The first part of the work is aimed to the study of changes of electrical properties of substituted phthalocyanines under the influence of humidity. Thin films were prepared by spin coating technique. During the influenece of humidity electrical conductivity increases. Sorption and desorption and the changes in electrical properties under the repated humidity exposure were investigated as well. Impedance spectroscopy was used for the studies. The second part of this work consists of optical studies and changes of optical parametrsunder the influence of different alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol) exposures. The investigated samples were prepared by vacuum evaporation a glow-discharge-induced sublimation. The changes of optical reflectances of the films upon exposure to alcoholvapour-containg atmospheres were studied as a function of alcohol concetration and exposure time.

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The Phthalocyanines (Pc’s) are a group of macro-cyclic molecules, widely investigated due to the possibility to use them in a variety of applications. Electronic and geometrical structure investigations of molecular model systems of Pc’s adsorbed on surfaces are important for a deeper understanding of the functionality of different Pc-based devices. Here, Pc’s monolayers and films, deposited on different surfaces, were investigated by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). In addition Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations were performed. For molecular films of Metal-free (H2Pc) and Iron (FePc) Pc’s, on surfaces, it is found that the intermolecular interaction is weak and the molecules arrange with their molecular plane mainly perpendicular to the surface. Several monolayer systems were characterized, namely H2Pc and FePc adsorbed on Graphite, ZnPc on InSb(001)-c(8x2), H2Pc on Al(110) and on Au(111). For all the studied monolayers it was found that the molecules are oriented with their molecular plane parallel to the surface. The electronic structure of the molecules is differently influenced by interaction with the surfaces. For H2Pc adsorbed on Graphite the nearly negligible effect of the surface on the molecular electronic structure allowed STM characterization of different molecular orbitals. A strong interaction is instead found in the case of H2Pc on Al(110) resulting in molecules strongly adsorbed, and partly dissociated. Modifications of the electronic and geometrical structure induced by alkali doping of H2Pc films and monolayers were characterized. It is found both for the H2Pc film on Al(110) and monolayer adsorbed on Au(111), that the molecular arrangement is changed upon doping by Potassium and Rubidium, respectively. Potassium doping of the H2Pc films results in a filling of previously empty molecular orbitals by a charge transfer from the alkali to the molecule, with significant modification of the molecular electronic structure.

Chapter1 gives an overview of the basic principles of electrochemistry. A rigorous electrochemical study on the solution phase and solid phase cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) is presented in chapter2. The formof CoPC on carbon electrodes was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The use of CoPC modified edge plane pyrolytic graphite (CoPC-EPPG) for sensing nitrite (NO₂⁻) was also investigated. It was found that the claimed mediator CoPC has no influence on the process. A bare glassy carbon (GC) electrode was successfully applied for the quantitative determination of nitrite as a simple alternative to the modified electrodes reported in the literature (chapter3). Chapter4 compares the voltammetric responses of an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode covalently modifed with 2-anthraquinonyl groups (EPPG-AQ2) and solution phase anthraquinone monosulphonate (AQMS) in the presence of a limited concentration of protons. The solution phase and surface bound species show analogous responses resulting in split waves. Digisim™ simulation of the AQMS voltammetry have shown that the pH adjacent to the electrode may be altered by up to 5-6 pH units in low buffered solutions; this is caused by the consumption of protons during the electrochemical reaction. Chapters5 and 6 compare the electrochemical properties of 2-anthraquinonyl groups covalently attached to an edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG) and to a gold electrode. In both cases simulations using newly developedMarcus-Hush-Chidsey theory for a 2e⁻ process assuming a uniform surface did not achieve a good agreement between theory and experiment. Subsequently two models of surface inhomogeneity were investigated: a distribution of formal potentials, E^Ө, and a distribution of electron tunneling distances, r₀. For both EPPG-AQ2 and Au-AQ2 modified electrodes the simulation involving E^Ө distribution turned out to be the most adequate. This is the first time that Marcus-Hush-Chidsey theory has been applied to a 2e⁻ system. Chapter7 briefly summarizes the obtained results.

