Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Resumo: O presente trabalho descreve a preparação, caracterização e aplicação eletroanalítica de nanopartículas formadas a partir de Hexacianoferrato (III) de potássio e Cloreto de zinco em água, formamida e uma mistura de água/formamida, estabelecendo respectivamente três sistemas de análise ZnH-1; ZnH-3 e ZnH-2 com o intuito de investigar sua influência na morfologia, topologia e nas propriedades eletrocatalíticas das nanoparticulas. Todos os sistemas foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas e eletroquímica tais como: espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), Difração de raios-X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Reflectância difusa (UV-visível) e voltametria cíclica (VC). Após as caracterizações foram realizados estudos sobre o comportamento voltamétrico do eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo as nanopartículas (ZnH) e testados na oxidação eletrocatalítica do Sulfito e da N-acetilcisteína. Dois sistemas (ZnH-1 e ZnH-3) foram sensíveis a concentrações de Sulfito. O sistema ZnH-1 apresentou um limite de detecção de 3,312 × 10-5 mol L-1, com um desvio padrão de ± 3 % (n=3) e uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 0,259 A/ mol L-1, em uma faixa de concentração de 9,0 × 10-5 a 8,0 × 10-4 mol L-1.O sistema ZnH-3 apresentou um limite de detecção de 3,988 ×10-4 mol L-1, com um desvio padrão de ± 5 % (n=3) e uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 0,031 A/ mol L-1, em uma faixa de concentração de 1,0 × 10-3 a 9,0 × 10-3 mol L-1 para o ZnH-3. Somente o eletrodo mod... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: O presente trabalho descreve a preparação, caracterização e aplicação eletroanalítica de nanopartículas formadas a partir de Hexacianoferrato (III) de potássio e Cloreto de zinco em água, formamida e uma mistura de água/formamida, estabelecendo respectivamente três sistemas de análise ZnH-1; ZnH-3 e ZnH-2 com o intuito de investigar sua influência na morfologia, topologia e nas propriedades eletrocatalíticas das nanoparticulas. Todos os sistemas foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas e eletroquímica tais como: espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), Difração de raios-X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Reflectância difusa (UV-visível) e voltametria cíclica (VC). Após as caracterizações foram realizados estudos sobre o comportamento voltamétrico do eletrodo de pasta de grafite contendo as nanopartículas (ZnH) e testados na oxidação eletrocatalítica do Sulfito e da N-acetilcisteína. Dois sistemas (ZnH-1 e ZnH-3) foram sensíveis a concentrações de Sulfito. O sistema ZnH-1 apresentou um limite de detecção de 3,312 × 10-5 mol L-1 , com um desvio padrão de ± 3 % (n=3) e uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 0,259 A/ mol L-1 , em uma faixa de concentração de 9,0 × 10-5 a 8,0 × 10-4 mol L-1 .O sistema ZnH-3 apresentou um limite de detecção de 3,988 ×10-4 mol L-1 , com um desvio padrão de ± 5 % (n=3) e uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 0,031 A/ mol L-1 , em uma faixa de concentração de 1,0 × 10-3 a 9,0 × 10-3 mol L-1 para o ZnH-3. Somente o eletrodo... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Younes Messaddeq / Coorientador: Assis Vicente Benedetti / Banca: Laudemir Carlos Varanda / Banca: Gael Yves Poirier / Resumo: Vidros no sistema binário NaPO3-WO3 vem despertando intenso interesse acadêmico e tecnológico devido às suas propriedades ópticas tais como fotocromismo, termocromismo e eletrocromismo, as quais levam as diversas aplicações. Neste trabalho, foram obtidos vidros NaPO3-WO3 com elevadas concentrações de WO3 (40, 50 e 60%), cujo controle cinético durante as etapas de fusão e resfriamento forneceu vidros de diferentes colorações. A análise por espectroscopia na região do UV-Vis mostrou maior intensidade na absorbância para as amostras com elevadas concentrações de WO3 ou obtidas em maiores temperaturas de fusão. Para essas amostras, a caracterização na região do infravermelho indicou diminuição das bandas referentes às ligações dos tetraedros de fosfato em detrimento do aumento das bandas relativas à inserção de octaedros de WO6 nas cadeias lineares de fosfato. Também, o aumento na concentração de óxido de tungstênio leva ao aumento nos valores de Tg, atribuídos à incorporação de octaedros WO6 na rede de tetraedros PO4 promovendo a formação de ligações fortes P-O-W. Os processos de óxidoredução responsáveis pelas diferentes cores obtidas nas amostras vítreas foi estudado pela primeira vez por voltametria cíclica (VC) a temperatura ambiente, em uma célula eletroquímica acoplada a um estereomicroscópio, o qual permitiu observar in situ a mudança de coloração com a aplicação de diferentes potenciais. Em concordância com os resultados mostrados pela VC, as análises por espectroscopia de fotoemissão de raios X (XPS) indicaram variação no estado de oxidação do tungstênio de W6+ para W4+, atribuída à variação de cor nos vidros estudados. A variação na coloração devido à redução do tungstênio foi observada mesmo em baixas concentrações da espécie reduzida, corroborando os resultados obtidos por VC. / Abstract: Binary system of NaPO3-WO3 glasses have been attracting high academic and technological interest due to potential applications because their optical properties such as photo, thermo, and electrochromism. In this work, NaPO3-WO3 glasses with high WO3 concentrations and different colors obtained with kinetic control of the melting and cooling steps were reported. UVVis spectroscopy analysis shows increase in the absorbance intensity for either high WO3 concentration or high melt temperature synthesized samples. Infrared spectroscopy characterization of these samples presented decreasing of the band intensity assigned to the phosphate tetrahedron related to a band intensity increasing due to phosphate octahedral linear chairs inset. Tungsten oxide concentration increases also leads to increasing in the Tg values assigned to the octahedral WO6 incorporation onto the PO4 tetrahedron lattice provide strongly P-O-W bonding. A novel room temperature cyclic voltammetric (CV) study was carried out in a stereomicroscopic-coupled electrochemical cell in order to evaluate the redox processes assigned to the color changes, allowing in situ color change observations while the potential was continuously varied. The CV results agrees with the X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) inferring that different glass colors can be assigned to the tungsten oxidizing state changes from W+6 to W+4. These color changes due to tungsten oxidation were observed even at low concentration of the reduced species as also indicated by the CV analysis. / Mestre

Este trabalho consiste no estudo da eletrodeposição de ligas de Zn/Co para diferentes relações de concentração [Zn2+]/[Co2+] (1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 9:1 e 12:1) sobre aço-carbono ABNT 1020 e sua resistência à corrosão, usando como banho um eletrólito à base de cloretos. Foram realizados estudos preliminares sobre o mecanismo de deposição da liga Zn/Co usando a técnica de voltametria cíclica e estabeleceram-se assim os parâmetros de deposição da liga. Os ensaios de deposição para as relações de concentração [Zn2+]/[Co2+] : 9/1 e [Zn2+]/[Co2+] : 12/1 no banho foram realizados usando a técnica potenciostática (cronoamperometria) e a técnica galvanostática (cronopotenciometria). As relações 1:1, 