published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

Diese Arbeit beinhaltet unsere Studien an selbstorganisierenden Monoschichten (engl. SAM = self- assembled monolayer) einiger aromatischer Thiole auf Gold- und Kupferoberflächen. Die Bildung von Monoschichten von Thiophenol, 4-Mercaptophenol, 4-Nitrothiophenol, 4-Aminothiophenol, 1,4-Dithiobenzol, 4-Mercaptopyridin und 2-Mercaptopyridin auf Au und Cu wurde untersucht und charakterisiert. Das abschirmende Verhalten und die strukturelle Anordnung dieser Monoschichten wurden mit Hilfe elektrochemischer und spektroskopischer Methoden geprüft und bestimmt. Zyklische Voltammetrie und oberflächenverstärkte Raman Spektroskopie wurden intensiv zur Aufklärung von Elektronentransferreaktionen an diesen mit SAMs modifizierten Oberflächen genutzt. Elektrochemische Studien von Monoschichten aus Thiophenol, 4-Mercaptophenol, 4-Nitrothiophenol, 4-Aminothiophenol, 1,4-Dithiobenzol, 4-Mercaptopyridin und 2-Mercaptopyridin in 0,1 M wässriger KClO4-Lösung lassen schlussfolgern, dass diese Moleküle schwefelseitig an die Substratoberfläche gebunden sind. In 0,1 M wässriger KClO4-Lösung aufgenommene zyklische Voltammogramme an Gold- und Kupferoberflächen, welche mit oben genannten, aromatischen Thiolen beschichtet wurden, legen nahe, dass Adsorptionsschichten von Thiophenol und 1,4-Dithiobenzol eine stärkere Tendenz zum Abschirmen besitzen als andere. Durch das Einbringen von Kupferproben, welche mit genannten aromatischen Thiolen behandelt wurden, in 0,1 M Silbernitrat-Lösung können sehr leicht Silber-Nanodendritstrukturen erhalten werden. Abscheidezeit und Konzentration der Silbernitrat-Lösung haben einen großen Einfluss auf das Wachstum der Silber-Nanodendritstrukturen auf den modifizierten Kupferproben. Diese Silber-Nanodendritstrukturen besitzen eine hohe katalytische Aktivität hinsichtlich der Oxidation von Hydroquinon. Untersuchungen zur Korrosion an polykristallinem Kupfer, welches mit obigen aromatischen Thiolen modifiziert wurde, in 0,1 M Silbernitrate-Lösung ließen vermuten, dass dieses Kupfersubstrat mehr anodisches Verhalten zeigte als reines Kupfer bei ähnlichen Bedingungen. Zyklische Voltammetrie an wie oben behandeltem Kupfer in 0,1M wässriger KClO4-Lösung zeigte, dass die Geschwindigkeit der Kupferauflösung bei diesen Messungen erhöht war gegenüber anderen, in welchen reines Kupfer bei identischen Bedingungen eingesetzt wurde. / It deals with our studies on self-assembled monolayers of aromatic thiols on gold and copper surfaces. Monolayer formation of thiophenol, 4-mercaptophenol, 4-nitrothiophenol, 4-aminothiophenol, 1,4-dithiobenzene, 4-mer¬cap¬to¬pyridine and 2-mercaptopyridine on Au and Cu surfaces was studied and characterized. The blocking behaviour and structural arrange¬ments of these monolayers were evaluated and characterized using electrochemical and spec¬troscopic techniques. Cyclic voltammetry and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy were extensively used for the study of electron transfer reactions on these SAM modified surfaces. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies of thiophenol, 4-mercaptophenol, 4-nitrothiophenol, 4-aminothiophenol, 1,4-dithiobenzene, 4-mercaptopyridine and 2-mercaptopyridine monolayers in aqueous solution of 0.1 M KClO4 suggest that these molecules adsorbed to substrate. Cyclic voltammetry of gold and copper covered with these aromatic thiolates recorded in aqueous solution of 0.1 M KClO4 suggests that adlayers of thio¬phenol and 1,4-dithiobenzene exhibit more blocking behavior than the other ones. Silver nanodendritic structures are easily produced by placing copper samples modified with these aromatic thiolates into 0.1 M silver nitrate solution. Deposition time and concentration of silver nitrate solution have great influence on growing up silver nanodendritic structures on the surface of modified copper samples. These silver nanodendritic structures exhibit electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydroquinone. Corrosion investigation of polycrystalline copper modified with these aromatic thiolates in 0.1 M silver nitrate solution suggest that copper substrate might be more anodic compared to bare copper under identical condition. Cyclic voltammetry of copper modified with these aromatic thiolates suggests that the rate of dissolution copper in aqueous solution of 0.1 M KClO4 is higher than bare copper in the same condition.

