Voltammetric determination of 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol was studied using DC voltammetry (DCV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a carbon film electrode (CFE) and a meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode (m-AgSAE). Conditions were found for its determination by DCV and DPV at CFE in Britton - Robinson buffer within concentration range 1.10-4 - 1.10-6 mol.l-1 . Using adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) m-AgSAE in Britton - Robinson buffer pH 2,0 compound this determined in the concentration range (2 - 10) .10-7 mol.l-1 with a limit of detection 3,6.10-7 mol.l-1 . Using a combination of DPV with solid phase extraction (SPE) for determination of 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol in river water, limit of detection 6,6.10-8 mol.l-1 was abtained. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) at m-AgSAE and at CFE mechanism of electrochemical reduction 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol was proposed.

This thesis encompasses the successful synthesis, characterization (NMR, IR, TGA) and electrochemical testing of novel, potentially redox-active organic materials. These were destined as electrodes for Li-organic cells and/or as catalysts for Li–O2 cells. The electrochemical performance of the dilithiated and tetralithiated salts of 2,5-dialkylamide hydroquinones (with ethyl, isopropyl or benzyl as the alkyl group) and of a partially lithiated polymer with a backbone of alternating 2,5-dicarbonylhydroquinone and 1,4-benzyl diaminophenylene units was evaluated. The small organicsalts exhibited redox-activity around 1.0 V vs Li/Li+ (the terephthaloyl redox system) and 2.8 V vs Li/Li+ (the quinone redox system). These values drifted depending on lithiation degree and alkyl substituent. Redox irreversibility featured these materials which decomposed and dissolved. The polymer exhibited multiple redox-activity in the region of 2.5-3.6 V vs Li/Li+, which was however also irreversible. Further on, the small organic salts were tested as to their impact on the dischargeproduct (Li2O2) yield in Li-O2 cells. Discharge profiles of cells with and without the inclusion of the salts were contrasted to each other; the former having a jagged appearance, indicative of side-reactions. The O2 electrode was studied by XRD todetect the formed products and the amount of Li2O2 present was quantified throug htitration and UV-vis spectroscopy. Organic salt inclusion was found to negatively affect the Li2O2 formation and also attack the Li-electrode.

Faculty of Science School of Chemistry 0204045a tspmkwi@hotmail.com / New possibilities in collection of polarographic and potentiometric experimental data in studies of metal–ligand systems by automated instrumental methods, and subsequent treatment of the polarographic data, whereby the degree of reversibility of the electrode processes varies, have been investigated in this work. An automated instrumental set–up was developed for applications in studies of metal–ligand solution equilibria by potentiometry and sampled Direct Current Polarography (DCP). The new set–up was designed based on virtual instrumentation principles whereby several commercially– available hardware units as well as custom–built electronic components, were interfaced to a personal computer that was equipped with appropriate hardware and control programs. The instrumental set–up was tested and validated by studying the protonation equilibria of the ligand glycine by Glass Electrode Potentiometry (GEP) as well as the complexation of the ligand glycine with Cd2+ by GEP and DCP. The new set–up provides increased versatility, accuracy and convenience in obtaining large numbers of experimental points in solution equilibria studies by DCP and GEP as opposed to the use of tedious and time–consuming manual methods. Nonlinear curve–fitting procedures, based on closed–form models that were derived here from suitable theoretical equations identified from literature, have been investigated in this work for applications in analysis of DC curves recorded on metal–ligand systems with variation in electrochemical reversibility. The applicability and limitations of the curve–fitting procedures developed have been tested in analysis of the DCP data collected on several metal–ligand systems involving Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ and the ligands glycine and sarcosine, whereby the DCP studies of these systems exhibited reversible, quasi–reversible or irreversible electrochemical processes. Information on applicability and limitations of the proposed methods investigated in this work was derived by comparison of the results obtained from DCP, using the proposed methods, with either reported literature data and/or results obtained in this work by the independent analytical technique of GEP, which was deployed wherever it was found to be applicable to study the metal–ligand systems considered.

