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I rotaxaner följs förflyttningen av makrocykeln vanligtvis med 1H-NMR spektroskopi. Målet med detta projekt är i stället att utveckla ett system som möjliggör att förflyttningen av makrocykeln kan observeras med hjälp av luminiscerande lantanid emission. Detta bör vara ett kraftfullt verktyg, då luminiscerande emission skulle möjliggöra att makrocykelns position längs med tråden kan avläsas direkt med blotta ögat. För att lantanid-baserade system ska kunna luminiscera krävs det att en aktiverande antennmolekyl finns i närheten av lantaniden. I detta projekt placerades en lantanidligand i den ena stoppande änden av en [2]rotaxan och en antennmolekyl sattes på den trådade makrocykeln. En förändring av pH:t medför att makrocykeln förflyttas närmre till lantanidliganden, vilket i sin tur medför att antennen aktiverar lantaniden och den luminiscerande emissionen startar. Baserat på styrkan av luminiscensen bör man då kunna avgöra makrocykelns position i rotaxanen. I framtiden hoppas vi kunna använda detta visualiseringsverktyg för att kunna börja använda rotaxaner som biosensorer för medicinsk diagnostik. / In rotaxanes, the movement of the macrocycle is usually tracked using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The goal of this project is to instead develop systems so one can follow the macrocycle movement through luminescent lanthanide emission. This should be a powerful tool, as luminescence emission would allow for a direct visual readout of the macrocycle position along the thread with the naked eye. To allow luminescence in lanthanide-based systems, a sensitizing antenna molecule needs to be present in close proximity to the lanthanide. In this project, a lanthanide ligand was placed at the stoppered end of a [2]rotaxane, and a sensitizing antenna was attached to the threaded macrocycle. A change in pH induces the macrocycle to move closer to the lanthanide stopper, which causes the antenna to sensitize the lanthanide and start the luminescence emission. Based on the strength of the luminescence, one should then be able to determine the location of the macrocycle in the rotaxane. We hope to use this visual readout tool to eventually turn rotaxanes into useful point-of-care biosensors for medical diagnostics.

Thèse diffusée initialement dans le cadre d'un projet pilote des Presses de l'Université de Montréal/Centre d'édition numérique UdeM (1997-2008) avec l'autorisation de l'auteur. / Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Semiconductor based micro- and nano-structures grown in a systematic and controlled way using selective area growth are emerging as a promising route toward devices for integrated optical circuitry in optoelectronics and photonics field. This dissertation focuses on the experimental investigation of the nonlinear optical effects in selectively grown gallium nitride micro-pyramids that act as optical cavities, zinc oxide submicron rods and indium gallium nitride multiple quantum well core shell submicron tubes on the apex of GaN micro pyramids that act as optical antennae. Localized spatial excitation of these low dimensional semiconductor structures was optimized for nonlinear optical light (NLO) generation due to second harmonic generation (SHG) and multi-photon luminescence (MPL). The evolution of both processes are mapped along the symmetric axis of the individual structures for multiple fundamental input frequencies of light. Effects such as cavity formation of generated light, electron-hole plasma generation and coherent emission are observed. The efficiency and tunability of the frequency conversion that can be achieved in the individual structures of various geometries are estimated. By controlling the local excitation cross-section within the structures along with modulation of optical excitation intensity, the nonlinear optical process generated in these structures can be manipulated to generate coherent light in the UV-Blue region via SHG process or green emission via MPL process. The results show that these unique structures hold the potential to convert red input pulsed light into blue output pulsed light which is highly directional.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been intensely researched over the past 20 years. In this dissertation, metal-inorganic frameworks (MIFs), a new class of porous and nonporous materials using inorganic complexes as linkers, in lieu of traditional organic linkers in MOFs is reported. Besides novel MIF regimes, the previously described fluorous MOF "FMOF-1", is re-categorized herein as "F-MIF1". F-MIF-1 is comprised of [Ag4Tz6]2- (Tz = 3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazolate) inorganic clusters connected by 3-coordinate Ag+ metal centers. Chapter 2 describes isosteric heat of adsorption studies of F-MIF1 for CO2 at near ambient temperatures, suggesting promise for carbon capture and storage. We then successfully exchanged some of these Ag(I) centers with Au(I) to form an isostructural Au/F-MIF1. Other, nonporous MIFs have been synthesized using Ag2Tz2 clusters with bridging diamine linkers 4,4'-bipyridine, pyrazine, and a Pt(II) complex containing two oppositely-situated non-coordinating