L’électronique organique reste un domaine de recherche prolifique grâce à la diversité de structures moléculaires accessible par la synthèse organique. Les matériaux moléculaires offrent des possibilités de mises en forme inédites comme les techniques de dépôt en solution, utilisables dans la conception de dispositifs organiques sur supports plastiques. Nos travaux de recherche mêlent électrochimie, conception et caractérisations électriques de dispositifs et mesures capteur. Ils abordent deux thématiques : l’élaboration de nouveaux transducteurs à base de polyanilines substituées et de phtalocyanines et l’étude de l’influence de la modification électrochimique de surface sur le comportement de dispositifs connus.Nous avons tout d’abord élaboré des hétérojonctions latérales polymère – phtalocyanine en utilisant les propriétés des polyanilines. De par leur géométrie, ces nouveaux dispositifs diffèrent de l’hétérojonction MSDI (Molecular Semiconductor – Doped Insulator), transducteur conductimétrique bicouche développé au laboratoire pour la détection de gaz comme l’ozone ou l’ammoniac. La caractérisation complète de la poly(2,3,5,6-tétrafluoroaniline) indique que ce polymère est peu conducteur, en comparaison de la polyaniline dont la conductivité peut être augmentée par dopage acido-basique. La présence des fluors empêche l’émergence du régime conducteur que l’on retrouve en milieu acide pour la polyaniline et la poly(2,5-diméthoxyaniline). Ces trois polymères, électrodéposés sur électrodes d’ITO interdigitées ont permis, après sublimation de la bisphtalocyanine de lutécium, de construire les hétérojonctions latérales. Le comportement électrique des différents dispositifs, étudié notamment par spectroscopie d’impédance, diffère en fonction de la nature des substituants de la polyaniline électrodéposée. Enfin, des mesures capteur ont montré la possibilité de détecter l’ammoniac en milieu humide, avec une limite de détection sub ppm.De précédents travaux sur l’élaboration de MSDI ont souligné le rôle primordial des interfaces, notamment dans le cas des n-MSDI qui présentent une hétérojonction p-n. Outre le changement de la nature chimique de la sous-couche employée, une autre manière de jouer sur les interfaces est de modifier électrochimiquement la surface des électrodes interdigitées, par réduction de sels de diazonium. Nous avons ainsi greffé différents benzènes substitués, dont certains ont conduit à la formation de multicouches comme l’ont révélée des mesures de microbalance à quartz électrochimique. Les différentes modifications de surface ont surtout joué le rôle de barrière isolante, amplifiant le comportement non linéaire des caractéristiques courant-tension des MSDI. Le greffage du 2,5-diméthoxybenzène a permis d’améliorer significativement la sensibilité à l’ammoniac de la MSDI à base d’hexadécafluorophtalocyanine de cuivre et de bisphtalocyanine de lutétium, avec une limite de détection de l’ordre de 200 ppb. / Organic electronics remains a fruitful research field thanks to the diversity of molecular structures reachable by organic synthesis. Molecular materials offer convenient shaping processes, such as solution processing techniques, which can be used for the fabrication of organic devices on plastic substrates.Our works can be summarized as the elaboration of conductometric devices thanks to electrochemistry and the study of their electrical and sensing properties. They deal with two topics: the development of new transducers based on substituted polyanilines and phthalocyanines and the study of the influence of electrochemical modifications on the behavior of known devices.We first developped polymer - phthalocyanine lateral heterojunctions using the properties of polyanilines. Because of their geometry, these new devices differed from the MSDI heterojunction (Molecular Semiconductor - Doped Insulator), a bilayer-based conductometric transducer developed in the laboratory for the detection of gases such as ozone or ammonia. The comprehensive study of poly (2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroaniline) indicated that this material was a poor conducting polymer, compared to polyaniline whose conductivity can be increased by acid-base doping. The presence of fluorine atoms prevented the emergence of the conductive regime found in acidic medium for polyaniline and poly (2,5-dimethoxyaniline). These three polymers, electrodeposited on interdigitated ITO electrodes, allowed us, after sublimation of the lutetium bisphthalocyanine, to build lateral heterojunctions. The electrical behavior of the different devices, studied in particular by impedance spectroscopy, differed according to the nature of the substituents of the electrodeposited polyaniline. Finally, sensing measurements revealed their efficiency to detect ammonia in humid atmosphere, with a sub-ppm limit of detection.Previous works on the development of MSDI emphasized the primary role of interfaces, particularly in the case of n-MSDI that contained a p-n heterojunction. In addition to the modification of the chemical nature of the underlayer, another way to play with the interfaces is to electrochemically modify the surface of the interdigitated electrodes by reducing diazonium salts. Thus, we grafted various substituted benzenes, some of which led to the formation of multilayers as revealed by electrochemical quartz microbalance measurements. The various surface modifications mainly acted as an insulating barrier that amplified the nonlinear behavior of the current-voltage characteristics of MSDI. The grafting of 2,5-dimethoxybenzene significantly improved the ammonia sensitivity of MSDI based on copper hexadecafluorophthalocyanine and lutetium bisphthalocyanine, with a limit of detection of around 200 ppb.

