Transport Properties of Nanocomposites were studied in this work. A Monte Carlo technique was used to model the percolation behavior of fibers in a nanocomposite. Once the percolation threshold was found, the effect of fiber dimensions on the percolation threshold in the presence and absence of polymer particles was found. The number of fibers at the percolation threshold in the presence of identically shaped polymer particles was found to be considerably lower than the case without particles. Next, the polymer particles were made to be of different shapes. The shapes and sizes of the fibers, as well as the polymers, were made the same as those used to obtain experimental data in literature. The simulation results were compared to experimental results, and vital information regarding the electrical properties of the fibers and fiberfiber junctions was obtained for the case of two stabilizers used during composite preparation ? Gum Arabic (GA) and Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). In particular, the fiber-fiber connection resistances, in the case of these 2 stabilizers, were obtained. A ratio between the fiber path resistance and the total connection resistance, giving the relative magnitude of these resistances in a composite, was defined. This ratio was found through simulations for different fiber dimensions, fiber types and stabilizers. Trends of the ratio with respect to composite parameters were observed and analyzed, and parameters to be varied to get desired composite properties were discussed. This study can serve as a useful guide to choose design parameters for composite preparation in the future. It can also be used to predict the properties of composites having known fiber dimensions, fiber quality and stabilizing agents.

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been increasing demands for high dielectric materials to replace SiO2 for high-density dynamic random access memories with ultra large scale integration (ULSI). As the dimensions of the charge storage node decrease in high-density dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), TiO2 and BaTiO3 are very promising candidates for applications with exhibiting higher dielectric constant, high refractive index and high chemical stability. The physical and chemical properties of LPD thin film by means of several measuring instruments, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Secondary Ion Spectrometer (SIMS), and X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). As for the category in the electrical properties, such as C-V curve and I-V curve, of LPD-BTO thin film is comprehended in the most important part of this chapter. Further, we try to improve these electrical properties of LPD-TiO2 and LPD-BTO thin film by post-annealing in oxygen atmosphere at several high temperatures. From leakage current density-electric field intensity voltage (J-E) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, the leakage current densities are about (LPD-TiO2: 1 ¡Ñ 10-5 A/cm2 and LPD-BTO: 5 ¡Ñ 10-9 A/cm2). And the individual dielectric constants of both films (TiO2 and BTO) are calculated about 40 and 60. This value is larger than thermal oxide, PECVD oxide, and LPD-SiO2. We also can obtain the flat band voltage shifts of LPD-TiO2 and LPD-BTO films which are about ¡V0.5V and 0V; the effective oxide charges which are calculated about ¡V4.52¡Ñ1011 cm-2 and ¡V2.27¡Ñ1012 cm-2 The future goals: (1) Raising the atomic concentration of oxygen within both films and of barium within LPD-BTO film. (2) Shortening the process in preparation of both deposition solutions. (3) Re-checking both models.