3:1 e 6:1 não foram escolhidas já que os teores de cobalto de seus eletrodepósitos não estavam na faixa de 1 % a 2 %. Foram feitas análises por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) para conhecer a diversidade morfologia dos eletrodepósitos como conseqüência do aumento do conteúdo de íons de zinco no banho. A identificação das fases dos eletrodepósitos foi feita por difração de raios X (XRD) e a composição elementar mediante espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de raios X (EDS) e fluorescência de raios X (XRF). Os ensaios de avaliação da resistência à corrosão foram realizados em solução naturalmente areada de NaCl 0,1 M por técnicas eletroquímicas como espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica e curvas de polarização potenciodinâmicas. A partir dos resultados obtidos na voltametria cíclica foi possível selecionar a faixa de potencial adequada para a realização dos ensaios potenciostáticos e galvanostáticos das relações [Zn2+]/[Co2+] 9:1 e 12:1. As análises dos dados obtidos dos transientes de corrente (ensaios potenciostáticos) para cada relação (9:1 e 12:1) permitiram concluir que para ambas as relações seus processos de nucleação ocorrem seguindo uma transição, iniciando-se como progressiva para t/tmax < 1 e passando a instantânea para t/tmax > 1. As técnicas eletroquímicas usadas para avaliar a resistência à corrosão mostraram que os eletrodepósitos obtidos com a técnica potenciostática foram mais resistentes à corrosão que os eletrodepósitos obtidos com a técnica galvanostática, sendo o potencial de - 1450 mV vs Ag/AgCl e a densidade de corrente catódica de 30 mA/cm2 as melhores condições para a obtenção de eletrodepósitos de Zn/Co com boa resistência à corrosão. / This work reports the study of the electrodeposition of Zn/Co alloys with different concentration ratios [Zn2+]/[Co2+] (1:1, 3:1, 6:1, 9:1 e 12:1) on carbon steel ABNT 1020 and its corrosion resistance, using a chloride - based electrolyte. Initial studies were performed to find the best parameters of deposition by cyclic voltammetry. The alloy deposition for concentration ratios of [Zn2+]/[Co2+] : 9/1 and [Zn2+]/[Co2+] : 12/1 were carried out using potentiostatic (chronoamperometry) and galvanostatic (chronopotenciometry) techniques. The ratios 1:1, 3:1 e 6:1 were not chosen because them composition in cobalt were not within the range of 1% to 2%. Scan electron microscopy (SEM) was performed in order to verify the morphological diversity of the electrodeposits as a consequence of the increasing zinc concentration in the bath. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the phases present in the electrodeposits; their elemental composition was determined by X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. Corrosion resistance experiments were performed in aerated 0,1 M NaCl solution by electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potenciodynamic polarization curves. From the voltametric results it was possible to select the adequate potential range in order to perform the potenciostatic and galvanostatic experiments for concentration ratios of [Zn2+]/[Co2+] 9:1 and 12:1. Analysis of the data obtained from the current transients for each ratio (9:1 and 12:1) allow us to conclude that, for both ratios, the processes of nucleation occur following a transition which starts as progressive for t/tmax < 1 and become instantaneous for t/tmax > 1. The electrodeposits obtained by potentiostatic and galvanostatic techniques were evaluated for their corrosion resistant and the best results were found for potentiostatic deposition at -1450 mV vs Ag/AgCl and galvanostatic deposition at 30 mA/cm2. In general, the deposits obtained potentiostatically showed better corrosion resistant.

