Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing (FLDW) is a viable technique for producing photonic devices in bulk materials. This novel manufacturing technique is versatile due to its full 3D fabrication capability. Typically, the only requirement for this process is that the base material must be transparent to the laser wavelength. The modification process itself is based on non-linear energy absorption of laser light within the focal volume of the incident beam. This thesis addresses the feasibility of this technique for introducing photonic structures into novel dielectric materials. Additionally, this work provides a deeper understanding of the lightmatter interaction mechanism occurring at high pulse repetition rates. A novel structure on the sample surface in the form of nano-fibers was observed when the bulk material was irradiated with high repetition rate pulse trains. To utilize the advantages of the FLDW technique even further, a transfer of the technology from dielectric to semiconductor materials is investigated. However, this demands detailed insight of the absorption and modification processes themselves. Experiments and the results suggested that non-linear absorption, specifically avalanche ionization, is the limiting factor inhibiting the application of FLDW to bulk semiconductors with today’s laser sources.

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El polen apícola es uno de los productos de la colmena más conocido. Las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera L.) lo recolectan como una de sus principales fuentes de alimento. Si bien ha sido utilizado por las civilizaciones egipcia y griega atribuyéndole propiedades terapéuticas y “rejuvenecedoras”, no fue hasta después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que comenzó a aumentar la producción y su consumo. Actualmente sus características composicionales lo constituyen en un excelente suplemento nutricional y debido a sus propiedades bioactivas es considerado un alimento funcional. Por otra parte, el polen es uno de los productos de la colmena que presenta mayor variabilidad composicional atribuido principalmente a las diferentes floraciones visitadas por las abejas. En este sentido, el análisis entomopalinológico es apropiado para clasificarlo como multi o monofloral siendo este último más estable composicionalmente, aunque también puede sufrir algunas variaciones según la zona de producción. Por esta razón, es imprescindible caracterizar al polen apícola fisicoquímicamente para poder asegurar su calidad endógena y brindar información completa al potencial consumidor. Así, el principal objetivo de este trabajo de tesis es desarrollar metodologías analíticas que permitan determinar la composición del polen de abeja recolectado en la zona centro de Argentina. Inicialmente la clasificación entomopalinológica de las muestras se realizó mediante la acetólisis de los granos de polen evitando la separación por colores de las cargas corbiculares, que es la etapa del proceso que demanda más tiempo. Desde el punto de vista físico-químico se desarrolló una metodología rápida y de bajo costo para la determinación de humedad y proteínas totales en un pool de cargas corbiculares empleando espectroscopía en el infrarrojo cercano (NIR) y técnicas quimiométricas tales como SPA-MLR e iSPA-PLS. Además, la utilización del modelo iSPA-PLS-DA permitió la clasificación de las muestras en relación a un contenido proteico de 20%. Por otra parte, se pusieron a punto técnicas de microanálisis para evaluar el contenido de polifenoles, flavonoides y proteínas en cargas corbiculares individuales estableciendo los respectivos coeficientes de variación. De esta manera se confirmó la elevada variabilidad que presentan los mencionados parámetros en la matriz apícola probablemente relacionados al origen botánico. Asimismo, se construyó un modelo quimiométrico en base a espectroscopía NIR para estimar el contenido de polifenoles totales en cargas individuales de polen corbicular. Finalmente, en relación al tratamiento poscosecha, se llevó adelante un ensayo cuantitativo in vitro de actividad antimicrobiana utilizando un extracto etanólico de propóleos como preservante de polen fresco como una alternativa de conservación de bajo costo. Los resultados obtenidos en esta tesis indican que el polen de abeja recolectado en la zona centro de Argentina presenta muy buenas características nutricionales y bioactivas en base al contenido de proteínas, polifenoles y flavonoides definidos principalmente por los taxones Brassicaceae (mayormente Diplotaxis tenuifolia), Eucalyptus sp. y Lotus sp. La incorporación de las metodologías desarrolladas en este trabajo para realizar el control de calidad de este producto apícola permitiría el correcto rotulado del producto comercial o, incluso definir su destino para las diferentes industrias (alimenticia, farmacéutica, cosmética). / Bee pollen is one of the best-known beehive products. Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) collect it as one of their main food sources. Although it has been used by the Egyptian and Greek civilizations ascribing therapeutic and "rejuvenating" properties to it, it was after the Second World War that the production and consumption increased. Currently, its compositional characteristics make it an excellent nutritional supplement, and due to its bioactive properties, it is considered a functional food. On the other hand, bee-pollen is the hive product that presents the greatest compositional variability, attributed mainly to the different blooms visited by bees. In this sense, the entomopalynological analysis is suitable to classify it as multi or monofloral, being the latter more stable in its composition, although it may also undergo some variations depending on the production area. For this reason, it is essential to perform a physicochemical characterization of the bee-pollen to ensure its endogenous quality and provide complete information to the potential consumer. Thus, the main objective of this thesis is to develop analytical methodologies that allow determining the composition of the bee-pollen collected in central Argentina. Initially the entomopalynological classification of the samples was carried out through the acetolysis of the pollen grains, avoiding the separation by colours of the corbicular pellets, which is the stage of the process that requires more time. From the physicochemical point of view, a rapid and low-cost methodology was developed for the determination of moisture and total proteins in a pool of bee-pollen pellets using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and chemometric techniques such as SPA-MLR and iSPA-PLS. Moreover, the use of the iSPA-PLS-DA model allowed the classification of the samples concerning a protein content of 20%. On the other hand, microanalysis techniques were developed to evaluate the content of polyphenols, flavonoids and proteins in individual corbicular loads, establishing the respective variation coefficients. In this way, the high variability of the mentioned parameters presented in the apicultural matrix was confirmed, probably related to botanical origin. Likewise, a chemometric model based on NIR spectroscopy was constructed to estimate the total polyphenols content in individual loads of corbicular pollen. Finally, concerning postharvest treatment, a quantitative in vitro antimicrobial activity test was carried out using an ethanolic extract of propolis as a preservative for fresh pollen as a low-cost conservation alternative. The results obtained in this thesis indicate that the bee-pollen collected in central Argentina has very good nutritional and bioactive characteristics based on the content of proteins, polyphenols, and flavonoids defined mainly by the Brassicaceae taxa (mostly Diplotaxis tenuifolia) , Eucalyptus sp. and Lotus sp. The incorporation of the methodologies developed in this work to carry out the quality control of this beekeeping product would allow the correct labelling of the commercial product or even define its destination for the different industries (food industry, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics).

Yes / The use of near infra red spectroscopy to predict the concentration of two pharmaceutical co-crystals; 1:1 ibuprofen – nicotinamide (IBU-NIC) and 1:1 carbamazepine – nicotinamide (CBZ-NIC) has been evaluated. A Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression model was developed for both co-crystal pairs using sets of standard samples to create calibration and validation data sets with which to build and validate the models. Parameters such as the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) and correlation coefficient were used to assess the accuracy and linearity of the models. Accurate PLS regression models were created for both co-crystal pairs which can be used to predict the co-crystal concentration in a powder mixture of the co-crystal and the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The IBU-NIC model had smaller errors than the CBZ-NIC model, possibly due to the complex CBZ-NIC spectra which could reflect the different arrangement of hydrogen bonding associated with the co-crystal compared to the IBU-NIC co-crystal. These results suggest that NIR spectroscopy can be used as a PAT tool during a variety of pharmaceutical co-crystal manufacturing methods and the presented data will facilitate future offline and in-line NIR studies involving pharmaceutical co-crystals.