Au cours de ce travail, nous nous sommes particulièrement intéressés à une classe de molécules électroactives précurseurs de matériaux moléculaires conducteurs à composant unique, les complexes bis(1,2-dithiolène) d'or et de nickel neutres. Nous avons tout d'abord développé une série originale de complexes radicalaires d'or [Au(R-thiazYdt)2] à partir de ligands dithiolène, riches en électron, les N-alkyl-1,3-thiazoline-2-chalcogénone-4,5-dithiolate (R-thiazYdt)2 avec Y = O, S, Se et R = Pr, iPr, cycloPr, NMe2. Le substituant R de l'hétérocycle joue un rôle majeur sur les propriétés des matériaux, résultant des interactions électroniques intermoléculaires entre ces complexes paramagnétiques. Les complexes de nickel diamagnétiques, [Ni(R-thiazSdt)2], des mêmes ligands dithiolène, présentent quant à eux une organisation à l'état solide très différente, conséquence de leur caractère à "couche fermée". Enfin, la réactivité originale des dérivés avec R = tBu conduit à des ligands dithiolène portés par un cycle aromatique 2-alkylthio-thiazole (RS-tzdt). Leurs complexes d'or neutres [Au(RS-tzdt)2] forment des empilements fortement dimérisés et semi-conducteurs. / During this work, we particularly focused on one type of electroactive molecules, precursors of single component molecular conductors, the neutral gold and nickel bis(1,2-dithiolene) complexes. First we developed a series of radical gold complexes [Au(R-thiazYdt)2] derived from electron rich dithiolene ligands, the N-alkyl-1,3-thiazoline-2-chalcogenone-4,5-dithiolate (R-thiazYdt)2 with Y = O, S, Se and R = Pr, iPr, cycloPr, NMe2. The R substituent plays an important role on the properties of these materials resulting from the intermolecular electronic interactions between these paramagnetic complexes. Besides, diamagnetic nickel complexes, [Ni(R-thiazSdt)2], with the same dithiolene ligands exhibit a different organization in the solid state, a consequence of their closed shell nature. Finally, the original reactivity of the derivatives with R = tBu leads to dithiolene ligands with an aromatic 2-alkylthio-1,3-thiazole ring (RS-tzdt). Their neutral gold complexes [Au(RS-tzdt)2] form semi-conducting strongly dimerized stacks.

