This work deals with the structural analysis of layered zirconium sulfophenylphosphonates and their intercalates with the use of the classical molecular simulation methods. The inner composition of both fully and partially sulfonated layers was determined in agreement with available experimental data, especially chemical analysis, thermogravimetric measurements and X-ray diffraction. The calculations revealed the positions of the water molecules in the planes of sulfo groups which strongly affect the resultant diffraction pattern. Within the zirconium sulfophenylphosphonate layered structure, the arrangements of intercalated species based on optically active dipyridylamine molecules and cations of sodium, copper and iron were solved with the respect to the agreement with experimental results and values of potential energy. In case of the dipyridylamine molecules and its derivatives, the resultant disordered partially row arrangements of the organic molecules in the interlayer were showed to influence the dipole moment of the intercalate. From this point of view, nitro-derivative has been picked out as the most suitable for potential applications. Regarding the intercalated cations, sodium cations take up the space of water molecules next to the sulfo groups while copper and iron cations are distributed in a...

Supercapacitors have aroused considerable attention due to their high power capability, which enables charge storage/output in minutes or even seconds. However, to achieve a high energy density in a supercapacitor has been a long‐standing challenge. Here, graphite is reported as a high‐energy alternative to the frequently used activated carbon (AC) cathode for supercapacitor application due to its unique Faradaic pseudocapacitive anion intercalation behavior. The graphite cathode manifests both higher gravimetric and volumetric energy density (498 Wh kg−1 and 431.2 Wh l−1) than an AC cathode (234 Wh kg−1 and 83.5 Wh l−1) with peak power densities of 43.6 kW kg−1 and 37.75 kW l−1. A new type of Li‐ion pseudocapacitor (LIpC) is thus proposed and demonstrated with graphite as cathode and prelithiated graphite or Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) as anode. The resultant graphite–graphite LIpCs deliver high energy densities of 167–233 Wh kg−1 at power densities of 0.22–21.0 kW kg−1 (based on active mass in both electrodes), much higher than 20–146 Wh kg−1 of AC‐derived Li‐ion capacitors and 23–67 Wh kg−1 of state‐of‐the‐art metal oxide pseudocapacitors. Excellent rate capability and cycling stability are further demonstrated for LTO‐graphite LIpCs.

<p>Electrospinning has gained immense interests in recent years due to its potential application in various fields, including energy storage application. The V₂O₅/GO as a layered crystal structure has been demonstrated to fabricate nanofibers with diameters within a range of ~300nm through electrospinning technique. The porous, hollow, and interconnected nanostructures were produced by electrospinning formed by polymers such as Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), separately, as solvent polymers with electrospinning technique. </p> <p> </p> <p>In this study, we investigated the synthesis of a graphene-modified nanostructured V₂O₅ through modified sol-gel method and electrospinning of V₂O₅/GO hybrid. Electrochemical characterization was performed by utilizing Arbin Battery cycler, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Mercury Porosimetery, and BET surface area measurement. </p> <p> </p> <p>As compared to the other conventional fabrication methods, our optimized sol-gel method, followed by the electrospinning of the cathode material achieved a high initial capacity of <b>342 mAh/g</b> at a high current density of 0.5C (171 mA/g) and the capacity retention of ~80% after 20 cycles. Also, the prepared sol-gel method outperforms the pure V₂O₅cathode material, by obtaining the capacity almost two times higher.</p> <p>The results of this study showed that post-synthesis treatment of cathode material plays a prominent role in electrochemical performance of the nanostructured vanadium oxides. By controlling the annealing and drying steps, and time, a small amount of pyrolysis carbon can be retained, which improves the conductivity of the V₂O₅ nanorods. Also, controlled post-synthesis helped us to prevent aggregation of electro-spun twisted nanostructured fibers which deteriorates the lithium diffusion process during charge/discharge of batteries.</p>

A novel strategy for the intercalation of antimony (Sb) under the (6√3 × 6√3)R30° reconstruction, also known as buffer layer, on SiC(0001) is reported. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that, while the intercalation of the volatile Sb is not possible by annealing the Sb-coated buffer layer in ultrahigh vacuum, it can be achieved by annealing the sample in an atmosphere of Ar, which suppresses Sb desorption. The intercalation leads to a decoupling of the buffer layer from the SiC(0001) surface and the formation of quasi-freestanding graphene. The intercalation process paves the way for future studies of the formation of quasi-freestanding graphene by intercalation of high-vapor-pressure elements, which are not accessible by previously known intercalation techniques, and thus provides new avenues for the manipulation of epitaxial graphene on SiC.

