Les nanoparticules d’or (AuNPs) intriguent tout particulièrement ces dernières années de par leurs propriétés fascinantes. Elles sont variables selon la forme et la taille des nanoparticules ce qui en fait des objets ouvrant des perspectives dans plusieurs domaines. L’or est d’autant plus intéressant qu’il a une grande flexibilité de ces bandes de résonance plasmon de surface, allant du visible au proche infrarouge (IR). Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons donc travaillé sur la synthèse d’AuNPs de tailles et de formes différentes pour pouvoir travailler à de nombreuses longueurs d’onde du visible à l’IR. Cette multitude de AuNPs nous a permis d’étudier l’effet de ces différentes résonances plasmons sur des chromophores afin d’essayer de comprendre les mécanismes de ces interactions. Le but final de ces travaux, outre l’amélioration de la compréhension de ces interactions, est la réalisation de matériaux monolithiques pour l’optique par une approche sol-gel permettant l’incorporation de molécules optiquement actives et de ces systèmes plasmoniques, qui donnent des propriétés intéressantes aux matériaux obtenus. Nous nous sommes intéressés plus précisément aux propriétés d’absorption non-linéaire, dans le but de réaliser des matériaux limiteurs optiques pour protéger des systèmes optiques contre des rayonnements intenses, comme les lasers. Ces systèmes ont commencé à être mis au point dans les thèses précédentes faites au laboratoire mais la compréhension amenée par ces travaux auront permis d’approfondir les interactions particules-chromophores et le rôle de la longueur d’onde de la résonance plasmon afin d’optimiser l’efficacité en limitation optique. / Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) particularly intrigued over the last decades because of their fascinating properties. They vary according to the size and shape of nanoparticles making objects opening opportunities in many areas. Gold is especially interesting since it has a great flexibility of these resonance surface plasmon bands ranging from the visible to near infrared (IR).In this thesis, we worked on the synthesis of AuNPs of different sizes and shapes in order to be able to work in many wavelengths from visible to IR. This multitude of AuNPs enabled us to study the effect of these different plasmon resonances of chromophores in an effort to understand the mechanisms of these interactions. The ultimate goal of this work, in addition to improving the understanding of these interactions, is the realization of monolithic materials for optics by a sol-gel approach allowing the incorporation of optically active molecules and these plasmonic systems, which give interesting properties to the obtained materials. We focused specifically on nonlinear absorption properties, in order to produce optical limiting materials to protect optical systems against intense radiation, such as lasers.These systems began to be developed in previous PhD thesis made in our laboratory but the understanding brought by this work have helped deepen the particles-chromophore interactions and the role of the wavelength of the plasmon resonance in order to optimize efficiency in optical limiting.

Considerable attention has been focused on nanomaterials and their extensive applications. Metallic nanoparticles, especially gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), due to their superior physical, chemical, and optical properties, are vastly developed for numerous biomedical applications such as drug and gene delivery systems, diagnostic biosensors, imaging, and therapeutics. This study presents a low-cost method for the fabrication of self-assembled metallic nanoparticles, including gold and silver, via a reactive blade coating process, which is carried out based on in situ reduction of the metal precursors. This technique is a roll-to-roll compatible technique suitable for scalable nanomanufacturing. Oleylamine was used as a reducer agent, and gold (III) chloride hydrate and silver salts, including silver nitrate and silver perchlorate hydrate, were used as the metal precursors. Fabrication was carried out by first blade coating the reducer ink and subsequently coating the precursor ink followed by 3 hours of heat treatment. Various solvent systems were used to examine the effect of different solvents on the fabrication process. Surface morphology, crystalline phase composition, and plasmon resonance of the coated samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. Results demonstrated the synthesis of spherical self-assembled AuNPs using toluene (TOL) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for reducing and precursor solvents, respectively. Changing the concentration of reactants or increasing the coating layers exhibited a change in the average size of AuNPs. Self-assembled AuNPs thin films were also demonstrated to have the potential to be used as a biosensing platform based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect to detect the elevated levels of glucose in an aqueous solution. Recently, the world has faced a pandemic of Covid-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has threatened human health and has brought a worldwide devastating economic and social crisis. Hence, finding a solution to mitigate the current breakout of Covid-19 is vital to protect the international community from its causing harm. AgNPs as an antimicrobial agent, which has exhibited promising antiviral activity against several viruses, can offer a resolution to combat the spread of Covid-19. In this regard, AgNPs thin films were fabricated analogously via blade coating using various reducer and silver salt inks made of different solvent systems. Virucidal efficacy of reactive blade coated AgNPs on glass substrates was analyzed against human coronavirus 229E, a virus from the Coronavirus family, as a surrogate SARS-CoV-2 (according to the Level 2 Biosafety facility at uOttawa). Plaque forming assay indicated more than 99.99% reduction in infectivity of the virus when it contacts the AgNPs coated glass for 30 min before infecting cells. These results suggest the excellent potential for reactive blade coated AgNPs as an antiviral agent against coronavirus to avoid the spread of the virus.