Sous l'influence de stimuli externes (température, irradiation lumineuse etc.), les matériaux à transition de spin peuvent commuter d'un état bas spin vers un état haut spin de manière réversible, entraînant une modification importante de leurs propriétés physiques (élastique, magnétique, optique etc.). De plus, dans les matériaux massifs, la transition de spin est souvent accompagnée d'un effet mémoire (cycle d'hystérésis). Toutes ces propriétés rendent ces matériaux moléculaires particulièrement attractifs pour des applications dans des dispositifs nanométriques. Cependant, ces propriétés sont généralement fortement dépendantes de la taille de l'objet. Cette dépendance peut mener à une perte du cycle d'hystérésis, une modification de la stabilité des phases et l'observation de transitions incomplètes. Ces phénomènes ont été étudiés à travers des approches de physique statistique et de thermodynamique mettant en exergue le rôle important des interfaces. Cette thèse se place dans la continuité de ces travaux et se focalise sur deux aspects. D'une part, une étude des surfaces et de leur relaxation à l'aide des modèles de type Ising et " spin-phonon " résolus numériquement (Monte Carlo, auto-convergence). Il est montré que les phénomènes de surface modifient en profondeur les propriétés du matériau, que le couplage entre surface et volume est d'autant plus important à l'approche de la transition et que ces inhomogénéités spatiales peuvent être à l'origine des transitions incomplètes observées. D'autre part, il est réalisé une étude expérimentale de la dynamique du réseau à l'aide de la diffusion nucléaire inélastique pour suivre l'évolution des propriétés élastiques et vibrationnelles avec la réduction de la taille à travers la densité d'états phononiques. Cette étude expérimentale est complétée par une étude théorique/numérique, à l'aide des techniques de la matrice dynamique et de la dynamique moléculaire. Les densités d'états vibrationnels de particules cubiques à motif octaédrique sont ainsi obtenues permettant d'appréhender les mécanismes de couplages des différents modes de vibration de l'octaèdre de coordination à l'état solide. Finalement, il est discuté des effets de confinement et de leurs conséquences sur les grandeurs liées à la dynamique du réseau telles que la vitesse du son. / Spin crossover compounds are able to reversibly switch from a low spin to a high spin state under the application of an external stimulus (temperature, light irradiation, etc.). This transition is associated with an important modification of the physical properties (elastic, magnetic, optical properties, etc.). In particular, in the solid state, a memory effect (hysteresis loop) can occur. All these features are particularly attractive for applications in nano-devices. However, these properties are largely dependent on the object size. This size dependence can lead to a loss of the hysteresis loop, a modification of the phase stability and to incomplete transition. These phenomena have been studied through statistical and thermodynamical approaches highlighting the important role of interfaces. This thesis is focused on two points. First, a study of the surfaces through the spatial relaxation is performed by numerically solving (Monte Carlo simulations and auto-convergence techniques) Ising-like and " spin-phonon " models. The analysis of the surface correlation length (surface thickness), revealed that the surface-volume coupling increases when getting closer to the transition temperature and that the spatial inhomogeneity can lead to incomplete transitions. On the other hand, an experimental study of the lattice dynamics is also performed. The density of phonon states is extracted from nuclear inelastic scattering in order to follow the size evolution of the vibrational and elastic properties. This experimental study is completed by the theoretical investigation (molecular dynamics simulations, dynamical matrix method) of the densities of vibrational states of cubic particles with an octahedral pattern allowing a better understanding of the coupling mechanisms of the different vibrational modes of the coordination octahedron in the solid state. Finally, the confinement effects and their consequences on the lattice dynamical parameters are discussed.

Ces dernières années, de nombreux travaux de recherche ont été dédiés aux matériaux moléculaires à transition de spin à base de FeII, aussi bien du point de vue de la compréhension des phénomènes fondamentaux que de la mise en forme en vue d'applications. Ces matériaux présentent deux configurations électroniques inter-commutables sous l'effet d'une perturbation extérieure (bistabilité thermique et optique). Des interactions intra- et intermoléculaires fortes au sein du réseau cristallin peuvent conférer au matériau un comportement coopératif associé à des transitions de spin abruptes et un caractère hystérétique à l'origine d'un effet mémoire. La compréhension de l'origine de la coopérativité ainsi que sa maîtrise présentent à ce jour un intérêt certain. L'effet de la dilution métallique sur les propriétés de commutation photoinduites dans les composés FexZn1-x(btr)2(NCS)2.H2O est étudié par diffraction des rayons X sur monocristal. Un modèle microscopique expliquant les différents processus mis en jeu au cours de la transition (nucléation et séparation de phase) est proposé à partir d'une analyse structurale des données. Les effets de nanostructuration sont étudiés sur le polymère de coordination unidimensionnel [Fe(Htrz)2trz](BF4). Différents milieux inverses à base de tensioactif et d'organisation structurale variée (systèmes moléculaires organisés) ont été choisis pour une synthèse en environnement confiné (milieu micellaire inverse, phase cristal liquide hexagonale inverse (HII) et lamellaire (Lalpha)). Un