Die Fähigkeit Nukleinsäuren in lebenden Organismen nachzuweisen und zu visualisieren, ist entscheidend für das Verständnis zellulärer Prozesse. Die Forschungsgruppe von Prof. Dr. Oliver Seitz hat zu diesem Zweck fluorogene FIT-Hybridisierungssonden entwickelt, die die besondere Eigenschaft der Cyaninfarbstoffe Thiazolorange und Chinolinblau nutzen, stärker zu fluoreszieren, wenn sie in die beengte Umgebung eines Nukleinsäureduplex aus Sonde und spezifischer Zielsequenz eingebracht werden. Obwohl FIT-Sonden eine gute Fluoreszenzverstärkung und Spezifität aufweisen, wäre eine weitere Verbesserung ihrer Helligkeit und des Signal-Hintergrund-Verhältnisses wünschenswert. Um dies zu erreichen, wurde in dieser Arbeit ein Ansatz untersucht, bei dem FIT-Sonden mit zwei Fluorophoren desselben Typs ausgestattet werden (FIT2-Strategie). Dies sollte sowohl die Helligkeit der Sonde erhöhen, als auch die Fluoreszenz im Einzelstrang und bei Hybridisierung mit fehlgepaarter RNA durch eine Mischung aus kontaktvermittelter Fluo-reszenzlöschung und strahlungsfreiem Energietransfer verringern. Verschiedene Sonden-längen, Farbstoffabstände und -positionen wurden untersucht und es konnte bestätigt werden, dass FIT2-Sonden eine höhere Extinktionskoeffizienten, größere Fluoreszenzver-stärkung und eine bessere Selektivität aufweisen als einfach markierte Sonden. Außerdem behalten sie ihre Fähigkeit zur Unterscheidung von Match- und Mismatch-Zielen in visko-sem Zelllysat besser bei. Zudem konnte gezeigt werden, dass das FIT2-Konzept durch Hinzufügen eines hybridisie-rungsunempfindlichen Cyanin 7 Farbstoffs zu den Sonden dahingehend erweitert werden kann, dass eine ratiometrische Detektion der hybridisierten Sonde möglich ist und Hellig-keitsunterschiede aufgrund von lokalen Schwankungen der Sondenkonzentration bei der Bildgebung lebender Zellen korrigiert werden können. Mit diesen qFIT2-Sonden konnten Jurkat und CCRF-CEM T-Zellen in einem Mikroskopie-basierten Experiment unterschieden werden. / The ability to detect and visualize nucleic acids in living organisms is crucial for under-standing cellular processes. For this purpose, the research group of Prof. Dr. Oliver Seitz has introduced fluorogenic forced intercalation (FIT) hybridization probes, which exploit the unique property of the cyanine dyes thiazole orange and quinoline blue to exhibit increased fluorescence when placed in the constrained environment of a nucleic acid du-plex formed between probe and specific target sequence. Although FIT probes demon-strate solid fluorescence enhancement and specificity, further improvement of their abso-lute brightness and signal-to-background ratio would be desirable. To achieve this, the present thesis investigated an approach that equips FIT probes with two identical fluorophores (FIT2 strategy). This should on the one hand increase probe brightness, while simultaneously reducing fluorescence in the single strand and when hy-bridized to mismatched RNA, through a combination of contact-mediated quenching and non-radiant energy transfer. Various probe lengths, dye-dye distances and positions were screened, and it could be confirmed that FIT2 probes have higher extinction coefficients, greater fluorescence enhancement and better selectivity than their mono-dye counter-parts. Moreover, they better retain their ability to discriminate match and mismatch tar-gets in viscous cell lysate. Finally, it was demonstrated that the FIT2 concept can be extended by adding a hybridiza-tion-insensitive Cyanine 7 dye to the probes, allowing ratiometric detection of hybridized probe and correction of brightness differences due to local fluctuations in probe concen-tration during live-cell imaging. Using these qFIT2 probes, Jurkat and CCRF-CEM T-cells could be distinguished in a microscopy-based experiment.

