<p> When excited in the region 365-436 nm in the gas phase, 2,3-pentanedione is shown to emit fluorescence and phosphorescence. The absolute emission yields have been determined and the radiationless processes removing the excited singlet and triplet states have been considered. </p> <p> The radiationless processes removing the triplet state have been investigated in different temperatures and concentrations and are shown to be intersystem crossing to the ground state, a temperature dependent unimolecular reaction and a temperature dependent bimolecular self-quenching reaction. </p> <p> Excitation at 365 nm causes emission from vibrationally excited levels of the singlet state. The variation of the fluorescence yield with pressure at this excitation wavelength is compatible with either a strong or weak collision mechanism for vibrational deactivation within the singlet manifold. Phosphorescence yield measurements support this conclusion. </p> <p> A consistent mechanism is proposed to describe the system and is tested with fluorescence, phosphorescence, and lifetime measurements at various temperatures and concentrations. </p> <p> The interaction of the triplet state of pentanedione with various classes of substrate has been investigated. Emphasis has been placed on temperature dependence of the reaction modes. The possibility of energy transfer from the triplet pentanedione molecule has been investigated with 1,3-butadiene and cyclopentadiene at different temperatures. The butadiene quenching system is kinetically simple at all temperatures studied, whereas the cyclopentadiene is simple at high temperatures but complex at lower temperatures. This behaviour has been reconciled with reversible energy transfer in the gas phase triplet pentanedione/cyclopentadiene system at the lower temperature. A mechanism is proposed which demonstrates directly the intermediacy of the triplet cyclopentadiene species and, therefore, confirms the energy transfer nature of the interaction. The energy transfer rate constants are discussed with respect to the current models of energy transfer to dienes. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Durant mon Doctorat de Sciences Chimiques, effectué en cotutelle entre l'Université de Bologne et l'Université de Aix-Marseille, j'ai pris en charge la synthèse et la caractérisation d'une série de composés aromatiques soufrés qui bénéficient de propriétés photophysiques intéressantes. Ce travail de thèse a été concentré sur deux classes de composés : la première s'apparente à des astérisques moléculaires contenant un coeur benzénique persoufré, fonctionnalisé avec des unités périphériques aromatiques. Dans chaque cas, des groupes stériquement encombrants ont été greffés sur les unités aromatiques situées à la périphérie des molécules. Ces molecules offrent la capacité de fonctionner comme luminophore AIE (Emission Induite par l'Agrégation) à l'état solide ou dans des milieux à haute rigidité. La deuxième famille de molécule est basée sur la même géométrie en astérisque. Cependant, chaque ligand de cette série utilise des unités terpyridyles comme unité périphérique, capables d'interagir avec des métaux de transition comme le fer(III) et le zinc. Suite à la complexation du zinc les propriétés photophysiques peuvent être modulées en fonction de la rigidité du système. Enfin, on a synthetisé un troisième type de système qui a été obtenu par le remplacement du coeur benzénique des astérisques par une fonction pyrene polysoufrée, en conservant les mêmes unités périphériques. Ce composé a montré des propriétés photophysiques intéressantes mais aussi des capacités de coordinations vers les ions métalliques (Fe(III), Zn(II) et le Nd(III)), ce qui a permis la génération d'émission dans le domaine du proche infrarouge. / The aim of this thesis was the synthesis and photophysical characterization of some new polysulfurated aromatic compounds: this class of molecules can offer intriguing properties, potentially useful for the construction of new materials for optoelectronic devices. Two main families of compounds have been synthesized: the first is represented by a series of small molecular asterisks, with peripheral aromatic units, showing luminescence in solid phase or in highly rigid conditions. All compounds with peripheral substituents display an AIE behavior (Aggregation Induced Emission) with radiative deactivation of the triplet states. Taking inspiration from these smaller asterisks, a larger molecule with the same geometry has been designed, decorated with terpyridyl moieties as the outermost units: this compound shows great affinity for the coordination of several transition metal ions, changing luminescence properties after the interaction with zinc ions. With the same intentions, a tetrasulfurated pyrene-core molecule with terpyridyl external units has been synthesized and isolated: this ligand exhibits good coordination capabilities towards transition metal ions, giving rise to luminescent nanoaggregates upon addition of zinc(II), characterized by DLS and AFM microscopy. In addition a NIR emission is recorded after coordination of neodymium(III), showing evidence of an intramolecular energy transfer process.

