόμενης ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας στη νανοκλίμακα και επιτυγχάνεται η λειτουργία ρυθμιστή πόλωσης. Τέλος, με την εισαγωγή της Διηλεκτρικής Συνάρτησης Ενίσχυσης διερευνάται η απόκριση των σύνθετων συστημάτων και προσδιορίζεται η βέλτιστη λειτουργική συμπεριφορά και η βέλτιστη συμπεριφορά ως προς την αποθήκευση ενέργειας. / Ceramic-polymer composites consisting of ferroelectric crystal particles, homogeneously distributed, in an polymer host represent a novel class of materials, with several interesting properties. The impact of nanomaterials and nanostructured materials is well known and widely accepteble in our days, not only in the basic research level but also in the area of technological applications. This modern field of scientific research includes the study of nano – composites or multiphase materials. Multiphase materials have at least one of the dimensions of the reinforcing phase in nano-scale. The main difference between nano-composites and conventional composites is their ability to achieve superior performance at a very low concentration of the filler. The majority of the active or potential applications of nano-systems is based on their thermo-mechanical behaviour, flame resistance and electrical properties. Under this point of view nano-composites exhibit properties or functions, which seem to be prohibited for traditional materials. High tech electronic devices require new high dielectric permittivity materials (known as high-K materials), which combine, at the same time, suitable dielectric properties, mechanical strength and ease processing. Recently ceramic-polymer composites have been studied in various applications including integrated capacitors, acoustic emission sensors and for the reduction of leakage currents. Furthermore, if the embedded ceramic particles are ferroeletric, functional properties can be added to the composite structure. Ferroelectric materials exhibit spontaneous polarization and are characterized by a temperature dependent disorder to order transition. Thus, besides all the expected influences (volume fraction, geometrical characteristics, type of distribution etc), the electrical response of ferroelectric particles – polymer matrix composites depends on the ferroeletric to paraelectric transition of the inclusions. In the present study composite systems of epoxy resin and ceramic BaTiO3 micro and nano – particles have been prepared, varying the volume fraction of the inclusions. The dielectric response of the composites was studied in a wide frequency and temperature range. Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) has been proved to be a powerful tool for the investigation of molecular mobility, phase changes, conductivity mechanisms and interfacial effects in polymers and complex systems. The dielectric response of nano-composites was examined by means of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) in the frequency range10-1-107 Hz and temperature interval from 30 o C to 160 o C. Experimental results include relaxation phenomena arising from both the polymeric matrix and the filler. Three distinct relaxation modes were recorded in the spectra of all systems. They were attributed to interfacial polarization, glass transition (α-relaxation) and motion of polar side groups (β – relaxation). The functional behaviour of micro and nano – composites is based on the disorder to order transition of BaTiO3 in the characteristic Curie temperature (~130 oC). The transition from the ferroelectric to paraelectric phase has been studied via Dielectric Spectroscopy and with X – Ray Diffraction spectra. The change in polarization and the formation of peaks in the diagrams of the real part of dielectric permittivity versus temperature can provide the suitable basis for the development of smart systems and nano-devices, since it allows the control of the stored electrical energy in nanoscale level and achieves the function of polarization regulator. Finally, by introducing the Dielectric Reinforcing Function, the composite systems’ response can be studied and optimal functional behaviour as well as optimal energy storage and capability can be determined.