Comme de nombreux colloïdes, des nanoparticules métalliques recouvertes de ligands en suspension s’organisent au-delà d’une fraction volumique seuil et forment ce que l’on appelle un « supracristal ». Ce sont ainsi des systèmes modèles, déjà largement étudiés à partir de suspensions dans des solvants volatils, qui permettent de mieux comprendre l’auto-assemblage de sphères déformables. Les interactions qui conduisent à l’auto-assemblage sont couramment décrites par une compétition entre une attraction de van der Waals entre les cœurs métalliques et une répulsion entre les ligands qui va dépendre de l’affinité entre les ligands et le solvant. Un effet du solvant a déjà été observé sur l’auto-organisation de nano-objets. En mesurant par diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles le facteur de structure de suspensions de nanoparticules d’or greffées, j’ai pu sonder de façon systématique les interactions entre des nanoparticules en suspension avec plusieurs tailles de cœur, des ligands alcane-thiols de longueur différente et dans différents solvants à la fois volatils et non volatils. J’ai ainsi pu mettre en évidence une interaction attractive inattendue dans des alcanes linéaires flexibles et dont l’intensité augmente avec la longueur de l’alcane. Pour corréler les interactions entre particules à leur diagramme de phase, j’ai suivi le processus de cristallisation dans des suspensions en solvant volatil ou partiellement volatil ainsi qu’en émulsion, techniques qui permettent d’augmenter lentement la concentration en nanoparticules. Les interactions attractives induites par le solvant contribuent ainsi à la formation de supracristaux à de très faibles fractions volumiques. A de fortes concentrations, la structure des supracristaux ne dépend pas du solvant utilisé mais, à forte densité de greffage, du rapport R entre la longueur des ligands et le diamètre du cœur d’or. Pour un rapport R voisin de 0.7, la structure finale observée est cubique centrée, la structure à concentration intermédiaire étant cubique à faces centrées. Pour un rapport R deux fois plus petit, une structure originale a été mise en évidence. Il s’agit d’une structure hexagonale de grand paramètre de maille, analysée comme une phase de Frank et Kasper de type MgZn2 ou C14. C’est la première fois qu’une telle phase à empilement local tétraédrique est observée dans un système de sphères monodisperses molles. L’existence de cette phase ainsi que le rôle du rapport R a pu être interprétée en estimant quantitativement la compétition entre l’attraction de van der Waals forte et l’entropie des ligands. / As many colloids, metallic nanoparticles grafted with hydrophobic ligands self-assemble above a volume fraction threshold and thus build superlattices. These model systems, which are widely studied when suspended in volatile oils, enable a better understanding of soft spheres self-assembly.Interactions which lead to self-assembly are commonly described by the combination of van der Waals attraction with interaction between the ligand shells. The shell behavior is controlled by the ligand affinity with the solvent. An effect of the solvent on the self-assembly of nanoparticles has already been observed. Using a small angle X-ray scattering, I measured, through the structure factor, the interactions between gold nanoparticles grafted with alkanethiols in different oils, at various concentrations, for different lengths of ligands and core diameters. I noticed an attractive interaction when using flexible linear alkanes as solvent. It has also been shown that the attraction intensity increases with the solvent length.In order to correlate the interactions between particles to their phase diagram, I studied the crystallization process by concentrating nanoparticles using evaporation in capillaries or Ostwald ripening in emulsions. I showed that attractive interactions induced by the solvent lead to superlattices formation at very low volume fractions.At high concentrations, the superlattice structure depends on the ratio of the ligand length over the gold core diameter. For a ratio around 0.7, the final structure observed is body centered cubic, whereas at lower concentration, it is face centered cubic. When this ratio is halved, an unexpected structure is observed. It is a hexagonal structure with a large lattice parameter. It has been analyzed as a Frank and Kasper’s phase named MgZn2 or C14. It is the first time that this topologically close-packed structure is observed for monodisperse soft spheres. The existence of this phase and the role of the ratio R have been interpreted by considering quantitatively the competition between ligands entropy and the strong van der Waals attraction.