Gas hydrate formation was studied in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sediments. Sediments studied were from six-meter long cores from Mississippi Canyon Block 118 and a 27-meter core from a cruise in 2002 of the Marion Dufresne. These sediments retained their in situ seawater before testing. Hydrate formation rate and induction times were measured. The hydrate memory effect was studied in GOM sediments with and without in situ seawater. Hydrate induction time was short when in situ seawater was present. Bioproducts adsorbed on particles in the sediments are postulated to shorten the induction times by maintaining seawater structuring around coated particles. Hydrate nucleation was studied by Dynamic Light Scattering and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Particles around 50 to 100 nm nucleated hydrate formation. These small nucleating particles appeared to be clays or surfactant molecules and interactions thereof. Hydrate capillaries were studied and found to be at least 100 nm in diameter because the sediment nucleating particles with bioproducts diffused through the hydrate capillaries. Large complexes of nontronite smectite clay and Emulsan, an anionic biosurfactant, were found to facilitate hydrate formation. It was determined that Emulsan entered the interlayer of nontronite. The clay contents of the GOM sediments were determined. All sediments contained smectite, illite, chlorite, and kaolinite in different proportions. The study gave new insight into the gas hydrate formation mechanism in seafloor sediments.

No description available.

No description available.

Ce travail est consacré à l'élaboration par voie humide (pontage, solvothermale et colloïdale) de photocatalyseur TiO2 supporté sur trois types de minéraux argileux d'origine marocaine: la stévensite, la beidellite et la palygorskite, à leurs caractérisations et finalement à l'évaluation de leurs activités photocatalytiques vis-à-vis de l'élimination en milieu aqueux du colorant anionique l'Orange G (OG) très utilisé en industrie textile. La stévensite et la beidellite sont toutes les deux des smectites de types magnésien trioctaédrique et aluminifère dioctaédrique respectivement. En revanche, la palygorskite est un minéral fibreux riche en Al doté d'un caractère dioctaédrique très marqué. Les matériaux photocatalyseurs supportés développés par le pontage de la stévensite ou de la beidellite ne révèlent pas de formation de piliers interlamellaires de TiO2, mais plutôt l'obtention dans les deux cas de matrice de TiO2 amorphe dans laquelle sont éparpillées quelques rares particules indemnes de phyllosilicates. De même, ceux à base de stévensite élaborés par la méthode solvothermale révèlent des particules du phyllosilicate désintégrées au sein d'une matrice de TiO2 toutefois cristallisée sous forme d'anatase. Néanmoins, la fonctionnalisation selon la voie colloïdale a permis d'immobiliser avec succès des nanoparticules d'anatase (10 nm) sur aussi bien des feuillets plus ou moins exfoliés de stévensite ou de beidellite que sur des fibres de palygorskite. L'anatase attachée aux particules de ces minéraux argileux demeure extraordinairement stable jusqu'à 900 °C alors que celle formée en absence de ces phyllosilicates se convertit complètement en rutile vers 650 °C. Cette stabilité remarquable de l'anatase supportée est due à l'empêchement de la croissance, par coalescence à haute température, de la taille de ses particules au-delà de la taille critique (30 nm) requise pour sa conversion en rutile relativement moins photoactive. Les essais de photocatalyse révèlent que l'activité catalytique des différents matériaux élaborés croit selon la méthode de fonctionnalisation: pontage - méthode solvothermale - voie colloïdale et aussi selon la nature du minéral argileux : stévensite - beidellite - palygorskite. En outre, les matériaux photocatalyseurs supportés, à base de beidellite ou de palygorskite, développés par la voie colloïdale, manifestent une activité deux fois supérieure à celle de la poudre commerciale TiO2 Degussa P25. Leurs particules floculent aisément, ce qui facilite leur élimination du milieu aqueux sans recourir à la microfilitration requise dans le cas de la Degussa P25. / This work was devoted to the elaboration by wet route (pillaring, solvothermal and colloidal) of TiO2 supported photocatalysts on three kinds of clay minerals (stevensite, beidellite and palygorskite) from Morocco, to their characterizations and finally to the evaluation of their photocatalytic activities towards the removal from aqueous media of anionic Orange G dye, widely used in textile industry. Stevensite and beidellite were magnesian trioctahedral and aluminiferous dioctahedral smectites respectively. Nevertheless, palygorskite was a fibrous Al-rich clay mineral with a predominant dioctahedral character. The photocatalyst materials elaborated by the pillaring of stevensite or beidellite did not reveal the formation of TiO2 interlayer pillars, but the observation of an amorphous matrix of Ti-rich phase within which were distributed some rare unaltered particles of phyllosilicates. Those based on stevensite elaborated according to solvothermal method also showed dissolved phyllosilicates particles, but within crystalline TiO2 anatase matrix. Nevertheless, the functionalized materials developed according to colloidal route exhibited successful immobilization of anatase nanoparticles (10 nm) onto as well as more or less exfoliated layers of stevensite or beidellite than on palygorskite fibers. Anatase remained remarkably stable up to 900 °C when attached to particles of clay minerals in comparison with that developed in their absence which underwent a complete transformation into rutile at around 650°C. This remarkable stability at high temperature of anatase supported on clay minerals particles was due to the hindrance of particles growth by sintering whose the sizes remained below the nucleus critical sizes (30 nm) required for its transition into less photoactive rutile. The photocatalysis tests revealed that the catalytic activity of different elaborated materials increased according to the synthesis route: pillaring process - solvothermal method - colloidal route and according to the nature of clay mineral: stevensite - beidellite - palygorskite. In addition, the supported photocatalysts based on beidellite or palygorskite prepared by colloidal route were found to be twice more active than the commercial TiO2 powder Degussa P25. Furthermore, their particles easily floculated so that they are readily removable from treated solutions without resorting to expensive microfiltration required upon the use of Degussa P25.

