Phytoremediation is an attractive remediation technology due to its relative low cost and maintenance requirement. Acceptance of phytoremediation requires that the contaminant removal mechanisms are characterized and demonstrated in the field. Quantification of contributions from each mechanism to the overall remediation rate is crucial for optimization of phytoremediation systems, risk management and prediction of the total remediation time. The objective of this research was to characterize and quantify removal mechanisms for naphthalene at a creosote-contaminated site with poplar trees in Oneida, Tennessee. Groundwater monitoring for seven years in the surficial aquifer at this site demonstrated a reduction in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with selective removal of naphthalene and three-ring compounds. Naphthalene mass loss mechanisms investigated at this site are biodegradation in the saturated zone, volatilization and biodegradation in the vadose zone and phytovolatilization. This is probably the most comprehensive field study of PAH phytoremediation mechanisms conducted to date. The significance of this research is to contribute to predictions of remediation time and end result for phytoremediation of PAHs. The understanding of in situ factors controlling each mechanism can facilitate future optimization of phytoremediation systems as well as improve risk assessment and monitoring strategies. Biodegradation rates were determined for different conditions at this site with in situ respiration tests, laboratory soil microcosms and laboratory soil columns. The combined remediation mechanisms of volatilization and biodegradation in the vadose zone were investigated in the field and in laboratory columns. Field measurements show that lower groundwater elevations in the summer and early fall lead to elevated groundwater concentrations of naphthalene and increased volatilization. The increase in the fraction of the porespace occupied by gas (gas saturation) in the unsaturated zone during the summer and fall further enhances the volatilization by increasing effective diffusion rates. Water consumption and interception by the phytoremediation system are believed to enhance mass transfer to the vadose zone. Column experiments and field measurements show that more than 90% of the naphthalene vapors are biodegraded within 5-10 cm above the groundwater table. The data indicate that biodegradation increases the overall volatilization flux out of the source by 10-300 times, when the source is exposed directly to the gas phase. In situ the naphthalene is generally dissolved from the source into the groundwater and then volatilezed from the groundwater to the gas phase. Under these conditions biodegradation in the vadose zone will still indirectly have an enhancing effect on the flux out of the source. This is the result of removal naphthalene from the soil gas by biodegrdation driving removal from the groundwater by volatilization, which in turn drives dissolution form the source into the groundwater. Phytovolatilization was quantified in flux chambers mounted on trees and calculated from transpiration rates. A laboratory uptake study and analysis of tree cores from the site provided supplementary evidence for naphthalene uptake by poplar trees. Phytovolatilization was detected throughout the year and was highest in the summer and fall when the groundwater concentrations were highest and transpiration was active. The role of biodegradation relative to physical removal mechanisms was compared for a year, for winter and summer conditions and with and without the impact of phytoremediation. Biodegradation of naphthalene in the saturated zone dominates by orders of magnitude over the removal by volatilization and phytovolatilization of naphthalene at this site. The removal of the total residual naphthalene mass was estimated to require up to 100 years with phytoremediation, but more than twice as long without phytoremediation. The estimated removal of naphthalene was three times larger in the summer than in the winter due to slower biodegradation in the saturated zone and smaller rates of volatilization to the vadose zone in the winter. The research shows that phytoremediation enhances the overall naphthalene removal, mainly by stimulating faster biodegradation in the rhizosphere and promoting mass transfer of naphthalene to the vadose zone followed by rapid vadose zone biodegradation. In the future, phytoremediation research focusing on the capillary zone is desirable. / Ph. D.