pyridines. This strategy attained luminescent products better-positioned for photonic devices than porous materials due to greater exciton density. Chapter 3 overviews work using an entirely inorganic luminescent complex, [Pt2(P2O5)4]4- (a.k.a. "PtPOP") to form new carbon-free MIFs. PtPOP is highly luminescent in solution, but as a solid shows poor quantum yield (QY ~0.02) and poor stability under ambient conditions. By complexing PtPOP to various metals, we have shown a dramatic enhancement in its solid-state luminescence (by an order of magnitude) and stability (from day to year scale). One embodiment (MIF-1) demonstrates microporous character. Chapter 4 overviews the design and application of new MIF linkers. Pt complexes based upon (pyridyl)azolates, functionalized with carboxylic acid groups, have been synthesized. These complexes, and their esterized precursors, show strong luminescence on their own. They have been used to generate new luminescent MIFs. Such new MIFs may be useful toward future inorganic (LEDs) or organic (OLEDs) light-emitting diodes, respectively. The electronic communication along their infinite coordination structures is desirable for color tuning and enhanced conductivity functions, compared to the small molecules used in such technologies, which rely on intermolecular interactions for these functions.

Phosphorescent transition metal complexes make up an important group of compounds that continues to attract intense research owing to their intrinsic bioimaging applications that arise from bright emissions, relatively long excited state lifetimes, and large stokes shifts. Now for biomaging assay a model organism is required which must meet certain criteria for practical applications. The organism needs to be small, with a high turn-over of progeny (high fecundity), a short lifecycle, and low maintenance and assay costs. Our model organism C. elegans met all the criteria. The ideal phosphor has low toxicity in the model organism. In this work the strongly phosphorescent platinum (II) pyrophosphito-complex was tested for biological applications as a potential in vivo hypoxia sensor. The suitability of the phosphor was derived from its water solubility, bright phosphorescence at room temperature, and long excited state lifetime (~ 10 µs). The applications branched off to include testing of C. elegans survival when treated with the phosphor, which included lifespan and fecundity assays, toxicity assays including the determination of the LC50, and recovery after paraquat poisoning. Quenching experiments were performed using some well knows oxygen derivatives, and the quenching mechanisms were derived from Stern-Volmer plots. Reaction stoichiometries were derived from Job plots, while percent scavenging (or antioxidant) activities were determined graphically. The high photochemical reactivity of the complex was clearly manifested in these reactions.

Dans ce travail, nous nous sommes concentrés sur la création de nanostructures chirales optiquement actives en fabriquant des nanohélices de silice fluorescente afin d’obtenir des matériaux souple, nanométriques, optiquement actifs pour des applications en tant que matériaux nanophotoniques. Dans cette optique, des nanohélices de silice chirales ont été utilisées pour greffer et organiser des nanocristaux inorganiques fluorescents achiraux tels que des quantums dots, des chromophores, des molécules et des polymères fluorescents selon différentes approches. Ces hélices inorganiques ont été formées par procédé sol-gel en utilisant des auto-assemblages hélicoïdaux organiques de molécules amphiphiles (amphiphile gemini cationique, avec un contre-ion chiral le tartrate) en tant que modèles. Tout d'abord, la surface de la silice hélicoïdale a été fonctionnalisée par l’APTES afin de greffer des quantum dots inorganiques ZnS-AgInS2 possédant divers ligands. Dans la deuxième partie, le polymère de dérivé anthracénique fluorescent a été organisé par dépôt et adsorption à la surface de silice hélicoïdale. Afin d’étudier les propriétés chiroptiques, différentes caractérisations ont été réalisées telle que la spectroscopie du dichroïsme circulaire (CD) et celle de la luminescence circulairement polarisée (CPL).Le premier chapitre présente l’étude bibliographique sur différents systèmes d’auto-assemblage organiques chiraux et leurs propriétés chiroptiques. Les études sur la formation de systèmes auto-assemblés chiraux dans différentes conditions, leur morphologie structurale, les techniques de fabrication et leurs applications sont discutées suivies de l'utilisation de nanocristaux fluorescents, à savoir, les quantums dots (QD) et les polymères fluorescents achiraux sur lesquels les propriétés chiroptiques peuvent être obtenues et leurs applications dans les nanodispositifs optiques, les capteurs et la nano-photonique.Dans la première partie du deuxième chapitre, différentes techniques de caractérisation telles que le microscope électronique en transmission (TEM), le microscope électronique en transmission haute résolution (HRTEM), la microscopie confocale, la spectroscopie UV-Vis, celle de la fluorescence, du dichroïsme circulaire (CD) et de la luminescence circulairement polarisée (CPL) sont