Segmental chain dynamics in polymer blends is a very important topic, not only from a fundamental point of view but also from technological applications. Because of the difficulties in the commercialization of new polymers, industries have turned increasingly towards blending of polymers to optimise their end use (mechanical, rheological) properties. The design of tailor-made materials would be enormously facilitated by the understanding of the blending phenomena at a molecular level. The key question to address is to understand the dynamics of each component of the blend modified by blending? The thesis has systematically studied the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the chain dynamics, demixing temperature, structural properties and evolution of morphology in a classical miscible polymer blend system (PVDF/PMMA). The thesis comprises of six chapters, Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter that outlines the fundamentals of polymer blends, crystallisation in polymer blends and the basics of dielectric spectroscopy. As one of the rationales of this work is to systematic study whether phase separated in these blends can be used as a tool to develop membrane for water purification. This chapter also gives an overview of the reported studies of ultrafiltration membrane fabrication, factors affecting membrane morphology and flux. In Chapter 2, the materials and methodology used to carry out experiments and the experimental procedures are discussed. Chapter 3 discusses the effect of concentration of PMMA and amine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the crystallisation induced phase separation using FTIR, XRD, POM and shear rheology. Electron microscopy and selective etching confirmed the localisation of MWNTs in the PVDF phase of the blends. Blends with MWNTs facilitated in heterogeneous nucleation manifesting in an increase in crystallisation temperature. The crystallisation induced phase separation in PVDF/PMMA blends was observed to influence the interconnected network of MWNTs in the blends. Chapter 4 discuss the effect of concentration of PMMA and MWNTs on the miscibility and the segmental relaxations was probed in situ by DSC and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). The dynamic heterogeneity in the blends as manifested by the presence of an extra relaxation at a higher frequency at or below the crystallisation induced phase separation temperature was also discussed. We found that PVDF/PMMA blend (PVDF ≥ 80 wt%) exhibits three distinct relaxations; αc corresponding to crystalline PVDF, αβ segmental relaxation of PMMA and αm of amorphous miscibility whereas all relaxations overlap and constitute a single broad relaxation in PVDF/PMMA blend (PVDF ≤ 70 wt%). This confirms that there is a certain composition width in this blend wherein three distinct relaxations can be traced. This could due to many reasons like the width of crystal-amorphous interphase in the crystal lamellae, crystal size and morphology is strongly contingent on the concentration of PMMA. Relaxations are not very distinct in presence of MWNTs due to defective spherulites that shift the relaxations towards a higher frequency. Chapter 5 has attempted to tune the microporous morphology of PVDF membranes using crystallisation induced phase separation in PVDF/PMMA blends. As PVDF/PMMA is a melt-miscible blend, the samples were allowed to crystallise and the amorphous PMMA phase, which isolates in the interlamellar or inter-spherulitic regions in the blends, was etched out to generate microporous structures. The pore sizes can be tuned by varying the PMMA concentration in the blends. We observed that 60/40 PVDF/PMMA blends showed larger pores as compared to 90/10 PVDF/PMMA blends. We further modified PVDF membranes by sputtering silver on the surface. The bacterial cell viability was distinctly suppressed (99 %) in silver sputtered membranes. The ICP analysis suggests that slow Ag+ ions release from the sputtered membrane surface assisted in developing antibacterial surface. Our findings open new avenues in designing water filtration membranes and also help in understanding the crystallisation kinetics for tuning pore size in membranes. Chapter 6 summarises the important results of this work. MWNTs act as hetero nucleating agent and specifically interact with PVDF thereby influences the dynamics of PVDF chains. MWNTs can also restrict the amorphous segmental mobility and can influence the intermolecular cooperativity and coupling. The crystallisation induced phase separation in various blends can result in various crystalline morphologies depending on the PVDF concentration. By selectively etching PMMA from the phase-separated blends, microporous morphology can be generated

