Oxidação de CO dissolvido em Pt(111) e Pt(110) foi realizada em soluções de ácido sulfúrico e perclórico em eletrodo rotatório em configuração de menisco (HMRDE). O uso de diferentes soluções eletrolíticas revelou a influência do anion na cinética de oxidação. Uma vez oxidada a camada de CO adsorvido, ânions podem adsorver na superfície do eletrodo provocando mudanças na corrente estacionária em potenciais anódicos. Na varredura negativa, os ânions adsorvidos são deslocados da superfície quando a velocidade de oxidação de CO é menor que a velocidade de adsorção de CO. A carga associada a esse deslocamento foi obtida para altas velocidades de varredura, resultado semelhante aos experimentos de deslocamento espécies adsorvidas só que a baixos potenciais. A oxidação de CO dissolvido também foi realizada em superfícies escalonadas pertencente à série Pt(s)[n(111)×(111)] usando a mesma configuração dos experimentos com eletrodos de baixo índice de Miller em solução de ácido sulfúrico. O perfil voltamétrico não foi significantemente modificado pela presença de defeitos (degraus). No entanto, as curvas são deslocadas para potencias negativos com o aumento da densidade de degraus. Assim, na varredura positiva, foi observada uma relação linear do potencial de inicio de oxidação (pico de ignição) e a densidade de degraus para os eletrodos com terraços de largura superior a 5 átomos de Pt. Na varredura negativa, o mesmo comportamento foi observado no potencial onde a reação não é mais favorecida. Neste caso, o eletrodo de Pt(111) mostrou um comportamento distinto das superfícies escalonadas, devido a formação e uma ordenada camada de (bi)sulfato adsorvido O processo de adsorção de ânion foi também observada na varredura negativa sob altas velocidades de varredura, com cargas relacionadas a dessorção do ânion similares a Pt(111). Apenas para o eletrodo com terraços de largura de 3 átomos mostrou valores similares a Pt(110). Todos os resultados foram analisados em função do mecanismo de reação e o possível efeito dos degraus na formação da camada de adsorção de CO. Para finalizar, um modelo para a oxidação de CO dissolvido foi proposto usando para isso equações diferenciais que descrevem o comportamento dos processos envolvidos na reação de oxidação. Através das voltametrias cíclicas obtidas pelas simulações foi possível investigar o papel da camada de adsorção de CO, a variação das constantes de velocidade das reações envolvidas e as condições do transporte de massa na resposta eletroquímica. Os resultados mostraram que a oxidação de CO dissolvido é um processo complexo com um delicado balanço das velocidades de reações envolvidas, e o deslocamento de ânions contribui para a velocidade da reação global. / Bulk CO oxidation experiments have been carried out in sulphuric and perchloric acid solutions on Pt(111) and Pt(110) electrodes under hanging meniscus rotating disk electrode (HMRDE) configuration. The comparison between the two different electrolytic media reveals an important influence of the anion in the oxidation kinetics. Once the adsorbed CO layer has been oxidized after the ignition peak, anions are re-adsorbed on the electrode surface and the presence of these anions affects the stationary currents measured at positive potentials. In the negative-going sweep, adsorbed anions are displaced from the surface when the CO oxidation rate is lower than the corresponding CO adsorption rate. The charge associated to this displacement has been measured at high scan rates and is in agreement with that expected from the CO displacement experiments performed at low potentials. Bulk CO oxidation has been studied on platinum stepped surfaces belonging to the series Pt(s)[n(111)×(111)] using the same configuration for low indice Miller electrodes. The general shape of the voltammograms is not significantly affected by the presence of the steps. However, the curves shift towards negative values as the step density increases. Thus, in the positive going scan, a linear relationship is observed for the dependence of the potential for the ignition peak with the step density for surfaces with terraces wider than 5 atoms. In the negative going scan a similar situation is observed for the potential where the current drops to zero. In this case, Pt(111) electrode deviates from the expected behavior, because the formation of the ordered bisulfate adlayer on the electrode. The anion adsorption process is also observed by recordings the voltammograms at high scan rate. All these results have been analyzed in light of the mechanism, discussing the possible effects of the steps and the defects in the CO adlayer. A simple model for the electrocatalytical carbon monoxide bulk oxidation on a platinum electrode was studied by Mean Field Approximation simulation. Under potentiodynamic conditions, the model enabled the investigation of the role of CO adlayer, rate constants and different mass transport conditions on the macroscopic electrochemical response. The results showed that the CO bulk oxidation is a complex process with a delicate balance between the three reaction rates and the displacement of anions by CO adsorption contributes to the overall reaction rate.