lien entre la taille et la morphologie des particules, leur microstructure et leurs propriétés physico-chimiques est établi. Un intérêt particulier est porté à la dynamique de la réaction en milieu cristal liquide / In the last years, intensive research activity has been dedicated to iron(II)-based spin transition compounds, for a better understanding of the fundamental phenomena as within the scope of practical application. These molecular materials possess two electronic configurations, which are interchangeable by the application of an external perturbation (thermal and optic bistability). Strong electron-lattice coupling may lead to cooperative behaviour, consequently abrupt spin transitions and hysteretic behaviour at the origin of a memory effect. Understanding and controlling this property is of primary interest in fundamental and applied research. The influence of metal dilution on the photo-induced transitions in FexZn1-x(btr)2(NCS)2.H2O is investigated by X-Ray diffraction on single crystals. We suggest a microscopic model interpreting the dynamics of the phase transition (nucleation and growth mechanisms of spin-like domains) through a structural analysis of the diffraction data. The effects of nanostructuration on the physicochemical properties have been studied on the one-dimensional coordination polymer [Fe(Htrz)2trz](BF4). Different surfactant-based organized molecular systems with various structural organizations are chosen for the synthesis in confined environments: reverse micellar solutions as well as lamellar (Lalpha) and reverse hexagonal (HII) liquid crystal phases. A relationship between size and shape, microstructure and physicochemical properties is established with a specific attention to reaction dynamics in the liquid crystal phase

The present thesis deals with a theoretical study of electronic structures in -conjugated molecular materials with focus on their application in organic elec-tronics. We also discuss a modified and efficient symmetrized DMRG algorithm for studying excited states in these systems. In recent times, organic conjugated systems have emerged as potential candidates in a wide range of fascinating fields by virtue of their tunable electronic properties, easy processability and low cost. Tunability in the electronic and optical properties primarily are centered on the or-dering and nature of the low-lying excited states. Probing these important excited states also demands development of efficient and adaptable techniques. Chapter 1 provides a basic overview of conjugated organic polymers which have been utilized over decades in diverse fields as in organic light emitting diodes (OLED), organic solar cells (OSC) and non-linear optical (NLO) devices. These systems also contribute significantly to theoretical understanding as they pro vide important insights of one and quasi-one dimensional systems. In this chapter, we have given basic description of the electronic processes in OLED and OSC along with a brief theoretical description of -conjugated organic systems. Chapter 2 gives an account of the numerical techniques which are necessary for the study of low-dimensional strongly correlated systems like -conjugated sys-tems. For this purpose, effective low-energy model Hamiltonians viz. Huckel,¨ Hubbard and Pariser-Parr-Pople Hamiltonians are discussed. Exact diagonalization technique within the diagrammatic valence bond (DVB) basis and density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) technique are discussed in details. We have also given brief accounts of the methods employed to study real-time dynamics. A short description of different computational techniques for the study of NLO properties in -conjugated systems is also provided. Engineering the position of the lowest triplet state (T1) relative to the first excited singlet state (S1) is of great importance in improving the efficiencies of organic light emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. In chapter 3, we have carried out model exact calculations of substituted polyene chains to understand the fac-tors that affect the energy gap between S1 and T1. The factors studied are backbone dimerization, different donor-acceptor substitutions and twisted backbone geome-try. The largest system studied is an eighteen carbon polyene which spans a Hilbert space of about 991 million in the triplet subspace. We show that for reverse inter-system crossing (RISC) process, the best choice involves substituting all carbon sites on one half of the polyene with donors and the other half with acceptors. Singlet fission (SF) is a potential pathway for significant enhancement of efficiency in OSC. In chapter 4, we study singlet fission in a pair of polyene molecules in two different stacking arrangements employing exact many-body wave packet dy-namics. In the non-interacting model, SF is absent. The individual molecules are treated within Hubbard and Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) models and the interac-tion between them involves transfer terms, intersite electron repulsions and site-charge—bond-charge repulsion terms. Initial wave packet is construc ted from ex-cited singlet state of one molecule and ground state of the other. Time develop-ment of this wave packet under the influence of intermolecular interactions is fol-lowed within the Schrodinger¨ picture by an efficient predictor-corrector scheme. In unsubstituted Hubbard and PPP chains, 21A state leads to significant SF yield while the 11B state gives negligible fission yield. On substitution by donor-acceptor groups of moderate strength, the lowest excited state will have sufficient 2 1A char-acter and hence gives significant SF yield. Because of rapid internal c onversion, the nature of the lowest excited singlet will determine the SF contribution to OSC