京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23914号 / 工博第5001号 / 新制||工||1781(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科物質エネルギー化学専攻 / (主査)教授 阿部 竜, 教授 安部 武志, 教授 作花 哲夫 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Le travail décrit dans cette thèse est basé sur la synthèse et l’étude de nanoparticules cœur-coquille capables de capter du césium radioactif. Ces travaux s’inscrivent dans l’amélioration d’un procédé de sorption du césium déjà existant et utilisant des monolithes de silice poreux fonctionnalisés avec des nanoparticules (NPs) d’Analogue du bleu de Prusse (ABP) ou plus précisément K2CuFe(CN)6 (CuABP). Les nanoparticules issues de cette famille sont très connues pour leur capacité de sorption et leur sélectivité vis-à-vis du césium. Ainsi afin d’éviter l’agrégation des NPs au sein du monolithe et d’augmenter les capacités de sorption, il a été décidé de synthétiser des nanoparticules cœur-coquille avec un cœur d’ABP protégé par une coquille de silice poreuse. La voie de synthèse choisie pour réaliser ce type de nanoparticules est celle qui utilise une microémulsion inverse afin de contrôler la forme et la taille des nanoparticules finales. Ce choix a permis de réaliser la synthèse in situ des NPs d’ABP avec une excellente stabilité des nanoparticules dans les gouttes d’eau dans certaines conditions opératoires. Les microémulsions ont été caractérisées grâce aux SAXS (Small Angle X-ray Scattering). Grâce à des modèles de simulation, des tailles de gouttes d’eau allant de 0.5 à 3 nm de rayon ont été déterminées selon la quantité d’eau introduite. Le paramètre w correspondant au rapport molaire entre l’eau et le tensioactif (w=[H2O]/[tensioactif]) es un bon moyen d’exprimer la quantité d’eau présente dans le système. La croissance de la coquille de silice est réalisée grâce au procédé sol-gel en milieu basique en présence de TEOS. La morphologie des nanoparticules cœur-coquille a ensuite été étudiée grâce à la microscopie électronique (HRTEM/STEM/HAADF) et l’analyse chimique et structurale a été réalisée grâce à la spectroscopie infrarouge (FTIR-ATR) et à la DRX. Ainsi, pour la première fois, des nanoparticules cœur-coquille telles que définies ici ont été synthétisées. Des tests de sorption du césium par ces nanoparticules cœur-coquille ont également été mis en œuvre avec des résultats encourageants (Qmax(NPs cœur-coquille)=125 mg/g). De plus ces nanoparticules ne sont pas seulement utiles pour la décontamination d’effluents aqueux, elles ouvrent aussi de nouvelles portes pour l’auto-irradiation et l’auto-confinement de radioéléments. / The research work described below is based on the synthesis and the study of core-shell nanoparticles able to entrap radioactive cesium. A sorption process of radionuclides on porous silica monoliths has already been described to capture radioactive cesium and to anchor it on a solid phase. Those materials were therefore functionalized with Prussian Blue Analogous (PBA) nanoparticles or more precisely K2CuFe(CN)6 (CuPBA) that are well known to be highly selective towards Cs. However, those materials did not allow optimal Cs sorption because of strong aggregation of PBA nanoparticles within the monoliths. Thereby, the solution developed is the use of core-shell nanoparticles in order to avoid the PBA aggregation. The core of these nanoparticles is made with PBA and protected by a porous silica shell.A reverse microemulsion is chosen as main synthetic route to synthesize and control the size and shape of these nanoparticles. That synthetic route allows in-situ synthesis of CuPBA nanoparticles in the microemulsion with an excellent stability of the particles in the water droplets. Microemulsions, characterized with SAXS, show droplets radius varying from 0.5 to 3 nm with regard to the water content defined by w parameter (w=[H2O]/[surfactant]). The growth of the silica shell is then achieved after the synthesis of CuPBA, using a classical basic conditions sol-gel process. The morphology of the core-shell nanoparticles is controlled with HRTEM/STEM-HAADF and the structural and chemical analysis are followed by XRD and FTIR-ATR. Finally, this study enables, for the first time, the synthesis of these core-shell nanoparticles. Then, recent sorption experiments highlighted that these core-shell nanoparticles can be used to entrap cesium with interesting capacity ((Qmax(core-shell NPs)=125 mg/g)). Moreover, these nanoparticles are useful for decontamination process and they open the way in the study of the self-irradiation and self-containment of radionuclides.

