Artificial light surrounds us in a manifold of shapes. It is mainly utilized for illumination, but also for graphical communication of complex and evolving messages and information, among other things. It can be generated in different ways with incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes constituting two common examples. Organic solid state light-generation technologies, which boast advantages such as solution processability, thin and flexible form factors, and large versatility, are modern additions to the field. But regardless of the means of generation, whenever light is to be used to communicate information, as signage or displays, it needs to be patterned. Unfortunately patterning is often complicated and expensive from a fabrication point of view, or renders the devices inefficient. To bridge the gap between present technologies and the need for low-cost and low-complexity patterned light emitters, it is important to develop new device architectures and/or fabrication procedures. In this thesis we show that patterned light emission can be attained from solution processable bilayer light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), in which the bilayer stack comprises an electrolyte and an organic semiconductor as the first and second layer, respectively. We investigate a subtractive direct-write approach, in which electrolyte is displaced and patterned by the contact motion of a thin stylus, as well as an additive inkjet-patterning technique. Both result in electroluminescent patterns, e.g., light-emitting sketches and microscopic signage with high pixel density. But they can also build macroscopic patterned regions with homogeneous emission depending on the design of electrolyte features. Using an in-operando optical microscopy study we have investigated the operational physics and some limiting factors of the bilayer LECs. More specifically we find that the electrolyte film homogeneity is a key property for high optical quality, and that the emitting region is defined by the location of the interfaces between electrolyte, anode, and organic semiconductor. We observe that the cationic diffusion length is less than one micrometer in our employed organic semiconductors, and rationalize the localized emission by cationic electric double-layer formation at the cathode, and the electronically insulating electrolyte at the anode. To date, the presented luminescent signage devices feature high-resolution patterns, in both pixelated and line-art form, and show great robustness in terms of fabrication and material compatibility. Being LECs, they have the potential for truly low-cost solution processing, which opens up for new applications and implementations. However, these first reports on patterned bilayer LECs leave plenty of room for improvements of the optical and electronic characteristics. For instance, if the optoelectronic properties of the devices were better understood, a rational design of microscopic electrolyte features could provide for both more efficient LECs, and for more homogeneous light emission from the patterned regions.

The oldest and also most used type of secondary cells is lead-acid accumulator. Basic functional principle stayed same as in foundation time, only operation parameters are still improving (for example one of the most important is lifetime). Significant technical problem is temperature of lead-acid battery and her influence on functionality and running reactions. Master thesis is focused on this section, when is necessary to evaluate new pieces of knowledge in development. The work deals with description existing types of accumulators, further deals with theory of temperature balance and in the end by measured datas and theirs analyzing.

This work deals with lead-acid batteries operating in hybrid electric vehicles mode, i.e. in a partial state of charge. The adverse effects such as premature capacity loss and large internal resistance can markedly affect the life of a lead battery. The experiment described in this work aims to clarify the influence of the titanium dioxide in the active mass of negative electrodes especially in the life of lead acid batteries.

The master thesis provides a brief introduction to the lead-acid batteries. The thesis describes an internal construction, electrochemical reactions inside the batery, the area of application and possible degradation effects. The next part deals with an analytic method of the measurement called electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The thesis describes the principle of measurement, alternative equivalent circuits, the impedance of electrochemical cell and the analyse of recorded datas. In the practical part was assembled the functional lead-acid cell. After that, experimental measurement was passed on the lead-acid cell in discharge and in a different concentration of electrolyte. In the last part was created the simulation of treatment of an electrochemical cell in the development solution Agilent VEE and after that all the measurement results were compared with the simulation.