Les travaux de cette thèse portent sur la synthèse et les études en photoluminescence de nouveaux complexes de métaux de transitions (Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II)). Le principal objectif est d’obtenir de nouveaux matériaux phosphorescents pour des applications telles que les diodes organiques électroluminescentes (OLEDs) ou la bio-imagerie. L’incorporation de chromophores tels que le pyrene et le naphtalimide au complexe fac-Ir(thpy)3 sera tout d’abord présenté. La synthèse par activation C–H de ces nouveaux complexes sera également étudié. De nouveaux complexes organométalliques ultra-rigides seront ensuite développés. La synthèse ainsi que les analyses en photoluminescence de complexes tetradentate de platine et de palladium seront ensuite décrits. Enfin, une analyse de nouveaux complexes d’iridium comportant des ligands benzimidazoles (iso)-quinoline et bis-benzimidazole sensibles aux variations de pH sera faite. / The work of this thesis is focused on the synthesis and the photoluminescence studies of new 3 raw transition metal complexes (Ir(III), Pt(II), Pd(II)) . The main objective is to obtain new phosphorescent materials for applications such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and bio- imaging. The incorporation of chromophores such as pyrene and naphthalimide into fac-Ir-(thpy)3 complex will first be presented. The synthesis, by C–H activation, of the new complex will also be studied. New ultra-rigid organometallic complexes will then be developed. The synthesis and the photoluminescence analysis of these tetradentate platinum and palladium complexes will be described. Finally, a study of new iridium complexes incorporating benzimidazoles (iso)-quinoline and bis-benzimidazole ligands sensitive to pH variations will be made.

Les diodes organiques électroluminescentes (OLEDs) représentent une évolution de la technologie des diodes électroluminescentes (LED) dans lesquelles l'émission de couleur provient de molécules organiques. Ce travail porte sur la synthèse et l'étude de nouvelles molécules dans le but de leur utilisation (i) comme couche active dans les OLED fluorescentes ou (ii) comme matériau hôte dans les OLEDs phosphorescentes (PhOLEDs). Tout d'abord, une introduction à ce domaine important de l'électronique organique est présentée et suivie de la synthèse de nouveaux semi-conducteurs organiques dérivés d'oligophénylènes d'architecture 3π-2spiro ou 2π-1spiro. L'analyse détaillée de leurs propriétés physico-chimiques est ensuite présentée. Les performances des OLEDs et/ou PhOLEDs bleues utilisant ces nouvelles matrices sont alors décrites et montrent l'intérêt des designs choisis pour les molécules. / Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) represent an evolution of the light emitting diode (LED) technology in which light is emitted from an organic molecule. This work is focused on the synthesis and the study of new molecules, which will be used (i) as emissive layer in fluorescent OLEDs, or (ii) as host material in phosphorescent OLED (PhOLED). First of all an introduction of the important field of organic electronics is presented, followed by the presentation of the synthesis of new organic semi-conductors (3π-2spiro or 2π-1spiro hydrocarbons). A detailed analysis of their properties was performed and after incorporation in the devices, the performances of blue OLEDs and PhOLEDs are compared. The performances recorded attests that this molecular design is of great interest.

This thesis presents ultrafast photophysical measurements on a number of phosphorescent iridium complexes and establishes relationships between the relaxation rates and the vibrational properties of the material. When ultrafast luminescence is measured on the peak of the phosphorescence spectrum and on its red-side, 230 fs and 3 ps decay time constants were observed in all materials studied, and this was attributed to population redistribution amongst the three electronic substates of the lowest triplet metal-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) state. The observation of luminescence at higher values of energy embodied ultrafast dissipation of excess energy by intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) and it was found that the dissipation channels and rate of IVR could be modified by chemical modification of the emitting molecule. This was tested in two ways. Firstly by adding electronically inactive dendrons to the core, an increase in the preference for dissipation of excess energy by IVR rather than by picosecond cooling to the solvent molecules was found, but this did not change the rate of IVR. The second method of testing was by fusing a phenyl moiety directly onto the ligand, this both increased the rate of IVR and also the preference for dissipation by it rather than by picosecond cooling. Fluorescence was recorded in an iridium complex for the first time and a decay time constant of 65 fs was found, thus allowing a direct observation of intersystem crossing (ISC) to be made. In a deep red emitting iridium complex internal conversion (IC) and ISC were observed and the factors controlling their time constants deduced. IC was found to occur by dissipation of excess energy by IVR. The rate of IC was found to be dependent on the amount of vibrational energy stored in the molecule, with IC fast (< 45 fs) when < 0.6 eV of energy is stored and slower (~ 70 fs) when the value is > 0.6 eV. The rate of ISC agreed with these findings, indicating that the very process of ISC may be thought of as closely analogous to that of IC given the strongly spin-mixed nature of the singlet and triplet MLCT states.