Submitted by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-02-20T15:45:15Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Alexandre K. P. Souza.pdf: 3464696 bytes, checksum: e78461b89f866435b0635d96ae2a3f7d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-02-20T15:45:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Alexandre K. P. Souza.pdf: 3464696 bytes, checksum: e78461b89f866435b0635d96ae2a3f7d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2017-02-20T15:46:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Alexandre K. P. Souza.pdf: 3464696 bytes, checksum: e78461b89f866435b0635d96ae2a3f7d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-20T15:46:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Alexandre K. P. Souza.pdf: 3464696 bytes, checksum: e78461b89f866435b0635d96ae2a3f7d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-16 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Electronic devices for applications in the field of electronic instrumentation in the offshoot of analytical chemistry research have great interest in the field of research related to the academic environment, as well as in the industrial environment. With the objective of extracting information and relevant data of chemical compounds, both from the qualitative point of view, as well as from the quantitative point of view, it is necessary in electrochemical analyzes, the presence of specific electrochemical sensors connected to electronic circuits, thus forming Electrochemical systems designed with the purpose of processing and extracting data information related to the physico-chemical effects occurring on the surface of the sensor due to reactions in the chemical substance or compound of interest in a particular analysis. This work deals with the research, study and development of topologies of electronic circuits, known as potentiostat, having as main objective, the task of conditioning of electrical signals from an electrochemical sensor, called electrochemical cell of three electrodes. The results demonstrated in this work are concentrated in the graphs of electrical voltages and currents, directly related to the chemical parameters of a sample under analysis, being these results obtained through experimental tests, applying the cyclic voltammetry method. Experimental tests were performed with circuit topologies connected to a cell, for the analysis of data obtained and validation of proposed potentiostat circuit topologies. / Dispositivos eletrônicos voltados para aplicações na área de instrumentação eletrônica no ramo de pesquisas em química analítica possuem grande interesse de desenvolvimento, nos campos de pesquisas relacionados ao meio acadêmico, assim como, no ambiente industrial. Com o objetivo de extrair informações e dados relevantes de compostos químicos, tanto do ponto de vista qualitativo, bem como do ponto de vista quantitativo, faz-se necessário em análises eletroquímicas, à presença de sensores eletroquímicos específicos conectados a circuitos eletrônicos, formando desta maneira sistemas eletroquímicos, projetados com a função de processar e extrair informações de dados relacionados aos efeitos físico-químicos, que ocorrem na superfície do sensor, devido a reações na substância ou composto químico de interesse em determinada análise. Este trabalho aborda a pesquisa, estudo e desenvolvimento de topologias de circuitos eletrônicos, conhecidos como potenciostato, tendo por tarefa o condicionamento de sinais elétricos provenientes de um sensor eletroquímico, designado de célula eletroquímica de três eletrodos. Os resultados demonstrados neste trabalho estão concentrados no levantamento de gráficos de sinais elétricos de tensões e correntes, relacionados diretamente a parâmetros químicos de uma amostra em análise, sendo estes resultados obtidos através de testes experimentais, aplicando o método de voltametria cíclica. Foram realizados testes experimentais com as topologias de circuitos conectados a uma célula, para a análise dos dados obtidos e validação das topologias de circuitos de potenciostatos propostos

Pertencendo à família dos eletrodos de carbono, o carbono polimérico vítreo (CPV) apresenta condutividade elétrica, estabilidade térmica, resistência mecânica e grande intervalo de potencial. Dessa forma, se torna possível sua aplicação como eletrodo sólido para o monitoramento de processos de transferência de carga, suporte para polímeros eletroativos e modificadores de superfície. O processo de obtenção do CPV se baseia na carbonização em ambiente inerte de materiais precursores, dentre os quais, podem-se destacar as resinas fenólicas, como por exemplo, resol (C7H8O2). Neste contexto, este trabalho investiga a obtenção do CPV a partir da resina fenólica resol, bem como o efeito da incorporação de íons metálicos (crômio, ferro e cério) na estrutura cristalina e nas propriedades