Une voie originale de recyclage des films de PET / PVDC est proposée par leur transformation chimique avec des alcoxydes de titane par procédé d'extrusion réactive à l'état solide. Les réactions d'échanges entre ces composés organo-métalliques et le PET ont été mises en oeuvre à des températures entre 250 et 280° C à l'échelle du laboratoire et ont permis de segmenter les chaînes de PET, en de petits oligomères avec des températures de fusion basses, sur des temps de réaction très courts de l'ordre de quelques minutes. Ces oligomères peuvent être post-fonctionnalisés avec des diols. Le transfert technologique de ces réactions d'échange à l'échelle de l'extrudeuse bi-vis pilote a été optimisé afin de permettre la transformation des films de PET / PVDC à des températures comprises entre 160 et 180 °C pour ne pas dégrader le PVDC. Les alcoxydes de titane permettent de stabiliser les dégagements d'acide chlorhydrique (HCl) lors de la dégradation thermique de ce polymère halogéné. La revalorisation de ces oligomères dans différents systèmes polyuréthanes a ensuite été étudiée et a démontré la compatibilité des oligomères de PET avec ces matrices avec l'amélioration de certaines propriétés physiques et mécaniques / An original way for recycling PET / PVDC films is proposed by their chemical transformation with titanium alkoxydes by reactive extrusion process in the solid state. The exchange reactions between these organo-metallic species and the PET were carried out at temperatures between 250 and 280°C at laboratory scale and they have allowed to shorten the PET's chains, in short oligomers with low melting temperatures, in a range of reaction time of few minutes. These oligomers could be post-functionalized with diols. The technologic transfert of these exchange reactions to the twin screw extruder scale was optimized in order to transform PET / PVDC films at temperatures between 130 and 180°c without degrading the PVDC. The titanium alkoxydes allow to stabilize the release of hydrochloric acid (HCl) during thermal degradation of this halogenated polymer. The reuse of these oligomers into different polyurethane systems were then studied and demonstrated the compatibility of PET oligomers with these matrix with improvements of some physical and mechanical properties

Ceramics and polymer-ceramic composites associated with high dielectric constants are of both scientific and industrial interest as these could be used in devices such as capacitors, resonators and filters. High dielectric constant facilitates smaller capacitive components, thus offering the opportunity to miniaturize the electronic devices. Hence there is a continued interest on high dielectric constant materials over a wide range of temperatures. Recently, CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramic which has centro-symmetric body centered cubic structure has attracted considerable attention due to its large dielectric constant (ε ~104-105) which is nearly independent of frequency (upto 10 MHz) and low thermal coefficient of permittivity (TCK) over 100-600K temperature range. Apart from the high dielectric ceramics, high dielectric polymer-ceramic composites have also become promising materials for capacitor applications. By combining the advantages of high dielectric ceramics and low leakage behaviour of polymers, one can fabricate new hybrid materials with high dielectric constants, and high breakdown field to achieve high volume efficiency and energy storage density for capacitor applications. The CCTO polycrystalline powders were generally prepared by the conventional solid-solid reaction route with CaCO3, TiO2 and CuO as the starting materials. This method of preparation often requires high temperatures and longer durations. To overcome these difficulties, in the present investigations, an attempt has been made to synthesize CCTO by adopting microwave assisted heating technique and wet chemical synthesis routes. Also the CCTO crystallites (size varying from nano to micrometers) incorporated in the Polyvinyliden fluoride (PVDF) and Polyaniline (PANI) matrix and several composites with high dielectric constants were fabricated and investigated. Further, the high dielectric constant glasses in the system (100-x)TeO2-xCaCu3Ti4O12, (x=0.5 to 3) were fabricated by the conventional melt-quenching technique and their structural and dielectric properties were studied. The results obtained pertaining to these aforementioned investigations are classified as follows. Chapter 1 is intended to give basic information pertaining to the dielectrics and various mechanisms associated with high dielectric constants. Brief exposure to the high dielectric constant materials is also given. The structural aspects of CCTO, various synthetic routes adopted for the synthesis and the origin of the dielectric anomaly in CCTO are elaborated. In addition, basic information about the high dielectric polymer-ceramic composites and glasses are provided. In chapter 2 the various experimental techniques that were employed to synthesize and characterize the materials under investigation