A fully oxidized state of graphene behaves as a pure insulating while a pristine graphene behaves as a pure conducting. The in-between oxide state in graphene which is the controlled state of oxide behaves as a semiconducting. This is the key condition for tuning optical band gap for the better light emitting property. The controlling method of oxide in graphene structure is known as reduction which is the mixed state of sp2 and sp3 hybrid state in graphene structure. sp2 hybridized domains correspond to pure carbon-carbon bond i.e. pristine graphene while sp3 hybridized domains correspond to the oxide bond with carbon i.e. defect in graphene structure. This is the uniqueness of the graphene-base material. Graphene is a gapless material i.e. having no bandgap energy and this property prevents it from switching device applications and also from the optoelectronic devices applications. The main challenge for this material is to tune as a semiconducting which can open the optical characteristics and emit light of desired color. There may be several possibilities for the modification of graphene-base material that can tune a band gap. One way is to find semiconducting property by doping the defects into pristine graphene structure. Other way is oxides functional groups in graphene structure behaves as defects. The physical properties of graphene depend on the amount of oxides present in graphene structure. So if there are more oxides in graphene structure then this material behaves as a insulating. By any means if it can be reduced then oxides amount to achieve specific proportion of sp2 and sp3 that can emit light of desired color. Further, after achieving light emission from graphene base material, there is more possibility for the study of non-linear optical property. In this work, plasmonic effect in graphene oxide has been focused. Mainly there are two kinds of plasmon effects have been studied, one is long range (surface) and short range (localized) plasmon. For long range plasmon gold thin film was deposited on partially reduced graphene oxide and for short range plasmon silver nanoparticles have used. Results show that there are 10-fold enhancement in light emission from partial graphene oxide coated with gold thin film while 4-fold enhancement from reduced graphene oxide solution with silver nanoparticles. Chemical method and photocatalytic method have been employed for the reduction of graphene oxide for the study of surface plasmon and localized plasmon. For the characterization UV-Vis spectrometer for absorption, spectrofluorophotometer for fluorescent emission, Raman spectrometer for material characterization, photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence have been utilized. Silver and gold nanoparticles are spherical of average size of 80 nm and 40 nm have been used as plasmons.

No description available.

Det uppskattas att 15% av alla par världen över lider avinfertilitet. Ungefär hälften beror på manlig infertilitet och 40% av dessa fall kan ännu inte förklaras. Därmed är nuvarande metoder för att diagnostisera manlig infertilitet otillräckliga och ytterligare tekniker behövs. En lyckad befruktning kräver att spermierna uttrycker membranproteinet Izumo1 som måste känna igen dess receptorprotein Juno, belägen vid ytan av äggmembranet. Bindningen mellan Juno och Izumo1 är essentiell för befruktning hos däggdjur då den bidrar till att gameternabinder och skapar en ny distinkt organism. Juno är ett relativt nyupptäckt protein och mekanismen med Izumo1 är fortfarande okänd. Ett nystartat företag vid namn Spermosens vill mäta interaktionen mellan Juno ochIzumo1 i ett nytt diagnostikverktyg som ska diagnostisera manlig infertilitet. Tanken är att Juno ska immobiliseras på guld-nanopartiklar och användas för att mätainteraktionen med spermaprover. Det nya verktyget ska hjälpa par att fastställa felet i befruktningen, vilket som en följd skulle hjälpa paret att välja lämplig assisteradreproduktionsmetod. I utvecklingen av det nya diagnostikverktyget behöver det konfirmeras att den Juno som används i enheten kan binda korrekt till mänskligt Izumo1. Därför måste interaktionerna mellan de mänskliga, rekombinanta proteinerna Juno och Izumo1 mätas och karakteriseras. Syftet med detta projekt var att utveckla en metod för att immobilisera Juno på guldnanopartiklar och sedan mäta interaktionerna med