Ever since their discovery, Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been renowned to be potential candidates for a variety of applications. Nevertheless, the difficulties accompanied with their dispersion and poor solubility in various solvents have hindered CNTs potential applications. As a result, studies have been developed to address the dispersion problem. The solution is in modifying the surfaces of the nanotubes covalently or non-covalently with a desired dispersant. Various materials have been employed for this purpose out of which polymers are the most common. Non-covalent functionalization of CNTs via polymer wrapping represents an attractive method to obtain a stable and homogenous CNTs dispersion. This method is able to change the surface properties of the nanotubes without destroying their intrinsic structure and preserving their properties. This thesis explores and studies the surface modification and solublization of pristine single and multiwalled carbon nanotubes via a simple solution mixing technique through non-covalent interactions of CNTs with various anionic and cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs). The work includes studying the interaction of various poly(phenylene ethynylene) electrolytes with MWCNTs and an imidazolium functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) with SWCNTs. Our work here focuses on the noncovalent modifications of carbon nanotubes using novel CPEs in order to use these resulting CPE/CNT complexes in various applications. Upon modifying the CNTs with the CPEs, the resulting CPE/CNT complex has been proven to be easily dispersed in various organic and aqueous solution with excellent homogeneity and stability for several months. This complex was then used as a nanofiller and was dispersed in another polymer matrix (poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA). The PMMA/CPE/CNT composite materials were cast or electrospun depending on their desired application. The presence of the CPE modified CNTs in the polymer matrix has been proven to enhance the composites thermal, mechanical and electrical properties compared to pristine CNTs. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as UV-vis, fluorescence, TEM, AFM and SEM were used to study and characterize the CPE/CNT complexes. Also, TGA, DSC and DMA were used to study the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite materials. Our current work represents a fundamental study on the non-covalent interactions between CNTs and CPEs on one hand and gives a real life example on the CPE/CNT application in composite materials and electronics.

This thesis targets the development of conjugated polymers with improved process ability from solutions. Two types of ionic polymers are addressed: (i) conjugated metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs) composed of conjugated heteroaromatic unimers (building blocks) linked to chains by various metal ions giving charged main chains, and (ii) polythiophene polyelectrolytes containing ionic pendants. Processing advantages of conjugated polyelectrolytes consist in the possibility of their processing from solutions in green solvents such as alcohols or even water. The advantages of MSPs consist in the thermodynamic control of the degree of polymerization (length) of their chains in solutions by the choice of solvent and temperature. As a result, MSPs reversibly provide systems of low viscosity that can be processed from solutions more easily than high-molar-mass polymers giving highly viscous solutions. Synthesis of appropriately designed unimer(s) is the key step of preparation of an MSP. Within this thesis, a series of novel unimers composed of linear oligothiophene type (mono-, bi-, ter- a thieno-thiophene- diyl) central blocks capped with 2,6-bis(oxazoline-2-yl)pyridine (pybox) or 2,6-bis(imidazole-2-...