Nickel zinc ferrites (NZF) have been considered as one of the basic components in high frequency electromagnetic applications especially in the field of telecommunications. In the present study, the aim was to produce high quality nickel zinc ferrite ceramics at low soaking temperatures. For this purpose, conventional ceramic manufacturing method based on mixed oxide precursors was followed using calcium fluoride, CaF2, as sintering additive. During the sintering studies, it was noticed that both the microstructure and the electromagnetic properties of the NZF ceramics were modified to a great extent by CaF2. Therefore, material characterization studies involving microstructural, dielectric and magnetic properties were conducted with respect to CaF2 content of ceramics and soak duration. The results showed that due to the presence of CaF2 in ceramics, significant improvements were achieved not only in kinetics of sintering but also in the parameters / DC electrical resistivity, dielectric constant and dielectric loss factor. For example, 1.0 wt% CaF2 added NZF ceramic produced in this study had a DC electrical resistivity of 1011 &amp / #61527 / -cm which was 100,000 times bigger than the one attained in pure NZF ceramic. On the other hand, the dielectric constant exhibited a flat behavior up to 40 MHz with a value around 16. In addition, no resonance peak was observed in dielectric loss factor spectra, and the typical values of dielectric loss factor lied below 0.01. Besides the achievements mentioned, the magnetic properties such as relative magnetic loss factor and hysteresis parameters were also improved.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:30:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bellucci_fs_me_bauru.pdf: 1672549 bytes, checksum: 747a54cb81f0feea1d7b6de7d89f3600 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar efeitos de escala e tamanho através de medidas de permissividade dielétrica de partículas nanométricas e/ou nanoestruturadas do óxido policátion niobato de potássio dopado com estrôncio (K'Sr IND. 2' N'b IND. 5' 'O IND. 15'), um óxido ferroelétrico da família tetragonal tungstênio bronze (TTB). A determinação da constante dielétrica de nanopartículas foi realizada através da técnica de mistura. Nesta técnica, nanopartículas de permissividade dielétrica desconhecidas são dispersas em um meio de permissividade dielétrica conhecida. A partir da resposta dielétrica da mistura a permissividade dielétrica das nanopartículas foram calculadas utilizando modelagem numérica via circuitos elétricos equivalentes. A fase K'Sr IND. 2' N'b IND. 5' 'O IND. 15, foi preparada por rota química (método poliol modificado), a temperatura de calcinação necessária à obtenção de nanopartículas foi otimizada e partículas nanoestruturadas de K'Sr IND. 2' N'b IND. 5' 'O IND. 15' monofásico foram avaliadas. A caracterização estrutural foi realizada utilizando as técnicas de difratometrica de raiox x (DRX), espectroscopia vibracional de absorção na região do infravermelho (FTIR) e ultravioleta visível (UV/vis) a partir das quais se avaliaram os parâmetros de rede, cristalinidade relativa, tamanho médio de cristalito, volume da cela unitária e energia de gap. Utilizando a técnica de espectroscopia de impedância entre 5 Hz e 3 MHz foram estudadas as propriedades dielétricas das amostras através de medidas de permissividade confirmando a existência de ferroeletricidade nas amostras e foi identificado o efeito de tamanho nas propriedades dielétricas das nanopartículas. / This work aimed the study of size effect through permittivity measurements of nanometric particles and/or nanostructured of niobate oxide K'Sr IND. 2' N'b IND. 5' 'O IND. 15', a ferroelectric oxide belonging to the tetragonal tungsten bronze family (TTB). Determination of nanoparticles dielectric constant was done using the mixture technique. In this technique, nanoparticles of unknown dielectric permittivity are dispersed in a medium of know dielectric permittivity. From the dielectric response of the mixture, the dielectric permittivity of the nanoparticles is calculated using numerical modeling by means of equivalent circuits. The K'Sr IND. 2' N'b IND. 5' 'O IND. 15' phase was prepared using a chemical route (polyol modified method) and the optmization of the temperature calcination was performed aiming to obtain nanoparticles and the resulting nanostructured particles were evaluated. The structural characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy allowing the evaluation of cell parameters, relative crystallinity and crystallite size, unitary cell volume and gap energy. The impedance spectroscopy technique in the range from 5 Hz to 3 MHz to study dielectric properties of samples was used. The presence of ferroelectric phase in samples was confirmed and the size effect was identified on nanoparticles.