Izumo1 genom UV-Visspektroskopi. Detta är teoretiskt möjligt eftersom guld-nanopartiklarna framkallar ett fenomen som kallas lokaliserad ytplasmonresonans som varierar beroende påstorleken på guld-nanopartikelkomplexet. Immobiliseringsmetoden var en process som involverade flera steg som designades, polerades och förbättrades underarbetets gång. Dithiobis(C2-NTA) konjugerades till guldytan och koboltjonerkonjugerades till NTA. Det sista steget som innebar konjugering av Juno till kobolt genom en His-tag lyckades inte, och interaktionerna kunde därför inte mätas genom denna metod. Istället mättes protein-protein-interaktionen genom SPR-mätningar med Biacore, ett instrument som också är baserat på ytplasmonresonans. Interaktioner mellan Izumo1 och Juno kunde uppmätas både vid användning av Juno producerad från E. coli ochfrån däggdjursceller. Dissociationskonstanten (Kd) beräknades till 7-33 nM (för Junooch Izumo1 producerade i däggdjursceller) vilket kan jämföras med ett experimentfrån 2016 där 48 nM beräknades. Ett mer exakt Kd kunde inte fastställas och entrolig anledning till detta var att regenereringen av sensorytan som utfördes med NaOH varierade i effektivitet, vilket ledde till en osäkerhet då ytförhållandena kan ha varierat mellan mätningarna. De två Juno-proteinerna, som är producerade i olika organismer, visade två skilda affinitetsprofiler med Izumo1 vilket tyder på att glykosyleringen påverkar bindningsmekanismen mellan Juno och Izumo1. / It is estimated that 15% of all couples worldwide suffer from infertility. Roughly half is male-factor infertility and 40% of these cases cannot be explained. Thus, current methods for diagnosing male infertility are not enough and further techniques are needed. To have a successful fertilisation event, it is required that the sperm expresses membrane surface-protein Izumo1 which must recognise its counterpart protein Juno, located at the surface of the egg membrane. The recognition step between Juno and Izumo1 is essential in mammalian fertilisation for the gametes to bind and start the creation of a new distinct organism, but the molecular mechanism is still unknown.A start-up company named Spermosens want to measure the Juno-Izumo1 interaction in a new diagnostic device designed to diagnose male infertility. The idea is to have Juno immobilised on gold nanoparticles and measure the interaction between Juno and various semen samples. The new device is supposed to help couples pin-point the procreation issue which would help in the selection of suitable assisted reproductive technology. In the development of the new device, it had to be established that the Juno used in the device will bind correctly to human Izumo1. Therefore, the interactions between the human recombinant proteins Juno and Izumo1 had to be measured and characterized.The objectives of this project were to develop a method to immobilise Juno on gold nanoparticles and then measure the interactions with Izumo1 using UV-vis spectroscopy. This is theoretically possible since the gold nanoparticles exhibit a phenomenon called localized surface plasmon resonance that vary depending on the size of the gold nanoparticle-complex. The immobilisation procedure was a process involving several steps that were designed, polished and improved along the way. Dithiobis(C2-NTA) was conjugated to the gold surface and a cobalt ion was conjugated to the NTA. The last step involving conjugation of Juno to the cobalt through a His-tag was not succeeded, and the interactions could therefore not be measured this way.Instead, the protein-protein interaction was measured through SPR-measurements using Biacore, an instrument that is based on surface plasmon resonance as well. Interactions between Izumo1 and Juno could be detected using Juno produced in E. coli and in mammalian cells. The dissociation constant (Kd) could be calculated to 7-33 nM which can be compared to a previously published Kd of 48 nM. A more precise Kd could not be established, possibly due to that the regeneration of the sensor surface with NaOH varied in efficiency, leading to changing surface conditions during the measurements. The two Juno proteins, that were produced in different hosts, showed two different affinity profiles with Izumo1, which contributes to the suggestion that the glycosylation plays a role in the binding mechanism between Juno and Izumo1.