Ce travail est consacré à l'élaboration de complexes polyélectrolytes combinant deux polyélectrolytes de charges opposées ainsi que l'étude de leur potentiel en tant que biomatériaux injectables pour du comblement de ride. L'acide hyaluronique (portant des - charges négatives sur ses groupements carboxyliques -COO ) a été complexé avec l'unique polycation d'origine naturelle appelé chitosane (portant des charges positives de + par ses groupements amines -NH3 ). Les paramètres influençant la formation et les propriétés physico-chimiques des complexes acide hyaluronique – chitosane ont été étudiés. Nous avons utilisé une nouvelle technique de complexation développée au laboratoire mettant en œuvre la diminution de la force ionique de mélanges acide hyaluronique – chitosane – chlorure de sodium par dialyse dans le domaine de complexation de l'acide hyaluronique et du chitosane (pH approximativement compris entre 2.5 et 6.5). Ce procédé permet l'élimination progressive des sels et une association lente. Nous avons par ce biais été capable d'induire et de contrôler l'auto-assemblage de ces deux polyélectrolytes. Plusieurs formes ont ainsi été obtenues comme des agrégats, des complexes solubles, des suspensions colloïdales ou des coacervats. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons obtenu des hydrogels mixtes d'acide hyaluronique et de chitosane ayant d'exceptionnelles propriétés d'étirabilité à pH acide. D'autre part, une approche alternative a été envisagée, visant à utiliser les propriétés intrinsèques du chitosane, en particulier son aptitude à gélifier au contact de milieux alcalins. Ainsi, par un procédé similaire, nous avons pu former des hydrogels acide hyaluronique – chitosane réticulés physiquement, stable à pH et osmolarité physiologiques, et pouvant endurer des déformations importantes. De plus, ces systèmes peuvent être stérilisés par autoclave et peuvent être formulés afin d'être injectables. Réunissant toutes les conditions pour être de bons candidats au développement de biomatériaux injectables, ces hydrogels ont été testés in vivo sur un modèle lapin afin d‘évaluer leur biocompatibilité et leur applicabilité en tant que produits injectables en intradermique / This work is devoted to the elaboration of polyelectrolyte complexes systems combining two oppositely-charged polyelectrolytes and to the study of their potential application as - injectable dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid as polyanion (carboxylic groups -COO as negative charges) was complexed with the only naturally-occuring polycation named + chitosan (amine groups -NH3 as positive charges). The factors impacting the formation of hyaluronic acid - chitosan complexes and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. We used a new technique of complexation developed in the laboratory through the desalting of highly salted mixtures, and systematically investigated the impact of pH in the range 2.5 - 6.5, corresponding to the complexation domain of hyaluronic acid and chitosan. This process allowed the progressive elimination of the salts and the slow restoration of the attractive electrostatic interactions resp onsible for the self-assembly of the two polyelectrolytes. Various physical forms were obtained: macroscopic aggregates, soluble complexes, colloidal suspensions or hydrogels. During this work, we observed for the first time the formation of hyaluronic acid-chitosan hydrogels exhibiting a very unusual hyper-stretchability, only at acidic pH. Therefore, an alternate approach consisted in taking advantage of the chitosan ability to gel in alkaline medium. By using a similar process, we were then able to form physically-crosslinked hyaluronic acid-chitosan hydrogels stable at physiological pH and osmolarity and still able to undergo high deformations. Moreover, these systems could be submitted to steam sterilization and could be formulated so as to be injectable. Hence, these hydrogels gathered all the conditions to be good candidates as injectable biomaterials, these hydrogels were then tested in vivo on a rabbit model to evaluate their biocompatibility and suitability for intradermal applications

Compartmentalization allows for the spatial organization of cellular components and is crucial for numerous biological functions. One recently uncovered strategy for intracellular compartmentalization is phase separation via the de-mixing of biomacromolecules. Membraneless organelles, also referred to as biomolecular condensates, are compartments formed by phase separation and create distinct environments that are essential to cellular processes ranging from cell signaling to gene expression. Biomolecular condensates offer several advantages – for example, dynamic restructuring of internal constituents and diffusion of cellular components into/out of compartments – that make them suitable for applications in biocatalysis or pharmaceutical production. However, the ability to independently engineer the formation and disassembly of condensates in vivo remains a challenge. Here, concepts from polymer science have been used to understand parameters that govern intracellular phase separation. Many biomolecular condensates exhibit physical properties that are similar to complex coacervates as both are liquid-like phase separated mixtures formed via associative phase separation, frequently with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. We utilize the physical phenomenon of complex coacervation and principles underlying the formation of liquid-like biological condensates to identify design parameters for engineering synthetic, phase separated organelles in E. coli. In this dissertation, we employed a library of cationic charge variants derived from superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) to elucidate the effects of overall cationic charge on intracellular phase separation. We first investigated the complex coacervation of engineered proteins with biological polyelectrolytes to determine predictive design rules for protein phase separation and translated these design rules in vivo to engineer bacterial condensates. Characterization of the coacervate-like properties and macromolecular composition revealed that these condensates can undergo dynamic restructuring and exhibit biomolecular specificity. To facilitate the engineering of active supercharged proteins, we also developed short, cationic peptide tags, ranging from 6-27 amino acids in length, that can be appended onto any protein of interest to promote intracellular phase separation. We find that overall charge generally determines protein phase behavior and observe the formation and disassembly of condensates near the physiological phase boundary. Interestingly, we find that small modifications in charge density can tune the interaction strength between associating biomacromolecules and thus tune condensate stability. We demonstrate the use of these protein design parameters and cationic peptide tags to sequester catalytic enzymes and manipulate the intracellular localization of multiple proteins. These studies pave the way to building synthetic, functional organelles.