were discussed. Chapter 3 reports the synthesis and characterization of CaCu3Ti4O12, (CCTO) powders by microwave assisted heating at 2.45 GHz, 1.1kW. The processing and sintering were carried out at different temperatures for varied durations. The optimum calcination temperature using microwave heating was found to be 950oC for 20 minutes to obtain cubic CCTO powders. This is found to be fast and energy efficient as compared to that of the conventional methods. The structure, morphology and dielectric properties of the CCTO ceramic processed by microwave assisted heating were studied via X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance analyser. These studies revealed that, the microwave sintered (MS) samples were less porous than that of the conventional ones. Relative density of about 95% was achieved for the MS pellets (1000oC/60min) while for the conventional sintered (CS) pellets (1100oC/2h) it was only 91%. The dielectric constants for the microwave sintered (1000oC/60min) ceramics were found to vary from 11000 to 6950 in the 100 Hz to 100 kHz frequency range. The presence of larger grains (6-10μm) in the MS samples contributed to the higher dielectric constants. Chapter 4 deals with the synthesis of complex oxalate precursor, CaCu3(TiO)4(C2O4)8 • 9H2O, by the wet chemical route. The various trials and the different reaction schemes involved for the preparation of complex oxalate precursor were highlighted. The oxalate precipitate thus obtained was characterized by the wet chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction, FTIR absorption and TG/DTA analyses. The complex oxalate precursor, CaCu3(TiO)4(C2O4 )8.9H2O was subjected to thermal oxidative decomposition and the products of thermal decomposition were investigated employing XRD,TGA, DTA and FTIR techniques. Nanocrystallites of CaCu3Ti4O12 with the size varying from 30-200 nm were obtained at a temperature as low as 680oC. The nanocrystallites of CaCu3Ti4O12 were characterized using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and optical reflectance techniques. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern with the zone axis [012] and spot pattern in electron diffraction (ED) indicate their single-crystalline nature. The optical reflectance and ESR spectra indicate that the Cu (II) coordination changes from distorted octahedra to nearly flattened tetrahedra (squashed) to square planar geometry with increasing heat treatment temperature. The powders derived from the oxalate precursor have excellent sinterability resulting in high density ceramics which exhibited giant dielectric constants upto 40,000 (1 kHz) at 25oC, accompanied by low dielectric loss < 0.07. The effect of calcium content on the dielectric properties of CaxCu3Ti4O12 (x=0.90, 0.97, 1.0, 1.1 and 1.15) derived from the oxalate route was described in Chapter 5. The structural, morphological and dielectric properties of the ceramics were studied using X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope along with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX), and Impedance analyzer. The X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for the x= 0.97, 1.0 and 1.1 ceramics could be indexed to a body– centered cubic perovskite related structure associated with the space group Im3. The microstructural studies revealed that the grains are surrounded by exfoliated sheets of Cu-rich phase. The microstructure that is evolved for the Ca0.97 ceramic more or less resembles that of the Ca1.0 ceramic, but the density of such exfoliated sheets of cu-rich phase is lesser for the Ca0.97 ceramic and none for Ca1.1 ceramic. The sintered pellet (x=0.97) was ground and thinned to the required thickness (~ 20nm) and analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the ceramics exhibited non-linear behaviour. The dielectric properties of these suggest that the sample corresponding to the composition x=0.97, has a reduced dielectric loss while retaining its high dielectric constant. Chapter 6 illustrates the results concerning the fabrication and characterization of nanocrystal composites of Polyaniline (PANI) and CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO). These were prepared using a simple procedure involving in-situ polymerization of aniline in dil. HCl. The PANI and the PANI-CCTO composites were subjected to X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Thermo gravimetric, Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopic analyses. The FTIR spectra recorded for the composites was similar to that of pure PANI unlike in the case of X-ray diffraction wherein the characteristics of both PANI and CCTO were reflected. The TGA in essence indicated the composites to have better thermal stability than that of pure PANI. The composite corresponding to 50%CCTO-50%PANI exhibited higher dielectric constant (4.6x106 @100Hz). The presence of the nano crystallites of CCTO embedded in the