L'augmentation croissante de la demande en énergie et l'épuisement des combustibles fossiles exigent l'amélioration de l'efficacité de l'utilisation de l'énergie ainsi que la recherche de ressources durables et renouvelables. Les condensateurs sont des systèmes de stockage de l'énergie qui se sont imposés comme une des solutions aux problèmes énergétiques en raison de leurs avantages, tels que le respect de l'environnement, et la charge et la décharge d'énergie très rapides. Des besoins se sont créés pour un système de stockage capacitif à faible coût et à haut rendement, il est donc nécessaire de développer des matériaux avec une forte permittivité diélectrique. A ce propos, les composites diélectriques à matrice polymère suscitent une attention croissante en raison de leurs bonnes performances diélectriques. Des composites à matrice polymère chargée de particules céramiques ont par exemple été utilisés dans certains condensateurs pour le stockage d'énergie. Pourtant, en pratique, l'applicabilité de tels dispositifs est sérieusement entravée par la faible permittivité diélectrique des matériaux d'une part, et par la détérioration des propriétés mécaniques en raison de la forte teneur en particules céramiques rigides dans la matrice polymère flexible d'autre part. En remplaçant ces particules céramiques par des particules conductrices dans la matrice polymère, des composites percolatifs peuvent être réalisés avec une permittivité diélectrique nettement accrue au voisinage du seuil de percolation. Parmi les charges conductrices, les nanotubes de carbone (NTC) ont été les plus étudiés. En effet, du fait de leur facteur d'aspect et de leur conductivité élevée, ces derniers peuvent conduire à des niveaux de percolation dans les composites pour une très faible quantité de charges. Un des plus grands défis pour l'utilisation des NTC dans les matériaux composites est de séparer les NTC les uns des autres afin de réaliser une dispersion uniforme dans les polymères. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont porté sur l'augmentation de la permittivité diélectrique de matériaux composites à matrice polymère à base de NTC en optimisant à la fois la dispersion des nanotubes ainsi que le contrôle de la microstructure des matériaux composites finaux. L'augmentation de la permittivité diélectrique dans les composites précédents provient de la formation de microcondensateurs au sein du matériau. Toutefois, les NTC ont toujours tendance à s'agglomérer dans le composite, ce qui n'est pas bénéfique à la formation de microcondensateurs. Pour surmonter ce problème, nous avons proposé une microarchitecture hybride SiC-NTC comme charge conductrice. Ces hybrides mulit-échelles ont été produits par dépôt chimique catalytique en phase vapeur assisté par aérosol. L'organisation des NTC sur les particules de SiC peut être efficacement contrôlée en ajustant les différents paramètres de synthèse. Les résultats ont montré que les propriétés de surface asymétriques des micro-particules de SiC étaient plutôt favorables à la croissance des NTC sur SiC selon "une direction unique", alors que certaines conditions expérimentales particulières peuvent aboutir à une croissance "multi-directionnelle". Les particules hybrides de SiC-NTC ainsi obtenues ont également été incorporées dans le PVDF pour préparer des composites percolatifs. Il a été constaté que les hybrides SiC-NTC permettent d'améliorer considérablement la permittivité diélectrique du composite avec un chargement extrêmement faible en NTC. Les NTC sont orientés le long d'un axe sur chaque microplaque de SiC et séparés par une couche mince de polymère, donnant lieu à un réseau de microcondensateurs. Par conséquent, de grandes permittivités diélectriques de plus de 8700 et 2100 à 100 Hz peuvent être obtenues pour un faible taux de chargement de NTC de l'ordre de 2,30% et 1,48% en volume pour les composites à renforts "multi-directionnel" et "unidirectionnel" respectivement. / Ever-increasing energy requirement and exhaustion of fossil fuels demands improving efficiency of energy usage as well as seeking sustainable and renewable resources. Energy storage capacitors are devices that could take this responsibility, and have been the focus of increasing attention due to their advantages such as environment friendliness and very fast energy uptake and delivery. As the requirements grow for a low-cost and high-efficiency capacitive storage system, there is great need for the development of materials with high dielectric permittivity. Polymer composite dielectrics are arousing increasing attention due to their large tunability in dielectric performances. Polymer composites filled with ceramic particles have been used in some energy storage capacitors. Still, their applicability for practical devices is severely hindered by the low dielectric permittivity and deteriorated mechanical and processing properties due to the high content of rigid ceramic particles in the flexible polymer matrix. By replacing ceramic particles with conductive particles in the polymer composites, the percolative polymer composites can be made with the dielectric permittivity dramatically increased in the vicinity of the percolation threshold. Among the conductive fillers, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been most intensively studied, as their large aspect ratio coupled with high conductivity can lead to percolation levels in composites at much low loading. One of the greatest challenges for CNT usage in composites is to debundle pristine CNTs and realize uniform dispersion into polymers. This thesis focused on increasing the dielectric permittivity of CNT-based polymer composites by both carefully optimizing the dispersion of nanotubes as well as controlling the microstructure of the composites. The dielectric permittivity increment in the previous composite systems originated from the formation of microcapacitors. However, CNTs were always frizzy in the CNT/polymer composites, which was not beneficial in forming parallel pair electrodes of microcapacitors. To overcome this problem, we proposed a microarchitecture of hybrid SiC-CNT as conductive filler. Such micro/nano hybrids were produced by floating catalytic chemical vapor deposition. The organization mode of CNTs on SiC particles could be effectively tuned by adjusting synthesis conditions. The results showed that asymmetric surface properties of 6H-SiC were prone to led to “single-direction” growth of CNTs on SiC particles, while the competition between the substrate nature and the experimental conditions can resulted in a “multi-directions” hybrid structure. Resultant SiC-CNT hybrids were further incorporated into PVDF to prepare percolative composites. It was found that the SiC-CNT hybrid can significantly improve the dielectric permittivity of SiC-CNT/PVDF composite with an extremely low CNT loading. CNTs on each SiC microplate are oriented along an axis and separated by a thin polymer matrix, giving rise to a network of microcapacitors. As a result, a large dielectric permittivity of more than 8700 and 2100 at 100 Hz could be obtained at a low CNT loading of 2.30 vol% and 1.48 vol% in the “multi-directions” and “single-direction” composites respectively.