De acordo com a literatura recente, a eletroquímica de partículas magnéticas e fenômenos de colisões em superfícies eletródicas resultam em curvas voltamétricas e amperométricas com perfis completamente destoados do convencional. Alguns modelos teóricos propõem explicações, no entanto, ainda se observa a necessidade de aquisição de mais dados experimentais. Visando contribuir com esta área, esta Dissertação de Mestrado aborda a manipulação de micropartículas e nanopartículas de magnetita modificadas com azul da Prússia (Fe3O4-PB), bem como o estudo das propriedades eletroquímicas das partículas na presença de um campo magnético externo. Filmes constituídos por micropartículas sobre eletrodos de carbono (grafite) foram obtidos por duas técnicas distintas, drop coating e magneto-deposição. Para ambos os métodos, os filmes apresentaram dois picos nos voltamogramas, um de oxidação (0,12 V) e outro de redução (-0,05 V), que estão associados ao par redox azul da Prússia/branco da Prússia. Para o filme obtido via drop coating, observaram-se correntes de pico mais elevadas. Também, micropartículas de Fe3O4-PB individuais foram isoladas (single particle) com auxílio de um microscópio óptico e analisadas por voltametria, onde se verificou o aparecimento de picos com os mesmos valores de potenciais. Utilizando os dois estados de comutação de campo (0,2 Tesla), ligado e desligado, foi possível controlar a presença e a ausência da partícula no eletrodo. Também, observaram-se diferenças nos valores de densidade de corrente nos cronoamperogramas para cada micropartícula de Fe3O4-PB e que a morfologia da micropartícula interfere significativamente na resposta eletroquímica. Por fim, e agora se tratando da eletroquímica de nanopartículas de Fe3O4-PB sobre um ultramicroeletrodo (UME) de ouro, controlaram-se as colisões das mesmas em diferentes condições experimentais, como na presença e na ausência de um campo magnético externo paralelo a superfície do eletrodo e com intensidades variadas (0,1 e 0,2 Tesla). Na ausência do campo, as nanopartículas que chegaram ao UME colidiram e se acumularam, gerando sinais eletroquímicos do tipo corrente staircase. Na presença de um campo de 0,1 T, observaram-se vários transientes de correntes (spikes) associados às colisões das nanopartículas, eventos esses não observados frequentemente na presença do campo de 0,2 T. Assim, esses resultados abrem a discussão da necessidade de se aperfeiçoarem os modelos que explicam os perfis das curvas voltamétricas e amperométricas para esses sistemas. / According to recent literature, the electrochemistry of magnetic particles and collision phenomena on surfaces result in unconventional voltammetric and amperometric responses. Some theoretical models has been proposed; however, experimental data are required for improve that. In order to contribute to this research area, this Master\'s Dissertation describes the manipulation of microparticles and nanoparticles of magnetite modified with Prussian blue (Fe3O4-PB), as well as the study of electrochemical properties of them in presence of an external magnetic field. Carbon (graphite) electrodes modified with microparticles were obtained by using two different techniques, (i) magneto-deposition and (ii) drop coating. For both, two peaks in the voltammograms were observed, related to oxidation (0.12 V) and reduction (-0.05 V), which are associated with redox couple Prussian blue / Prussian white. Higher peaks currents were observed for the film obtained via drop coating. Also, individual Fe3O4-PB microparticles (single particles) were isolated by using an optical microscope and analyzed by voltammetry, where there was the appearance of peaks with the same potential values. However, using two commutations magnetic states, \"switch on\" and \"switch off\", it was possible to monitor the presence and the absence of the particle on electrode. Also, there were differences in the values of current density in the chronoamperograms for each Fe3O4-PB microparticle, and the morphology of the microparticle significantly interfered in the electrochemical response. Finally, it was performed several electrochemical experiments regarding to collisions of Fe3O4-PB nanoparticles on a gold ultramicroelectrode. Controlled collisions in different experimental conditions were carried out, such as in the presence and absence of an external magnetic field parallel to the surface electrode, and also with intensities fields of 0.1 and 0.2 Tesla. In the absence of the field, the nanoparticles reached the UME and collided, resulting in electrochemical signals of this type staircase, due to accumulation of them. On the other hand, in the presence of a 0.1 T, we observed several transient currents (spikes) associated with the collisions of the nanoparticles. These events were not observed in the presence of the field of 0.2 T. Thus, these findings allow us to the discussion for improvements on the models for these systems, in order to explain the profiles of voltammetric and amperometric responses.