This Master thesis investigates the interaction between the polysaccharide sodium hyaluronate (HA) and some amphiphilic molecules. It is known that the presence of the carboxylic group on HA and the aminogroup on the amphiphiles leads to electrostatic interaction between these two compounds. This supposal offers the possibility to physically modify HA and use it as a new type of a carrier of bioactive compounds, for example medicals. However, successful carrier of bioactive compound has to resist a certain value of ionic strength. The high-molecular weights HA (1.75MDa) and amphiphile lysine were chosen for the study of the influence of ionic strength on the system HA – amphiphile. Our results show that system HA – amphiphile system is suppressed even by low concentrate solution of electrolyte. Therefore the system was reinforced by protonation of the aminoacid. The results show, that the interactions were reinforced, nevertheless negative influence of chlorine anions had to be eliminated by lyophilization. The solutions with strengthened system HA – amphiphile were used for the research of ionic strength influence. The amphiphiles lysine, 6 - aminocaproic acid and arginine were selected for this study. The interactions were investigated by means of reometry and conductometry.

The behaviour of humic acids in aqueous solutions is closely connected to the content of acid functional groups and their dissociation abilities. The titration methods are the most often used for the research of acid-base characteristics of humic acids, their results should lead to the determination of the content of functional groups and their pKa. However the determined values depend on many factors including the titration speed. The spectrophotometric determination of dissociation constant was used in this diploma thesis. Reliability of this method was confirmed in bachelor thesis where is mentioned that spectrophotometric determination of pKa corresponds with realistic dissociation behaviour of humic acids in the water much more better than values obtained from titration methods. The principle of newly used spectrophotometry method is the preparation of humic acids solutions in three different media with different pH values. Acid groups of humic acids are practically completely dissociated in intensely basic environment and the measured absorbance is caused by anion of „humate“. On the contrary their dissociation in acid environment is suppressed so much that we measure the absorbance of non-dissociated molecules of humic acids. Deionized water was used like neutral solvent. Water was replaced by acetic buffer in this thesis because of water’s properties which have significant influence on solutions' pH. Buffer was used for diluting or for solubilisation and in these both cases more stable pH values were occurred. The aim of this diploma thesis is investigate UV/VIS spectra of various solutions of humic acids with different values of pH and determinate mean value of pKa of humic acids which could be used like comparison of dissociation behaviours for vary samples. Values of acid dissociation constant were determined from measured dates and compared with values obtained by titration method. The UV/VIS spectra gained in combination with the results of pH measuring and the conductivity next showed the differences in the behaviour of differently prepared samples of humic acids.