nanofibers of PANI matrix was established by TEM. The AC conductivity increased slightly upto 2kHz as the CCTO content increased in the PANI which was attributed to the polarization of the charge carriers. The value of dielectric constant obtained was higher than that of the other PANI based composites reported in the literature. Chapter 7 deals with the fabrication and characterization of diphasic Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-CCTO composite. The CCTO crystallites (size varying from nano to micrometers) incorporated in the Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and composites with varying CCTO content were fabricated. The structural, morphological and dielectric properties of the composites were studied using X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) and Impedance analyzer. The room temperature dielectric constant as high as 95 at 100Hz has been realized for the composite with 0.55 Vol.fraction of CCTO (micro sized crystallites), which has increased to about 190 at 150oC. Whereas, the PVDF/CCTO nanocrystal composite with 0.13Vol.fraction of CCTO has exhibited higher room temperature dielectric constant (90 at 100Hz). The PVDF/CCTO nanocrystal composite was further investigated for the breakdown strength and electric modulus. The breakdown strength plotted against the dielectric constant evidenced an inverse relationship of breakdown voltage with the dielectric constant. The relaxation processes associated with these composites were attributed to the interfacial polarization or Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) effect. Various theoretical models were employed to rationalize the dielectric behavior of these composites. The fabrication and characterization details of optically clear colored glasses in the system (100-x)TeO2-xCaCu3Ti4O12, (x=0.5 to 3 mol%) are reported in Chapter 8. The color varies from olive green to brown as the CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) content increased in TeO2 matrix. The X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric analyses that were carried out on the as-quenched samples confirmed their amorphous and glassy nature respectively. The optical transmittance of the glasses exhibited typical band-pass filter characteristics. The dielectric constant and loss in the 100 Hz-1MHz frequency range were monitored as a function of temperature (323K673K). The dielectric constant and the loss increased as the CCTO content increased in TeO2 at all the frequencies and temperatures under study. Further, the dielectric constant and the loss were found to be frequency independent in the 323-473 K temperature range. The value obtained for the loss at 1MHz was 0.0019 which was typical of low loss materials, and exhibited near constant loss (NCL) contribution to the ac conductivity in the 100Hz-1MHz frequency range. The electrical relaxation was rationalized using the electrical modulus formalism. These glasses are found to be more stable (a feature which may be of considerable interest) as substrates for high frequency circuit elements in conventional semiconductor industries. Thesis ends with summary and conclusions, though each chapter is provided with conclusions and complete list of references.

Mechanical vibrations in large structures such as buildings, bridges, dams and critical frequencies in large machinery generally have low frequencies (100Hz-1000Hz). To monitor large areas of such structures we need huge network of low cost, easily manufacturable, self-powered and stand-alone vibration spectrum sensors. The sensors should also consume very little power during their overall operation cycle and have moderately high frequency resoultion. The thesis provides mathematical analysis, design and development of stand-alone, low frequency vibration spectrum analyzer .A mechanically stretched polymer piezoelectric membrane, which has a fixed length and tension, can act as a single frequency detector due to its unique resonant frequency. Stretching multiple ribbons of diffferent lengths and tensions, a vibration spectrum analyzer, which gives the Fourier frequency components present in an arbitrary mechanical input vibration, can be designed. The thesis presents a detailed description of experiments to evaluate a low frequency vibration spectrum analyzer system that accepts an incoming input vibration and directly provides the spectrum as output. Polymer piezoelectric materials being easily manufacturable these sensors can be deployed in wide area sensor networks that monitor large structures. The thesis also shows design of a vibration energy harvesting system based on the concept of harvesting energy at low frequencies. The need for developing such an energy harvesting system arises from the necessity of making the vibration sensor, self-powered. Multiple experimental tests were performed before developing a prototype vibration energy harvesting circuit.