Les analogues du bleu de Prusse contenant du Fe et du Co (Fe/Co PBA) sont des complexes moléculaires qui présentent des propriétés physiques bistables. Par conséquent, ils sont considérés comme des candidats potentiels pour le stockage d'informations à base de molécules. Cette thèse vise à étudier la structure électronique et magnétique de Fe/Co PBA en utilisant des techniques expérimentales et théoriques avancées. Les techniques X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) et X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) combinées avec la théorie des multiplets en champ de ligands (LFM) sonde le changement dans les propriétés magnétiques macroscopiques de Fe/Co PBA et peuvent donner des informations locales sur les centres métalliques des complexes. Le composé tridimensionnel RbCoFe PBA, deux complexes de dinucléaire photomagnétiques et les précurseurs de Fe sont étudiés. L'étude de XMCD combinée avec la LFM a révélé une grande valeur du moment magnétique d'orbite du précurseur FeTp. Une étude détaillée a été effectuée pour vérifier les règles de somme d'orbite et de spin dans le cas des ions de Fe(III) bas spin et il a été constaté que la règle spin somme n'était pas valide à cause de l'entremélange des seuils L2 et L3. L'enquête XMCD des complexes dinucléaires photomagnétiques a confirmé le transfert d'électrons métal-métal. Cette enquête XMCD de la plus petite unité de la famille Fe / Co PBA est utile pour comprendre les propriétés magnétiques de la famille de Fe / Co PBA. L'étude XMCD sur aux seuils K du Fe et du Co d'un composé tridimensionnel RbCoFe PBA a prouvé l'existence d'une interaction antiferromagnétique entre les ions métalliques de Fe et de Co dans l'état photoinduit. / The Fe/Co Prussian Blue Analogues (PBA) are molecular complexes that exhibit externally controlled bistable physical properties. Thus, they are considered as potential candidates for photoswitchable molecule-based information storage. This thesis aims to investigate the electronic and magnetic structure of Fe/Co PBA using advanced experimental and theoretical techniques. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) techniques combined with Ligand Field Multiplet (LFM) theory probe the change in the macroscopic magnetic properties of PBA and can give local information about the metal centers existing in the complexes. The XAS and XMCD spectra at Fe and Co L2,3 edges are simulated using Ligand Field Multiplet (LFM) Calculations. The tridimensional RbCoFe PBA, two photomagnetic dinculear complexes and the building blocks Fe-bearing precursors are investigated. The XMCD study combined with LFM investigation revealed a large value of orbital magnetic moment in FeTp precursor of the dinuclear complex. A detailed study has been performed to check for the orbit and spin sum rules in the case of low spin FeIII ions and it was found that the spin sum rule does not hold because of intermixing between L2 and L3 edges. The XMCD investigation of the photomagnetic dinuclear complexes confirmed the metal-to-metal electron transfer. This XMCD investigation of the smallest unit of Fe/Co PBA family is helpful to understand the magnetic properties of the family of Fe/Co PBA. The XMCD study at Fe and Co K edges of a tridimensional RbCoFe PBA proved the existence of an antiferromagnetic interaction between Fe and Co metal ions in the photoinduced state.

No description available.