effi - ciency. Furthermore, we find the fission yield depends considerably on th e stacking arrangement of the polyene molecules. In chapter 5, we have given an account of a new modified algorithm for symmetry adaptation within symmetrized density matrix renormalization group (SDMRG) technique. SDMRG technique has been an efficient method for studying low-lying eigenstates in one and quasi-one dimensional electronic systems. However, SDMRG method until now, had bottlenecks involving construction of linearly in-dependent symmetry adapted basis states as the symmetry matrices in the DMRG basis were not sparse. Our modified algorithm overcomes this bottleneck. T he new method incorporates end-to-end interchange symmetry (C2), electron-hole symmetry (J) and parity or spin-flip symmetry (P) in these calculations. The one-to-one correspondence between direct-product basis states in the DMRG Hilbert space for these symmetry operations renders the symmetry matrices in the new ba-sis with maximum sparseness, just one non-zero matrix element per row. Using methods similar to those employed in exact diagonalization technique for Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) models, developed in the eighties, it is possible to construct or-thogonal SDMRG basis states while bypassing the slow step of Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization procedure. The method together with the PPP model which incorporates long-range electronic correlations is employed to study the correlated excited states of 1,12-benzoperylene. In chapter 6, we have studied the correlated excited states of coronene and ova-lene within Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) model employing symmetry adapted density matrix renormalization group technique. These polynuclear aromatic hydrocar-bons can be considered as graphene nanoflakes and study of their ele ctronic struc-tures will shed light on the electron correlation effects in these finite-size gr aphene analogues. The electron correlation effect usually diminishes on going from one-dimensional to higher-dimensional systems, yet, it is significant within these fin ite-size graphene derivatives where it depends on the molecular topology. We have characterized these low-lying energy states by calculating bond orders, spin den-sities in the lowest triplet state and two-photon absorption cross-sections for low-lying two-photon states. vi

L’objectif de cette étude était d’obtenir un capteur à bas coût, fonctionnant à température ambiante, et permettant d’obtenir une information sur la concentration d’ammoniac d’une atmosphère, sans tenir compte de l’humidité. Cela implique une très faible sensibilité à l’humidité et une faible synergie entre l’eau et l’ammoniac.Au terme d’une étude sur la mise en forme de films hybrides hydrophiles, par un procédé « propre » dans l’eau, un capteur a été développé, par un assemblage en couche par couche de polyélectrolytes hydrophiles, la polyaniline et la phtalocyanine tétrasulfonée de cuivre : PANI/TsPcCu. Ce capteur présente une limite de détection d’ammoniac inférieure au ppm et une très faible sensibilité à l’eau, permettant de détecter l’ammoniac sans informations sur l’humidité de l’air.De nouveaux dispositifs, basés sur un mode de transduction breveté, ont été étudiés : les heterojonctions MSDIs (Molecular Semiconductor-Doped Insulator). Ces dispositifs sont formés de deux couches superposées, une sous-couche isolante de type n, F16PcCu ou le PTCDA, et une couche supérieure semi-conductrice de type p, Pc2Lu. L’importance de la jonction entre les deux matériaux, mais aussi de la jonction entre les électrodes et la sous-couche, a été démontrée à l’aide de mesures d’impédances. Les propriétés capteurs des dispositifs MSDI ont été étudiées par exposition à l’ammoniac sur une large gamme d’humidité. Ils présentent une très faible sensibilité à l’eau et permettent de détecter des concentrations d’ammoniac inférieures au ppm. Suite au développement d’un banc de mesures spécifique permettant l’affinage de fromages, celui-ci a pu être suivi par des mesures capteur avec un résistor de PcCo et par GC-MS. Ces mesures ont mis en évidence l’intérêt de tels capteurs pour suivre l’évolution de la maturation des fromages. / The aim of this study was to obtain a low cost sensor, working at room temperature, capable to obtain an information about the ammonia concentration without any information about the humidity. These characteristics imply a very low sensitivity to humidity and a low cross sensitivity between humidity and ammonia.After a study on material processing of hydrophilic films using water as solvent, a sensors has been developed by using layer by layer assembly of polyelectrolytes, such as polyaniline and the tetrasulfonated copper phthalocyanine: PANI/TsCuPc. This sensor is able to detect sub ppm ammonia concentration, with a very low cross sensitivity between ammonia and water which allow ammonia sensing without any information about the humidity.New devices based on a patented transduction method were studied: the MSDIs heterojunctions (Molecular Semiconductor-Doped Insulator). This kind of device is prepared with two different layers, a sub layer of an n-type insulator, F16CuPc or PTCDA, and an upper layer of a p-type semiconductor, LuPc2. The importance of the junction between both materials and between the sub layer and the electrodes were studied by using ammonia exposure on a large humidity range. They exhibit a very low sensitivity to humidity and allow sub ppm ammonia sensing whatever the humidity is.A specific workbench has been developed and tested in the laboratory, to follow cheese ripening by using CoPc gas sensors and gas chromatography. These measurements showed readiness to the use of the kind of gas sensors for the follow up of dairy products.