Polímeros de coordenação têm atraído a atenção de pesquisadores na última década por conta de sua incrível versatilidade e virtualmente infinito número de possibilidades de combinação de ligantes orgânicos e centros metálicos. Estes compostos normalmente herdam as características magnéticas, eletrônicas e espectroscópicas de seus componentes base. Entretanto, apesar do crescente número de trabalhos na área, ainda são raros os polímeros de coordenação que apresentem condutividade elétrica. Para este fim, utilizou-se a N,N\'-bis(4-piridil)-1,4,5,8-naftaleno diimida, ou NDI-py, que pertence a uma classe de compostos rígidos, planares, quimicamente e termicamente estáveis e que já foram extensamente estudados por suas propriedades fotoeletroquímicas e semicondução do tipo n. O primeiro polímero de coordenação sintetizado, MOF-CoNDI-py-1, indicou ser um polímero linear, de estrutura 1D. O segundo, MOF-CoNDI-py-2, que conta com ácido tereftálico como ligante suporte, é um sólido cristalino com cela unitária monoclínica pertencente ao grupo espacial C2/c, determinado por difração de raios-X de monocristal. A rede apresenta um arranjo trinuclear de íons Co(II) alto spin com coordenados em uma geometria de octaedro distorcido, enquanto os ligantes NDI-py se encontram em um arranjo paralelo na estrutura, em distâncias apropriadas para transferência eletrônica. Com o auxílio de cálculo teóricos a nível de DFT, foi realizado um estudo aprofundado dos espectros eletrônicos e vibracionais, com atribuição das transições observadas, tanto para o MOF-CoNDI-py-2 quanto para o ligante NDI-py livre. A rede de coordenação absorve em toda a região do espectro eletrônico analisada, de 200 nm a 2500 nm, além de apresentar luminescência com característica do ligante. Dispositivos eletrônicos fabricados com um cristal do MOF-CoNDI-py-2 revelaram condutividades da ordem de 7,9 10-3 S cm -1, a maior já observada para um MOF. Além de elevada, a condutividade elétrica dos cristais demonstrou-se altamente anisotrópica, sendo significativamente menos condutor em algumas direções. Os perfis de corrente versus voltagem foram analisados em termos de mecanismos de condutividade, sendo melhores descritos por um mecanismo limitado pelo eletrodo to tipo Space-Charge Limited Current, concordando com a proposta de condutividade através dos planos de NDI-py na rede. A condutividade dos cristais também é fortemente dependente de luz, apresentando fotocondução quando irradiado por um laser vermelho, de 632 nm, enquanto apresenta um comportamento fotorresistivo frente a uma fonte de luz branca. Estes resultados, combinados, trazem um MOF em uma estrutura incomum e com elevada condutividade elétrica, modulada por luz, em medidas diretas de corrente. Não existem exemplos conhecidos de MOFs na literatura com estas características. / Coordination polymers have been a major topic in materials science during the past decade, thanks to their versatility and virtually infinite possible combinations between metal centers and organic ligands. These coordination polymers usually inherit the properties of their components, such as magnetic, spectroscopic and electronic characteristics. However, despite the increasing number of research papers in this topic, it is still hard to find coordination polymers featuring electronic conductivity. To achieve that, we used a naphthalene diimide derivative, N,N\'-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,4,5,8- naphthalene diimide or NDI-py, which belongs to a class of rigid, planar, thermally and chemically stable compounds, extensively studied due to their photoelectrochemical properties and their n-type semiconductivity. The first coordination polymer synthesised, MOF-CoNDI-py-1, was an amorphous linear polymer, with a 1D structure. Based on these observations, MOF-CoNDI-py-2 was synthesised by using terephthalic acid as a supporting ligand, and it is a crystalline solid which its monoclinic unit cell belongs to a C2/c space group, as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This network features a trinuclear high-spin Co(II) unit, and each metal ion sits on a distorted octahedra coordination geometry, while the NDI-py ligands sit in a parallel arrangement, with distances suitable for electronic transfers. A detailed study of their vibrational and electronic spectra, supported by DFT calculations, was performed, as well as a full description and assignment of the observed bands. MOF-CoNDI-py-2 absorbs in the whole studied spectral region, from 200 nm to 2500 nm, while it also features a ligand-centered emission spectrum. Electronic devices built around its crystals revealed electric conductivities of 7.9 10 -3 S cm -1, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest for a MOF to this date. This conductivity is also highly anisotropic, being significantly less conductive in certain directions. The current versus voltage profiles were analysed in terms of known conduction mechanisms, with best fits when using an electrode-limited Space-Charge Limited Current mechanism, in agreement with the proposition that this conductivity happens through the NDI-py stacking planes. Additionally, this mechanism is influenced by an external light source, being a photoconductor with a red laser, 632 nm, and a photoresistor with a white light. Combined, these results bring a light-modulated, highly conductive MOF material with an unusual structure. As far as we know, there are no similar MOFs in the literature, which makes MOF-CoNDI-py-2 one of a kind.