Orientador: Rosa Maria Fernandes Scalvi / Banca: Sonia Regina Homem de Mello Castanho / Banca: Maria Cristina Perusi / O Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais, PosMat, tem carater institucional e integra as atividades de pesquisa em diversos campi da UNESP / Resumo: Propriedades elétricas, ópticas e estruturais de SiO2 na variedade Ametista foram investigadas, utilizando as técnicas de Difração de Raios X, Absorção Óptica e Corrente de Despolarização Termicamente Estimulada (CDTE), tanto com procedimento convencional como Fotoinduzido (CDTEFI). objetivo principal, as técnicas de CDTE buscam a relação entre a relaxação observada, através das bandas de corrente obtidas na despolarização do material, e as impurezas no Quartzo, visto que os cristais de Quartzo mais perfeitos têm traços de ferro, lítio, sódio, potássio, alumínio, manganês e titânio. Adicionalmente às medidas de CDTE, as técnicas de Difração de Raios X e Absorção Óptica foram utilizadas para verificação da estrutura e bandas de aborção do material, respectivamente. Os difratogramas de Raios X mostraram que as amostras utilizadas exibem boa pureza, pois os picos correspondem aos dados catalogados de Quartzo puro. Os dados de absorção óptica permitiram tanta a identificação de bandas de absorção características na Ametista como uma relação com as medidas de CDTE e CDTEFI, ou seja, uma correlação entre as bandas de absorção para determinados comprimentos de onda, e a incidência de luz com comprimentos próximos a essas bandas. Foram realizadas medidas de CDTEFI com variação da potência de incidência do laser de Ar+ da ordem de 250 mW nas linhas de 488 nm. Os resultados das medidas de CDTE, CDTEFI e de Absorção Óptica analisados em conjunto, permitiram comprovar a presença de defeitos formados por íons de Fe3+ e Fe4+ na estrutura da Ametista, bem como sugerir que estes defeitos, além de participarem da estrutura como formadores dos centros de cor, são elementos contribuintes na formação fas bandas de CDTE, fazendo, portanto, com que estas bandas sejam afetadas pela incidência de luz monocromática do laser de Ar+ nas amostras... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Electrical, optical and structural properties of SiO2 in the amethyst form have been investigated, using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, optical absorption and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) in the conventional procedure as well as in the photo-induced case (PITSDC). Main objective in this work, TSDC techniques aim to analyze the relationship of observed relaxation phenomena, through the obtained current bands in the material depolarization, with quartz impurities, because even the most perfect quartz crystals present traces of iron lithium, sodium, potassium, aluminum, manganese and titanium. In addition to TSDC measurements, X-ray diffraction and optical absortion techniques have been used to verify the structure and the material absorption bands, respectively. X-ray diffractograma show that samples exhibits good purity, since the peaks correspond to published data for pure quartz. optical absorption data allow identifying the characteristics bands of amethyst as well as to relate them with TSDC and PITSDC measurements, which measurements, which means that there is a relationship between an absorption band at some fixed wavelength and light irradiation with wavelengths close to these bands. PITSDC was carried out using an Ar+ laser with varying power of about 250 mW, 500 mW and 610mW tuned at lines 488 nm and 541 nm. TSDC and PITSDC results, along with optical absorption data, when analyzed in conjunction, allow the verification of defects formed by Fe3+ and Fe4+ ions in the amethyst structure, as well as the suggestion that these defects, besides the participation in the amethyst structure as color centers, also play a role in the formation of TSDC bands, contributing for the effect of monochromatic light irradiation of an Ar+ laser on these bands (PITSDC). In this measurement, a redution of up to 71.1% comparede to conventional... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

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This thesis is an account of a detailed investigation of the properties of a recently-discovered gas discharge - a discharge that operates at a few volts or tens of volts, and which carries a current of the order of amps through a mixture consisting of a hot, atmospheric-pressure rare gas (the "diluent") to which a small amount of alkali metal vapour has been added as an easily-ionised "seed". It is shown that the establishment of the discharge under study is brought about by the breakdown of the gas, which occurs at a breakdown voltage that depends mainly on the electrode spacing, seed pressure, and choice of diluent gas. The discharge itself is shown to consist of two main regions, namely, a constricted, cylindrical positive column that extends from the anode to within a short distance of the cathode, and a thin, glowing sheath that covers the entire cathode surface; the two regions are separated by a dark space. The positive column is shown to expand as current increases, while the value of its electric field is shown to depend mainly on the discharge current, seed pressure, and choice of diluent gas, and hardly at all on the gas temperature or choice of seed metal. The cathode fall is shown to depend mainly on the discharge current, seed pressure, and choice of seed metal. The breakdown of the gas, the positive column of the discharge, and the cathode regions of the discharge are discussed in successive chapters.

The aim of this thesis was to get acquainted with the electrical properties of distribution transformers, which are used in the area of high voltage technology. Further aim was to describe the existing diagnostic methods according to the standards and to introduce the measuring workstation. Finally, the diagnostic of transformer was performed, and the results were evaluated.