décrites. Dans la deuxième partie, la synthèse du gemini 16-2-16 ainsi que son mécanisme d'auto-assemblage, et sa transformation en réplica de silice par l'intermédiaire de la chimie sol-gel sont décrits. Ces nanohélices de silice sont fonctionnalisées par le 3-aminopropyltriéthoxysilane (APTES). Leur analyse est effectuée par analyse thermogravimétrique (TGA) et analyse élémentaire (EA).Dans le troisième chapitre, nous nous sommes concentrés sur la synthèse de QDs inorganiques ((ZnS)x-1(AgInS2)x) avec différentes compositions rapport molaire et leurs caractérisations par TEM, TGA, EA, spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (FTIR), mesures de potentiel zêta, spectroscopie d'absorption et d'émission. Quatre types de ligands ont été utilisés, par échange de ligand, pour recouvrir les QDs : sulfure d'ammonium (AS), acide 3-mercaptopropionique (MPA), l-cystéine (L-Cys) et l'oleylamine (OLA). Ces QDs sont greffés à la surface des hélices de silice modifiée par de l’amine suite à des interactions ioniques. Diverses techniques ont été utilisées pour confirmer leur greffage à la surface des hélices de silice, et les propriétés optiques ont été étudiées par spectroscopie d'absorption et d'émission. Après le greffage, différents résultats ont été observés selon le ligand utilisé : la caractérisation par TEM montre que les QDs sont greffés à la surface des hélices de silice. [...] / In this work, we focused on the creation of optically active chiral nanostructures by fabricating fluorescent silica nanohelices in order to obtain optically active nanoscale soft materials for applications as nanophotonics materials. For this purpose, silica chiral nanohelices were used for grafting and organizing achiral fluorescent inorganic nanocrystals, dyes, molecules, and fluorescent polymers through different approaches. These inorganic helices were formed via sol-gel method using organic helical self–assemblies of surfactant molecules (achiral and cationic gemini surfactant, with chiral counterion, tartrate) as templates. First, the surface of helical silica was functionalized by APTES in order to graft inorganic quantum dots ZnS-AgInS2 with different capping ligands. In the second part, fluorescent anthracene derivative polymer was organized via deposition and absorption on the surface of helical silica. To investigate the chiroptical properties, circular dichroism and circularly polarised luminescence characterization were performed.In the first chapter, the bibliographic study on different chiral organic self-assembling systems and their chiroptical properties are shown. The studies on the formation of chiral self-assembled systems in different conditions, structural morphology, fabrication techniques and their applications are discussed followed by the use of fluorescent nanocrystals, i.e., quantum dots (QDs) and achiral fluorescent polymers on which chiroptical properties can be obtained and their applications in optical nanodevices, sensors, and nano-photonics.In the first part of the second chapter, different characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscope (TEM) , high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and confocal microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopies, as well as circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) spectroscopies are described. In the second part, the synthesis of Gemini 16-2-16 as well as their self-assemblies mechanism, and their transformation to silica replica via sol-gel chemistry are described. These silica nanohelices are functionalized by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Their analysis is performed by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and elementary analysis (EA).In the third Chapter, we focused on the synthesis of inorganic ((ZnS)x-1(AgInS2)x) QDs with different compositions molar ratio and its characterizations by TEM, TGA, EA, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential measurements, absorption, and emission spectroscopy. Four types of ligands were used to cap the QDs via phase ligand exchange as follows: ammonium sulphide (AS), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), l-cysteine (L-Cys) and the fourth one is oleylamine (OLA). These QDs are grafted on the surface of amine-modified silica helices through ionic interaction. Various techniques were used to show the grafting of QDs on the surface of silica helix, and their optical properties were studied using absorption and emission spectroscopy. After grafting, in each case of ligands, different results were observed as follows: The TEM characterization shows that QDs are grafted on the surface of silica helices. In the case of AS-capped QDs, the helical morphology of silica helices after grafting is destroyed; therefore the further ananlysis was not possible. While, in the cases of QDs with three other ligands MPA, OLA and L-cys, dense and homogeneous grafting of the QDs were observed by TEM and the helical morphology was preserved after their grafting. The HRTEM images were taken on the MPA-QDs@silica helices and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis was performed in STEM mode, confirming the QDs elements present on the silica surfaces. [...]