O uso e estudo de materiais híbridos para desenvolver novos materiais com qualidades superiores para aplicações em fotônica, sensores e áreas afins é um desafio para o químico. Neste contexto deve-se especular sobre as propriedades de associação de materiais orgânicos e inorgânicos para alcançar novas e melhores propriedades. Neste estudo, os óxidos metálicos (óxidos de cério em particular), uma classe especial entre nanopartículas inorgânicas, foram selecionados para explorar as suas aplicações com uma classe, também especial de compostos orgânicos, sendo no nosso estudo as Naftaleno Diimidas. Óxido de cério é um semicondutor, com uma “bandgap” larga, conhecido por sua capacidade catalítica e por sua simples manipulação para preparar filmes finos e nanopartículas. Derivados de Naftaleno Diimidas são conhecidos por sua superior atividade eletroquímica comparáveis aos dos Paraquat (metilviologênio), mas com amplitude maior de aplicações fotoquímicas. Foram sintetizadas Naftaleno Diimidas carregados positivamente e negativamente com propriedades surfactantes. Após a caracterização detalhada das Naftaleno Diimidas, incluindo auto-associação e interação com moléculas de surfactantes, a interação com nanopartículas de óxido de cério foram determinadas. As Naftaleno Diimidas interagiram de forma especial com nanopartículas de óxido de cério conferindo ausência de atividade hidrolítica e um comportamento fotocrômico singular. Propõe-se que o corante orgânico se adsorve nas ranhuras das nanopartículas e, além disso forma dímeros estáveis que têm importância para as novas fotoatividades observadas. / The use and study of hybrid materials is a challenge for the chemist to develop materials having new and superior qualities for applications in photonics, sensors and related areas. In this context one has to speculate on the properties of the organic and inorganic partners to achieve better and new properties. In this study the metal oxides (in particular Cerium Oxides), a special class among inorganic nanoparticles were selected to exploit their applications with an also special class of organic compounds the Naphthalene Diimides. Cerium Oxide is a wide bandgap semiconductor well known for its catalytic capabilities and for its simple manipulation to prepare thin films and nanoparticles. Naphthalene Diimides derivatives are known for their superior lectrochemical activities comparable to those of Paraquat (Methyl Viologen) but with larger amplitude of photochemical applications. Positively and negatively charged, surfactant like, Naphthalene Diimides, were synthesized. After detailed characterization of the Naphthalene Diimides including selfassociation and interaction with surfactant molecules, the interaction with Cerium Oxide nanoparticles was determined. Naphthalene Diimides interacted in a special manner with Cerium Oxide nanoparticles rendering hydrolytic inertness and novel photochromic behavior. The organic dye is proposed to adsorb in the crevices of the particles and furthermore forming stable dimers that accounts for the new photoactivities observed

O naftaleno é um dos principais constituintes do petróleo solúvel em água e esta classe de poluentes está enquadrada na lista prioritária de contaminantes orgânicos persistentes. O presente trabalho traz informações sobre o efeito do naftaleno em ensaios ecotoxicológicos com quatro diferentes grupos de organismos aquáticos. Ensaios crônicos com a microalga marinha Dunaliella tertiolecta e com ouriço-do-mar Lytechinus variegatus, ensaios crônicos e agudos com o copépodo estuarino bentônico Nitokra sp e ensaios agudos com o anfípodo estuarino Leptocherius plumulosus. Na avaliação do efeito crônico, o valor médio da CI(I)50-96h encontrada para microalga marinha foi de 29,01 mg.L-1 e o valor médio da CE(I)50-24h para ouriço-do-mar foi de 0,30 mg.L-1. Para o copépodo, os ensaios crônicos tiveram os valores de 0,19 mg.L-1 para CENO(I) e 0,40 mg.L-1 para CEO(I). Nos ensaios agudos, este mesmo organismo apresentou uma média de CL(I)50-96h em 13,4 mg.L-1 e a média da CL(I)50-96h para o anfípodo estuarino foi de 2,38 mg.L-1. Estes resultados evidenciam potenciais de efeito para diferentes classes de organismos aquáticos e poderão auxiliar nas avaliações ambientais, quando houver limites disponíveis e diretrizes que estabeleçam condições e padrões de lançamento de efluentes nos corpos de água no Brasil. / Naphthalene is a major constituent of the oil soluble in water and this class of pollutants is framed in the priority list of persistent organic pollutants. The present study provides information on the effect of naphthalene in ecotoxicological tests with four different groups of aquatic organisms. Chronic tests with the marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta and sea-urchin Lytechinus variegatus, acute and chronic tests with the estuarine benthic copepod Nitokra sp and acute