eletroquímicas. Os materiais foram caracterizados por análise térmica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, difratometria de raio-X, espectrofotometria no infra-vermelho e por voltametria cíclica. O difratograma de raio-X confirmou a obtenção de um material com estrutura similar a do carbono vítreo e, através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura, ficou comprovada a baixa porosidade do CPV. Por espectrofotometria no infra-vermelho, ficou demonstrada a presença de grupos funcionais, como carbonilas e hidroxilas, na estrutura do material. Os resultados mostram que tanto o CPV quanto o CPV modificado por íons metálicos possuem boa estabilidade térmica, pois não houve nenhuma decomposição desses materiais abaixo de 400ºC. E, tanto o CPV quanto o CPV modificado por íons metálicos apresentam comportamento eletroquímico similar no sistema ferricianeto/ferrocianeto. Concluindo, o método desenvolvido para obtenção do CPV modificado por íons metálicos é satisfatório, reprodutivo além de proporcionar uma dispersão homogênea dos íons na fase do CPV. Desta forma, possibilita uma nova frente de estudos destes materiais eletródicos em eletrocatálise e eletroanalítica. / Belonging to the family of the carbon electrodes, the glassy polymeric carbon (GPC) presents electric conductivity, thermal stability, mechanical resistance mechanics and great potential interval. In this way, it is possible its application as solid electrode in order to follow electron transfer process, act as support of electroactive molecules and surface modifier. The glassy polymeric carbon production is based on carbonization of organic precursors in inert atmosphere such as phenolic resins (for example, resol - C7H8O2) In this context, this work investigates the production of GPC from phenolic resin, as well as the effect of incorporation of metallic ions (chromium, iron, and cerium) on crystalline structure and electrochemical properties. The materials were characterized by thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrophotometry, and cyclic voltammetry. X-ray diffraction patterns had confirmed the presence of a material with similar structure of that found in conventional glassy carbon, and through SEM images it has shown a low porosity carbon material. From infrared spectrum, it can be observed carbonyl and hydroxide groups. The found results showed that both GPC and metallic ion modified GPC exhibit thermal stability, since no decomposition has occurred up to 450 oC. And, both carbon materials present similar electrochemical behavior in hexacyanoferrate system. In conclusion, the method developed for attainment of the GPC modified for ions metallic is satisfactory, and reproductive. Besides, it provides a homogeneous dispersion of ions in the bulk phase of the GPC. As a consequence, it makes possible a new front of studies of these materials in electrocatalysis and electroanalysis.

Devido à sua baixa solubilidade em água, os pirrolidinoditiocarbamatos poderiam produzir eletrodos livres do problema de lixiviação do modificador, os quais poderiam ser usados como detectores amperométricos, em análises em fluxo e outros procedimentos hidrodinâmicos. O complexo poderia agir como um intermediário de transferência de elétrons entre o analito e a superfície eletródica, aumentando a sensibilidade da resposta analítica do sensor. Desta forma, eletrodos de pasta de carbono modificados (EPCM) com complexos de pirrolidinoditiocarbamatos anidros de diversos metais foram preparados e testados quanto à sua aplicação em técnicas voltamétricas. Os complexos de manganês(II), [MnPyr2] e cobalto(II), [CoPyr2], foram os que apresentaram os melhores resultados em termos de estabilidade e reprodutibilidade de resposta, escolhendo-se o EPCM-[MnPyr2], para uso neste trabalho. O desempenho do eletrodo foi avaliado usando voltametria cíclica, cronoamperometria e análise em fluxo, com detecção amperométrica de peróxido de hidrogênio apresentando regiões lineares de 1,25-14,8; 0,5-41; 1,0-75 x 10-4 mol L-1 e limites de detecção de 11,2; 2,98; 5,40 x 10-5 mol L-1 respectivamente para cada técnica. Na determinação de peróxido de hidrogênio em amostra de alvejante comercial observou-se concordância nos resultados obtidos em voltametria cíclica e análise em fluxo, usando o eletrodo proposto em comparação com a permanganometria clássica, com 95 % de intervalo de confiança. Estes resultados foram obtidos após otimização de parâmetros como velocidade de varredura, pH, eletrólito suporte, entre outros. A oxidação ocorre por meio de um processo eletrocatalítico. O desempenho do pirrolidinoditiocarbamato de vanadila hidratado também foi avaliado como alternativa aos ditiocarbamatos anidros, na preparação de eletrodos modificados com esta classe de complexos, considerando que os complexos hidratados seriam mais fáceis de preparar. Entretanto uma baixa