[pt] Nanopartículas de ouro dispersas em água (AuNPs-H) e nanopartículas de ouro na presença dos surfactantes brometo de cetiltrimetilamônio (AuNPs-CTAB) e brometo de didecildimetilamônio (AuNPs-C10DAB) foram sintetizadas e caracterizadas por diversas técnicas. As variações nos perfis espectrais no UV-Vis dessas nanopartículas foram estudadas levando-se em consideração a intensidade e o comprimento de onda máximo da banda de ressonância plasmônica de superfície localizada (LSPR); foram acompanhadas em função do tempo para nanopartículas estocadas sob refrigeração (4 graus celsius) com as mantidas na temperatura ambiente (27 graus celsius). Um comportamento anômalo (mais instável) foi observado para AuNPs-C10DAB na concentração 1,0 ×10-4 mol L-1. As suas atividades catalíticas também foram avaliadas na presença de 4-nitrofenol e verificou-se que a cinética mais efetiva foi do sistema sem surfactante. Finalmente, um estudo de interação com aminoglicosídeos (AMG) foi feito visando o uso das nanopartículas como sonda analítica. Todavia, somente AuNPs-H apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, o que indica que o surfactante impede que o AMG se aproxime da superfície das nanopartículas, visto que, em concentrações mais elevadas de CTAB ou C10DAB, não há variação significativa no sinal original da sonda quando o AMG está presente. Um método analítico foi desenvolvido baseado na interação AuNPs-H-gentamicina e AuNPs-H-neomicina a partir da otimização dos parâmetros: concentração de AuNPs-H, tampão, tempo de medição e faixa de concentração de AMG. Na condição ajustada para sondagem quantitativa, cada dispersão de trabalho foi constituída por 40 porcento v/v (1,2 × 10-9 mol L-1) de AuNPs-H 1,0 mL de tampão citrato pH 4,0 (1,0 × 10-2 mol L-1) e volume final de 5,0 mL ajustado pela adição água ultrapura, após micro-volumes apropriados de soluçãoestoque de AMG (exceto na dispersão branco) ou de amostras adicionadas. O monitoramento da variação dos perfis espectrais foi feito em 511 e em 681 nm, habilitando a construção de curvas analíticas em 681, e na razão (681/511). Para gentamicina, a faixa linear variou de 0,6 a 600 microgramas L-1 com o limite de detecção (LD) de 0,06 microgramas L-1. Para neomicina, faixa linear foi de 7,3 a 550 microgramas L-1, tendo LD de 6,2 microgramas L-1. A aplicação do método foi feita determinando-se gentamicina (fortificação) em leite integral, e neomicina em solução controle (amostra aquosa simulada), medicamento e em saliva. Para habilitar a seletividade do método foi necessária a utilização de extração em fase sólida (SPE) em cartuchos comercias empacotados com polímero de impressão molecular de AMG. Em amostras de leite (40 microlitros), após limpeza e SPE, foi possível quantificar 1,72 mais ou menos 0,03 microgramas de gentamicina, o equivale a 39,1 mais ou menos 0,2 porcento. As recuperações para neomicina em amostras de medicamento foram de aproximadamente 45 mais ou menos 3,0 porcento (após SPE), indicando interferências de outros componentes. Neomicina também foi recuperada em amostras de saliva após uso do medicamento obtendo valores próximos a 0,36 mais ou menos 0,02 microgramas. Em contraste, as recuperações em amostras simuladas chegaram até 102,6 mais-menos 1,3 porcento (sem necessidade de SPE). Por fim foi feita uma avaliação comparativa de interação de AuNPs-H e nanopartículas de ouro sintetizadas com redução com citrato (AuNPs-citrato) que indicou diferença de comportamento na interação com AMG. / [en] Water-dispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-H) and gold nanoparticles in the presence of surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (AuNPs-CTAB) and didecyldimethylammonium bromide (AuNPs-C10DAB) were synthesized and characterized using several techniques. The differences in the UV-Vis spectral profiles of these nanoparticles were studied monitoring the intensity and the localized surface plasmon resonance band (LSPR) maximum wavelength; these were monitored as a function of time taking into account storage conditions: under refrigeration (4 Celsius degrees) and at room-temperature (27 Celsius degrees). Anomalous (more unstable) profile was observed for AuNPs-C10DAB at 1.0 × 10-4 mol L-1. Their catalytic activities were also evaluated in the presence of 4-nitrophenol and it was shown that the most effective kinetics was observed for the system without surfactant. Finally, an interaction study with aminoglycosides (AMG) was conducted aiming the application of nanoparticles as analytical probe. Only AuNPs-H produced adequate results, indicating that the surfactant prevents interaction between AMG and the surface of the nanoparticles since at higher concentrations of CTAB or C10DAB there is no significant variation