A eletro-oxidação de etanol é certamente um dos principais temas de pesquisa no campo de eletrocatálise devido ao sua potencial utilização em sistemas conversores de energia química em energia elétrica, pois é considerado um combustível renovável e de baixa toxicidade, além de possuir alta densidade energética. Quando afastado do equilíbrio termodinâmico, esse sistema apresenta uma dinâmica complexa devido a continua ativação e desativação do catalisador e na presença de instabilidades, é possível alcançar um maior valor de eficiência termodinâmica quando comparado com o mesmo sistema operando em regime convencional. Além disso, a facilidade de emergência de instabilidades e a simplicidade com que os parâmetros experimentais podem ser controlados fazem com que o estudo deste tipo de sistemas se torne atrativo para a comunidade científica. Nesta tese de doutorado são apresentados os resultados obtidos durante a dinâmica convencional e não-linear da eletro-oxidação de etanol em meio alcalino, combinando os dados obtidas em ambos os processos cinéticos para entender plenamente o efeito dos cátions durante a reação catalítica. Após a análise do impacto de diferentes íons na cinética convencional e complexa, foram estimados os valores máximos das frequências de turnover na presença de diferentes ânions e cátions, utilizando os dados obtidos por métodos eletroanalíticos e, assim, discutir a atividade em uma base mais fundamental. Ainda, a partir dos dados da dinâmica oscilatória, foi possível realizar uma avaliação indireta da dissipação química dos sistemas estudados empregando as curvas pseudo-estacionárias. Por fim foi realizada a caracterização do comportamento oscilatório da eletro-oxidação de etanol em meio alcalino em superfícies monocristalinas de platina, relacionando as variações no perfil oscilatório com os defeitos presentes nos planos cristalográficos. / The electro-oxidation of ethanol is certainly one of the main research topics in the field of electrocatalysis due to its potential use in converting chemical energy into electrical energy, since it is considered a renewable fuel with low toxicity and high energy density. When it is far from the thermodynamic equilibrium, this system presents a complex dynamic due to the continuous activation and deactivation of the catalyst and with the emergence of instabilities it is possible to achieve a higher thermodynamic efficiency when compared to the same system operating in conventional regime. In addition, the facility in which instabilities emerge and the simplicity which the experimental parameters can be controlled make the study of such systems attractive to the scientific community. In this thesis the results obtained during the conventional and non-linear dynamics of the electro-oxidation of ethanol in alkaline media are presented, combining the data obtained in both kinetic processes to fully understand the effect of the cations during the catalytic reaction. Once the impact of different ions on conventional and complex kinetics was analyzed, the maximum values of the turnover frequencies in the presence of different anions and cations were estimated using the data obtained by electroanalytical methods and, with the results in hand it was possible to discuss the activity on a more fundamental basis . Also, from the data of the oscillatory dynamics, it was possible to perform an indirect evaluation of the chemical dissipation of the systems studied using the pseudo-stationary curves. Finally, the characterization of the oscillatory behavior of the electro-oxidation of ethanol in alkaline medium on platinum single-crystalline surfaces was performed, connecting the disparities in the oscillatory profile with the defects presented in each crystallographic planes.