A new rising star in the carbon nanomaterial family is carbon dots. Carbon dots have received great attention due to their excellent luminescence and low toxicity. In this project, a new carbon dot derived from birch leaves is studied and characterized. The birch leaf carbon dot (BL-CD) exhibits narrow red photoluminescence (peak = 670 nm, full width at half maximum = 23 nm) with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 26% in dilute methanol solution.  The presence of the characteristic peaks of the pigment pheophytin-a in the absorption spectrum and the photoluminescence spectrum of the BL-CD and the absence of a crystal structure together with the narrow and excitation-independent photoluminescence indicate a carbon dot with a non-emissive amorphous structure with emissive molecular sites consisting of the pigment. The photoluminescence quenching of the BL-CDs in solid-state is reduced by the introduction of a hostmaterial. The use of a host enabled the employment of BL-CDs as the emitter in a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC). This project paves the way for further development of the environmentally friendly and sustainable BL-CD LEC.

A potencialidade do eletrodo de cobre em meio alcalino foi demonstrada para o determinação de etanol a +0,6 V vs Ag/AgCl. A participação de espécies solúveis de Cu(III) no processo eletrocatalítico envolvendo a oxidação do etanol foi demonstrada por experimentos utilizando eletrodo disco-anel. A influência do potencial de pré-tratamento no sinal anódico foi investigada e correlacionada com a morfologia dos filmes formados na superfície do eletrodo por EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy), indicando que as espécies de Cu(III) são originadas a partir da oxidação da camada de CuO. As medidas de etanol foram realizadas por amperometria em 0,6 V (vs Ag/AgCl). A repetibilidade das medidas utilizando padrão aquoso de etanol 0,05 % (v/v) foi de 3 % (v/v) e os limites de detecção e quantificação foram de 0,005 % (v/v) e 0,01 % (v/v), respectivamente. Nas condições experimentais otimizadas, o sensor amperométrico foi utilizado para o monitoramento da concentração de etanol no ar exalado (BrAC), que foi convenientemente coletado em um balão de borracha (V = 3 L) e introduzido em uma solução de NaOH 1 mol L-1 (V = 10 mL). O sensor apresentou uma faixa linear para concentrações de etanol em ar exalado na faixa de 0,26 – 130 mg L-1, operando de acordo com os parâmetros analíticos especificados na Legislação Brasileira para a quantificação de etanol no ar exalado em condutores de veículos automotores. A constante de eliminação de etanol do corpo humano também foi investigada e os resultados concordaram com os valores da literatura. Empregando-se eletrodos de Cu e Au foram também desenvolvidas outras metodologias para a quantificação de dipirona, glicose e ácido ascórbico e sistemas em fluxo. Estudos sobre o desenvolvimento e propriedades de um sistema gerador-coletor foram realizados e o dispositivo foi utilizado em titulações de substâncias redutoras com iodo gerado eletroquimicamente. / A copper disc working electrode in alkaline solutions was demonstrated to act as a suitable amperometric sensor for ethanol determination at +0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. The participation of free-soluble Cu(III) species in the electrocatalytic process involving the anodic oxidation of ethanol has been demonstrated by rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry. The influence of the pretreatment potential on the anodic signal was investigated and a correlation with the morphology of the electrode surface characterized by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that the Cu(III) species is originated from the oxidation of a CuO layer. Ethanol measurements were performed in the amperometric mode at 0.6 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The repeatability of the measurements for a 0.05 % aqueous ethanol solution was estimated as 3 %, and the detection and quantification limits were determined as 0.005 % and 0.01 %, respectively. At the optimum experimental conditions, the amperometric sensor was used to monitor the concentration of ethanol in breath (BrAC), which was conveniently collected in a rubber air balloon (volume = 3 L) and introduced in a 1 mol L-1 NaOH working solution (volume = 10 mL). The sensor can measure a person\'s breath ethanol over the concentration range 0.26 - 130 mg L-1 by operating it according to an established protocol, of which the analytical parameters are specified by the Brazilian Legislation for BrAC measurements in drivers. The rate of ethanol degradation in the body was followed, and the results agree with predictions in the literature. Methodologies for the determination of dipyrone, glucose and ascorbic acid were also developed by using Cu and Au electrodes. Features of a dual-band electrochemical cell were investigated towards the development of a generator-collector system, which was employed in titrations with electrogenerated iodine.