Neste trabalho são apresentados resultados da eletrodeposição de MoOx e de WOx em eletrodos de carbono vítreo e em eletrodos de ouro. A estabilidade de filmes de WOx foi investigada em diferentes valores de pH utilizando voltametria cíclica e microbalança eletroquímica de cristal de quartzo e observou-se que estes filmes são estáveis em soluções com valores de pH inferiores a 3. O processo eletrocatalítico envolvendo a redução de IO3- em superfícies recobertas com WOx foi comparado com aquele observado em eletrodo modificado com MoOx, observando-se as vantagens deste processo em superfícies modificadas com WOx. Discutiram-se ainda os resultados obtidos do processo da oxidação de óxido nítrico na superfície eletródica polida e modificada com WOx. Também são apresentados resultados de estudos comparativos sobre a redução do IO3-, BrO3- e ClO3- na superfície modificada, concluindo-se que no caso do IO3- obtêm-se maiores valores de corrente devido à maior polarizabilidade do átomo de iodo em relação aos outros dois halogênios. Estudos envolvendo a permeabilidade de íons IO3- e Fe(CN)63- em filmes de WOx foram realizados por voltametria com eletrodos rotativos percebendo-se que filmes mais espessos apresentam pouca permeabilidade. Eletrodos recobertos por filmes de WOx foram utilizados como sensores amperométricos para iodato. Para tanto, desenvolveu-se método em fluxo para IO3- em uma faixa de concentração de 5 a 5000 mmol/L, com limite de detecção estimado em 210 nmol/L. A repetibilidade do método para 41 injeções de solução 80 mmol/L de IO3- foi de 98,3 %. Também foram realizados ensaios para determinar o analito em amostras de sal de cozinha e os dados obtidos foram concordantes com os resultados oriundos do uso de método oficial. / Thin films of non-stoichiometric tungsten oxides have been deposited onto glassy carbon surfaces by electrodeposition from acidic W (VI) solutions. At these modified surfaces, rotating disc electrode voltammetric experiments indicated that iodate is electrocatalytically reduced in a mass-transport controlled process. The influence of the film thickness on the response to iodate was investigated and the results suggested a reaction occurring at the film/solution interface. The modified electrode was employed successfully as an amperometric sensor for iodate in a flow injection apparatus. The linear response of the developed method is extended from a 5 mmol L-1 to 5 mmol L-1 iodate with a limit of detection (signal-to-noise = 3) of 210 nmol L-1. The repeatability of the method for 41 injections of an 80 mmol L-1 iodate solution was 98,3 % and the throughput was determined as 123 injections h-1. Interference from other oxidant anions such as nitrate and nitrite was not noticeable, whereas bromate and chlorate interfere at slight levels. The method was used in the determination of the iodate content in commercial salt samples.

São apresentados os resultados do estudo das propriedades eletroquímicas do eletrodo de diamante dopado com boro (DDB) e do eletrodo de DDB modificado diretamente pelo método Sol-Gel com PbOx, para a determinação de carbaril. Mostrou-se que uma polarização anódica (3,0 V vs Ag/AgCl, 30 min) seguida de uma catódica (-3,0 V vs Ag/AgCl, 30 min), em meio ácido, são apropriadas para otimizar o desempenho catalítico da superfície. As imagens de AFM mostraram alterações topológicas significativas no eletrodo de PbOx/DDB, assim como as imagens digitais apresentaram uma provável mistura de óxidos de chumbo depositados na superfície do DDB. Caracterizações físicas do modificador PbOx foram realizadas com as técnicas de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), Difratometria de raios-X (DRX) e Energia Dispersiva de raios-X (EDS). A MEV verificou os aspectos morfológicos da amostra e revelou que as partículas do modificador tinham formatos e tamanhos diferentes, distribuídas irregularmente. O difratograma de DRX confirmou a existência de uma mistura de óxidos de chumbo, produzida pelo método Sol-Gel e a análise por EDS mostrou a presença dos elementos chumbo e oxigênio, com proporção atômica de 43:57 (Pb:O). Para a determinação eletroanalítica do pesticida carbaril, empregou-se a técnica de Voltametria de Onda Quadrada (SWV) em tampão Britton-Robinson 4,0 x 10-2 mol L-1 (pH 6,0), com acréscimo de alíquotas obtidas de uma solução estoque de carbaril 1,0 x 10-2 mol L-1 em acetonitrila. Os parâmetros utilizados foram: frequência de 10 s-1, amplitude de pulso de 100 mV, incremento de potencial de 2 mV, potencial de pré-tratamento catódico de -1,1 V no tempo de 10 s. Curvas analíticas foram apresentadas para os dois eletrodos, mostrando que o eletrodo de DDB apresentou um limite de detecção (LD) de 2,0 µmol L-1. Já o eletrodo PbOx/DDB, um LD de 0,9 µmol L-1, baixo o suficiente em relação ao limite máximo de resíduo permitido pela ANVISA para a presença do pesticida em amostras de culturas agrícolas. A repetibilidade das medidas com o eletrodo de PbOx/DDB resultou em um desvio padrão relativo de 4,6% e a reprodutibilidade, em 5,2%. Em um estudo das velocidades de varredura, mostrou que a oxidação do