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Over the past two decades one class of oligomers, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), has attracted considerable attention because of their unique hybrid organic/inorganic molecular structures and nanoscopic sizes. While surface and interfacial properties may play a key role in many potential POSS applications, relatively little is actually known about the surface properties of POSS. This dissertation provides studies of the interfacial aspects of both POSS molecules and POSS/polymer blends at the air/water interface (A/W) through surface pressure-area per molecule (π-<i>A</i>) isotherm, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and interfacial stress rheometry (ISR) studies. Results for POSS Langmuir thin films at A/W show that trisilanol-POSS derivatives are a new class of amphiphiles, that exhibit multiple phase transitions in going from traditional 2D Langmuir monolayers (1 POSS molecule thick) to various 3D multilayer films upon compression. With small length/diameter ratios and bulky shapes, the monolayer phase behavior and packing states of different POSS are simpler than the traditional rod-like lipids. Meanwhile trisilanol-POSS derivatives have very different collapse behavior and multilayer organization showing strong substituent effects even though they have similar molecular sizes. While trisilanolisobutyl-POSS (TiBuP) monolayers undergo collapse around π ≈ 18 mNm⁻¹ and form various ordered or disordered solid-like 3D aggregates at different compression rates, trisilanolcyclohexyl-POSS (TCyP) monolayers collapse into trilayers via instantaneous nucleation with hemispherical edge growth around π ≈ 3.7 mNm⁻¹. ISR results reveal three different non-Newtonian flow regimes that correlate with phase transitions in the Pi-A isotherms. Further symmetric compression after trilayer formation induces TCyP thin films to self-assemble into highly ordered crystalline-like hydrophobic multilayers (≈8 POSS molecule thick) with unique rod-like morphologies, which are dramatically different from –collapsed– morphologies seen in other systems. By treating POSS derivatives as ideal nanofiller for studying confinement effects on filled polymer systems, amphiphilic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) derivatives with different polar functional groups are studied as blends with TiBuP and octaisobutyl-POSS at A/W to resolve one of the key challenges for current nanocomposite applications: How to control nanofiller dispersion in polymer matrices? The results in this dissertation reveal that introducing polar groups into polymeric matrix polymers is a good way to control dispersion. / Ph. D.

Ce projet de thèse explore les paramètres régissant l’incorporation de nanoparticules métalliques à l’intérieur d’une couche ultramince de copolymère à bloc. Les composites sont mis en forme à l’interface air/eau à l’aide d’une cuve de Langmuir, puis transférés sur substrat solide à l’aide de la technique de Langmuir-Blodgett. Cette méthode permet d’obtenir une couche pseudo-monomoléculaire nano-structurée. Le comportement du copolymère seul à l’interface air-eau est d’abord étudié en fonction de différents paramètres tels que la température de la sous-phase, la masse molaire du copolymère, la vitesse de compression de la couche, etc… Deux types de nanoparticules métalliques sont utilisés afin de former les composites : celles étant décorées de polystyrène comportant un groupement thiol en bout de chaîne et celles étant décorées de courts thioalcanes. Pour chacun des deux cas la morphologie du nanocomposite est systématiquement étudiée en fonction de la taille des cœurs d’or et de la longueur des ligands organiques greffés à leur surface. Il est démontré que ces paramètres affectent la morphologie de la matrice ainsi que la distribution des nanoparticules. Quatre morphologies principales sont observées : particules disposées de manière disparate et brisant la morphologie de la matrice, particules agrégées sous forme d’îlots sans égards à la structure de la matrice, particules dispersées l’intérieur des domaines hydrophobes du copolymère et particules ségrégées à l’interface triple entre les deux blocs et l’air formant des anneaux de nanoparticules. Diverses expériences permettant de mieux caractériser ces systèmes ainsi que des preuves de concept permettant de valider les modèles débattus dans la thèse sont aussi présentées. Les systèmes sont principalement caractérisés par microscopie électronique en transmission et microscopie à force atomique.