Les pérovskites hybrides halogénées sont une nouvelle classe de semi-conducteurs polyvalents se proposant d'allier hautes performances, bas coût et processabilité en vue d'applications variées comme le photovoltaïque ou l'émission de lumière. Leur développement à grande échelle se heurte cependant à leur faible stabilité dans les dispositifs. Depuis quelques années, des groupes de chercheurs se sont particulièrement intéressés aux pérovskites hybrides à 2 dimensions (2D). Cette sous-catégorie de pérovskite est bien plus stable et offre une meilleure flexibilité chimique que leurs cousines 3D. Cependant, leurs performances restent limitées par la faible maitrise des méthodes de synthèses. En outre, de nombreux efforts sont encore à faire pour la compréhension de leurs propriétés intrinsèques, notamment via l'étude de monocristaux. Nous avons mis au point une méthode de synthèse par diffusion d’anti-solvant (AVC) permettant de synthétiser des monocristaux de pérovskites 2D telles que (PEA)2PbI4 et (PEA)2(MA)Pb2I7. Cette méthode a été de plus adaptée pour la synthèse de couches minces monocristallines. L’incorporation de ces couches minces dans des dispositifs pourrait permettre en théorie de se rapprocher des performances intrinsèques du matériau. Nous avons de plus synthétisé des nouvelles pérovskites 2D fonctionnalisées par des molécules de luminophore en tant que partie organique. L’étude spectroscopique de ces pérovskites met en évidence des probables transferts de charge entre les deux parties organique et inorganique. Ce type de pérovskite pourrait trouver un intérêt dans le photovoltaïque car il permettrait de séparer l’exciton fortement lié dans les pérovskites 2D. / Hybrid halide perovskites are new class of high-end semiconductors that combine high performances, low cost and low temperature proccessability for different application such as photovoltaics or light-emitting devices. Their large-scale commercialization is however hindered by their poor stability. For a few years, many groups started to grow interest in 2-dimensional (2D) hybrid perovskites. This subclass of perovskite is much more stable than their 3D counterparts, and offers more chemical flexibility. Yet their performances are limited by the bad quality of the spin-coated layers. Moreover an increase in the understanding of their intrinsic properties is necessary. This last point could be solved by the study of single crystals. We developped therefore a new anti-solvant, vapor-assisted crystallization (AVC) method for the growth of (PEA)2PbI4 and (PEA)2(MA)Pb2I7. Furthermore, a capped AVC process (AVCC) was developped for the growth of 2D perovskites single crystalline thin films. These films might help getting closer to the intrinsic limits of the material. We also synthesized new 2D luminophore-functionalized perovskite systems. The spectroscopic studies of this material highlighted a possible charge transfer between the two moities of the perovskite. This kind of perovskite could help improving the photovoltaic performances of 2D perovskite thanks to the splitting of the strongly bounded exciton.

La presente tesis abarca estudios fundamentales para la electrocatálisis en la oxidación de etanol y ácido fórmico en nanopartículas de platino orientadas preferencialmente y poliorientadas soportadas en carbón. El objetivo principal en estas investigaciones es el de completar la oxidación hasta el dióxido de carbono sin formar veneno durante el transcurso de la reacción. Partiendo del etanol, la molécula principalmente estudiada, se han realizado multitud de trabajos investigando diferentes parámetros que pueden afectar a su reactividad, como es el caso de la estructura superficial del catalizador de platino, el efecto de cambiar el pH de trabajo y la importancia de la correcta dispersión del depósito de nanopartículas. Por último, se estudia el cambio en la catálisis de la oxidación de ácido fórmico y etanol al modificar la superficie de las nanopartículas de platino con un átomo diferente.

We present a comprehensive comparison of electrical properties of differently fabricated high quality Schottky contacts on ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition. Thermally evaporated Pd/ZnO Schottky contacts exhibit ideality factors as low as 1.06 due to their high lateral homogeneity. The effective Richardson constant determined using these homogeneous contacts is (7.7±4.8)A cm−2 K−2 close to the theoretical value of 32 A cm−2 K−2. However, their rectification ratio is at most five orders of magnitude due to their comparably small barrier height (≈0.7eV). The largest effective barrier height (1.11 eV) and rectification ratio(7×1010) was obtained for reactively sputtered PdOx/ZnO Schottky contacts. Eclipse pulsed laser deposited IrOx/ZnO Schottky contacts were found to combine very good lateral homogeneity (n≈1.1), with a reasonably large barrier height (0.96 eV) and large rectification ratio (≈9 orders of magnitude). Our results for differently fabricated Schottky contacts suggest that the barrier formation is highly dependent on the presence of oxygen vacancies close to the interface and the different compensation mechanisms involved.

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<p> In this thesis the results of optical and scanning electron microscopic investigations of the evaporation morphology of zinc single crystals are presented. Dislocation etch pits developed on (0001) zinc cleavage surfaces. A mechanism is proposed to account for enhanced evaporation at decorated dislocations. The observation of macroledges on pit faces is reported and attributed to impurity-induced bunching of monatomic ledges, the impurities having out-diffused from the bulk. A proposed model for evaporation of faceted surfaces is used to interpret the ledge morphology which developed when samples were evaporated in an oxygen environment. Finally, a correlation between the effects of bulk impurities and gaseous impurities on ledge morphology is demonstrated.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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No description available.

We investigated the magnetic properties of hydrogen-plasma-treated ZnO single crystals by using superconducting quantum interferometer device magnetometry. In agreement with the expected hydrogen penetration depth, we found that ferromagnetic behavior is present in the first 20 nm of the H-treated surface of ZnO with magnetization at saturation up to 6 emu g−1 at 300K and a Curie temperature of Tc & 400 K. In the ferromagnetic samples, a hydrogen concentration of a few atomic per cent in the first 20 nm of the surface layer was determined by nuclear reaction analysis. The saturation magnetization of H-treated ZnO increases with the concentration of hydrogen.