Les travaux de recherche concernent l'étude des propriétés magnétiques des nanoparticules de coordination et de complexes à transition de spin assemblés en monocouches sur différents substrats métalliques par spectroscopie d’absorption des rayons X (XAS) aux seuils L₂,₃ des atomes métalliques. Nous utilisons le dichroïsme magnétique circulaire des rayons X (XMCD) et le dichroïsme naturel linéaire des rayons X (XNLD). La simulation des données expérimentales est réalisée par la méthode des multiplets en champ de ligands (LFM). Cette thèse est divisée en deux parties.La première partie vise à étudier l'anisotropie magnétique des nanoparticules magnétiques de coordination assemblées en une monocouche sur du graphite pyrolytique hautement orienté. Les mesures XAS, XNLD et XMCD révèlent la présence d'une anisotropie électronique et magnétique par l'ouverture d'une boucle d'hystérèse magnétique à basse température. En combinant les données expérimentales avec les calculs LFM, nous proposons un modèle structural de la surface des particules qui permet de rendre compte de l'anisotropie électronique et magnétique due à l'interface nanoparticules/vide.Dans la deuxième partie, on étudie la transition de spin thermique et photo-induite de complexes de Fe(II) assemblés en sous-monocouches sur des substrats métalliques. Les calculs LFM et les données expérimentales permettent de démêler les différents effets que les paramètres externes (température, rayons X, lumière bleue et rouge) induisent sur la nature et l'ampleur de la transition de spin. Une transition "anormale" de l’état haut spin vers bas spin, induite par la lumière bleue est découverte et analysée comme étant due à une interaction à l'interface entre les molécules et les substrats métalliques, cette interaction apportant l’énergie nécessaire à cette transition. / This thesis is focused on the investigation of the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles and spin crossover complexes assembled as monolayers on different metallic substrates by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) at the L₂,₃ edges of the metal atoms. We use X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) and X-ray Natural Linear Dichroism (XNLD) to do so. The simulation of the experimental data is carried out by Ligand Field Multiplet (LFM) calculations. This thesis is divided into two parts.The first part aims at studying the magnetic anisotropy of Prussian blue analog magnetic coordination nanoparticles that were assembled as a single layer on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite. XAS, XNLD and XMCD measurements disclose the presence of electronic and magnetic anisotropy by the opening of a magnetic hysteresis loop at low temperature. Combining experimental data with LFM calculations, we propose a structural model of the surface of the particles that allows accounting for electronic and magnetic anisotropy and that is proposed to be due to the single layer/vacuum interface.In the second part, thermal and light-induced spin crossover behavior of Fe(II) containing molecules have been assembled as a sub-monolayer on metallic substrates. Complementary LFM calculations and experimental XAS data allow unravelling the nature and the magnitude of the spin crossover as a function of the external stimuli (temperature, X-rays, blue and red light). An anomalous blue light effect allowing a crossover at low temperature from the high to low spin states is discovered and analyzed as being due to the interface between the molecules and the metallic substrates.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The understanding of self-assembly processes is important for fabrication of well-defined structures with new functionalities for applications in the area of biomedical sciences, material sciences and electronics. In this thesis, two types of self-assembly processes are described: (1) self-assembly of fullerene derivatives in water and (2) self-assembly on surfaces using layer-by-layer (LbL) approach. The various interactions and parameters involved in the self-assembly are detailed in the introductory chapter 1. The various internal parameters like molecular geometry, intramolecular and intermolecular forces that guides the self-assembly process of amphiphiles in water are discussed. The experimental procedures used in the present thesis for the fabrication of nanostructures via self-assembly approach are also described. In the later part of the chapter, the LbL technique for fabrication of thin films and microcapsules is reviewed where various interactions involved in the growth of LbL assembly are discussed. The effect of ionic strength and pH on the growth and property of LbL assemblies is elaborated. A brief discussion of the materials used in the thesis ‒ fullerene, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is also provided The self-assembly behaviour of amphiphilic fullerene derivatives are described in chapter 2. Fullerene is anisotropically substituted with five polar hydroxyl groups using organo-copper reagent. The derivative can interact in water via the van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions of the fullerene