Le caoutchouc naturel (NR) et le caoutchouc époxydé (ENR) ont constitué la base de cette étude consacrée à l’étude des composites et mélanges de polymères. La présence du groupe époxyde a conduit à une amélioration des propriétés mécaniques de ces formulations en termes de module et de la résistance à la traction. De plus, l’utilisation de la spectroscopie diélectrique a révélé que les ENRs présentent une conductivité plus élevée que le NR à basse fréquence et à haute température. En particulier, le caoutchouc naturel époxidé contenant 50 mol% de groupes époxyde ENR-50 présente des conductivités et permittivités les plus élevées. Par conséquent, ce dernier a été choisi pour préparer des composites polymères en incorporant des particules de titanate de barium (BT) et de noir de carbone (CB). Les résultats montrent que la permittivité et conductivité des composites élaborés augmentent avec le taux d'incorporation de ces charges. Par exemple, les composites BT/ENR-50 atteignent une permittivité élevée 48.7 pour 50 vol% de BT. De plus, les composites CB/ENR-50 présentent un seuil de percolation de 6.3 vol% de CB. Enfin les mélanges à base de poly(fluorure de vinylidène) (PVDF) et d’ENR ont été étudiés. Il a été observé que la morphologie de ces mélanges dépend du degré d’époxydation du caoutchouc naturel et bien entendu de la composition du mélange. Une morphologie co-continue peut être observée dans l’intervalle 40 et 60% en masse d’ENR-50. En outre, les résultats issus d’analyses dynamiques mécanique et diélectrique montrent que ces mélanges présentent une miscibilité partielle. Enfin, des composites à base de ces mélanges binaires PVDF/ENR- 50 contenant BT ont été préparés. L’étude des morphologies a révélé que les particules de BT étaient dispersées dans la phase d’ENR-50 pour le mélange classique. Cependant, les particules de BT sont localisées à l'interface et dans la phase PVDF pour le mélange réticulé dynamiquement. En termes de propriétés, la permittivité plus élevée est obtenue pour le mélange PVDF/ENR 50 (80/20) ayant été réticulé dynamiquement / Natural rubber (NR) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) were chosen to study the composites and blends of polymers. The presence of epoxide group caused to improve the mechanical properties in terms of modulus and tensile strength. Furthermore, dielectric spectroscopy revealed that ENR showed conductivity process at low frequency and high temperature. Epoxidized natural rubber containing 50 mol% of epoxide group or ENR-50 exhibited the highest dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity. Therefore, ENR-50 was then selected to prepare polymer composite filled with barium titanate (BT) and carbon black (CB) particles. The permittivity and conductivity of the composites increased with the volume content of the fillers. The BT/ENR-50 composites reached a high permittivity of 4 8 . 7 for addition of 50 vol% BT. Meanwhile, CB/ENR-50 composite reached percolation threshold at 6. 3 vol% of CB. The phase development and miscibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/epoxidixed natural rubber (ENR) blends were then investigated. It was also found that phase structure depended on epoxidation level and blend compositions. The blend exhibited a co-continuous phase morphology in the region of 40 to 60 wt% of ENR-50. Furthermore, the results from dynamic mechanical and dielectric analysis revealed that these blends present a partial miscibility. Finally, the composites based on binary blends of PVDF/ENR-50 containing BT were prepared. The study of the morphologies revealed that BT was dispersed in ENR-50 phase in the case of simple blend. However, the addition of BT after dynamic vulcanization induced localization of BT in PVDF phase and at interface. The highest increment of permittivity can be observed for the composite based on dynamically cured PVDF/ENR-50 (80/20) blend / ศึกษาอิทธิพลของโครงสร้างโมกุลยางธรรมชาติ (NR) และยางธรรมชาติอิพอกไซด์ (ENR) ต่อสมบัติ พบว่าการมีหมู่อิพอกไซด์อยู่ในยาง ENR ทำให้มีการปรับปรุงสมบัติเชิงกล เช่น มอดุลัสและความต้านทานต่อแรงดึง นอกจากนี้สมบัติไดอิเล็กทริกได้แสดงให้เห็นถึงการนำ ไฟฟ้าที่ความถี่ต่ำและอุณหภูมิสูง ยางที่มีหมู่อิพอกไซด์ 50 โมล% (ENR-50) มีค่าการนำไฟฟ้า