in the original probe signal in presence of AMG. An analytical method was developed based on the AuNPs-H-gentamicin and AuNPs-H-neomycin interaction taking into consideration the optimization of the parameters: AuNPs-H concentration, buffer, signal stabilization time and the AMG concentration range. In the adjusted condition for quantitative probing, each dispersion consisted of 40 percent v/v (1.2 × 10-9 mol L-1) of AuNPs-H, 1.0 mL of citrate buffer pH 4.0 (1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1) and final volume of 5.0 mL adjusted with ultrapure water addition, after appropriate micro-volumes of a stock solution of AMG (except in blank dispersion) or sample added. The spectral profiles were monitored at 511 and 681 nm, allowing theconstruction of analytical curves at 681, and at the ratio (681/511). For gentamicin, the linear range reached from 0.6 to 600 microgram L-1 with the limit of detection (LD) of 0.06 microgram L-1 . For neomycin, the linear range was 7.3 to 550 microgram L-1, with LD of 6.2 microgram L-1. The application of the method was made by determining gentamicin(fortification) in whole milk, and neomycin in control solution (simulated aqueous sample), pharmaceutical samples and saliva. In order to enable selectivity of the method it was necessary to use solid phase extraction (SPE) using a commercial SPE cartridge packed with an AMG molecular imprinted polymer. In milk samples (40 microlitre), after clean up and SPE, it was possible to quantify 1,72 plus-minus 0,03 microgram gentamicin, which is equivalent to 39,1 plus-minus 0,2 percent). Recoveries for neomycin in drug samples were approximately 45 plus-minus 3.0 percent (after SPE), indicating interferences of other components. Neomycin was also recovered in saliva samples after drug use obtaining values close to 0.36 plus-minus 0.02 microgram. In contrast, the recoveries in simulated samples reached up to 102.6 plus-minus 1.3 percent (no need for SPE). Finally, a comparative evaluation of the interaction of AuNPs-H and gold nanoparticles synthesized with reduction with citrate (AuNPs-citrato) was performed, indicating differences in terms of the interaction with AMG.

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Kvantkemiska studier av reaktiviteten hos guldnanopartiklar Au3-Au11 och Au13 mot O- centrerade molekylradikaler OH , OOH , OCH3   och H2O undersöks. Olika molekylära ytegenskaper tas med i beräkningen, elektrostatiska ytpotentialen, den genomsnittliga lokala joniseringsenergin, electron attachment energy och spinndensiteten (VS(r), IS(r), TS(r), ES(r) och S(r)). De erhållna resultaten gäller slutna och öppna skalsystem. Där system med slutna skal bildas från växelverkan mellan en guldklusterradikal och en fri radikal, och system med öppna skal bildas från växelverkan mellan ett jämnt antal guldatomer med en fri radikal. För system med slutna skal Aux-R (där x = 3, 5, 7, 9 eller 11 och R är en O-centrerad radikal) finns det en övergripande trend av bindningsenergin gentemot ES(r), vilket återspeglar elektrofilictiten hos guldnanopartiklar. Multivariata modeller visar vidare hur de olika parametrarna korrelerar gentemot varandra för system med slutna skal.För strukturerna Aux-R (där x=3-11) medl ägst bindningsenergi, dvs. inklusive både slutna och öppna skalsystem, är den tydligaste trenden bindningsenergi vs minimum i ES(r) och parametern TS(r). Vid jämförelse av resultaten av interaktionerna med de fria radikalerna med H2O är trenden alltid tydligast för H2O. I linje med tidigare studier finns det även en korrelation av bindningsenergierna med VS,max och ES,min för H2O. Slutligen sträcker sig trenden med bindningsenergi vs ES,min vidare till systemet som innehåller den icke-plana Au13-strukturen. Denna studie visar kopplingen mellan reaktiviteten hos guldnanopartiklar mot fria radikaler till den lokala ES(r), samtidigt som bidraget från andra ytegenskaper visas. Detta kan vara av betydelse för fortsatta studier kring naturen av interaktioner av guldnanopartiklar. / The nature of gold nanoparticle interactions towards molecular radicals are investigated. Quantum chemical studies of the reactivity of gold nanoparticles Au3-Au11 and Au13 towards O-centered molecular radicals OH , OOH , OCH3   and H2O are performed. Different molecular surface properties are taken into account; the surface electrostatic potential, average local ionization energy, electron attachment energy and spin density (VS(r), IS(r), TS(r), ES(r) and S(r)). The obtained results concern closed and open shell systems. Where closed shell systems are formed from the interaction of a radical gold cluster and a free radical, and open shell systems are formed from the interaction of an even number of gold atoms with a free