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A worldwide shift from fossil fuels to zero carbon energy sources is imperative to limit global warming to 1.5°C. While integrating high penetrations of VRE into the grid may introduce the need for upgrading an aging electrical system, renewable energy represents a new opportunity to decarbonize multiple sectors. Otherwise curtailed solar and wind energy can accelerate deep decarbonization in hard-to-reach sectors - transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial buildings, all of which must be decarbonized to limit global warming. With renewable energy as its input, electrolytic H₂ represents a solution to the supply-demand mismatch created by the proliferation of VREs on a grid designed for on-demand power. Electrolytic H₂ can stabilize the grid since the H2 created can be stored and transferred. Thus, Chapter 1 introduces the opportunity of green H2 in the context of low-cost VREs as a means of deep decarbonization through sector coupling, and an overview of the techno-economics, key technologies, and life cycle assessment versus the incumbent steam methane reformation. The growing imbalances between electricity demand and supply from VREs create increasingly large swings in electricity prices. Capable of operating with variable input power and high current densities without prohibitively large ohmic losses, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are well suited to VREs. In Chapter 2, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are shown to help buffer against these supply demand imbalances, while simultaneously minimizing the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) by ramping up production of H2 through high-current-density operation when low-cost electricity is abundant, and ramping down current density to operate efficiently when electricity prices are high. A techno-economic model is introduced that optimizes current density profiles for dynamically operated electrolyzers, while accounting for the potential of increased degradation rates, to minimize LCOH for any given time-of-use (TOU) electricity pricing. This model is used to predict LCOH from different methods of operating a PEM electrolyzer for historical and projected electricity prices in California and Texas, which were chosen due to their high penetration of VREs. Results reveal that dynamic operation could enable reductions in LCOH ranging from 2% to 63% for historical 2020 pricing and 1% to 53% for projected 2030 pricing. Moreover, high-current-density operation above 2.5 A cm−2 is shown to be increasingly justified at electricity prices below $0.03 kWh−1. These findings suggest an actionable means of lowering LCOH and guide PEM electrolyzer development toward devices that can operate efficiently at a range of current densities. Chapter 3 uses techno-economic modeling to analyze the benefits of producing green (zero carbon) hydrogen through dynamically operated PEM electrolyzers connected to off-grid VREs. Dynamic electrolyzer operation is considered for current densities between 0 to 6 A cm-2 and compared to operating a PEM electrolyzer at a constant current density of 2 A cm-2. The analysis was carried out for different combinations of VRE to electrolysis (VRE:E) capacity ratios and compositions of wind and solar electricity in 4 locations – Ludlow, California, Dalhart, Texas, Calvin, North Dakota, and Maple Falls, Washington. For optimal VRE:E and wind:PV capacity ratios, dynamic operation of the PEM electrolyzer was found to reduce the LCOH by 5% to 9%, while increasing H₂ production by 134% to 173%, and decreasing excess (i.e. curtailed) electrical power by 82% to 95% compared to constant current density operation. Under dynamic electrolyzer operation, the minimum LCOH is achieved at higher VRE:E capacity ratios than constant current density operation and a VRE mix that was more skewed to whichever VRE source with the higher capacity factor at a given location. In addition, dynamically operated electrolyzers are found to achieve LCOH values within 10% of the minimum LCOH over a significantly wider range of VRE:E capacity ratios and VRE mixes than constant electrolyzers. As demonstrated, the techno-economic framework described herein may be used to determine the optimal VRE:E capacity and VRE mix for dynamically-operated green hydrogen systems that minimize cost and maximize the amount of H2 produced. Chapter 4 focuses on the production of high-purity water and H₂ from seawater. Current electrolyzers require deionized water so they need to be coupled with desalination units. This study shows that such coupling is cost-effective in H₂ generation, and offers benefits to thermal desalination, which can utilize waste heat from electrolysis. Furthermore, it is shown that such coupling can be optimized when electrolyzers operate at high current density, using low-cost solar and/or wind electricity, as such operation increases both H₂ production and heat generation. Results of techno-economic modeling of PEM electrolyzers define thresholds of electricity pricing, current density, and operating temperature that make clean electrolytic hydrogen cost-competitive with H₂ from steam methane reforming. By using 2020 hourly electricity pricing in California and Texas, H₂ is shown to be produced from seawater in coupled desalination-electrolyzer systems at prices near $2, reaching cost parity with SMR-produced H₂. Chapter 5 concludes the dissertation with an overview of the challenges and research needs for PEM electrolyzers at scale, including projected iridium needs, iridium thrifting, recycling methods, key degradation mechanisms, a failure modes and effects analysis, and LCOH projections.

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