La sorption de CO2 et de CH4 dans des charbons a été caractérisée au laboratoire afin d'étudier la faisabilité du stockage géologique de CO2 dans les veines de charbon. La diffusion et la sorption de CO2 et de CH4 sur des charbons du bassin de Lorraine et du bassin de Gardanne ont été étudiées par une méthode gravimétrique jusqu'à une pression de 5 MPa et pour des températures variant de 283 à 333 K. La cinétique de sorption dépend du gaz utilisé, de la granulométrie, de la pression en gaz et de la température. Elle peut être représentée par un modèle unipore basé sur la loi de Fick. Le coefficient de diffusion de CO2 dans le charbon est supérieur à celui du CH4 et est d'environ 10–12 m2 s–1, valeur de diffusion assez faible. A l'équilibre, la température, la pression, le gaz utilisé, la composition des charbons et la teneur en eau sont des paramètres qui influencent la capacité de sorption sur les charbons. Le charbon du bassin de Lorraine possède une plus grande capacité de sorption de CO2 (1,6 mmol g–1, soit ~ 36 m3 t–1) que celle du charbon du bassin de Gardanne. Le modèle de Dubinin-Astakhov basé sur un remplissage volumique des pores, rend mieux compte de la sorption de CO2 et CH4 que les modèles de Dubinin-Radushkevich et de Langmuir. Par ailleurs, les mécanismes de sorption de l'eau sur le charbon ont été mis en évidence, permettant de mieux interpréter l'influence de l'eau sur la capacité de sorption des gaz. A partir de l'ensemble des résultats, une évaluation des possibilités de stockage est discutée. Il en ressort la nécessité d'études complémentaires dans le but d'améliorer la perméabilité de la veine à l'échelle du site de stockage pour permettre une meilleure injectivité du gaz / The CO2 and CH4 sorption onto coals has been characterized in laboratory in order to study the feasibility of CO2 geological storage in coal seams. The diffusion and sorption of CO2 and CH4 on coals of Lorraine and Gardanne basins have been performed from a gravimetric method until a pressure of 5 MPa and for temperatures from 283 to 333 K. The kinetics of sorption depends on the nature of gas, the grain size of coal, the gas pressure and the temperature. It can be represented by a unipore model based on Fick's law. The CO2 diffusion coefficient on coal is higher than that of CH4 and is about 10–12 m2 s–1. At equilibrium, the temperature, pressure, nature of gas, composition of coal and water content are parameters that influence the sorption capacity of coals. The coal of Lorraine basin has a greater capacity for sorption of CO2 (1.6 mmol g–1, ~ 36 m3 t–1) than that of coal of Gardanne basin. The model of Dubinin-Astakhov based on a pore volume filling, has a best fit of sorption data that Dubinin-Radushkevich and Langmuir models. Finally, the different mechanisms of water sorption on coal have been identified and can better interpret the influence of moisture on the gas sorption capacity. From all results, an assessment of capacity storage is discussed. This indicates the need for further studies in order to improve the permeability of the coal seams across the storage site for better gas injectivity

Foram investigadas as propriedades de formação de filmes de Langmuir e as propriedades ópticas e elétricas de filmes mistos de Langmuir-Blodgeti (LB) preparados com os polímeros HPDR13, MMA-DR13 e IPDI-DR19CI com adição de estearato de cádmio (CdSt). Para caracterizar os polímeros foram usadas as técnicas de calorimetria diferencial de varredura, espectroscopia ultravioleta-visível (W-Vis) e difração de raios X. As medidas de isotermas de pressão e de potencial de superfície com os filmes Langmuir mostraram que ocorre agregação molecular associada a interações dipolares. Medidas de absorção no W-Vis mostraram que os agregados dipolares formados são do tipo-J. As investigações dos sistemas poliméricos mostraram que o sinal da birrefringência fotoinduzida pode depender do número de camadas LB, potência da luz de excitação e temperatura. Funções com duas exponenciais e de Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts foram usadas de forma sistemática para analisar as curvas de crescimento e decaimento do sinal de birrefringência. As dependências das constantes de tempo das funções citadas também foram analisadas em função da temperatura. Observou-se que os filmes de IPDI-DR19CI/CdSt apresentam os resultados mais regulares e mais reprodutíveis para a birrefringência fotoinduzida. Isso foi atribuído a maior homogeneidade desse tipo de filme devida a menor agregação dipolar. Experimentos realizados em baixa temperatura com o polímero MMA-DRI 13 mostraram que o sinal máximo da birrefringência fotoinduzida aumenta até 120 K e diminui acima desse valor. 0s resultados abaixo de 120 K foram analisados a luz da teoria do volume livre local e dos mecanismos de fotoisomerização e difusão rotacional térmica As medidas elétricas com os filmes LB mostraram que todos os filmes poliméricos apresentam um r e m e de condução ôhmico em baixos campos elétricos e um outro regime não ôhmico atribuído a injeção de portadores no volume do material. Concluiu-se das medidas elétrica que o CdSt determina as propriedades de condução dos filmes LB mistos / The formation of Langmuir films and the optical and electrical properties of mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were studied. Films were prepared using cadmium stearate (CdSt) and the polymers HPDR13, MMA-DR13 and IPDI-DR19CI. These polymers were characterized with differential scanning calorimetry, visible-ultraviolet spectroscopy (UVVis) and X-ray- diffraction. Surface pressure and surface potential isotherms of the Langmuir films indicated the presence of molecular aggregation due to dipolar interactions. UV-Vis spectroscopy suggested J-type aggregation of dipoles. Measurements on mixed LB film showed that the photoinduced birefringence depends on the number of LB layers, the power of excitation light and on the temper-re. A double exponential function and the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts function were used for analyzing the experimental curves of growth and decay of the birefringence signal. The dependence of time constants of such functions on the temperature was also analyzed. Mixed LB films of IPDI-DR19CI/CdSt presented the most reproducible results of photoinduced birefringence, which was attributed to the better homogeneity of this type film probably due to the low dipolar aggregation. Experiments carried out with the polymer MMA-DRI3 at low temperatures revealed that the maximum of birefringence increases up to 120 K and then decreases for higher temperatures. Results under 120 K were analyzed using the free local volume theory and included photoisomerization and thermal rotational diffusion processes. Electrical measurements of LB films showed that all LB films present an ohmic conduction regime at low electric fields and a non-ohmic regime attributed to charge carrier injection into the film bulk. It is concluded that CdSt determines the conduction properties of mixed LB films