และค่า permittivity สูงที่สุด ดังนั้นจึงนำยาง ENR-50 ไปใช้ในการเตรียมคอมพอสิตที่ใช้แบเรียม ไททาเนตและเขม่าดำเป็นตัวเติม ซึ่งพบว่าค่า permittivity และค่าการนำไฟฟ้าสูงขึ้นตาม ปริมาณตัวเติมที่ใส่ลงไป ที่ปริมาณ 50%โดยปริมาตรของแบเรียมไททาเนตในยางให้ค่า permittivity สูงถึง 48.7 ในขณะเดียวกันก็พบว่าการเตรียม ENR-50 คอมพอสิตที่ใช้เขม่าดำมี percolation threshold ที่ 6.3 vol% ของเขม่าดำ สำหรับการศึกษาการเปลี่ยนแปลงของสัณฐาน วิทยาและความเข้ากันได้ของพอลิเมอร์เบลนด์ระหว่างพอลิไวนิลลิดีนฟลูออไรด์ (PVDF) กับยาง ENR พบว่า สัณฐานวิทยาของพอลิเมอร์ที่เตรียมได้ขึ้นอยู่กับปริมาณหมู่อิพอกไซด์ในยาง ENR และอัตราส่วนการเบลนด์ อัตราส่วนการเบลนด์ในช่วง 40 ถึง 60% โดยน้ำหนักของยาง ENR- 50 ให้ลักษณะสัณฐานวิทยาแบบวัฏภาคร่วม (co-continuous) นอกจากนี้ผลการทดสอบจาก สมบัติพลวัตเชิงกลและสมบัติไดอิเล็กทริกแสดงให้เห็นถึงความเข้ากันได้บางส่วน (partial miscibility) ท้ายที่สุดนี้ได้เตรียมคอมพอสิตจากพอลิเมอร์เบลนด์ที่เติมแบเรียมไททาเนต สัณฐานวิทยาของคอมโพสิทที่เตรียมได้นั้น พบว่าแบเรียมไททาเนตกระจายตัวในเฟสยางเป็น หลัก อย่างไรก็ตามการเติมแบเรียมไททาเนตหลังจากการวัลคาไนซ์แบบไดนามิกส์ทำให้ แบเรียมไททาเนตกระจายตัวในเฟสพอลิไวนิลลิดีนฟลูออไรด์ (PVDF) และที่ผิวประจัญ (interface) นอกจากนี้คอมพอสิตที่เตรียมจากเทอร์โมพลาสติกวัลคาไนซ์ของ PVDF/ENR 50 ที่ อัตราส่วนการเบลนด์ที่ 80/20 ให้ค่า permittivity ที่สูง

Ce travail de thèse porte sur la compréhension du rôle polyvalent des liquides ioniques (LIs) phosphonium comme agents de nanostructuration et interfaciaux pour la matrice polymère fluorée poly(fluorure de vinylidène-chlorotrifluoroéthylène) (P(VDF-CTFE)). Dans un premier temps, deux LIs phosphonium avec des fonctionnalités différentes générant un encombrement stérique et des fonctions dipolaire additionnelles sont tout d'abord incorporés dans la matrice P(VDF-CTFE) pour préparer des films de polymère additives. La structure de la phase cristalline, la morphologie issue de la dispersion et le comportement de cristallisation sont finement caractérisés dans le but de fournir une compréhension fuie et complète du rôle joué par le LI sur la nanostructuration. Dans un second temps, le rôle d’agent interfacial du LI est étudié avec un LI phosphonium fluoré comprenant un cation combinant trois phényles et une chaîne fluorée courte.Ce LI est utilise pour modifier la surface de l'oxyde de graphène (GO) et de l'oxyde de graphène réduit (rGO) afin de rendre ces nanocharges fonctionnelles et les incorporer dans la matrice P(VDF-CTFE). Ainsi, des films composites de P(VDF-CTFE)/graphène avec différentes teneurs en nanocharges sont préparés et une caractérisation fuie de la structure et des propriétés est entreprise afin de mieux comprendre les mécanisme d’interaction interfaciale et leurs influences sur les films composites, tels que la structure de la phase cristalline, le comportement de cristallisation, la relaxation des chaînes, la morphologie et les propriétés diélectriques finales. / This thesis work deals with an understanding of the versatile roles of phosphonium ionic liquids (ILs) as nanostructuration and interfacial agents for the fluorinated polymer matrix, i.e.,poly(vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-CTFE)). In this context, two phosphonium ILs with different functionalities in steric hindrance and extra dipolar groups are firstly incorporated in P(VDF-CTFE) matrix to prepare polymer films. The crystalline phase structure, dispersion morphology and crystallization behavior are finely characterized with the goal of providing a full and deep understanding of the versatile and tunable nanostructuration effect of phosphonium ILs. Subsequently, in order to elucidate the mechanism of interfacial influence of IL, a fluorinated phosphonium IL with a cation structure combining three phenyls and a short fluorinated chain is added on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), making them as functional nanofillers to be incorporated into P(VDF-CTFE) matrix. Thus,P(VDF-CTFE)/graphene composite films with different filler contents are prepared in order to investigate the mechanism of interfacial interaction and its influence on the composite films, such as crystalline phase structure, crystallization behavior, chain segmental relaxation behavior, dispersion morphology and the final dielectric properties.