tests with the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus. In the assessment of chronic effect, the average value of IC(I)50-96h to marine microalgae was 29.01 mg.L-1 and the mean EC(I)50-24h for sea urchin 0.30 mg.L-1. In chronic tests for estuarine copepod the obtained values to NOEC and OEC was ranged from 0.19 mg L-1 to 0.40 mg L-1. In acute tests the same organism have showed an average of LC(I)50-96h in 13.4 mg.L-1 and for the estuarine amphipod the mean LC(I)50-96h was 2.38 mg.L-1. These results demonstrate the potential effect on different classes of aquatic organisms. This may assist in environmental assessments in Brazil, when limits and guidelines are available and allow establishing conditions and standards of effluent discharge into water bodies in Brazil.

Tumorigenesis is often caused by the dysregulation of developmental pathways that are activated during repair, a process that recapitulates development. The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a signalling pathway essential for cell patterning and identity during embryogenesis. Activation of Hh signalling has been reported in small cell lung cancer progression, but the role of the Hh receptor, Patched1 (Ptch1), remains poorly understood. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand how Ptch1 is involved in development and tissue repair in order to understand its roles in cancer. This project aimed to study the role of Ptch1 during the branching process of lung development and in the regeneration of airway epithelial cells. A conditional knockout approach was utilised to excise Ptch1 by crossing Ptch1 conditional mice with Dermo1-Cre mice (Dermo1Cre+/-;Ptch1lox/lox), thereby activating the Hh pathway in the mesenchyme, independent of ligand. Dermo1Cre+/-;Ptch1lox/lox embryos died at E12.0 and showed secondary lung branching arrest leading to lobe formation defects. Expression of Ptch1, Gli1 and Foxf1 were shown to be upregulated in both proximal and distal lung mesenchyme, indicating inappropriate pathway activation and disruption of the Hh gradient. Fgf10 expression was spatially reduced in Dermo1Cre+/-;Ptch1lox/lox lungs and the addition of Fgf10 to these lungs in culture showed partial restoration of branching, thus Hh signalling was shown to regulate branching via Fgf10. Due to the patterning defect associated with our in vivo model, we took an in vitro approach to delete Ptch1 in lung explants cultures. This also showed reduced branching and validated that mesenchymal proliferation was enhanced after Ptch1 deletion, consistent with the previously reported role of Hh signalling in mesenchymal cell survival. Small cell lung cancer originates in the proximal lung and has been linked to aberrant repair processes. Therefore, Hh signalling in proximal airway repair was investigated. Ptch1 expressing cells were detected in the bronchial epithelium and stroma during homeostasis. But these cells were not detected following polidocanol-induced injury in the murine nasal septum and lung. However during naphthalene-induced repair, Ptch1 expressing cells were detected in the regenerating bronchial epithelium, suggesting that Hh dependent progenitors respond specifically to naphthalene-induced damage and perhaps are pulmonary neuroendocrine or variant Clara cells. Therefore, this project has provided insight into how Ptch1 patterns lung branching and lobe specification during development and also highlights the importance of Ptch1 in pulmonary epithelial regeneration.

To better understand the physical and electronic properties of donor and acceptor-based structures used in organic electronic applications, a variety of oligothiophene and naphthalene diimide-based small conjugated molecules were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The materials were initially synthesized using oxidative copper-chloride coupling reactions, palladium-catalyzed amination reactions, Friedal-Crafts acylations, Negishi coupling reactions, and Stille coupling reactions. Once isolated, the physical properties of the compounds were characterized through a combination of X-ray crystal structure, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV-vis. absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry, along with comparison to quantum-chemical calculations. In some cases, the radical cations or radical anions were generated by chemical oxidation and analyzed by vis-NIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the electronic properties of the materials were investigated through incorporation as solution-processed active layers in organic field-effect transistors. Multiple examples exhibited hole- and / or electron-transport properties with electron mobility values of up to 1.5 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, which is among the highest yet reported for an n-channel OFET based on a solution-processed small molecule.