Funktionelle bildgebende Verfahren des Gehirns messen Veränderungen des lokalen cerebralen Blutflusses bzw. der Oxygenierung, die an neuronale Aktivität gekoppelt sind, und nicht die neuronale Aktivität selbst. Diese Veränderungen breiten sich über ein größeres Areal aus als die neuronale Aktivität, das räumliche Auflösungsvermögen der bildgebenden Verfahren bleibt daher begrenzt. Es ist vorgeschlagen worden, dass der Sauerstoffverbrauch unter neuronaler Aktivierung vor dem Blutfluss ansteige. Ein initial steigender Sauerstoffverbrauch würde dann eine Deoxygenierung des Gewebes bewirken, diese bliebe exakt auf das Aeral neuronaler Aktivität beschränkt und liesse sich mit bildgebenden Verfahren darstellen, die die lokale Oxygenierung messen. Um die Hypothese der initialen Deoxygenierung zu überprüfen führten wir Messungen der intravaskulären Sauerstoffkonzentration mittels Phosphorescence Quenching im somatosensorischen Kortex von Ratten unter physiologischer Stimulation (mechanische Auslenkung der Barthaare) durch. Die Tiere wurden mit Chloralose/Urethan anästhesiert und ein kranielles Fenster über dem somatosensorischen Kortex präpariert. Der Zeitverlauf der intravaskulären Sauerstoffkonzentration unter 4s-Stimulation eines einzelnen bzw. aller Barthaare zeigte eine nach ca. 1-1,5s beginnende Hyperoxygenierung, die ihr Maximum etwa 1-1,5s nach Ende der Stimulation erreichte. Es folgte ein gering ausgeprägter post-stimulus-undershoot. Eine reproduzierbare initiale Deoxygenierung liess sich nicht nachweisen. Diese Ergebnisse sind vereinbar mit einer engen Kopplung des lokalen cerebralen Blutflusses an die neuronale Aktivität während der gesamten Stimulationsdauer. / Functional brain imaging techniques such as fMRI or PET measure regional changes in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation related to neuronal activity rather than neuronal activity itself. These changes are believed to spread over a larger area than the neuronal activity thus limiting spatial resolution of imaging techniques. It has been suggested that oxygen consumption increases before blood flow in the region of increased activity. An increased oxygen consumption would lead to an initial deoxygenation limited exactly to the aera of neuronal activity thus providing a signal detectable with techniques measuring blood oxygenation (e.g. BOLD-fMRI). To test the hypothesis of an initial deoxygenation we performed measurements of intravascular oxygen concentration in the somatosensory cortex of rats in response to a physiological stimulus (whisker deflection) using oxygen dependent phosphorescence quenching. Animals were anesthetized with chloralose/urethane and a closed cranial window was implanted over the somatosensory cortex. Timecourses of intravascular oxygen concentration during 4s single-whisker as well as whole pad deflection showed a hyperoxygenation beginning 1-1,5s second after stimulatin onset and peaking one second after the end of the stimulation. A small post-stimulus undershoot was observed. We did not reproducibly detect an initial deoxygenation. These results indicate tight coupling between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow throughout the stimulation period.

In this work, alkaline earth aluminate phosphors doped with rare-earth ions and manganese were synthesized using combustion method. Several characterization techniques were used to study the structural and luminescent properties of the as-synthesized phosphors, namely X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL), and Thermoluminescence (TL). The structural properties were studied by collecting the XRD patterns of the samples using an X'Pert PRO PANalytical diffractometer with CuKα at λ = 0.15405 nm. The particle morphologies of the as-synthesized powder phosphors were investigated using a JEOL JSM-7500F field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The optical properties of the phosphors were studied using Perkin-Elmer Lambda 750s UV-Vis spectrometer, Jobin Yvon/SPEX FluoroLog spectrofluorometer (Model FL-1040) and Riso TL/OSL reader (Model DA-20). The as-prepared SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ ; SrAl2O4:Dy 3+; SrAl2O4:Mn 2+; phosphors were synthesized at an initiating temperature of 600 oC. The XRD patterns were consistent with the low temperature monoclinic structure of SrAl2O4 for all the as-synthesized phosphor powders. SEM measurements showed nano-rod like particles. The SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ ; SrAl2O4:Dy 3+; SrAl2O4:Mn 2+ samples were excited using a 450 W Xenon light source at 364 nm, 390 nm, and 426 nm respectively. A broad blue emission peak at 500 nm shown by the SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ sample is attributed to the 6 1 7 4f 5d 4f transition of the Eu 2+ ion. Also, the red sharp emission lines due to the 4f-4f transition of the Eu 3+ were observed. SrAl2O4:Dy3+ samples exhibited blue, green, and red emissions which can be atributed to the 4 6 9/2 15/2 F  H ,4 6 9/2 13/2 F  H , and 4 6 9 11 2 2 F  H transitions of Dy 3+ ions respectively. The two broad emissions (green at 513 nm and