carbaril é controlada por difusão e ocorre de maneira irreversível na superfície do eletrodo de PbOx/DDB. A técnica de SWV também foi aplicada em amostras reais de água artificialmente contaminadas de dois córregos da cidade de São Carlos - SP (Córrego Santa Maria do Leme e Córrego do Gregório), ambas tamponadas (pH 6,0), utilizando o eletrodo de PbOx/DDB. Com o objetivo de se comparar a precisão e a sensibilidade da SWV, foram obtidos espectros de UV-Vis em 280 nm e as correspondentes curvas analíticas para o carbaril em tampão BR e nas amostras dos córregos, num intervalo de concentrações de 5,0 x 10-6 a 3,5 x 10-5 mol L-1. O LD e o limite de quantificação (LQ) em solução tampão BR, calculados a partir dos experimentos de SWV, foram de 0,9 x 10-6 mol L-1 e 7,44 x 10-6 mol L-1, respectivamente. Para a técnica de UV-Vis, o LD foi de 2,6 x 10-5 mol L-1 e o LQ de 8,68 x 10-5 mol L-1, indicando que o método eletroanalítico é capaz de apresentar melhores resultados para a análise da oxidação de carbaril. Experimentos de eletrólises potenciostáticas a 3,0 V por 21 horas, acopladas a um detector de UV-Vis, mostraram que em solução tampão BR, o decaimento da concentração de carbaril para o eletrodo de DDB foi de 14,9%, ao passo que, para o eletrodo de PbOx/DDB, foi de 39,3%. Sendo assim, o eletrodo de PbOx/DDB mostrou melhores resultados, com uma excelente atividade catalítica, superior ao eletrodo de DDB sem modificação. / It is presented the results obtained in the study of electrochemical properties of the boron doped electrode (BDD) and of the BDD modified with PbOx by the Sol-Gel method, for the quantitative determination of carbaryl. It has been showed that an anodic polarization (3.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, 30 min) followed by a cathodic one (-3.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, 30 min), in acid medium, are appropriated to enhance the catalytic activity of the surface. The AFM images showed significant topologic alterations in the PbOx/DDB surface, moreover the digital imaging showed a mixture of lead oxides deposited in the DDB surface. Physical modifications of the PbOx modifier were carried out with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). SEM measurements illustrated the morphologic aspects of the samples surfaces and showed that the modifier coating had shape and size distinct from the bare BDD surface and that it was irregularly distributed throughout the surface. The XRD difractogram confirmed the existence of a mixture of lead oxides, provided by the Sol-Gel procedure and the EDS indicated the presence of lead and oxygen in a 43:57 atomic proportion (Pb:O). For the electroanalytical determination of carbaryl, the Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) technique was employed in Britton-Robinson buffer solution 4.0 x 10-2 mol L-1 (pH 6.0), with the additions of aliquots from a 1.0 x 10-2 mol L-1 cabaryl in acetonitrile. The voltammetric parameters were optimized and used as frequency of 10 s-1, pulse amplitude of 100 mV, potential increment of 2 mV, cathodic pre-treatment potential of -1.1 V during 10 s. Analytical curves were obtained for both electrodes (BDD and BDD modified with PbOx) with the limit of detection limit (LOD) calculated for BDD of 2.0 µmol L-1. On the other hand, for PbOx modified electrode the calculated LOD was 0.9 µmol L-1, below the maximum residue limit allowed by ANVISA for the presence of pesticide in agricultural samples. The repeatability of PbOx/BDD electrode revealed a relative standard deviation of 4.6% and a reproducibility of 5.2%. A voltammetry study in different scan rates showed that carbaryl oxidation occurs irreversibly with diffusion control on the modified electrode surface. The SWV was also applied in artificially contaminated water samples from two urban creeks in São Carlos-SP city (Santa Maria do Leme and Gregorio creeks), both water samples were buffered (pH 6.0) and analyzed with the modified electrode. Aiming to compare the precision and sensitivity of SWV in those samples, analyzes were also performed using UV-Vis absorption at 280 nm and the corresponding analytical curves for carbaryl in BR buffer were obtained for a pesticide concentration between 5.0 x 10 -6 to 3.5 x 10-5 mol L-1. The LOD and limit of quantification (LOQ) were obtained as 0.9 x 10-6 mol L-1 and 7.44 x 10-6 mol L-1 for each creek water sample, respectively. In the UV-Vis measurements, the LOD was 2.6 x 10-5 mol L-1 and LOQ was 8.68 x 10-5 mol L-1 for both water samples, pointing out the excellence of the electroanalytical methodology to quantify carbaryl concentrations in those matrices. Potentiostatic electrolysis experiments at 3.0 V for 21 hours were also conducted for BDD and PbOx/BDD surfaces, with \"in situ\" UV-Vis detection, in BR buffer solutions. After the time period the carbaryl concentration diminished 14.9% of its initial value for the BDD electrode, while for the modified one the diminishing was of 39.3 %. In this way, the PbOx/BDD electrode has demonstrated its excellent catalytic performance, quite superior to that of the bare BDD one.