Orientador: Juliano Alves Bonacin / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T15:22:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Santos_PamylaLayenedos_M.pdf: 4212017 bytes, checksum: 32d8be4cbad15f721c18e5490e98cb35 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: O azul da Prússia (AP) é um dos mais antigos compostos de coordenação e pode ser utilizado na modificação de sensores eletroquímicos para a detecção de H2O2, o AP pode catalisar a redução do peróxido e por isso é conhecido como "artificial peroxidase". Entretanto, filmes de AP não apresentam boa estabilidade eletroquímica e alternativas como a obtenção de nanocompósito baseados em AP e grafeno podem ser utilizadas para contornar o problema. O grafeno é um material com alta condutividade, flexibilidade e resistência à tração, pode ser obtido pelo método de Hummers que consiste na redução do óxido de grafeno e neste caso é chamado de óxido de grafeno reduzido. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é a obtenção fotoquímica de um nanocompósito baseado em azul da Prússia (AP) e óxido de grafeno reduzido (rGO) que permite uma combinação das propriedades eletrocatalíticas do AP e condutoras do rGO para a aplicação em sensores eletroquímicos. Além disso, espera-se uma maior estabilidade eletroquímica deste material. Os materiais óxido de grafeno reduzido e azul da Prússia foram obtidos separadamente pelos métodos químicos e fotoquímicos com a utilização de LEDs. Os resultados mostraram vantagens do método fotoquímico como o controle da morfologia e do tamanho dos cristais de azul da Prússia. O grau de redução dos materiais baseados em grafeno foi controlado com o tempo de irradiação no LED e isso foi refletido em suas propriedades eletroquímicas, com uma resposta linear da corrente de pico em função do grau de redução. O nanocompósito foi obtido pelo método fotoquímico in situ, e isso foi comprovado pelas técnicas DRX, espectroscopias Raman e UV-Vis. As micrografias obtidas por FEG-SEM mostraram a presença de cubos de AP sobre toda a superfície do óxido de grafeno reduzido. Espera-se que a interação entre o AP e rGO permita uma maior estabilidade eletroquímica do material que será testado no sensoriamento de H2O2 / Abstract: Prussian blue is one of the oldest coordination compounds and can be used on the modification of electrochemical sensors for the detection of H2O2, PB can catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide and, for that, it is known as "artificial peroxidase". However, PB films do not show good electrochemical stability and alternatives such as the obtention of nanocomposites based on PB and graphene can be used to work around this problem. Graphene is a material with high conductivity, flexibility and tensile strength. Graphene can be obtained by Hummers method, which consists of reducing graphene oxide, in which case it is called a reduced graphene oxide. The goal of this work is photochemically obtaining a nanocomposite based on Prussian blue (PB) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that allows a combination of the electrocatalytical properties of PB and high conductivity of rGO for use in electrochemical sensors. In addition, we expect a higher electrochemical stability of this material. Reduced graphene oxide and Prussian blue were obtained separately by chemical and photochemical methods using LED. The results show the advantages of photochemical method to control the morphology and size of Prussian blue crystals. The reduction extent of graphene-based material was controlled by the irradiation time of the LED and this was reflected in its electrochemical properties, with a linear response of the peak current depending on the reduction extent. The nanocomposite was obtained by in situ photochemical method, and this was confirmed by XRD techniques, Raman and UV-Vis. The micrographs obtained by FEG-SEM showed the presence of PB cubes on the entire surface of the reduced graphene oxide. It is expected that the interaction between the PB and rGO allowing greater electrochemical stability of the material to be tested in H2O2 sensing / Mestrado / Quimica Inorganica / Mestra em Química

Les travaux de recherche de cette thèse concernent sur la préparation et l’étude des propriétés physiques de nanocristaux commutables basés sur des matériaux de type transition de spin et photomagnétiques potentiellement candidats en tant que nanocapteurs. Les nanocristaux à transition de spin appartiennent à la famille des réseaux de coordination basés sur les chlatrates de Hoffman [Fe(pyrazine)] [Pt(CN)4]. L’étude se concentre sur le contrôle de la taille des nano-bâtonnets et sur l’étude de leur bistabilité thermique en relation avec leur environnement et de leur interaction avec les molécules invitées. Nous montrons que la croissance des nanocristaux en forme de bâtonnets est obtenue en présence de nanoparticules préformées de 2 à 3 nm de l’analogue du bleu de Prusse CsNiCr(CN)6, censées diriger la croissance anisotrope des objets. Les nano-bâtonnets formés sont stables pendant une longue période en solution en raison de leurs charges négatives. Ils possèdent une hystérèse thermique assez large centrée sur la température ambiante. La largeur et la position en température de l’hystérèse