O presente trabalho trata da preparação e da caracterização de sistemas contendo tetrassulfoftalocianinas de Co(II) (CoPcTs) e Fe(III) (FePcTs) intercaladas ou somente adsorvidas externamente em matrizes de hidróxidos duplos lamelares (HDLs). Foram sintetizados materiais com composições variadas e empregando-se diferentes métodos de síntese visando, principalmente, o isolamento de materiais com microporosidade intracristalina e/ou com um baixo grau de agregação da ftalocianina. Técnicas de caracterização textural (difração de raios-X e medidas de área superficial) e espectroscópicas (vibracional na região do infravermelho, eletrônica no UV/visível, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica e absorção de raios-X), além das análises elementar (C, H, N e metais) e termogravimétrica foram utilizadas para a caracterização dos sólidos sintetizados. Avaliaram-se os materiais como catalisadores na reação de oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol e do catecol, utilizando O2ou H2O2 como oxidantes. Nos materiais isolados contendo a CoPcTs intercalada em HDLs com composição MgxAl (x = 2, 3 e 4) e ZnxAl (x = 4 e 5), a ftalocianina está orientada perpendicularmente às lamelas do HDL, independentemente do método de síntese e da composição dos HDLs utilizados. Adicionalmente, constatou-se que a CoPcTs intercalada está altamente agregada e que os materiais não possuem microporosidade. Porém, a diminuição da densidade de carga do HDL provoca uma pequena diminuição na agregação da CoPcTs. Sob determinada condição sintética, a CoPcTs intercalada nos HDLs ZnxAl sofre o processo de enxertia através dos grupos sulfônicos. Quando testados como catalisadores na oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol, os materiais contendo a CoPcTs intercalada e enxertada apresentaram reatividade inexpressiva, que pode ser devida ao acesso restrito do substrato ao sítio ativo na região interlamelar. Estudos de adsorção da FePcTs em HDLs MgxAl na forma carbonato, investigados por espectroscopia eletrônica UV/Visível in situ, mostraram uma elevada tendência de agregação da ftalocianina na superfície dos HDLs. Os espectros eletrônicos indicaram também que diferentes espécies derivadas da FePcTs são formadas durante o processo de adsorção nos HDLs e que a densidade de carga influencia o tipo de espécie adsorvida: há predominância de um dímero do tipo &#181;-oxo nos HDLs Mg2Al e Mg3Al e do dímero (FePcTs)2 no HDL Mg4Al. Os espectros de absorção de raios-X (XANES) da FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl mostraram que as espécies adsorvidas apresentam geometria piramidal de base quadrada (C4v) e/ou octaédrica (Oh), corroborando com os dados de espectroscopia no UV/Visível. Já os espectros de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostraram que a ftalocianina de Fe(III) quando adsorvida nos HDLs gera uma mistura de espécies com configuração de baixo spin e alto spin e, também, elevada distorção rômbica. A FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl apresentou estabilidade e reatividade catalítica superior quando comparada com a ftalocianina livre na oxidação dos fenóis. A ftalocianina adsorvida na superfície externa do HDL deve favorecer o acesso do substrato ao sítio ativo. Uma correlação entre os estudos de adsorção e os resultados dos testes catalíticos mostrou que a espécie dimérica do tipo &#181;-oxo pode ser a espécie mais ativa na oxidação dos fenóis. Nestes sistemas, as camadas positivas do HDL devem provocar um enfraquecimento da ligação O-H do fenol, facilitando a sua desprotonação (uma das etapas do mecanismo de oxidação). Este último efeito pareceu atuante, pois foram observadas reatividades crescentes dos catalisadores à