Study of biosensors has become an essential part of research in biotechnology. Biosensors as fast, portable, highly sensitive, and low-cost bioanalytical detection devices have been utilized in many fields of human activity. The first part of the presented work focuses on electrochemical biosensors for rapid environmental screening of herbicides as water pollutants. A sol-gel immobilization method for a photosystem II (PSII) complex is studied in order to enhance the sensitivity and the signal strength and stability of a PSII-based biosensor. Computer simulations of a PSII biosensor are employed with the aim to find out how the immobilization membrane properties influence the biosensor parameters. Newly developed immobilization by a thin-layer membrane based on the results of computer simulations and revised measurement protocols are presented. The second part of the work is devoted to synthesis and electrochemical detection of newly developed metal labels for electrochemical immunosensors. The synthesis of dendrimer-encapsulated silver nanoparticles and biorecognition properties of biotin-nanocomposite conjugates are discussed. For detection of synthesized labels, a microfluidic detector was manufactured and tested and different approaches to packing of a microfluidic chip employing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were investigated. Newly designed microstructures for a microfluidic separator of magnetic beads (MBs) were studied by computer simulations. The separator was made and trapping of MBs for the further employment in MBs-based immunoassays are presented

A potencialidade do eletrodo de cobre em meio alcalino foi demonstrada para o determinação de etanol a +0,6 V vs Ag/AgCl. A participação de espécies solúveis de Cu(III) no processo eletrocatalítico envolvendo a oxidação do etanol foi demonstrada por experimentos utilizando eletrodo disco-anel. A influência do potencial de pré-tratamento no sinal anódico foi investigada e correlacionada com a morfologia dos filmes formados na superfície do eletrodo por EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy), indicando que as espécies de Cu(III) são originadas a partir da oxidação da camada de CuO. As medidas de etanol foram realizadas por amperometria em 0,6 V (vs Ag/AgCl). A repetibilidade das medidas utilizando padrão aquoso de etanol 0,05 % (v/v) foi de 3 % (v/v) e os limites de detecção e quantificação foram de 0,005 % (v/v) e 0,01 % (v/v), respectivamente. Nas condições experimentais otimizadas, o sensor amperométrico foi utilizado para o monitoramento da concentração de etanol no ar exalado (BrAC), que foi convenientemente coletado em um balão de borracha (V = 3 L) e introduzido em uma solução de NaOH 1 mol L-1 (V = 10 mL). O sensor apresentou uma faixa linear para concentrações de etanol em ar exalado na faixa de 0,26 – 130 mg L-1, operando de acordo com os parâmetros analíticos especificados na Legislação Brasileira para a quantificação de etanol no ar exalado em condutores de veículos automotores. A constante de eliminação de etanol do corpo humano também foi investigada e os resultados concordaram com os valores da literatura. Empregando-se eletrodos de Cu e Au foram também desenvolvidas outras metodologias para a quantificação de dipirona, glicose e ácido ascórbico e sistemas em fluxo. Estudos sobre o desenvolvimento e propriedades de um sistema gerador-coletor foram realizados e o dispositivo foi utilizado em titulações de substâncias redutoras com iodo gerado eletroquimicamente. / A copper disc working electrode in alkaline solutions was demonstrated to act as a suitable amperometric sensor for ethanol determination at +0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl. The participation of free-soluble Cu(III) species in the electrocatalytic process involving the anodic oxidation of ethanol has been demonstrated by rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry. The influence of the pretreatment potential on the anodic signal was investigated and a correlation with the morphology of the electrode surface characterized by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that the Cu(III) species is originated from the oxidation of a CuO layer. Ethanol measurements were performed in the amperometric mode at 0.6 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The repeatability of the measurements for a 0.05 % aqueous ethanol solution was estimated as 3 %, and the detection and quantification limits were determined as 0.005 % and 0.01 %, respectively. At the optimum experimental conditions, the amperometric sensor was used to monitor the concentration of ethanol in breath (BrAC), which was conveniently collected in a rubber air balloon (volume = 3 L) and introduced in a 1 mol L-1 NaOH working solution (volume = 10 mL). The sensor can measure a person\'s breath ethanol over the concentration range 0.26 - 130 mg L-1 by operating it according to an established protocol, of which the analytical parameters are specified by the Brazilian Legislation for BrAC measurements in drivers. The rate of ethanol degradation in the body was followed, and the results agree with predictions in the literature. Methodologies for the determination of dipyrone, glucose and ascorbic acid were also developed by using Cu and Au electrodes. Features of a dual-band electrochemical cell were investigated towards the development of a generator-collector system, which was employed in titrations with electrogenerated iodine.