thermique dépendent de la nature de l'environnement des nanocristaux. Avec des sels d'ammonium à longue chaîne (tels que le bromure de dodécyltrimentylammonium ou le bromure de dexhyl triméthyl ammonium), l’hystérèse thermique se rétrécit et se décale vers les basses températures. Avec des chaînes alkyles plus courtes, le décalage de l’hystérèse est plus petit sans que sa largeur ne change beaucoup. Lorsque les tiges sont noyées dans une matrice de silice rigide, la transition est déplacée à très basse température et l'hystérésis thermique disparaît. L'insertion de molécules de I2 conduit à une hystérèse thermique plus large centrée sur une température plus élevée que la température ambiante. Les nanoparticules photomagnétiques appartiennent à la famille des réseaux bimétalliques d’analogues du bleu de Prusse (PBA) basés sur le CoFe. Ce type de matériaux peut subir une transition thermique de l'état paramagnétique CoIIFeIII à l'état diamagnétique CoIIIFeII. L'état de haute température peut ensuite être rétabli par un éclairage lumineux à basse température. Nous nous sommes concentrés sur trois types de nanoparticules de CoFe contenant les ions alcalins CsI (11 nm) et RbI avec deux tailles différentes : 30 et 80 nm pour ces dernières. La taille des objets était contrôlée par différents paramètres tels que la nature de l'ion alcalin, la concentration des précurseurs et leur stœchiométrie. La combinaison de différentes techniques, telles que les spectroscopies électronique et infrarouge, associée à la spectroscopie par résonance paramagnétique électronique et à la diffraction des rayons X sur poudre permet de suivre l’évolution de la composition des nanoparticules avec le temps en solution à la température ambiante. L’étude de l’évolution conduit à la conclusion générale que le phénomène de transfert d’électrons de CoII à FeIII se produit en solution pendant plusieurs jours avant que les objets n’atteignent leur état thermodynamique stable qui dépendait de la nature de l’ion alcalin et de la taille des objets. Le comportement (photo)magnétique a ensuite été étudié à l’état solide pour différents temps d’évolution des trois types de particules, ce qui a permis de proposer un mécanisme qualitatif de leur formation en solution. / The research work in this thesis is focused on the preparation and the study of the physical properties of switchable nanocrystals based on spin crossover and photomagnetic materials that are potential candidates as nanosensors. The spin crossover nanocrystals belong to the coordination network family based on the Fe(II) Hoffman chlatrates [Fe(pyrazine)][Pt(CN)4]. The study is focused on controlling the size of self-standing nanorods and on the investigation of their thermal bistability in relation with their environment and their interaction with guest molecules. We show that the growth of the rod-shaped nanocrystals is obtained in the presence of preformed 2-3 nm nanoparticles of the Prussian Blue Analogue CsNiCr(CN)¬6 that is thought to direct to anisotropic growth of the objects. The formed rods can be stable for a long time due to their negative charge. They possess a rather wide thermal hysteresis centered around room temperature. The width and position in temperature of the thermal hysteresis depends on the nature of the environment of the nanocrystals. With very long ammonium salt (such as dodecyl trimetylammonium bromide or dexhyl trimethyl ammonium bromide), the thermal hysteresis becomes narrower and shifts to low temperature. While with shorter alkyl chains, the shift of the hysteresis is smaller without much change in its width. When the rods are embedded in a rigid silica matrix, the transition is shifted to very low temperature and the thermal hysteresis vanishes. The insertion of I2 molecules leads to a wider thermal hysteresis centered at a higher temperature.The photomagnetic nanoparticles belong to the bimetallic Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) family based on CoFe. This type of materials may undergo a thermal transition from the paramagnetic CoIIFeIII state to the diamagnetic CoIIIFeII one. The high temperature state can then be restored at low temperature by light illumination. We focused on three types of CoFe PBAs nanoparticles containing the CsI (11 nm) and the RbI alkali ions with two different sizes 30 and 80 nm for the latter. The size of the objects was controlled by different parameters such as the nature of the alkali ion, the concentration of the precursors and their stoichiometry. The combination of different techniques such as electronic and infra spectroscopies together with Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction allows following the evolution of the nanoparticles’ composition with time in solution at room temperature. The evolution study leads to the general conclusion that the electron transfer phenomenon from CoII to FeIII occurs in solution during several days before the objects reach their thermodynamic stable state that was found to depend on the nature of the alkali ion and on the size of the objects. The (photo)magnetic behavior was then investigated in the solid state for different evolution time of the three types of particles, which allowed proposing a qualitative mechanism of their formation in solution.