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Thermoelectric materials can convert thermal energy into electrical energy and vice-versa. They are widely used in energy harvesters, thermal sensors, and cooling systems. However, the low efficiency and high cost of the known material compositions limit their widespread utilization in electricity generation applications. Therefore, there is a strong interest in identifying new thermoelectric materials with high figure of merit. In response to this need, this dissertation works on the synthesis, structure, doping mechanism, and thermoelectric properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) and lead tellurium (PbTe). The main focus is on ZnO based materials and in improving their performance. The influences of micro- or nano-structures on thermal conductivity, as well as the correlation between the electrical property and synthesis conditions, have been systematically investigated. ZnO is a likely candidate for thermoelectric applications, because of its good Seebeck coefficient, high stability at high temperature, non-toxicity and abundance. Its main drawbacks are the high thermal conductivity (κ) and low electrical conductivity (σ). To decrease κ, two novel structures—namely, precipitate system and layered-and-correlated grain microstructure—have been proposed and synthesized in ZnO. The mechanisms iii governing the nature of thermal behavior in these structures have been explored and quantified. Due to strong phonon scattering, the nano-precipitates can reduce the thermal conductivity of ZnO by 73%. The ZnO with layered-and-correlated grains can further reduce κ by about 52%, which compares favorably with the dense ZnO with nanoprecipitates. The figure of merit of this ZnO based structure was 0.14×10⁻³ K⁻¹ at 573 K. In order to understand the electrical behavior in nanostructured ZnO, the impact of Al doping and chemical defects in ZnO under different synthesis conditions were studied. Under varying sintering temperatures, atmospheres and initial physical conditions, ZnO exhibited very distinct σ. High temperature, lack of oxygen, vacuum condition, and chemically synthesized powder can increase the carrier concentration and σ of ZnO. A promising alloy system, PbTe-PbS, undergoes natural phase separation by nucleation and growth, and spinodal decomposition depending on the thermal treatment. The correlation between the thermal treatment, structure, and the thermoelectric properties of Pb0.9S0.1Te has been studied. The nano-precipitates were incorporated in the annealed alloy resulting in a 40% decrease in κ. The PbS precipitation was shown to enhance the carrier concentration and improves the Seebeck coefficient. These concomitant effects result in a maximum ZT of 0.76 at 573 K. Throughout the thesis, the emphasis was on understanding the impact of the microstructures on thermal conductivity and the effect of the synthesis condition on thermal and electrical properties. The process and control variables identified in this study provide practical ways to optimize the figure of merit of ZnO and PbTe materials for thermoelectric applications. / Ph. D.

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This thesis presents a study of the electrical properties and gas sensitivity of thin films of four different organic materials. These are: (i) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of tetrabutylammonium Ni(dmit)(_2) complex (Bu(_4)-Ni(dmit)(_2) complex) mixed with tricosanoic acid (TA); (ii) thin films of polypyrrole (PPy) mixed with palmitic acid (PA) obtained using the LB technique followed by two solid state reactions; (iii) cast films of polycyanopropylmethylsiloxane (PCMS); and (iv) LB films of a co-ordination polymer?5,5' methylenebis (N-hexadecylsalicydeneamine) (MBSH) (poly(CuMBSH)). LB films of (Bu(_4)-Ni(dmit)(_2) complex)/TA were characterised by electrical measurements?(AC in the frequency range 10(^2)-10(^6) Hz) at room temperature. For the other three types of films, characterisation of the structure and electrical behaviour (DC and AC in the frequency range 10(^2)-10(^6) Hz) on varying the temperature (in the range 90 - 298 K) and during the exposure to benzene, ethanol, acetonitrile and water (concentrations in the range 10(^2) -10(^5) ppm) was undertaken. During exposure to vapours, reversible changes in the electrical properties of the films were observed. The electrical behaviour and the changes during exposure to vapours were interpreted in terms of models in the literature, assuming a bulk dissolution of the vapours in the organic films. In all cases an 'anomalous' response to water was observed. For poly(CuMBSH), this effect was interpreted in terras of a Low Frequency Dispersion. The device characteristics for gas sensing applications are also discussed. Estimated minimum detectable concentrations were between 1-100 ppm for the three organic solvent vapours. Moreover, it is shown that the fi-equency behaviour for the admittance changes of the PCMS and poly(CuMBSH) devices could be exploited for the improvement of the sensitivity of a single device. The unique response of all the films to water vapour could be useful for its discrimination.