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden zwei verschiedene Klassen oxidischer Nanomaterialien nasschemisch synthetisiert und strukturell-morphologisch charakterisiert. Zum einen betrifft dies TiO2-, TiO2/SiO2-, Ag/TiO2- und Pd/TiO2-Sole, welche die photokatalytisch aktive Modifikation Anatas in nanokristalliner Form enthalten und über einen solvothermalen Sol-Gel-Prozess hergestellt werden konnten. Im Hinblick auf eine potentielle Anwendung in der Desinfektionstechnologie und für den Abbau organischer Umweltschadstoffe wurde die photokatalytische Aktivität von Pulvern und Beschichtungen auf Textil durch E. coli-Abtötung bzw. Modellfarbstoffabbau untersucht. Im Weiteren wurde die antimikrobielle Aktivität pyroelektrischer LiNbO3- und LiTaO3-Pulvermaterialien unter zyklischer thermischer Anregung nachgewiesen. Diese als Pyroelektrokatalyse bezeichnete Nutzung des pyroelektrischen Effektes in einem katalytischen bzw. elektrochemischen Prozess ist dabei von grundlegender Neuheit. Aufsetzend auf den physiko-chemischen Grundlagen dieses Phänomens wurde eine Hypothese des Mechanismus entwickelt und in Analogie zur Photokatalyse diskutiert. / This thesis deals with two classes of oxidic nanomaterials that were synthesized by chemical solution routes and characterized with respect to structure and morphology. Sols of TiO2, TiO2/SiO2, Ag/TiO2 and Pd/TiO2 containing the photocatalytically active modification anatase in nanocrystalline form were prepared via a solvothermal sol-gel process. With regard to potential application in disinfection and environmental remediation technology the photocatalytic activity of powders and coatings on textile was investigated by means of E. coli decomposition and organic dye degradation. Further the antimicrobial activity of pyroelectric LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 powder materials under cyclical thermal excitation was demonstrated. In this context the application of the pyroelectric effect in a catalytic or electrochemical process – termed as pyroelectrocatalysis – is of fundamental novelty. Based on the physico-chemical principles of the phenomenon a hypothesis of the mechanism was developed and discussed in analogy with photocatalysis.

The objective of the first part of master’s thesis is mapping the potential of various types of renewable sources in Europe and Czech Republic, especially solar energy, wind energy, water energy and biomass. There are described principals and ways of energy generation from these sources, brief overview of current technologies, and also their advantages and limitations. An important part is electric supply continuity from renewable sources, there are large differences and the resulting to restrictions on construction and connecting the units to the power system. In this work there are mentioned some impacts on network and rates of change of supply, some sources are also evaluated in terms of maximum power, that can be connected to the power system in our country. The conclusion of the first part is dedicated to energy storage technologies, which are suitable and usable for renewable sources, there are described their principals, properties, status of development and types of aplications, in which these technologies are used. This chapter also focusses on the price level of each technology. The second part of the thesis deals with 1 MWp on-grid photovoltaic power plant design. This design includes also the redox flow batteries accumulation, the first variant calculates on 24-hour steady energy supply, the second optimalized variant calculates on daily energy supply. There are the accumulation system costs estimated and also the payback period for the both variants. Additionally there is also determined minimum penalization for cost-effective operation. The last part is dedicated to changes of impact on the local grid and changes of system impacts, after the accumulation system is installed.