ABSTRACT FUNCTIONALIZATION OF SATURATED HYDROCARBONS: HIGH TEMPERATURE BROMINATION G&uuml / nbaS, Duygu Deniz M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Metin Balci June 2006, 174 pages Although saturated hydrocarbons are readily available and extremely cheap starting materials, they can not be used in synthetic chemistry without prior activation. Efficient functionalization of alkanes leading to the production of useful organic chemicals in an industrial scale is of considerable interest for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and remains a long-term challenge for chemists. In this respect, halogenations of hydrocarbons which leads to a variety of useful synthetic intermediates is an open avenue which deserves special attention. It is also noteworthy to mention that efficient methods for selective functionalization of saturated bicyclic hydrocarbons still remains elusive, albeit a number of methods employing various reagents have been developed for the C&amp / #8211 / H bond activation of open chain and monocyclic alkanes. Herein, we will investigate the high temperature bromination reactions as a method for functionalization of saturated bicyclic hydrocarbons such as octahydropentalene (1), octahydro-1H-indene (2) and 1a,2,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalene (3). The scope and the limitations of the reaction will reveal the regio-and stereoselectivity. Furthermore, formation mechanism of the products will be discussed and the chemistry of these compounds will be extended for further functionalization

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Solar energy generation arises as a result of direct conversion of sunlight into electricity a by solar cell; which is mainly made up of a semiconducting material incorporated into a system. It is emerging as one of the most reliable and cost efficient renewable energy sources. Within the solar field, organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells have proved of being able to have a great impact in the future years; mainly due to the easy processability of the active layer and substrate, their cost effectiveness and above all, a good power conversion efficiency associated to the close 3-dimensional interpenetrating network that is generated from blending donor and acceptor semiconducting materials together in a bulk heterojunction active layer. In this research work, we therefore report on the study of a newly developed organic bulk heterojunction active layer based on a blend of a star-copolymer generation 1 poly(propylenethiophenoimine)-co-poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (G1PPT-co-PEDOT) as donor material with N,N-diisopropylnaphthalene diimide (NDI) as acceptor material. Both materials were chemically synthesized. The synthesis of G1PPT-co-PEDOT started first by the functionalization of generation 1 poly(propyleneimine) tetramine, G1PPI into G1PPT by condensation reaction in the presence of 2-thiophene carboxaldehyde under Nitrogen gas followed by the copolymerization of G1PPT with ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer in the presence of ammonium persulfate, (NH4)2S2O8 as oxidant. On the other hand, NDI was also synthesized via condensation reaction of 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride in the presence of two (2) equivalences of N,N-diisopropylamine at 110 oC overnight in DMF. Both materials were characterized using FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Voltammetry, HRSEM microscopy and XRD. Based on the cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis results, we were able to calculate the HOMO, LUMO and band gap energy (Eg) values of both the donor and acceptor to be -4.03 eV, -6.287 eV and 2.25 eV for iii the donor G1PPT-co-PEDOT respectively and -4.302 eV, -7.572 eV and 3.27 eV for the acceptor respectively. From these results, the energy diagram for both donor and acceptor was drawn and it comes out that the separation between the HOMO of the donor and the LUMO of the acceptor ΔEg = 1.985 eV, the ideal value for a good donor-acceptor combination. Also the offset energy that is, the energy difference between the LUMO of the donor and the LUMO of the acceptor is 0.302 eV.