Clean, drinkable water is nowadays taken for granted in most developed coun-tries. However, over two billion people in the world do not have access to drink-ing water. In an attempt to combat this, capacitive deionization (CDI) hasgained increased attention in recent years. CDI is an emergent method of de-salination through separation of ionic species in aqueous solutions. The perfor-mance of CDI is dependent on materials used and how the device is constructed.This paper investigates key metrics relating the efficiency and applicability oftwo different CDI materials, activated carbon (Zorflex FM10 Chemivron) andCobalt Prussian Blue Analogue (referred to as the active material), in regardsto the electrodes used. These metrics include energy consumption, energy re-covery and Faradaic efficiency. The results were gathered from building a circuitwith the CDI cell as the capacitor and switching the polarity of the cell when adefined threshold of the voltage (1.5 V) was reached. The energy consumptionof the activated carbon (0.450 kWh/m3) was found to be less than that of theactive material (1.45 kWh/m3). The energy recovery was found to be roughlyequal for both materials, 80.6 % for the activated carbon and 79.5 % for theactive material. Finally, the activated carbon had a Faradaic efficiency of 0.75while the active material had 1.8.

Apesar de a fotocatálise heterogênea ser reconhecida como uma abordagem promissora e sustentável para promover processos de remediação ambiental, aplicações práticas de processos fotocatalíticos ainda são muito limitadas devido à baixa eficiência dos fotocatalisadores existentes. Neste contexto, a pesquisa na interface Química/Ciência dos Materiais é de grande relevância para o desenvolvimento de rotas sintéticas que permitam a obtenção e o controle das propriedades de novos fotocatalisadores multi-componentes visando desempenho fotocatalítico aprimorado. Os trabalhos descritos nesta tese abordam rotas sintéticas desenvolvidas ou aprimoradas para preparação de partículas e aerogéis nanoestruturados baseados na incorporação do fotocatalisador de alta atividade TiO2 em escala nanométrica junto à estruturas de sílica, que atuam como suporte estrutural de alta estabilidade térmica. Adicionalmente, os materiais sintetizados foram modificados com o hexacianometalato Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3, o Azul da Prússia (PB) como tentativa para aumento do desempenho fotocatalítico em reações de redução. A caracterização detalhada dos materiais foi realizada por amplo conjunto de técnicas visando correlacionar atividade fotocatalítica com propriedades físicas e estruturais. Na primeira etapa do trabalho partículas core-shell SiO2@TiO2 foram preparadas pela adsorção e hidrólise controlada do precursor Isopropóxido de Titânio na superfície de partículas submicrométricas de sílica. Variando a composição do solvente (razão isopropanol/etanol) foi possível controlar a cinética de deposição do TiO2, levando à controle sobre composição e morfologia das partículas SiO2@TiO2 sintetizadas. Este material apresentou eficiência de fotodegradação do corante Cristal Violeta superior a do TiO2 não-suportado, assim como elevada estabilidade térmica devido à formação de ligações interfaciais Si-O-Ti. Em uma segunda etapa, novas rotas de preparação de aerogéis de sílica-titânia foram desenvolvidas empregando TiCl4 como precursor alternativo aos alcóxidos de titânio e processamento dos materiais por secagem em CO2 supercrítico. Explorou-se a reação de termo-hidrólise do TiCl4 para promover a deposição termo-induzida de titania em géis monolíticos de sílica, bem como o método de gelificação assistida por epóxido para formação de rede tridimensional porosa de titânia ao redor de partículas de aerogel de sílica, levando à preparação de aerogéis core-shell SiO2@TiO2 e aerogéis nanocompósitos SiO2/TiO2, respectivamente. A estrutura mesoporosa robusta dos aerogéis e a capacidade da sílica de inibir a transformação de fase anatase-rutilo se refletiram em um aumento de atividade fotocatalítica com o aumento da temperatura de calcinação, sendo que os aerogéis de sílica-titânia tratados a 1000ºC apresentaram eficiência fotocatalítica superiores a dos aerogéis de titânia pura e do fotocatalisador comercial P25. Na parte final do trabalho, as partículas e aerogéis de SiO2/TiO2 e TiO2 foram modificados adicionalmente com o PB e com PB/MoS2 por métodos de fotodeposição. Demonstrou-se que o PB pode atuar como co-catalisador na reação de redução fotocatalítica de espécie altamente tóxicas de Cr(VI) em compostos não tóxicos de Cr(III), aumentando substancialmente a eficiência dos materiais baseados em TiO2 sobre radiação UV. Finalmente, a modificação concomitante dos fotocatalisadores com PB e o semicondutor MoS2 levam a aumento sinérgico de atividade redução fotocatalítica de Cr(VI) também sob luz visível. Os materiais desenvolvidos neste trabalho apresentam interessante potencial para aplicações em processos de remediação ambiental e desenvolvimento de revestimentos cerâmicos auto-limpantes. / Despite its potential as a promising and sustainable approach for environmental remediation, heterogeneous photocatalysis still has limited practical applicability due to the low efficiency of the existing photocatalysts. In