The work presented in the thesis is about the evaluation of Organic Electrochemical Transistors (OECTs) for fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). FSCV is a method which has been used for real time dopamine sensing both in vivo and in vitro. The method is sensitive to noise and could therefore benefit from signal preamplification at the point of sensing, which could be achieved by incorporation of OECTs. In this study the OECTs are based on the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The gate consists of gold microelectrodes of different sizes to be used one at a time. When dopamine is reacted at the gate electrode, the redox state of the PEDOT:PSS OECT channel is modulated and the resulting change in drain current can be measured. The gate current, which contains the sensing information, is after filtering obtained by differentiating the channel potential with respect to time. The derived gate current is plotted in cyclic voltammogram for different dopamine concentrations and the amplitude of the oxidation/reduction peaks can be used to determine the dopamine concentration. In this thesis for the first time it is demonstrated that OECTs can be used for FSCV detection of dopamine. The results are discussed and an outlook on future work is given.

<p>This study firstly reports the development, characterisation, and application of thick-film acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensors based on a gold electrode modified with a mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) self-assembled monolayer and either poly(omethoxyaniline) (POMA) or poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) in the presence of polystyrene(4-sulphonic acid) (PSSA). The Au/MBT/POMA-PSSA/AChE and Au/MBT/PDMA-PSSA/AChE biosensors were then applied to successfully detect standard organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer, 0.1 M KCl (pH 7.2) solution. Secondly, it reports the construction of the Au/MBT/PANI/AChE/PVAc thick-film biosensor for the determination of certain organophosphate and carbamate pesticide solutions in selected aqueous organic solvent solutions.</p>

<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> <p align="left">&nbsp / </p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">The aim of this study was to produce useful composite materials from fly ash, a major waste product of coal combustion from power plants. Polyaniline-fly ash (PANI-FA) composites were prepared by in situ polymerisation of aniline in the presence of Fly Ash (FA) by two slightly different methods. In one case polystyrene sulphonic acid (PSSA) was used as a stabilizer and in another case the starting materials (aniline and FA) were aged before oxidation. The aging procedure formed nanotubes that have cross-sectional diameters of 50-110 nm. The other procedure produced nanotubes with a diameter of 100-500 nm and the length of up to 10&mu / m. The presence of metal oxides and silica in FA were responsible for the formation of nanorods in PANI-PSSA-FA.. The formation of the composites was confirmed by UV-Vis and FTIR. The UV-Vis showed maximum absorbance at 330-360 nm ( due to &pi / -&pi / * transition of benzoid rings) and 600-650 nm(due to charge transfer excitons of quinoid rings), which are characteristics of emaraldine base. The electrochemical analysis of the composites showed that the composites were conductive and electroactive. The Cyclic Voltammetry of PANI-PSSA-FA showed three redox couples which are characteristics of sulphonated PANI. The morphology of the composites was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and showed that our methods gave composites with improved homogeneity as compared to other reported methods. Thermo Gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the presence of FA in the composites improves the thermal stability of the composites by up to 100 0C.<br /> &nbsp / </p>

Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Resumo: O presente trabalho descreve a preparação de partículas formadas a partir de Pentacianonitrosilferrato (III) de sódio e Cloreto de cádmio. As partículas foram preparadas em quatro proporções empregando os solventes Água/Formamida (100:0; 80:20; 40:60; 0:100) com o objetivo de investigar a sua influência na morfologia, topologia e nas propriedades eletrocatalíticas das partículas. Os materiais foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas e eletroquímica tais como: Espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), Espectroscopia Raman, Reflectância difusa (UV-visível), Difração de raios-X (DRX), Microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), Espectrometria de energia dispersiva de raios-X (EDS), Microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET) e voltametria cíclica (VC). Após as caracterizações foram realizados estudos sobre as propriedades eletroquímicas dos materiais utilizando um eletrodo de pasta de grafite. Dos quatro sistemas estudados, apenas dois foram sensíveis à concentrações de isoniazida, a saber o CdNP-3 e CdNP-4. Ambos os sistemas apresentaram duas regiões lineares de sinal em função da concentração com limites de detecção de 6,80×10-5 mol L-1 e 7,07×10-4 mol L-1, e 2,18×10-4 mol L-1 e 1,16×10-3 mol L-1 para os sistemas CdNP-3 e CdNP-4, respectivamente. Para o sistema CdNP-3 observou-se uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 23,96 mA mol L-1 e 10, 83 mA mol L-1, já para CdNP-4 observou-se uma sensibilidade amperométrica de 17,80 mA mol L-1 e 5,79 mA mol L-1 para cada reg... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present work describes the preparation of particles formed from Sodium Pentacyanonitrosylferrate (III) and Cadmium Chloride. The particles were prepared in four ratios using solvents Water / Formamide (100:0, 80:20, 40:60, 0:100) to investigate the influence on particle morphology, topology and electrocatalytic properties. The materials were characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques such as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, Diffuse reflectance (UV-Visible), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Cyclic voltammetry (CV). After the characterization studies, the electrochemical properties of materials were performed using a graphite paste electrode. Of the four systems studied, only two tests with concentrations of isoniazid, CdNP-3 and CdNP-4. Both systems presented two linear concentrations with detection limits of 6.80 × 10-5 mol L-1 and 7.07 × 10-4 mol L-1 and 2.18 × 10-4 mol L-1 and 1.16 × 10-3 mol L-1 for the CdNP-3 and CdNP-4 systems, respectively. For the CdNP-3 system, an amperometric sensitivity of 23.96 mA mol L-1 and 10.83 mA mol L-1 was observed, whereas for CdNP-4 an amperometric sensitivity of 17.80 mA mol L-1 and 5.79 mA mol L-1 for each linear region. / Mestre

Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Banca: Newton Luiz Dias Filho / Banca: Jeosadaque José de Sene / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho esta resumido através de três etapas. 1 - A primeira etapa consistiu em funcionalizar e caracterizar a sílica gel com grupos 3- aminopropiltrietoxisilano. Nesta etapa o material obtido (Si) foi caracterizado por técnicas de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear no estado sólido (24Si e 13C) e espectroscopia vibracional (FTIR). 2- Numa segunda etapa promoveu-se a adsorção de íons de cobre (II) e de cobalto (II) na superfície da sílica (Si). Os materiais obtidos (SiCu e SiCo) foram caracterizados por espectroscopia vibracional e voltametria cíclica. 3- Na terceira etapa reagiu-se os materiais preparados (SiCu e SiCo) com nitroprussiato de sódio para formar os complexos binucleares (SiCuNP e SiCoNP). Estes materiais também foram caracterizados por espectroscopia vibracional e voltametria cíclica. Estes materiais foram utilizados na construção do eletrodo de pasta de grafite e testados na oxidação eletrocatalítica de substâncias biologicamente importantes tais como a hidrazina e N-acetilcisteína sendo empregado para isto a técnica de voltametria cíclica. Observou-se que o eletrodo de SiCuNP apresentam dois pares redox nos potenciais (Em)1 = 0,34 V e (Em)2 = 0,76 V vs Ag/AgCl, O primeiro foi atribuído ao processo de oxidação do par Cu(I)/Cu(II) e o segundo ao processo de oxidação Fe(II)(CN)5NO / Fe(III)(CN)5NO do complexo binuclear. O sistema SiCoNP foram observados dois pares redox distintos com os seguintes potenciais médios (Em); (Em)1 = 0,29 V e (Em)2 = 0,56 V vs Ag/AgCl, o primeiro foi atribuído ao processo redox do par Co(II)/Co(III) e o segundo ao processo redox Fe(II)(CN)5NO / Fe(III)(CN)5NO do complexo binuclear formado. O sistema SiCuNP foi sensível a concentração de hidrazina apresentando um limite de detecção e sensibilidade amperométrica de 3,07×10-4 mol L-1 e 5,84×10-6 A / mol L-1... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this work is summarized in three stages. 1 - The first stage functionalizes and characterizes the silica gel with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane groups. At this stage the material obtained (Si) was characterized by solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance techniques (24Si and 13C) and vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR). 2 - The second stage promotes the adsorption of copper (II) and cobalt (II) ions on the surface of the silica (Si). The materials obtained (SiCu and SiCo) were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. 3 - The third stage prepares the reaction of the materials (SiCu and SiCo) with sodium nitroprusside to form the binuclear complex (SiCuNP and SiCoNP). These materials were characterized by vibrational spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. These materials were used to construct the electrode carbon paste and were tested for electrocatalytic oxidation of biologically important substances such as hydrazine and N-acetylcysteine using the cyclic voltammetry technique. It was observed that the electrode SiCuNP has two redox pairs in the potential (Em)1 = 0.34 V and (Em)2 = 0.76 V vs. Ag/AgCl, the first was attributed to the oxidation process of the pair Cu(I)/Cu(II) and the second to the oxidation process Fe(II)(CN)5NO / Fe(III)(CN)5NO of the binuclear complex. For the SiCoNP system, two distinct redox couples were observed with the following mean potentials (Em); (Em)1 = 0.29 V and (Em)2 = 0.56 V vs Ag/AgCl, the first one was assigned to the redox process of the Co(II)/Co(III) pair and the second one to the redox process Fe(II)(CN)5NO / Fe(III)(CN)5NO of the binuclear complex formed. The SiCuNP system was sensitive to the hydrazine concentration, exhibiting a detection limit and amperometric sensitivity of 3.07×10-4 mol L-1 and 5.84×10-6 A / mol L-1 respectively and was also... (Summary complete electronic access click below) / Mestre