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Polyamic acid-polypyrrole (PAA/PPy) composite films were prepared and characterised for the use as conducting platforms in the design of biosensor systems. The thin films were synthesised by electrochemical method from a solution containing controlled molar ratio of chemically synthesised polyamic acid (PAA) and pyrrole monomer. Homogenous films were obtained incorporating PAA into electropolymerised polypyrrole (PPy) thin film. The concentration of PAA (1.37 × 10-6 M) was kept fixed throughout the composite ratio analysis, whilst the concentration of PPy was varied from 1.9 × 10-3 M to 9.9 × 10-3 M. The PAA/PPy thin films were electrodeposited at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force microscopy (AFM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical (CV, SWV) techniques. The composition that best represented the homogenous incorporation of PAA into PPy matrix was observed at a PAA/PPy ratio of 1: 4.13 × 10-3. This composite was observed to have two sets of coupled peaks with formal potential 99 mV and 567 mV respectively. The De determined from cyclic voltammetry using the anodic peak currents were found to be twice as high (5.82 × 10-4 cm2/s) as the De calculated using the cathodic peak currents (2.60 × 10-4 cm2/s), indicating that the composite favours anodic electron mobility. Surface morphology and spectroscopy data support the formation of a homogenous polymer blend at the synthesis ratio represented by composite 3. For the construction of a biosensor the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the enzyme, luciferase and the analytes i.e naphthalene and fluoranthene were evaluated. Fluorescence spectroscopy studies were carried out to characterize the enzyme’s bioluminescence response in PBS at pH 7. Luciferase showed an absorption peak at 340 nm. The bioluminescence properties of the enzyme with the analytes were explored by fluorescence spectroscopy. The emmision peak at 340 nm gradually decreased as the concentration of each analyte was increased respectively.

O uso e estudo de materiais híbridos para desenvolver novos materiais com qualidades superiores para aplicações em fotônica, sensores e áreas afins é um desafio para o químico. Neste contexto deve-se especular sobre as propriedades de associação de materiais orgânicos e inorgânicos para alcançar novas e melhores propriedades. Neste estudo, os óxidos metálicos (óxidos de cério em particular), uma classe especial entre nanopartículas inorgânicas, foram selecionados para explorar as suas aplicações com uma classe, também especial de compostos orgânicos, sendo no nosso estudo as Naftaleno Diimidas. Óxido de cério é um semicondutor, com uma “bandgap” larga, conhecido por sua capacidade catalítica e por sua simples manipulação para preparar filmes finos e nanopartículas. Derivados de Naftaleno Diimidas são conhecidos por sua superior atividade eletroquímica comparáveis aos dos Paraquat (metilviologênio), mas com amplitude maior de aplicações fotoquímicas. Foram sintetizadas Naftaleno Diimidas carregados positivamente e negativamente com propriedades surfactantes. Após a caracterização detalhada das Naftaleno Diimidas, incluindo auto-associação e interação com moléculas de surfactantes, a interação com nanopartículas de óxido de cério foram determinadas. As Naftaleno Diimidas interagiram de forma especial com nanopartículas de óxido de cério conferindo ausência de atividade hidrolítica e um comportamento fotocrômico singular. Propõe-se que o corante orgânico se adsorve nas ranhuras das nanopartículas e, além disso forma dímeros estáveis que têm importância para as novas fotoatividades observadas. / The use and study of hybrid materials is a challenge for the chemist to develop materials having new and superior qualities for applications in photonics, sensors and related areas. In this context one has to speculate on the properties of the organic and inorganic partners to achieve better and new properties. In this study the metal oxides (in particular Cerium Oxides), a special class among inorganic nanoparticles were selected to exploit their applications with an also special class of organic compounds the Naphthalene Diimides. Cerium Oxide is a wide bandgap semiconductor well known for its catalytic capabilities and for its simple manipulation to prepare thin films and nanoparticles. Naphthalene Diimides derivatives are known for their superior lectrochemical activities comparable to those of Paraquat (Methyl Viologen) but with larger amplitude of photochemical applications. Positively and negatively charged, surfactant like, Naphthalene Diimides, were synthesized. After detailed characterization of the Naphthalene Diimides including selfassociation and interaction with surfactant molecules, the interaction with Cerium Oxide nanoparticles was determined. Naphthalene Diimides interacted in a special manner with Cerium Oxide nanoparticles rendering hydrolytic inertness and novel photochromic behavior. The organic dye is proposed to adsorb in the crevices of the particles and furthermore forming stable dimers that accounts for the new photoactivities observed