La croissance de polymères bidimensionnels a été étudiée sous ultra-haut vide sur des surfaces métalliques par microscopie à effet tunnel (STM). La première étude concerne la croissance de réseaux nanoporeux covalents bidimensionnels obtenus par réaction de déshydratation des molécules d'acide 1.4 diboronique (BDBA). Les meilleurs réseaux sont obtenus pour les dépôts à flux élevés sur des substrats d'Argent chauffés à 150°C. La deuxième étude concerne la réaction chimique entre les molécules de 1,2,4,5 tétracyanobenzène (TCNB) et les atomes de Fer. La formation de liaison covalente entre les molécules et les atomes de Fer est thermiquement activée par des recuits à 200°C et permet la formation d'octacyanophtalocyanine de Fer. Ce travail ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour la fabrication de matériaux 2D originaux obtenus par des réactions chimiques de surface. / The growth of two dimensional polymers has been studied under ultra-high vacuum on metallic surfaces by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The first study relates on the growth of two dimensional covalent nanoporous networks obtained after dehydratation reaction of the 1,4 diboronic acid benzene molecule (BDBA). The best networks have been obtained with high molecular flux on silver metallic substrates maintained at 150°C during deposition. The second study relates on chemical reaction between the 1, 2, 4, 5 tetracyanobenzene molecule (TCNB) and iron atoms. The reaction takes place after an annealing at 200°C. In that case some iron octacyanophthalocyanine have been successfully synthesised at surfaces. This work opens new perspectives for the fabrication of 2D original materials by chemical reactions on surfaces.

Nos últimos anos, materiais orgânicos tem ganhado grande interesse em áreas que envolvem espectroscopia óptica não linear. Isso se dá devido aos materiais possuirem consideráveis efeitos ópticos não lineares, apresentarem facilidade de síntese e possuirem propriedades fotofísicas e fotoquímicas que os tornam capazes de serem empregados em um vasto número de possíveis aplicações. Entre os materiais orgânicos, é possível destacar as Porfirinas e Ftalocianinas. A síntese desses materiais possibilita um grande número de classes ou grupos distintos, os quais podem ser distinguidos por suas estruturas periféricas e/ou íons metálicos que podem ser inseridos no interior dos macrociclos. Isso resulta em alterações das suas propriedades ópticas, ou seja, através de alterações das estruturas químicas das Porfirinas e Ftalocianinas é possível modelar suas propriedades ópticas, e assim, de acordo com essas propriedades, discriminar em quais aplicações podem ser empregados. Tais materiais, tendo em vista suas propriedades fotofísicas, podem ser empregados como fotossensitizadores na terapia fotodinâmica, células solares, limitadores ópticos ou fotobactericidas entre outras mais. Sendo assim, nesta Dissertação de Mestrado é realizado uma caracterização espectroscópica linear e não linear desses materiais, para assim deterinar propriedades ópticas específicas que podem ser empregadas nas aplicações citadas. Para tal caracterização espectroscópica, foram empregadas técnicas de espectroscopia linear e não linear, dentre elas a técnica de Varredura-Z foi empregada em três configurações distintas (Varredura-Z por Pulso Único, por Trem de Pulsos e por Luz Branca Supercontínua) para determinação de absorções de estados excitados. Tempos de vida de fluorescência, tempos de decaimento radiativo e de conversão interna, seções de choque de absorção de estado singleto e tripleto (fundamental e excitado) e eficiências quânticas (fluorescência, conversão interna e converção para tripleto) foram os parâmetros determinados e, assim, através desses parâmetros, foi possível entender como alterações nas estruturas químicas (periféricas e íons metálicos) influenciam consideravelmente as propriedades de Porfirinas e Ftalocianinas. / In last years, organic materials have won great interest in areas involving non-linear optical spectroscopy. This is due to the fact that the materials have considerable non-linear optical effects, are easy to synthesize, and have photophysical and photochemical properties that make them capable of being used in a wide range of possible applications. Among the organic materials, it is possible to highlight Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines. The synthesis of these materials enables a large number of distinct classes or groups, which can be distinguished by their peripheral structures and / or metal ions that can be inserted into the macrocycles. It results in changes of its optical properties, that is, replacing the chemical structures of such Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, it is possible to tune its optical properties, and thus, according to these properties, to discriminate in which applications they can be used. Such materials, in view of their photophysical properties, can be used as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy, solar cells, optical limiters or photobactericides among others. Thus, in this Master\'s Dissertation, a linear and nonlinear spectroscopic characterization of these materials is carried out in order to determine specific optical properties that can be employed in the cited applications. For this spectroscopic characterization, linear and nonlinear spectroscopy techniques were employed, among them the Z-Scan technique was employed in three distinct configurations (Z-Scan by Single Pulse, by Pulse Train and by Supercontinuum White Light) for determination of absorptions of excited states. Fluorescence lifetimes, radiative decay and internal conversion times, single and triple triplet (fundamental and excited) and quantum efficiencies (fluorescence, internal conversion, and triplet formation) were the parameters determined, and with these parameters, it was possible to understand how changes in the chemical structures (peripheral and metallic ions) modify considerable the optical properties of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines.