Esta tese de doutorado aborda o desenvolvimento de sistemas microfluídicos eletroquímicos ultrassensíveis mediante a integração de eletrodos i) concêntricos e ii) nanoestruturados seletivos à detecção condutométrica sem contato acoplada capacitivamente (capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection, C4D) e à amperometria, respectivamente. O uso dos eletrodos concêntricos, uma configuração inédita em microdispositivos na qual o filme fino metálico circunda todo o microcanal, se mostrou efetivo na melhora da detectabilidade da C4D para análises em fluxo de soluções padrão de LiClO4. O limite de detecção (LD) para esse sal foi igual a 343 pmol L-1, um valor aproximadamente quatro ordens de grandeza inferior àquele obtido com eletrodos planares. O microchip amperométrico nanoestruturado, por sua vez, consistiu de filmes de Au modificados com nanotubos de carbono de parede única (single-walled carbon nanotubes, SWCNTs) verticalmente alinhados e foi aplicado a padrões do neurotransmissor serotonina. A melhora na detectabilidade do método foi novamente apreciável; os valores de LD foram de 11,8 (Au liso) e 0,2 nmol L-1 (Au modificado com os SWCNTs verticalmente alinhados). Esse último é menor frente à grande maioria dos valores descritos na literatura, para os quais técnicas diversas foram empregadas, incluindo: i) potenciometria com eletrodos modificados (1,0 a 500 nmol L-1), ii) HPLC-MS (18,2 nmol L-1), iii) eletroforese capilar combinada com etapas de extração, empilhamento e préconcentração do analito (7,9 nmol L-1) e iv) sensor químico (200 nmol L-1). Finalmente, objetivando a fabricação de microchips de vidro, condutométricos e amperométricos, incorporando eletrodos concêntricos nanoestrurados, uma nova técnica de selagem foi desenvolvida. Essa técnica, designada como selagem adesiva de sacrifício, baseia-se no uso do resiste negativo SU-8 como camada intermediária de modo a permitir a vedação entre duas lâminas de vidro. Numa etapa posterior, a remoção seletiva do SU-8 sob o microcanal é realizada. Logo, canais microfluídicos com propriedades de superfície similares às do vidro foram obtidos. O protocolo experimental adotado é i) simples, ii) rápido, iii) não envolve níveis de pressão e temperatura elevados e iv) prescinde o uso de salas \"limpas\". Vedações com forças de adesão satisfatórias foram alcançadas, suportando pressões superiores a 4 MPa. / This PhD thesis reports the development of ultrasensitive electrochemical microfluidic systems by integrating concentric and nanostructured electrodes selective to capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) and amperometry, respectively. The use of the concentric electrodes, a new assembly in microdevices with thin films wrapping around the microchannel, showed to be effective towards improvement of the detectability in pressure-driven flow platforms incorporating C4D. The limit-of-detection (LOD) in flow analysis of LiClO4 solutions was 343 pmol L-1, ca. four orders of magnitude lower than to the levels obtained with planar electrodes alone. The nanostructured amperometric microchip, in turn, is related to integration of vertically aligned singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) over Au film. Such platform was applied to determination of serotonin standards. The nanomaterial influenced remarkably the sensitivity and detectability. Our system achieved a LOD of 0.2 nmol L-1, to the best of our knowledge one of the lowest values reported in the literature. Finally, in order to fabricate glass microdevices, conductometric and amperometric, with nanostructured concentric electrodes, we developed a new bonding method. This technique, called as sacrificial adhesive bonding, is based on SU-8 negative resist like intermediate layer so to allow the sealing between two glass slides. Next, the selective removal of the SU-8 under the microchannel is carried out. Thus, microfluidic channels presenting glass-like surface properties were achieved. The experimental protocol is simple and fast. In addition, neither high-pressure and elevated-temperature nor the use of \"clean\" rooms were not required. Bondings with satisfactory adhesion forces were obtained, supporting pressures above 4 MPa.