red at 650 nm) shown by 2+ 0.98 2 4 0.02 Sr Al O :Mn sample can be atributed to the 4 4 6 6 1 1 T ( G)  A ( S) transition of the Mn 2+ ion in the sample. The SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ , Dy 3+ ; SrAl2O4:Eu 2+, Mn 2+ ; SrAl2O4:Dy 3+, Mn 2+; and SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+, Dy 3+ phosphors were synthesized by combustion method at an initiating temperature of 600 oC. The blue emissions were observed in all the samples except SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+, Dy 3+ sample. The SrAl2O4:Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+, Dy 3+ phosphor showed the longest afterglow intensity. The BaAl2O4 doped with Eu 2+ , Mn 2+ and Dy 3+ phosphors synthesized at an initiating temperature of 600 oC using combustion method. The XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal structure of BaAl2O4 in all the as-synthesized samples. A broad blue emission of the BaAl2O4:Eu 2+ sample at 490 nm is attributed to the 6 1 7 4f 5d 4f transition of the Eu 2+ ion in the sample. A red emission peak observed at 611 nm is due to the 4f - 4f transition of un-reduced Eu 3+ ions during the combustion reaction. A blue emission at 482 nm, a green emission at 575 nm, and a red emission at 663 nm of the BaAl2O4:Dy 3+ sample can be associated with 4 6 9/2 15/2 F  H ,4 6 9/2 13/2 F  H , and 4 6 9 11 2 2 F  H transitions of the Dy 3+ ions respectively. The green emission peaks exhibited by BaAl2O4:Mn 2+ sample at 512 nm is due to the 4 4 6 6 1 1 T ( G)  A ( S) transitions of the Mn 2+ ions. Barium aluminate phosphors doped with different concentrations of Dy 3+ ion were synthesized by combustion method at an initiating temperature of 600 oC. The XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal structure of BaAl2O4. The emission peaks observed at 482 nm, 575 nm, and 663 nm are due to4 6 9/2 15/2 F  H ,4 6 9/2 13/2 F  H and 4 6 9 11 2 2 F  H transitions of Dy 3+ ion respectively. The PL measurements also confirmed the quenching of luminescence at higher concentrations of the Dy 3+ ion. The UV-Vis measurements has confirmed the increase in the band-gap of the BaAl2O4 sample followed by a decrease and an increase again as doping concentration of the Dy 3+ increased. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the Ca0.97M0.3Al2O4:Eu 2+ , Dy 3+ (M = Ba, Mg, and Sr) powder samples prepared by combustion method confirms the monoclinic structure of CaAl2O4 in all samples. A broad emission peak at 490 nm for both Ba 2+ and Mg 2+ substituted samples and the one for Sr 2+ substituted sample at 485nm are attributed to the 6 1 7 4f 5d 4f transition of the Eu 2+ . The decay curves confirmed that the Mg 2+ substituted sample has a longer persistence (phosphorescence) than all the other samples. / Physics / M. Sc. (Physics)

Cette thèse se concentre sur la synthèse et l’analyse photophysique de complexes de Pt(II) luminescents and leur assemblage après agrégation. Multiples motifs supramoléculaires ont été utilisé pour acquérir un contrôle sur l’assemblage de ces complexes plan-carrés.Des ossatures de type couronne-éther furent attachés à des complexes métalliques phosphorescents pour donner un bouton supramoléculaire qui peut être actionné par des cations potassium. De plus, l’altération de l’arrangement de l’empilage des Pt(II) après coordination d’un ligand fut exploité pour la réalisation d’un senseur chimique qui peut être utilisé pour la détection différentielle d’aza-hétérocylces. Par ailleurs, l’installation d’un motif pont hydrogène à un complexe de Pt(II) luminescent fut établie, donnant un composé ayant un organisation 2D sur graphène. Finalement, des complexes de Pt(II) amphiphiles qui s’auto-assemblent en solution aqueuse dans des agrégats hautement luminescents furent synthétisés. La série de complexes soluble dans l’eau, chargés négativement ou neutres furent caractérisés par rapport à leurs paramètres photophysiques et leurs interactions avec des protéines capsides virales. / The presented thesis focused on the synthesis and photophysical investigation of luminescent Pt(II) complexes and their resulting assemblies that form upon aggregation. Multiple supramolecular motifs were utilized in order to gain control over the assembling behavior of the square-planar complexes. Crown-ether scaffolds were tethered with the phosphorescent metal complexes rendering a supramolecular switch that can be triggered by potassium cations. Moreover, alteration of the Pt(II)-stacking arrangement upon ligand coordination was exploited to realize a chemosensor that can be employed for of differential detection of aza-heterocycles. Furthermore, the installation of a H-bond motif to a luminescent Pt(II) complex was established, which resulted in a compound forming a two-dimensional organization on graphene. Finally, amphiphilic Pt(II) complexes were synthesized that self-assemble into highly luminescent aggregates in aqueous solutions. The series of water soluble neutral and negatively charged metal complexes were characterized with respect to their photophysical parameters and their interactions with virus coat proteins.