Materials with appropriate combinations of multifunctional properties (strength, toughness, electrical conductivity and piezoelectricity) together with desired biocompatibility are promising candidates for biomedical applications. Apart from these material properties, recent studies have shown the efficacy of electric field in altering cell functionality in order to elicit various cell responses, like proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis (programmed cell death) on conducting substrates in vitro. In the above perspective, the current work demonstrates how CaTiO3 (CT) addition to Hydroxyapatite (HA) can be utilised to obtain an attractive combination of long crack fracture toughness (up to 1.7 MPa.m1/2 measured using single edge V-notch beam technique) and a flexural strength of 155 MPa in addition to moderate electrical conductivity. The enhancement of fracture toughness in HA-CT composites has been explained based on the extensive characterization of twinned microstructure in CT along with the use of theoretical models for predicting the enhancement of toughening through crack tip tilt and twist mechanisms. Subsequent in vitro studies on HA-CT composites with human Mesenchymal Stem cells (hMSCs) in the presence of electric field has shown enhanced differentiation towards bone like cells (osteogenic lineage) as evaluated by ALP activity, Collagen content and gene expression analyses through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at the end of two weeks. he extracellular matrix mineralization analysis at the end of 4 weeks of hMSC culture further substantiated the efficacy of electric field as a biochemical cue that can influence the stem cell fate processes on conducting substrates. The electric field stimulation strategy was also implemented in in vitro studies with C2C12 mouse myoblast (muscle) cells on elastically compliant poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF)-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) composite substrates. PVDF is a piezoelectric polymer and the addition of MWNTs makes the composite electrically conducting. Upon, electric field stimulation of C2C12 mouse myoblast cells on these composites, has been observed that in a narrow window of electric field parameters, the cell viability was enhanced along with excellent cell alignment and cell-cell contact indicating a potential application of PVDF-based materials in the muscle cell regeneration. In an effort to rationalise such experimental observations, a theoretical model is proposed to explain the development of bioelectric stress field induced cell shape stability and deformation. A single cell is modelled as a double layered membrane separating the culture medium and the cytoplasm with different dielectric properties. This system is linearized by invoking Debye-Huckel approximation of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. With appropriate boundary conditions, the system is solved to obtain intracellular and extracellular Maxwell stress as a function of multiple parameters like cell size, intracellular and extracellular permittivity and electric field strength. Based on the stresses, we predict shape changes of cell membrane by approximating the deformation amplitude under the influence of electric field. Apart from this, the shear stress on the membrane has been used to determine the critical electric field required to induce membrane breakdown. The analysis is conducted for a cell in suspension/on a conducting substrate and on an insulating substrate to illustrate the effect of substrate properties on cell response under the influence of external electric field.