estabilidade e reprodutibilidade de resposta foi observada. O [MnPyr2] mostrou comportamento no qual ocorre oxidação, concordando com a proposta de Schrauzer para ligantes do tipo ímpar, apesar de que a oxidação só ocorreu na presença de oxidantes fortes, como o peróxido de hidrogênio. / Considering their low solubility in water, the dithiocarbamate complexes should produce electrodes without problems of modifier leaching. Such electrodes could be used as amperometric detectors in flow injection analysis and hydrodynamic methods. The complex should act as an electron transfer mediator between the analyte and the electrode surface, improving the response sensitivity of the sensor. Considering these statements carbon paste electrodes modified (EPCM) with anhydrous pyrrolidinedithiocarbamates of several metals were prepared and evaluated in relation to their possible application in voltammetric techniques. Best results regarding response stability and reproducibility were obtained with manganese(II), [MnPyr2] and cobalt(II), [CoPyr2] complexes. The first one was chosen to develop the present work. The electrode performance was evaluated in cyclic voltammetry, chrono amperometric and flow injection analysis with amperometric detection. Linear dynamic ranges of 1,25-14,8; 0,5-41; 1,0-75 x 10-4 mol L-1 and limits of detection of 11,2; 2,98; 5,40 x 10-5 mol L-1 were found respectively for each technique in the determination of hydrogen peroxyde. The methods were used for the determination of H2O2 in bleaching formulation and presented agreement with the classical titration with potassium permanganate within 95% confidence level. Such results have been obtained after optimization of experimental parameters such as scan rate, pH, supporting electrolyte, and others. The oxidation occurred by an electrocatalytic process. Finally the performance of a carbon paste electrode modified with a hydrated vanadyl pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate complex was evaluated as an alternative to the anhydrous complex in the preparation of the modified electrode, since the hydrated complexes are easier to prepare. However a low response stability and reproducibility have been observed. The [MnPyr2] presented an oxidation behavior in agreement with Schrauzer’s predictions, although the oxidation of the metal center occurred only in the presence of strong oxidative agents as the hydrogen peroxide.

The work presented on this thesis is focused on studies of the kinetics of electron transfer in bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). Three different types of BLM were studied: i) tethered, ii) pore suspended (commonly known as ‘black’) and iii) based on the avidin – biotin interaction (these are part of the wider group of polymer cushioned BLMs). In order to produce tethered BLMs (tBLMs) of the best quality possible, self – assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a thiolipid (1,2 dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-phosphothioethanol (DPPTE)) and of the same thiolipid mixed with L α phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) were characterised and their behaviour compared to that of SAMs of two alkanethiols (1 – heptanethiol and 1 – dodecanethiol). The SAMs that were formed by a mixture of lipids (DPPTE+EggPC) presented better kinetic parameters and were the chosen to produce tBLMs. Tethered BLMs were made by using the SAM described above as the lower leaflet; the second leaflet was deposited by vesicle fusion, the vesicles were made of EggPC. tBLMs are commonly used as model membranes, however in biophysical studies free-standing membranes or ‘black’ lipid membranes are more realistic models of cellular processes. The rates of electron transfer in both types of bilayer lipid membranes are compared. These BLMs were modified using two very important mitochondrial membrane associated molecules – ubiquinone-10 (UQ10) and α-tocopherol (VitE). The studies involved the use three redox couples, Fe(CN)_6^(3-/4-), Ru(NH_3 )_6^(3+/2+) and NAD+/NADH using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The NAD+/NADH couple is of particular interest as it is the key to several important biochemical processes. The last type of BLM that was studied was the BLMs based on the avidin – biotin interaction. Avidin was deposited on a platinum surface by electrodeposition and then vesicles composed of EggPC and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(biotinyl) (sodium salt) (DOPE(B)) are burst by applying +0.7V (vs. Ag/AgCl, KCl 3.5M), leading to the formation of a supported BLM. The vesicles used had methylene blue (MB) inside; its release, when the vesicles burst, was monitored by cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis. The kinetic parameters were determined based on the EIS measurements using Fe(CN)_6^(3-/4-) and Ru(NH_3 )_6^(3+/2+) as redox couples.