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Chemistry) / The increasing cost of fossil fuel energy production and its implication in environmental pollution and climate change created high demand for alternative and renewable sources of energy. This has led to great interest in research in the field of photovoltaic or solar cells Due to the abundance of sunlight, the technology is sustainable, non-polluting and can be implemented at places where power demand is needed, for example in rural areas. Solar cell devices that have been commercialized are currently based on silicon technology, involving the use of monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous silicon. Although they produce highly efficient solar cells, the cost of Si solar cells is too high. Second generation solar cell materials such as cadmium telluride and third generation materials such as perovskites and organic polymers have been receiving much attention recently. However, they lack the efficiency of Si solar cells. This research proposes the development of high energy conservation photovoltaic cells from novel low-cost organosilicon polymers. The aim was to develop novel highly branched organosilane polymers such as poly(3-hexythiophene), polydi(thien-2-yl)dimethylsilane, poly(3-hexyl- [2,2'] bithiophenyl-5-yl)-dimethyl-thiophen-2yl-silane) as electron donors along with zinc oxide nanorod as the electron acceptor which were able to bring the efficiency of the resultant photovoltaic cell close to that of current Si solar cell. / 2021-08-31

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The main hypothesis in this study is the development of a nanocomposite mediated amperometric biosensor for detection of hydrogen peroxide. The aim is to combine the electrochemical properties of both polyaniline and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate into highly conductive nano composites capable of exhibiting electrochemistry in non acidic media; shuttling electrons between HRP and GCE for biosensor applications. / South Africa

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study firstly reports the development, characterisation, and application of thick-film acetylcholinesterase (AChE) biosensors based on a gold electrode modified with a mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) self-assembled monolayer and either poly(omethoxyaniline) (POMA) or poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) in the presence of polystyrene(4-sulphonic acid) (PSSA). The Au/MBT/POMA-PSSA/AChE and Au/MBT/PDMA-PSSA/AChE biosensors were then applied to successfully detect standard organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer, 0.1 M KCl (pH 7.2) solution. Secondly, it reports the construction of the Au/MBT/PANI/AChE/PVAc thick-film biosensor for the determination of certain organophosphate and carbamate pesticide solutions in selected aqueous organic solvent solutions. / South Africa