Les travaux réalisés portent sur la synthèse de nanoparticules de PVDF à l’aide de la polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée (PRC) par transfert de chaîne réversible par addition-fragmentation (RAFT) en émulsion. Dans un premier temps, un méthoxy poly(éthylène glycol) commercial porteur d’une fonction hydroxyle (PEG-OH) a été employé pour la stabilisation des particules de PVDF. Cette stabilisation est assurée par des réactions de transfert irréversible opérant le long des chaînes de PEG conduisant à la formation in situ d’un stabilisant de type copolymère greffé. Par la suite, un PEG modifié chimiquement à partir du PEG-OH, portant à son extrémité de chaîne une fonction xanthate (macroRAFT, PEG-X), réactive et réactivable, a été utilisé. Les expériences réalisées en présence de ce macroRAFT ont démontré une forte implication de l’extrémité xanthate dans le procédé de polymérisation en émulsion du VDF. En effet, des particules stables de l’ordre de 70 nm de diamètre sont obtenues, alors que l’utilisation de PEG-OH conduit à des tailles beaucoup plus importantes (200 nm). Cette tendance est confirmée lors de l’étude de l’impact de divers paramètres comme la masse molaire de la chaîne PEG ou encore la quantité d’amorceur. Des analyses complémentaires (tension de surface et calorimétrie différentielle à balayage) ont permis de comparer le taux d’ancrage de PEG-X et de PEG-OH. Les quantités en macroRAFT ont ensuite été augmentées dans le but d’obtenir des particules composées de copolymères à blocs. Des analyses RMN approfondies ont été menées pour identifier les espèces créées lors de la polymérisation en émulsion du VDF lorsque PEG-OH et PEG-X sont utilisés en tant que stabilisant. Par comparaison, des PEG portant des fonctions réactives de types (méth)acrylate et thiol ont également été employés comme stabilisant et leurs efficacités comparées à celles de PEG-OH et de PEG-X. Par ailleurs, d’autres architectures à base de PEG ont été évaluées en utilisant un macroRAFT difonctionnel (X-PEG-X) et un polymère greffé (PPEGA-X). Enfin, des latex de PVDF ont été synthétisés en présence de macroRAFT de type poly(acide (méth)acrylique) obtenus par polymérisation RAFT de l’acide acrylique ou méthacrylique en présence d’un trithiocarbonate ou d’un xanthate. Comme précédemment, plusieurs paramètres ont été variés comme la masse molaire des chaînes macromoléculaires, la quantité d’amorceur et la quantité de macroRAFT. Ces études ont encore une fois démontré la forte implication des extrémités RAFT dans la stabilisation des particules de PVDF / This work describes the synthesis of self-stabilized PVDF particles by combining the advantages of emulsion polymerization with those of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) using the RAFT process. First, a commercial methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) carrying a hydroxyl function (PEG-OH) was used for the stabilization of PVDF particles. The stabilization is provided by irreversible transfer reactions occurring along the PEG-OH chains leading to the formation of a grafted copolymer stabilizer in situ. This PEG-OH was then chain-end functionalized to introduce a xanthate group (macroRAFT, PEG-X). The experiments carried out in the presence of this macroRAFT demonstrated a strong implication of the xanthate chain-end in the VDF emulsion polymerization process. Indeed, particle sizes of 200 nm and 70 nm were obtained in the presence of PEG-OH and PEG-X, respectively. This trend was confirmed during the study of the impact of various parameters such as the molar mass of the PEG chain or the initiator amount. Additional analyses (surface tension measurement and differential scanning calorimetry) allowed to compare the anchoring efficiency of PEG-X and PEG-OH. The macroRAFT amount was then increased to form particles composed of block copolymer. In-depth NMR analyses were then conducted to identify the species created during the VDF emulsion polymerization process in the presence of PEG-OH and PEG-X. In comparison, PEGs carrying reactive functions such as (meth)acrylate and thiol were used as stabilizers and their efficiencies compared to those of PEG-OH and PEG-X. The macroRAFT architecture was also varied using a difunctional macroRAFT (X-PEG-X) and a grafted polymer (PPEGA-X). Finally, PVDF latexes were synthesized with poly((meth)acrylic acid) (P(M)AA) functionalized by either a trithiocarbonate or a xanthate. Like previously, several parameters were varied such as the macromolecular chain length, the initiator amount and the macroRAFT amount. Again, these studies demonstrated the strong impact of the RAFT chain-end in the stabilization of PVDF particles

<div><div><div><p>Pincer ligands are a cornerstone of modern transition metal catalysis. An increasing interest in bimetallic catalysis motivated us to develop binucleating variants of these mononucleating ligands. Expanded variants of the PDI and PyBOX ligands were targeted, leading to the development of the Naphthyridine Diimine (“NDI”) and Naphthyridine Bisoxazoline (“NapBOX”) ligands, respectively. Metalation of NDI with appropriate metal precursors yielded Fe2, Co2 and Ni2 complexes which exhibited unique stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity. Metalation of the NapBOX ligand with nickel carboxylate salts yielded Ni2 complexes which were capable of catalyzing an asymmetric intermolecular [4+1] cycloaddition reaction between 1,1-dichloroalkene-derived vinylidenes and 1,3-dienes. Each of these processes were studied experimentally and computationally in order to understand the fundamental reactivity of organic substrates across metal-metal bonds.</p></div></div></div>