medida que se aumentava a densidade de carga do HDL. Estes resultados indicaram que existe um efeito cooperativo nos HDLs MgxAl contendo a FePcTs adsorvida, mostrando que o HDL não atua como um suporte inerte nos processos estudados. / The present work describes the preparation and characterization of materials containing Co(II) and Fe(III) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines (CoPcTs and FePcTs, respectively) intercalated or adsorbed on layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Different compositions and synthetic methods were used to isolate materials with microporosity and/or the phthalocyanine in a low aggregation degree. X-ray diffraction analysis, surface area measurements, spectroscopic techniques (infrared, UV/visible and X-ray absorption), elemental analysis and thermogravimetry were used to characterize the solids. The materials were tested as catalysts in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol and catechol oxidation, using O2 or H2O2 as oxidants. In the materials prepared by intercalation of the CoPcTs in MgxAl (x = 2, 3 and 4) and ZnxAl (x = 4 and 5) LDHs, the phthalocyanine is perpendicularly orientated related to the LDH layers, regardless of synthetic method or LDH composition used. In addition, it was observed that the intercalated phthalocyanine is aggregated and the solids do not have microporous. However, the aggregation degree of the phthalocyanine is slightly lower when the LDH charge density decreases. Under a particular synthetic conditions the CoPcTs intercalated in the LDH ZnxAl is grafted through the sulfonic groups. Catalytic tests uisng this material in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol oxidation showed a neglectful reactivity, which confirms the aggregation of the intercalated CoPcTs, thus avoiding that the substrate accesses the reactive center. In an adsorption study carried by monitoring in situ the FePcTs UV/Vis electronic spectra during its addition to LDH suspensions, a strong tendency of aggregation was observed for the FePcTs. In addition, different FePcTs species are formed during the adsorption process on the LDHs, which is influenced by the LDH charge density: the &#181;-oxo complex is the main species adsorbed on the Mg2Al and Mg3Al LDHs, whereas for Mg4Al the non oxo-bridged dimeric complex prevailed. X-ray absorption spectra (XANES) of the adsorbed FePcTs on the MgxAl LDHs showed that the species present a square-pyramidal (C4v) and/or an octahedral (Oh) symmetry, in agreement with the UV/visible spectroscopic data. EPR spectra of these samples showed that the FePcTs adsorbed on the LDHs leads to a mixture of Fe(III) high and low spin species along with a strong rhombic distortion. The FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs showed an enhanced catalytic activity and longevity in the phenols oxidation compared to the homogeneous counterpart. The phthalocyanine on the LDH external surfaces allows the access of the substrate to the reactive metal center. A correlation between the adsorption study and the catalytic tests pointed that the FePcTs &#181;-oxo complex may be the active species in the oxidation of phenols. Furthermore, the positive charge of LDH layers may weaken the O-H bonding in the phenol molecules making them more easily ionized (one step of the phenol oxidation mechanism). This feature seems to be effective because higher activities of the catalysts were observed along with increasing charge density of the LDHs. These results indicated that a cooperative effect takes place in the materials containing the FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs, showing that LDH do not act as an inert support in the studied catalytic reactions.