Neste trabalho estudou-se o processo de polimerização de estireno em miniemulsão, através do monitoramento in-line da conversão do monômero e do tamanho das partículas geradas durante o processo de polimerização, através das técnicas espectroscópicas de Infravermelho Próximo (Near Infra Red - NIR) e Raman. As medições off-line de conversão foram feitas através de gravimetria e do tamanho das partículas através de Espalhamento Dinâmico de Luz (Dynamic Light Scattering - DLS). Também foi objeto deste estudo a modelagem matemática do process de polimerização em miniemulsão, assim como sua simulação utilizando o programa Matlab. A metodologia adotada para a obtenção dos resultados envolveu o trabalho experimental de monitoramento da síntese de poliestireno em miniemulsão utilizando iniciador hidrossolúvel (persulfato de potássio), tensoativo (lauril sulfato de sódio) e co-estabilizantes (hexadecano e poliestireno) e equipamento rotor-estator, Ultra Turrax T25, para obtenção da miniemulsão. O modelo matemático envolveu a determinação de equações fenomenológicas representativas do sistema em questão, prevendo as possíveis variações na cinética e fenômenos físico-químicos, decorrentes de variações na formulação prevendo inclusive os mecanismos de nucleação existentes em função da concentração de tensoativo utilizado. Como resultado, este trabalho validou as metodologias avaliadas para monitoramento da conversão e diâmetro das partículas poliméricas e também, ao comparar as metodologias avaliadas, identificou a espectroscopia NIR como metodologia preferencial por não exigir preparação da amostra, fornecer respostas em tempo real, sem defasagem de tempo e também por permitir coletar espectros com pequenos intervalos de tempo, garante melhor precisão e evita a perda de informações do processo. / In this work, is the development of a detailed study of the miniemulsion polymerization process monitoring monomer conversion and particle size along process. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (Near Infra Red - NIR) and Raman Spectroscopy were used to conversion and diameter determination. Gravimetric analyses were used to conversion determination. Dynamic Light Scattering (Dynamic Light Scattering - DLS) to particle size determination. It was also object of this study the Mathematical Modeling of Miniemulsion Polymerization Reaction Kinetic, as well as it simulation using Matlab software. The methodology used to obtain the results involved experimental work to synthesize and monitor miniemulsion polystyrene using water-soluble initiator (potassium persulfate), stabilizer (sodium lauryl sulfate) and co-stabilizers (hexadecane and polystyrene) and rotor-stator equipment Ultra Turrax T25 for miniemulsion obtaining. The mathematical model involved the determination of representative phenomenological equations this system, anticipating the possible variations in kinetics and physical-chemical phenomena, resulting from formulation variations mainly by verifying the surfactant concentration [S] to determine the existing nucleation mechanism when compared with the same surfactant critical micelle concentration [CMC]. The provided mechanisms are: micellar nucleation to [S] [CMC], droplets nucleation and homogeneous nucleation to [S] < [CMC]. As a result, this study validated the proposed methods for monitoring conversion and polymer particles diameter and also compare the evaluated methodologies, identifying NIR spectroscopy as a differential method among others for not to require sample preparation, supply answers in real time, no time delay and also to perform in shorter intervals, preventing the loss of process information.

A esterificação do sec-butanol com ácido acético, submetida à catálise homogênea, apresenta poucos resultados experimentais de cinética reacional e equilíbrio químico disponíveis na literatura. A presente dissertação visa determinar os parâmetros cinéticos e de equilíbrio químico desta reação de esterificação, empregando modelo cinético de 2ª ordem baseado em atividades. Os experimentos cinéticos foram realizados em reator batelada com auxílio da metodologia Karl Fischer para análise do teor de água e determinação do perfil de frações molares ao longo da reação. A principal dificuldade na modelagem desta esterificação consistiu em representar satisfatoriamente as não-idealidades da mistura em fase líquida, em espacial nas reações cuja fração molar inicial de ácido acético foi superior a 50%. Netas condições admitiu-se a ocorrência de dissociação do ácido acético levando ao surgimento de interações iônicas. O modelo empregado para obtenção das atividades, com base em frações molares, foi o NRTL. Este modelo