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The influence of the strain rate and heat treatment on the occurrence of plastic instabilities in extruded AlSi1MgMn (6082) and cold rolled AlMg4.5Mn0.4 (5182) alloys was studied. The samples were uniaxially loaded at various strain rates and at room temperature (RT). The results are discussed using concurrent acoustic emission (AE) monitoring during mechanical testing and the AE parameters are correlated to the microstructure and to the stress-time curves. All samples exhibited the Portevin-Le Châtelier (PLC) effect of different types, dependently on the heat treatment and the applied strain rate. The occurrence of the PLC effect is manifested by burst AE signals with high amplitudes. Statistical analysis of the AE signals has shown the power-law probability distribution.

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How can an alternative route to knowledge recognition create inclusive and accessible education? Can architecture and spatial practice create relevant learning opportunities for informally living Syrians in Izmir, Turkey? There is an acute access gap to quality education for marginalized communities all over the world. The formally recognized ways of producing knowledge in traditional institutions are not able to reach all parts of society. There is a need to reimagine the way we value and create learning environments, to forge alternative paths of knowledge recognition for a socially inclusive education.This thesis situates itself within the context of Izmir, Turkey, where many Syrians are currently living informally, unable to benefit from formal support and education. This requires us to rethink our approach to pedagogic strategies of empowerment for adults in an informal way. Through a review of relevant literature by educational experts, global actors, thinkers, and activists, and proof of successful practice through case studies, this thesis argues that educational empowerment can happen through critical dialogue and a desire to act for change. It proposes that not only is it possible for architecture and spatial practice to create alternative paths to learning, but also that this might innovate education and create learning environments of high quality and real impact.The research results in an architectural proposal that aims to reconnect knowledge production to real life through spatial practice. The proposal intends to bridge informally acquired knowledge with formal recognition by addressing local issues in the living environment. The project proposes self-organized courses in which communities come together to build knowledge around a certain issue. This practice opens for a collaborative opportunity to take part in the democratic debate, questioning right of access to the knowledge economy and a better living environment.The thesis concludes that this approach has a potential to create alternative paths to knowledge recognition, but that it needs to happen in a collaboration with important actors; local communities, innovators, universities, industries, governments, and NGO’s. It also discusses the appropriateness of this approach and its potential drawbacks, but states that this conversation is important to have in order to imagine a future of empowerment and social inclusion.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Takashi Ito / Self-organized nanoporous materials have drawn a lot of attention because the uniform, highly dense, and ordered cylindrical nanopores in these materials provide a unique platform for chemical separations and chemical sensing applications. Here, we explore self-organized nanopores of PS-b-PMMA diblock copolymer thin films and anodic gallium oxide for chemical separations and sensing applications. In the first study, cyclic voltammograms of cytochrome c on recessed nanodisk-array electrodes (RNEs) based on nanoporous films (11, 14 or 24 nm in average pore diameter; 30 nm thick) derived from polystyrene-poly(methylmethacrylate) diblock copolymers were measured. The faradic current of cytochrome c was observed on RNEs, indicating the penetration of cytochrome c (hydrodynamic diameter ≈ 4 nm) through the nanopores to the underlying electrodes. Compared to the 24-nm pores, the diffusion of cytochrome c molecules through the 11- and 14-nm pores suffered significantly larger hindrance. The results reported in this study will provide guidance in designing RNEs for size-based chemical sensing and also for controlled immobilization of biomolecules within nanoporous media for biosensors and bioreactors. In another study, conditions for the formation of self-organized nanopores of a metal oxide film were investigated. Self-organized nanopores aligned perpendicular to the film surface were obtained upon anodization of gallium films in ice-cooled 4 and 6 M aqueous H2SO4 at 10 V and 15 V. The average pore diameter was in the range of 18 ~ 40 nm, and the anodic gallium oxide was ca. 2 µm thick. In addition, anodic formation of self-organized nanopores was demonstrated for a solid gallium monolith incorporated at the end of a glass capillary. Nanoporous anodic oxide monoliths formed from a fusible metal will lead to future development of unique devices for chemical sensing and catalysis. In the final study, surface chemical property of self-organized nanoporous anodic gallium oxide is explored through potentiometric measurements. The nanoporous anodic and barrier layer gallium oxide structures showed slow potentiometric response only at acidic pH (≤ 4), in contrast to metallic gallium substrates that exhibited a positive potentiometric response to H⁺ over the pH range examined (3-10). The potentiometric response at acidic pH probably reflects some chemical processes between gallium oxide and HCl.

Les nanoparticules métalliques et bimétalliques supportées par des oxydes sont de plus en plus utilisées comme catalyseur modèle. Cependant, leur potentiel en vue des applications en catalyse n’est pas complètement exploité à cause d’un manque de connaissance de leurs propriétés fondamentales. Ainsi, pour comprendre les mécanismes de la catalyse hétérogène, il est important d’élaborer ces catalyseurs en contrôlant différents paramètres comme la taille, la distribution spatiale et la composition chimique des agrégats supportés. Nous avons montré qu’en utilisant un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée comme gabarit, il était possible d’élaborer des réseaux réguliers d’agrégats mono ou bimétalliques en contrôlant indépendamment leur taille et leur composition chimique. Ces réseaux de particules sont obtenus, sous ultravide, par condensation successive des deux métaux (Au, Pd) sur un film ultramince d’alumine nanostructurée. / Metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles supported on oxides become increasingly used as model catalysts. However, their potential toward applications is not fully achieved because of a lack of knowledge of the nanoparticles properties. In order to understand the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysis it is important to elaborate these model catalysts in controlling simultaneously the size, spatial distribution and chemical composition of these particles. Recently, we have shown that by using nanostructured ultrathin alumina film as a template, it was possible to obtain regular arrays of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles with independent control of size and chemical composition. These arrays of clusters are prepared by successive atomic deposition of two metals (Au, Pd), under UHV, on a nanostructured ultrathin alumina film