A Terapia Fotodinâmica (TFD) é um tratamento usado principalmente na terapia anticâncer e que depende da retenção de um composto fotossensibilizante nas células tumorais e posterior irradiação dessas células com luz visível. Após ativação, o fármaco pode gerar espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), como o oxigênio singlete (1O2) e radicais (O2-, OH), que são capazes de danificar membranas, DNA e outras estruturas celulares, induzindo a apoptose ou necrose das células tumorais. O ácido fólico, por ser super expressado na superfície das células de alguns tipos de cânceres (principalmente os ginecológicos), pode desempenhar o papel de vetorizador, tornando-se um importante aliado aos sistemas de liberação de fármacos. Neste trabalho foi avaliado o uso de ácido fólico como aditivo aos lipossomas contendo ftalocianina de cloro-alumínio como fármaco fotossensibilizante, aplicados em TFD com células MCF7. Os estudos demonstraram que os sistemas lipossomais desenvolvidos apresentam tamanho nanométrico (menor que 200 nm) e possuem biocompatibilidade quando avaliados em cultura celular de monocamada. Além disso, foi possível observar o efeito fototóxico satisfatório das formulações e o aumento da internalização do fármaco, quando utilizado o ácido fólico como vetorizador. / Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is mainly used in anticancer therapy. The efficiency of this treatment is dependent on retention of photosensitizer compound at the tumor cells and posterior irradiation of these cells with visible light. After activation, the drug may generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and radicals (O2-, OH), which are capable of damaging membranes, DNA and other cell structures, inducing apoptosis or necrosis of tumor cells. Folic acid is super-expressed on the surface of some cancers cells (especially gynecological cancer cells) and can play the role of target system, becoming an important ally for drug delivery systems. This study evaluated the use of folic acid as an additive to liposomes containing chloro-aluminum phthalocyanine as a photosensitizer drug, applied in PDT with MCF7 cells. These studies showed that liposomal systems have nanometer size (less than 200 nm) and have biocompatibility when evaluated in monolayer cell culture. Moreover, it was possible to observe satisfactory phototoxic effect of the formulations and increased internalization of the drug when folic acid is used.