this context, research on the Chemistry/Materials Science interface is of utmost importance for the development of synthetic routes that allow preparation of novel multi-component photocatalysts with controlled properties and enhanced photocatalytic performance. The studies reported in this thesis describe newly developed or improved synthetic routes for the preparation of nanostructured photocatalysts in the form of particles and aerogels through incorporation of highly photoactive TiO2 nanoparticles in silica materials as thermally stable structural supports. Additionally, the prepared silica-titania photocatalysts were further modified with Prussian Blue (PB), hexacyanometallate Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3, in order to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic reduction reactions. In order to correlate the observed photocatalytic performance with the physical/structural properties of the photocatalysts, the prepared photocatalysts were characterized using an array of complimentary techniques. In the first part of the study, core-shell SiO2@TiO2 particles were prepared by the adsorption and controlled hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide precursor on the surface of submicron silica particles. The rate of titania deposition and the resultant particle morphology as well as TiO2 loading could be effectively controlled by changing solvent composition (isopropanol/ethanol ratio). The prepared SiO2@TiO2 core-shell particles showed superior performance for crystal violet dye photodegradation as compared to unsupported TiO2, in addition to their improved thermal stability due to the formation of Si-O-Ti interfacial bonds. In the second part of thesis, new synthetic routes were developed for the preparation of high surface area silica-titania aerogels employing TiCl4 as an alternative titania precursor. We explored the thermohydrolysis of TiCl4 to promote thermo-induced deposition of titania on silica monolithic gels and epoxide-assisted gelation method for formation of titania gel network around silica aerogel particles, thus yielding SiO2@TiO2 core-shell and SiO2/TiO2 composite aerogels, respectively. The prepared silica-titania aerogels displayed remarkable physical properties, including high surface area, large pore volume and outstanding thermal stability of the supported anatase nanoparticles. The robust thermally stable mesoporous structure of the prepared aerogels, coupled with the ability of silica to inhibit anatase-to-rutile transformation, led to the enhancement of photocatalytic activity with an increase in annealing temperature to as high as 1000 ºC. In fact, the photocatalytic activity of silica-titania aerogels annealed at 1000 ºC outperforms that of both pristine titania aerogels and Degussa P25 commercial photocatalyst. In the final part of the study, the prepared TiO2-based particles and aerogels were further modified with PB and PB/MoS2 by photodeposition method. We could demonstrate that PB can act as an efficient co-catalyst for the photocatalytic reduction of highly toxic Cr(VI) species to the non-toxic Cr(III), thus largely improving the photocatalytic performance of TiO2-based photocatalysts under UV illumination. Finally, simultaneous modification of the titania-based photocatalysts with both PB and the visible-light active semiconductor MoS2 lead to a synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under visible-light as well. The photocatalytic materials developed in this study may find useful application in many areas such as environmental remediation, wastewater purification and the development of self-cleaning ceramic coatings.

Nesta dissertação estudou-se a influência dos parâmetros de pós-tratamento eletroquímico, em condições potenciodinâmicas, sobre a estabilidade e reatividade frente à organofosfatos do filme eletrodepositado de hexacianoferrato (II) de ferro (III), mais conhecido como azul da Prússia (PB). O pós-tratamento do filme em baixas velocidades de varredura leva à formação do PB \"solúvel\" com a formação de grãos maiores e um filme mais estável eletroquimicamente como demonstrado por ensaios de voltametria cíclica (VC), microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e espectroscopia de fotoelétrons excitados por raios X (XPS). Filmes pós-tratados em meio HCl/KCl 0,1M foram mais eletroquimicamente estáveis em meio ácido, enquanto filmes submetidos à pós-tratamento em meio neutro foram mais estáveis em meio neutro. / In this work it was studied the influence of the electrochemical posttreatment parameters in potenciodinamics conditions on the stability and reactivity against organophosphates by eletrodepositaded iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II), better known as blue of Prussia (PB). The posttreatment of the film at low sweep rates leads to the formation of the PB \"soluble\" with the formation of larger grains and a more electrochemically stable films as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry (VC), atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron espectroscopic (XPS) tests. Films post-treated in HCl/KCl 0.1 M media were more electrochemically stable in an acid media, while films submitted to post-treatment in neutral media were more stable in neutral media.