Aufkonversions-Nanokristalle (UCNC) zeichnen sich als einzigartige Lumineszenzreporter aus, die Nah-infrarotes Anregungslicht in Photonen höherer Energie umwandeln. Für die gezielte Anpassung von Eigenschaften, bedarf es ein tiefes Verständnis der Prozesse der Aufwärtskonversionslumineszenz (UCL) und deren Abhängigkeit von Material und Partikeldesign. Diese Doktorarbeit untersucht die UCL-Prozesse von Yb3+,Er3+ dotierten SrF2-UCNC und zielt darauf ab, die UCL-Eigenschaften der bisher unterschätzten kubischen Wirtsgitter zu verstehen und zu steigern. Hierbei wird die fluorolytische Sol-Gel-Synthese als neuartige Syntheseroute für UCNC vorgestellt. Vorteile wie ausgezeichnete Reproduzierbarkeit, viele Freiheitsgrade bei der Temperaturbehandlung und Partikelgestaltung werden anhand von SrF2 UCNC demonstriert. Die UCNC wurden mittels UCL-Spektren, UCL-Quantenausbeuten, leistungsdichte-abhängiger relativer spektraler Verteilung sowie der Lumineszenzabklingkinetiken unter Einbeziehung kristalliner Eigenschaften wie der Kristallphase, der Kristallitgröße, der Gitterparameter und der Teilchengröße untersucht. Die Abhängigkeit der UCL-Eigenschaften von der Dotierungsmenge wurde mit einer umfassenden Dotierungsreihe beschrieben und der optimale Dotierungsbereich (Yb3+,Er3+) von kleinen, ungeschalten SrF2-UCNC eingegrenzt. Bei der Studie dotierter Kerne mit passivierenden Schalen wurde der Einfluss von Temperaturbehandlung auf die UCL-Mechanismen und die Kern-Schale-Vermischung untersucht. Anhand von unterschiedlich kalzinierten UCNC Pulvern wurde die Empfindlichkeit der UCL gegenüber der Änderung kristalliner Eigenschaften, wie Kristallphase, Kristallinität, und Kristallitgröße betrachtet. Zusammen liefern die Dotierungs-, die Kern-Schale- und die Kalzinierungsstudie wertvolle Einblicke in das gitterspezifische Verhalten der UCL-Eigenschaften als Funktion der Energiemigration und der Kristalleigenschaften. / Upconversion nanocrystals (UCNC) represent a unique type of luminescence reporters that convert near-infrared excitation light into higher energy photons. Tailoring UCNC with specific luminescence properties requires an in-depth understanding of upconversion luminescence (UCL) processes and their dependence on material and particle design. This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the UCL processes of Yb3+,Er3+ doped SrF2-UCNC and aims to understand and enhance the UCL properties of the previously underestimated cubic host lattices. Herein, fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis is introduced as a novel synthetic route for UCNC. Advantages such as excellent reproducibility, high flexibility in temperature treatment and particle design are demonstrated using SrF2 UCNC. The UCNC were characterized by UCL spectra, UCL quantum yields, excitation power density-dependent relative spectral distribution, and luminescence decay kinetics involving crystalline properties such as crystal phase, crystallite size, lattice parameters, and particle size. The dependence of UCL properties on doping amount was described in a comprehensive doping study, and the optimal doping range (Yb3+,Er3+) of small, unshelled SrF2-UCNC was identified. In a core-shell study of doped core UCNC with passivating shells, the influence of temperature treatment on UCL mechanisms and core-shell mixing was investigated. Further, using different calcined UCNC powders, the sensitivity of UCL to the change of crystalline properties, such as crystal phase, crystallinity, and crystallite size, was assessed. Together, the doping, core-shell, and calcination studies provide valuable insight into the lattice-specific behavior of UCL properties as a function of energy migration and crystal properties.