The electrorefiner (ER) is the heart of pyroprocessing technology operating at a high-temperature (723 K – 773 K) to separate uranium from Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) used metallic fuel. One of the most common electroanalytical methods for determining the thermodynamic and electrochemical behavior of elemental species in the eutectic molten salt LiCl-KCl inside ER is cyclic voltammetry (CV). Information from CV can possibly be used to estimate diffusion coefficients, apparent standard potentials, transfer coefficients, and numbers of electron transferred. Therefore, predicting the trace of each species from the CV method in an absence of experimental data is important for safeguarding this technology. This work focused on the development an interactive computational design for the CV method by analyzing available uranium chloride data sets (1 to 10 wt%) in a LiCl-KCl molten salt at 773 K under different scan rates to help elucidating, improving, and providing robustness in detection analysis. A principle method and a computational code have been developed by using electrochemical fundamentals and coupling various variables such as: the diffusion coefficients, formal potentials, and process time duration. Although this developed computational model works moderately well with reported uranium data sets, it experiences difficulty in tracing zirconium data sets due to their complex CV structures. Therefore, an artificial neural intelligent (ANI) data analysis has been proposed to resolve this issue and to provide comparative study to the precursor computational modeling development. For this purpose, ANI has been applied on 0.5 to 5 wt% of zirconium chloride in LiCl-KCl eutectic molten salt at 773 K under different scan rates to mimic the system and provide current and potential simulated data sets for the unseen data. In addition, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) through the commercial software Matlab was created to provide a controllable environment for different users. The computational code shows a limitation in high concentration CV prediction, capturing the adsorption peaks, and provides a dissimilarity. However, the model is able to capture the important anodic and cathodic peaks of uranium chloride CV which is the main focus of this study. Furthermore, the developed code is able to calculate the concentration of each species as a function of time. Due to the complexity of the CV of zirconium chloride, the computational model is used to predict the probability reactions occurring at each peak. The resulting study reveals that the reaction at the highest anodic peak is related to the combination of 70% Zr/Zr+4 and 30% Zr/Zr+2 for the 1.07 wt% and 2.49 wt% zirconium chloride and 30% Zr/Zr+4 and 70% Zr/Zr+2 combination for 4.98 wt% ZrCl4. The proposed alternative ANI method has demonstrated its capability in predicting the trend of species in a new situation with a high accuracy on predictions without any dissimilarity. Two final structures from zirconium chloride study which high accuracy (that is, a low error) are related to [9, 15, 10]-18 and [10, 11, 25]-19. These two final structures have been applied on uranium chloride salt experimental data sets to further validate the ANI’s ability and concept. Three different fixed data combinations were considered. The result indicates that by increasing the number of training data sets it does not necessarily help improving the prediction process. ANI implementation outcome on uranium chloride data set illustrates a good prediction with a specific fixed data combination and [9, 15, 10]-18 structure. Thus, it can be concluded that ANI is a promising method for safeguarding pyroprocessing technology due to its robustness in predicting the CV plots with high accuracy.