representou bem as interações moleculares em condição de baixa acidez, mas apresentou desvios em condições de acidez e teores de água mais elevados. O estudo também visou o desenvolvimento de modelos de calibração para um método analítico on-line visando determinar o perfil de frações molares ao longo da reação. O método empregado foi a espectroscopia de infravermelho próximo (NIR), em vista à capacidade deste método analítico em determinar quantitativamente frações molares de água, além dos demais compostos envolvidos. Outro fator determinante ao emprego do NIR é a seu crescente uso no meio industrial, e o presente trabalho visou também contribuir para o uso futuro desta técnica de monitoramento no processo industrial. Modelos de calibração multivariável com conjuntos de calibração interna por validação cruzada se mostraram adequados ao sistema estudado. Calibrações externas resultaram em modelos imprecisos, não sendo possível determinar claramente os fatores responsáveis pela imprecisão. / There is a lack of literature data on the reaction kinetics and equilibrium of the homogeneously catalyzed esterification of sec-butanol with acetic acid. This work aims at obtaining the kinetic parameters and chemical equilibrium parameters of this esterification reaction by using a second order kinetic model based on activities. The kinetic experiments were performed in a batch reactor and the Karl Fischer analytical method was used to determine the molar fraction of water along the reaction progress. The main challenge of modeling this reaction was to represent the highly non-ideal mixture in liquid phase, specially for reactions runs starting with acetic acid mole fraction higher than 50%. In these conditions, it was assumed the occurrence of acetic acid dissociation that leads to ionic interactions. The thermodynamic model used to calculate the activities was the NRTL. This model predicted well the molecular interactions on low acidity conditions but presented deviations when molar fractions of acid and water were higher. The present study also aims to develop calibration models for analytical on-line method to obtain molar fraction profiles along the reaction. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) was used due to the possibility of quantitatively analyze water mole fraction, besides the mole fractions of the other components. Another important reason to choose NIR was its crescent use in industry, and the present work intended to contribute towards the future use of this on line monitoring technique in industrial applications. Multivariate calibration models using internal set of calibration and cross-validation seems to be suitable for this system. External set of calibration leads to less accurate models, and the causes of this lack of accuracy were not clearly identified.

Le travail présenté dans cette thèse repose sur l'expertise du groupe VeCSEL du l'Institut d'Électronique de Sud (IES) dans la conception, la réalisation et l'étude des VeCSEL dans le proche et le moyen infrarouge. Avant de s'engager dans le travail présenté ici, les VeCSELs développés au sein de notre laboratoire concernaient l'habituel fonctionnement monofréquence avec un faisceau TEM00, mais repoussé à forte puissance et à haute cohérence. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'aller au delà de cet état conventionnel, et explore d'autres états cohérents du photon, inhabituels dans le domaine de l'émission laser. Ces nouveaux états concernent aussi bien l'aspect transverse (spatial) que longitudinal (temporel) de l'onde. Plus particulièrement, l'émission laser de haute cohérence et de forte puissance sur les modes d'ordre supérieur Laguerre-Gauss dégénérés et non-dégénérés (vortex optiques), et les lasers large bande cohérents appelé aussi «~laser sans mode~». / The work presented in this thesis is based on the expertise of the VECSEL group of the Institut d'Électronique de Sud (IES) in the design, implementation and study of VECSEL in the near and mid infrared. Before engaging in the work presented here, the VeCSELs developed in our laboratory involved the usual single-frequency operation with a TEM 00 beam, but pushed to high power and high coherence. The objective of this thesis is to go beyond this conventional state and to explore other coherent states of the photon, unusual in the field of laser emission. These new states apply to both the transverse appearance (spatial) and longitudinal (time) of the wave. More specifically, the laser emission of high power and high coherence on the Laguerre-Gauss higher order modes degenerate and non-degenerate (optical vortex), and the wide band coherent lasers also called "modeless lasers".