moiety as well as the intermolecular hydrogen bonding among the hydroxyl groups and also with water. The penta-hydroxy fullerene derivative self-assembles in water as vesicular structures. The size of these vesicles can be varied by modifying the kinetics of self-assembly which was done by changing the rate of addition of non-solvent (water) to the solution of the fullerene derivative. In the second derivative, the hydroxyl groups are substituted with less polar methoxy groups. The penta-methoxy fullerene derivative cannot participate in inter-molecular hydrogen bonding formation unlike the penta-hydroxy derivative but there is possibility of hydrogen bond formation with water where oxygens on methoxy group can act as hydrogen bond acceptor. The penta-methoxy fullerene does not show any vesicle formation in water. The computational simulation studies were carried out on the two fullerene derivatives to understand the self-assembly behaviour of these two derivatives. Furthermore, the vesicle structures formed by the penta-hydroxy fullerene derivative are used for entrapment of hydrophobic polymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and also hydrophilic dye, Rhodamine B. In both the cases, fluorescence quenching is observed due to electron transfer reaction with fullerene and hence these fullerene vesicles can be used to study the effect of confinement on electron transfer reactions and other chemical dynamics. The layer-by-layer self-assembly approach for the fabrication of biopolymeric thin films and microcapsules is discussed in the chapters 3 to 6. The biocompatible nanoparticles and nanofibers were used as the components of the assembly. In chapter 3, we have described fabrication of thin film of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles via LbL approach using biopolymer chitosan as the complementary polymer. The driving force for the assembly growth of the assembly was the electrostatic and complementary hydrogen bond formation between the two components. The idea of incorporating nanoparticles in the thin film was that the nanoparticles can act as reservoirs for functional materials. The films were loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin and show pH dependent release of the drug. The various interactions involved in the LbL assembly of BSA nanoparticles and polymers were investigated towards understanding the growth mechanism of the assembly in chapter 4. The understanding of the interactions involved in the assembly formation is important in order to modify the conditions of the assembly for enhancing the growth. It is inferred from the study reported in this chapter that not only the interaction of nanoparticles with polymers but also the inter-particle interactions are important factors in determining the growth of LbL assembly of nanoparticles/polymers. The growth of the assembly is enhanced on minimizing the inter-particle repulsions, which was achieved in case of BSA nanoparticles by modifying the pH of the assembly. We also utilized the LbL self-assembly approach for the delivery of lipophilic drugs. The lipophilic drugs are difficult to administer in the body due to their poor water solubility and hence show poor pharmacokinetic profile. The methods for incorporating hydrophobic drugs in LbL assembled thin films and microcapsules are described in chapters 5 and 6. In chapter 5, hydrophobic molecules binding property of albumin has been exploited for solubilisation of a water-insoluble molecule, pyrene (model drug) and hydrophobic drug, curcumin, by preparation of non-covalent conjugates with BSA. The interaction with BSA provided negative zeta potential to the previously uncharged molecules and hence they can be incorporated in the LbL assembled thin films and microcapsules using electrostatic as well as hydrogen bonding interaction with biopolymer, chitosan. The fabrication of protein encapsulated stable microcapsules with hydrophobic molecules incorporated in the shell of the microcapsules has also been demonstrated. The microcapsules were further capable of loading hydrophilic molecules like Rhodamine B. Thus, this approach can be employed for fabrication of multi-agent carrier for hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs as well as therapeutic macromolecules. In chapter 6, we have incorporated nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) LbL assembled thin films and microcapsules. The assembly formed was porous in nature due to the nano-fibrous morphology of NCC. The nanoassemblies can act as potential drug delivery carrier, which has been demonstrated by loading anticancer drug doxorubicin, and a lipophilic drug, curcumin. Doxorubicin hydrochloride, the salt form of the drug, doxorubicin, has good water solubility and hence can be postloaded in the assembly by diffusion from its aqueous solution. In the case of curcumin, which has limited solubility in water, a stable aqueous dispersion of the drug was prepared via noncovalent interaction with NCC prior to incorporation in the LbL assembly. The interaction of various other lipophilic drugs with NCC was analysed computationally.

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