radical. For closed shell systems Aux-R (where x = 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 and R is an O-centered radical) there is an overall trend of the binding energy vs the local electron attachment energy, reflecting the electrophilicity of the gold nanoparticles. Multivariate plots further show how the different parameters correlate together for closed shell systems. Looking at the lowest energy structures Aux-R (where x = 3-11), i.e. including closed and open shell systems, the clearest trend is of binding energy vs minima in the local electron attachment energy ES,min and the TS(r) parameter. When comparing the results of the interactions with the free radicals with H2O, the trend is always clearest for H2O. Concurring with previous trends, there is a correlation of the binding energies with VS,max and ES,min for H2O. Lastly, the trend of Binding energy vs ES,min further extends to systems containing the non-planar Au13 structure. This study extends the reactivity of gold nanoparticles towards free radicals to the local electron attachment energy, while showing the contribution of other surface properties. This might be of importance for further studies concerning the nature of gold nanoparticle interactions.

This dissertation focuses on the development of analytical methodology for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. Chemical analysis of PAHs is of great environmental and toxicological importance. Many of them are highly suspect as etiological agents in human cancer. Among the hundreds of PAHs present in the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists sixteen as "Consent Decree" priority pollutants. Their routine monitoring in environmental samples is recommended to prevent human contamination risks. A primary route of human exposure to PAHs is the ingestion of contaminated water. The rather low PAH concentrations in water samples make the analysis of the sixteen priority pollutants particularly challenging. Current EPA methodology follows the classical pattern of sample extraction and chromatographic analysis. The method of choice for PAHs extraction and pre-concentration is solid-phase extraction (SPE). PAHs determination is carried out via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). When HPLC is applied to highly complex samples, EPA recommends the use of GC/MS to verify compound identification and to check peak-purity of HPLC fractions. Although EPA methodology provides reliable data, the routine monitoring of numerous samples via fast, cost effective and environmentally friendly methods remains an analytical challenge. Typically, 1 L of water is processed through the SPE device in approximately 1 h. The rather large water volume and long sample processing time are recommended to reach detectable concentrations and quantitative removal of PAHs from water samples. Chromatographic elution times of 30 - 60 min are typical and standards must be run periodically to verify retention times. If concentrations of targeted PAHs are found to lie outside the detector's response range, the sample must be diluted (or concentrated), and the process repeated. In order to prevent environmental risks and human contamination, the routine monitoring of the sixteen EPA-PAHs is not sufficient anymore. Recent toxicological studies attribute a significant portion of the biological activity of PAH contaminated samples to the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, i.e. PAHs with MW ≥ 300. Because the carcinogenic properties of HMW-PAHs differ significantly from isomer to isomer, it is of paramount importance to determine the most toxic isomers even if they are present at much lower concentrations than their less toxic isomers. Unfortunately, established methodology cannot always meet the challenge of specifically analyzing HMW-PAHs at the low concentration levels of environmental samples. The main problems that confront classic methodology arise from the relatively low concentration levels and the large number of structural isomers with very similar elution times and similar, possibly even virtually identical, fragmentation patterns. This dissertation summarizes significant improvements on various fronts. Its first original component deals with the unambiguous determination of four HMW-PAHs via laser-excited time-resolved Shpol'skii spectroscopy (LETRSS) without previous chromatographic separation. The second original component is the improvement of a relatively new PAH extraction method - solid-phase nanoextraction (SPNE) - which uses gold nanoparticles as extracting material for PAHs. The advantages of the improved SPNE procedure are demonstrated for the analysis of EPA-PAHs and HMW-PAHs in water samples via GC/MS and LETRSS, respectively.