L’oxyde de zinc dopé de type n est un excellent candidat pour la réalisation de films transparents et isolants thermiques grâce à ses propriétés d’absorption et de réflexion limitées aux domaines UV et IR. La synthèse en milieu polyol de particules nanostructurées d’oxyde de zinc dopé par du gallium a été utilisée afin de maîtriser la morphologie des cristallites. Il a été démontré expérimentalement et théoriquement que le maximum d’efficacité d’absorption IR est atteint pour un taux de dopant de 2,6 % molaire. Des suspensions de haute transmission dans le visible et absorption infrarouge significative ont été obtenues par l’encapsulation des particules avec un matériau fluoré d’indice de réfraction intermédiaire entre l’oxyde et le milieu dispersant, ainsi que par l’optimisation de l’état de dispersion de suspensions colloïdales grâce à l’adsorption de thioalcanes en surface des cristallites de ZnO dopés. / Thanks to its absorption / reflexion properties limited to the UV and the IR range, n-doped zinc oxide is a promising candidate for the elaboration of transparent and insulating films in smart windows. Nanostructured particles of Ga-doped zinc oxide were elaborated by polyol process. Polyol process was used in order to control the size and the morphology of the particles. Both experimental and theoretical data show that a maximum of IR absorption efficiency is obtained for a doping rate of 2.6 molar percent. Colloidal suspensions with high transmission in the visible range combined with significant absorption of the near infrared range were obtained using two strategies. The first one is the encapsulation of the Ga-doped ZnO particles by a fluoride shells with an intermediate refractive index between ZnO and the dispersion medium. The second one is the optimization of the dispersion state of nano-colloidal suspensions thanks to the adsorption of thioalkanes on the Ga-doped ZnO crystallite surfaces.

La molécule de méthane possède la liaison C-H la plus forte parmi les hydrocarbures (BDE = 104 kcal mol-1) : son oxydation en conditions douces représente un challenge d'importance. La Méthane Monoxygénase particulaire (pMMO) est une enzyme à cuivre qui catalyse l'oxydation du méthane (CH4) en méthanol (CH3OH). Le site actif de l'enzyme est composé d'atomes de cuivre séparés par 2.6 Å. Des recherches récentes suggèrent qu'un cluster Cu2 III,II/O2 à valence mixte soit un intermédiaire-clé du cycle catalytique. L'objectif de ce travail vise à la synthèse et caractérisation de nouveaux complexes dinucléaires à valence mixte de type bis(µ-oxo)Cu2 III,II ou (µ-OH, µ-O)Cu2 III,II. Deux familles de motifs coordinants ont été mises en oeuvre, polypyridyle ou polyamide ; les deux sites sont assemblés par des ponts courts et rigides, phenoxo, naphthyridine ou alkoxo. De nouveaux complexes ont été caractérisés par électrochimie, spectroscopies UV-visible et RPE, et par des calculs théoriques. Un dispositif original de cryo-spectroélectrochimie UV-vis-NIR a été développé en parallèle de cette étude : il permet l'identification spectroscopique d'intermédiaires transitoires, réputés très instables à température ambiante. De nouveaux composés à valence mixte, Cu2 III,II(μ-OH, μ-O) et Cu2 III,IIbis(μ-OH) ont été identifiés. Ces résultats élargissent le champ des données de cette famille d'intermédiaires instables limitée jusqu'ici à un seul exemple. / Methane has the strongest C-H bond of any hydrocarbon (BDE = 104 kcal mol-1); its oxidation under mild conditions remains a great challenge. The particulate Methane Monooxygenase (pMMO) is a copper enzyme that oxides methane (CH4) to methanol (CH3OH). In the active site of the enzyme, two copper ions are located at a short distance (2.6 Å). Recent researches have suggested a mixed-valent Cu2III,II/O2 cluster as a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle. The main objective of this work was the synthesis and characterization of new mixed-valent CuIIICuII bis(μ-oxo) and (μ-OH, μ-O) dinuclear complexes. For this purpose we designed promising symmetrical and unsymmetrical complexes based on specific and distinct scaffolds for each side of the structure. Two families of coordination pattern have been used, polypyridyle or polyamide; the two sites are shortly and rigidly bridged by phenoxo, alkoxo or naphthyridine linkers. New complexes have been characterized by electrochemistry, UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies, and by theoretical calculations. A new cryo-UV-Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical set up, developed in parallel during this work, has allowed the spectroscopic identification of these transient intermediate species, known to be unstable at room temperature. New mixed-valence Cu2 III,II(μ-OH, μ-O) and Cu2 III,IIbis(μ-OH) complexes have been characterized. These results expand the recent knowledge on the only mixed valent CuIII(μ-OH)CuII species described so far.