Un-doped, Tb3+ as well as Yb3+ doped ZnO nanocrystals with different concentrations of RE3+ (Tb3+, Yb3+) ions were successfully synthesized via sol-gel method to produce rare earth activated zinc oxide nanophosphors. The phosphor powders were produced by drying the precursor gels at 200˚C in ambient air. Based on the X-ray diffraction results, it was found that the pure and RE3+ doped ZnO nanophosphors were highly polycrystalline in nature regardless of the incorporation of Tb3+ or Yb3+ ions. Moreover, the diffraction patterns were all indexed to the ZnO Hexagonal wurtzite structure and belong to P63mc symmetry group. The Raman spectroscopy confirmed the wurtzitic structure of the prepared samples. Elemental mapping conducted on the as prepared samples using Scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) revealed homogeneous distribution of Zn, O, and RE3+ ions. The high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) analyses indicated that the un-doped and RE3+ doped samples were composed of hexagonal homogeneously dispersed particles of high crystallinity with an average size ranging from 4 to 7 nm in diameter, which was in agreement with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. ZnO:Tb3+ PL study showed that among different Tb3+ concentrations, 0.5 mol% Tb3+ doped ZnO nanoparticles showed clear emission from the dopant originating from the 4f-4f intra-ionic transitions of Tb3+ while the broad defects emission was dominating in the 0.15 and 1 mol% Tb3+doped ZnO. Optical band-gap was extrapolated from the Ultraviolet Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) absorption spectra using TAUC‟s method and the widening of the optical band-gap for the doped samples as compared to the un-doped sample was observed. The PL study of ZnO:Yb3+ samples was studied using a 325 nm He-Cd laser line. It was observed that the ZnO exciton peak was enhanced as Yb3+ions were incorporated in ZnO matrix. Furthermore, UV-VIS absorption spectroscopic study revealed the widening of the band-gap in Tb3+ doped ZnO and a narrowing in the case of Yb3+ doped ZnO system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that the dopant was present in the doped samples and the result was found to be consistent with PL data from which an energy transfer was evidenced. Energy transfer mechanism was evidenced between RE3+ and ZnO nanocrystals and was discussed in detail. / Physics / M.Sc. (Physics)

This thesis describes investigations into the photophysical properties of luminescent materials and their application in optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes and photodetectors. The materials used were all solution processable because of the interest in low cost processing of organics. I have investigated the photophysics of 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexamethyltriphenylene, a triphenylene derivative which has its luminescence enhanced by the addition of methyl groups. These groups change the planar shape of the triphenylene molecule into a twisted one, changing the symmetry of the molecule and increasing its dipole moment in absorption and emission by ~4 fold. This increased its rate of radiative deexcitation by ~20 times. In addition, the twisted shape of the molecule prevents intermolecular interactions and concentration effects from affecting the luminescence. This results in an efficient solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield of 31%. This thesis also includes an investigation into phosphorescent polymer dendrimers, designed to have suitable viscosities in solution for inkjet printed OLED applications. A photophysical study of the intra-chain aggregation effects on the luminescence was undertaken in both homopolymers and copolymers with high energy gap spacer units. Using double dendrons to increase the steric protection of the luminescent cores, the best homopolymers achieved 12.1% external quantum efficiency (39.3 cd/A) at 100 cd/m² brightness and the best co-polymer achieved 14.7% EQE (48.3 cd/A) at 100 cd/m². This compares favourably with 11.8% EQE for the best phosphorescent polymer and 16% for the best solution processed dendrimer OLED previously reported. Finally I have applied a solution processed enhancement layer to silicon photodiodes to enhance their ultraviolet response. Using a blend of materials to give favourable absorption and emission properties, 61% external quantum efficiency was achieved at 200 nm, which is better than the 20-30% typical for vacuum deposited lumogen enhancement layers used commercially.