Espécies de fungos dos gêneros Candida e Trichophyton e Cryptococcus neoformans são os mais importantes agentes causadores de micoses em humanos. A seleção de linhagens tolerantes aos fungicidas atualmente utilizados torna extremamente necessário o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para o controle desses patógenos. A inativação fotodinâmica (IF) de fungos baseia-se na utilização de um fotossensibilizador (FS) que se acumula preferencialmente nas células-alvo e que pode ser ativado por exposições à luz visível. A ativação do FS induz a formação de espécies reativas de oxigênio que matam a célula fúngica. O uso de FS para o tratamento de micoses é uma aplicação recente e promissora da IF de fungos. No presente estudo, foram avaliados os efeitos dos tratamentos fotodinâmicos (TF) com os FS fenotiazínicos azul de metileno (MB), azul de toluidina (TBO), novo azul de metileno (NMBN), o derivado pentacíclico do azul de metileno S137 e com uma cloroalumínio ftalocianina em nanoemulsão (ClAlPc/NE) nas leveduras Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans e nos microconídios dos dermatófitos Trichophyton mentagrophytes e T. rubrum. Os efeitos dos TF com os diferentes FS fenotiazínicos também foram avaliados na linhagem celular L929 de camundongo. Inicialmente, a eficácia dos TF foi avaliada pela determinação da concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) de cada FS para cada dose de luz. Adicionalmente, nas condições otimizadas, também foram determinados os efeitos dos TF na sobrevivência das diferentes espécies de fungos. Os MICs variaram tanto entre FS como entre espécies e diminuíram com o aumento da dose de luz. Entre os FS fenotiazínicos, para a maioria dos tratamentos (espécies e doses de luz), o NMBN e o S137 apresentaram os menores MICs. Os MICs para o NMBN e para o S137 foram <= 2,5 ?M para todas as espécies de Candida, para doses >= 20 J cm-2. MICs para a ClAlPc/NE foram tão baixos quanto 0,01 ?M para algumas das espécies de Candida. O TF com NMBN e S137 resultaram em redução de pelo menos 3 logs na sobrevivência de todas as espécies de Candida e de Trichophyton. O TF com ClAlPc/NE resultou em redução de até 4 logs na sobrevivência de C. albicans e C. tropicalis e de até 6 logs na sobrevivência de células melanizadas de C. neoformans. A internalização da ClAlPc foi confirmada por microscopia confocal de fluorescência e a quantidade incorporada pelas células foi dependente da concentração do FS. As toxicidades relativas entre os diferentes FS para as células de mamífero foram semelhantes às observadas em fungos, por exemplo maior toxicidade e fototoxicidade do NMBN e do S137 comparada às do MB e TBO / Fungal species of the genera Candida and Trichophyton and Cryptococcus neoformans are the main responsible for mycoses in humans. The selection of fungal strains resistant to currently used fungicides makes the development of alternative fungus-control techniques highly desirable. Fungal photodinamic inactivation (PI) is based on the use of a visible light-activate photosensitiser (PS) that preferentially accumulates in the cell of the target microorganism. The activation of the PS starts photochemical processes that produce a series of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill the fungal cell. The use of PS to treat mycoses is a novel and promising application of PI. In the present study, the effects of the photodynamic treatments (PDT) with the phenothiazinium PS methylene blue (MB), toluidine blue O (TBO), new methylene blue N (NMBN), the novel pentacyclic photosensitiser S137 and with a chloroaluminum phthalocyanine nanoemulsion (ClAlPc/NE) on the yeasts Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans and on microconidia of the dermatophytes Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum were evaluated. The effects of the PDT with the phenothiazinium PS were also evaluated on the mouse fibroblast cell line L929. The efficacies of the PDT were evaluated initially by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each PS for each light dose. Additionally, for the optimized conditions, the effects of the PDT on the survival of the different fungal species were also determined. MICs varied both among PS and species and decreased with light dose increase. Among the phenothiazinium PS, for most treatments (species and light doses), NMBN and S137 showed the lowest MICs. MICs for NMBN and S137 were <= 2.5 ?M for all the Candida species to light doses >= 20 J cm-2. MICs for ClAlPc/NE were as low as 0.01 ?M for some of the Candida species. PDT with NMBN and S137 resulted in a reduction of at least 3 logs in the survival of all Candida and Trichphyton species. PDT with ClAlPc/NE resulted in reductions up to 4 logs in the survival of C. albicans and C. tropicalis and up to 6 logs in the survival of C. neoformans melanized cells. Internalization of ClAlPc by C. neoformans was confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy, and the degree of uptake was dependent on PS concentration. The relative toxicities among the different PS to mammalian cell were similar to the antifungal data, i.e. greater toxicity and phototoxicity with NMBN and S137 compared to MB and TBO.