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / In the wide search for advanced materials for next generation lithium-ion batteries, lithium manganese orthosilicate, Li₂MnSiO₄ is increasingly gaining attention as a potential cathode material by virtue of its ability to facilitate the extraction of two lithium ions per formula unit, resulting in a two-electron redox process involving Mn²⁺/Mn³⁺ and Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ redox couples. This property confers on it, a higher theoretical specific capacity of 333 mAhg⁻¹ which is superior to the conventional layered LiCoO₂ at 274 mAhg⁻¹ and the commercially available olivine LiFePO₄ at 170 mAhg⁻¹. Its iron analogue, Li₂FeSiO₄ has only 166 mAhg⁻¹ capacity as the Fe⁴⁺ oxidation state is difficult to access. However, the capacity of Li₂MnSiO₄ is not fully exploited in practical galvanostatic charge-discharge tests due to the instability of the delithiated material which causes excessive polarization during cycling and its low intrinsic electronic conductivity. By reducing the particle size, the electrochemical performance of this material can be enhanced since it increases the surface contact between the electrode and electrolyte and further reduces the diffusion pathway of lithium ions. In this study, a versatile hydrothermal synthetic pathway was employed to produce nanoparticles of Li₂MnSiO₄, by carefully tuning the reaction temperature and the concentration of the metal precursors. The nanostructured cathode material was further coated with a thin film of aluminium oxide in order to modify its structural and electronic properties. The synthesized materials were characterized by microscopic (HRSEM and HRTEM), spectroscopic (FTIR, XRD, SS-NMR, XPS) and electrochemical techniques (CV, SWV and EIS). Microscopic techniques revealed spherical morphologies with particle sizes in the range of 21-90 nm. Elemental distribution maps obtained from HRSEM for the novel cathode material showed an even distribution of elements which will facilitate the removal/insertion of Li-ions and electrons out/into the cathode material. Spectroscopic results (FTIR) revealed the vibration of the Si-Mn-O linkage, ascertaining the complete insertion of Mn ions into the SiO₄⁴⁻ tetrahedra. XRD and ⁷Li MAS NMR studies confirmed a Pmn21 orthorhombic crystal pattern for the pristine Li₂MnSiO₄ and novel Li₂MnSiO₄/Al₂O₃ which is reported to provide the simplest migratory pathway for Li-ions due to the high symmetrical equivalence of all Li sites in the unit cell, thus leading to high electrochemical reversibility and an enhancement in the overall performance of the cathode materials. The divalent state of manganese present in Li₂Mn²⁺SiO₄ was confirmed by XPS surface analysis. Scan rate studies performed on the novel cathode material showed a quasi-reversible electron transfer process. The novel cathode material demonstrated superior electrochemical performance over the pristine material. Charge/discharge capacity values calculated from the cyclic voltammograms of the novel and pristine cathode materials showed a higher charge and discharge capacity of 209 mAh/g and 107 mAh/g for the novel cathode material compared to 159 mAh/g and 68 mAh/g for the pristine material. The diffusion coefficient was one order of magnitude higher for the novel cathode material (3.06 x10⁻⁶ cm2s⁻¹) than that of the pristine material (6.79 x 10⁻⁷ cm2s⁻¹), with a charge transfer resistance of 1389 Ω and time constant (τ) of 1414.4 s rad⁻¹ for the novel cathode material compared to 1549 Ω and 1584.4 s rad-1 for the pristine material. The higher electrochemical performance of the novel Li₂MnSiO₄/All₂O₃ cathode material over the pristine Li₂MnSiO₄ material can be attributed to the alumina nanoparticle surface coating which considerably reduced the structural instability intrinsic to the pristine Li₂MnSiO₄ cathode material and improved the charge transfer kinetics.

The electrochemical investigation of nickel, copper and silver thin films interfaced with yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) solid electrolyte was accomplished to determine their response to polarization in dilute oxygen environments at 350 °C and assess their viability for electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC). Polycrystalline YSZ (8 mol % Y2O3-ZrO2) pellets were synthesized in the lab and films deposited onto them using evaporative physical vapor deposition (PVD). The critical thickness of copper, silver and nickel thin films were foundusing in-situ resistance measurements. Following this, 50 and 100 nm copper and nickel films were studied using solid electrolyte cyclic voltammetry (SECV) to determine their response to polarization. Given that silver thin films at such thicknesses are thermally unstable, a film of 800 nm was used in this study. The materials were found to respond to polarization in different ways, forming oxides according to Wagner and Mott-Cabrera oxidation models.