O Bi5Ti3FeO15 foi sintetizado pelo mÃtodo de ReaÃÃo no Estado SÃlido (RES) e posteriormente adicionado de V2O5 (PentÃxido de VanÃdio) objetivando melhorar suas propriedades dielÃtricas. Para as anÃlises estruturais foram utilizadas as seguintes tÃcnicas: DifraÃÃo de Raios-X (DRX), Microscopia EletrÃnica de Varredura (MEV), Espectroscopia de DispersÃo de Energia de Raios-X (EDS), Espectroscopia Raman e Infravermelho (IV). Para o estudo das propriedades dielÃtricas do material em radiofrequÃncia e em microondas, foram empregadas, respectivamente, a Espectroscopia de ImpedÃncia (EI) e o mÃtodo de Hakki e Coleman. A tÃcnica de DRX foi utilizada para identificar a fase BFT pura, bem como as duas novas fases originadas a partir da adiÃÃo de V2O5: Bi4V1.5Fe0.5O10.5 e Bi2Ti2O7. As alteraÃÃes na morfologia dos grÃos e a resposta dielÃtrica foram atribuÃdas à presenÃa destas fases secundÃrias. Em radiofrequÃncia verificou-se que a adiÃÃo de V2O5 aumentou a permissividade dielÃtrica e reduziu os valores de tangente de perda, resultados semelhantes aos obtidos em microondas. Ressonadores DielÃtricos foram fabricados como um protÃtipo para antena monopolo. Os valores de frequÃncia de funcionamento da antena variaram entre 2,4 GHz e 3,1 GHz. Jà os valores de coeficiente de temperatura da frequÃncia ressonante (&#61556;f) variaram de -330 a -192 ppm/ÂC. Assim sendo, a cerÃmica BFT adicionada de V2O5, pode ser utilizada em dispositivos de microondas, como telefones mÃveis, por exemplo. / The Bi5Ti3FeO15 (BFT) was synthesized by the solid state reaction method (SLR) and then added by V2O5 (vanadium pentoxide) to improve its dielectric properties. For the structural analyses the following technics were used: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Raman and infrared spectroscopy. For the dielectric propeties of the material at radiofrequency and microwave ranges, impedance spectroscopy (IS) and the Hakki-Coleman methods were used respectively. The XRD technique was used to identify the BFT phase as well as the two new ones (Bi4V1.5Fe0.5O10.5 and Bi2Ti2O7). Changes in the grain morphology and the dielectric response were assigned due to the presence of these secondary phases. The V2O5 addition increased the dielectric permittivity and reduced the loss tangent values at radiofrequency range; similar results were obtained at microwave. The Dielectric resonators (DR) were fabricated as a prototype for monopole antenna. The antenna operating frequency (2.4 - 3.1 GHz) and temperature coefficient of resonance frequency (&#964;f) (from -330 to -192 ppm/ÂC) changed as a function of V2O5 concentration in the DR. Thus, BFT ceramics added by V2O5 are good candidates to be used for microwave devices as cell mobile phones, for example.