O desenvolvimento de metodologias eletroanalíticas altamente eficientes para a determinação de resíduos de pesticidas em amostras de alimentos usando a radiação de ultra-som (US) e o eletrodo de diamante dopado com boro (DDB) é reportado neste trabalho.Também são apresentadas tentativas para melhorar a degradação eletroquímica de pesticidas e de seus metabólitos no ambiente usando estas novas ferramentas (US e DDB) para minimizar o bloqueio da superfície eletródica que, usualmente, impede tais processos.A primeira parte do trabalho apresenta a determinação do metilparation (MP), do seu produto de degradação 4-nitrofenol (4-NF) e do carbaril em água pura e em amostras de alimentos, por voltametria de onda quadrada (SWV) na ausência e na presença do ultra-som usando o eletrodo de DDB. Os resultados obtidos em água pura foram comparados com os dados obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência.As metodologias sonoeletroanalíticas para todos os analitos em água pura e nas matrizes de alimentos apresentaram maior sensibilidade e precisão e menores limites de detecção (LD) e de quantificação (LQ) em relação às medidas silenciosas. Para a redução do MP e do 4-NF e para a oxidação do carbaril em água pura, o LD diminuiu de 10,8 para 4,86 μg L-1, de 6,38 para 2,57 μg L-1 e de 2,96 para 2,08 μg L-1, respectivamente. Para a detecção do MP em extrato de batata e do 4-NF em suco de limão, o valor do LD diminuiu de 36,6 para 10,1 μg L-1 e de 13,8 para 8,32 μg L-1, respectivamente.Em todos os casos, foi observado que os valores de LD e LQ estão dentro da concentração máxima permitida para os compostos em amostras de alimentos (50 e 500 μg kg-1 para amostras de batata e de milho, respectivamente, de 1000 μg kg-1 para frutas cítricas e de 500 μg kg-1 para amostras de abacaxi). Satisfatórios valores de recuperação dos analitos nas amostras indicam a possibilidade da determinação direta do MP em extratos de batata e de milho (83 a 96 %) e do 4-NF em sucos de laranja e de limão (84 a 94 %) e também para a detecção do carbaril em suco de abacaxi após o procedimento de extração líquido-líquido (89 a 92 %). Inicialmente, não foram encontrados resíduos detectáveis dos compostos em todas essas amostras de alimentos.As vantagens observadas para os estudos na presença do ultra-som são devidas ao aumento do transporte de espécies até a superfície eletródica e também à limpeza da superfície, visto que a limpeza intermediária não é necessária, resultando em análises mais rápidas e reprodutíveis.Na segunda parte do trabalho, os efeitos benéficos do ultra-som, particularmente a limpeza da superfície eletródica, foram avaliados em associação às eletrólises potenciostáticas para a degradação do pentaclorofenol (PCF) a 0,9, 2,0 e 3,0 V vs. Ag/AgCl e do carbaril a 3,0 V vs. Ag/AgCl.Para o pentaclorofenol, as eletrólises a 0,9 V mostraram que o bloqueio da superfície eletródica foi mais rápido na sonoeletrólise em relação ao processo na ausência do ultra-som, devido à formação de um composto dimérico na superfície eletródica. Eletrólises a 2,0 V e a 3,0 V mostraram maiores níveis de decaimento das bandas do PCF para os estudos na presença do ultra-som em relação àqueles obtidos por medidas silenciosas, devido ao aumento do transporte de massa, minimização da inativação do eletrodo e geração simultânea de radicais hidroxila pelo ultra-som e pela superfície polarizada do DDB. Resultados similares àqueles obtidos para o pentaclorofenol no maior valor de potencial foram também observados para a degradação do carbaril a 3,0 V. / The development of highly efficient electroanalytical methodologies for the determination of pesticide residues in food samples using ultrasound radiation (US) and a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode is reported in this work.Also reported are attempts to improve the electrochemical degradation of pesticides and their metabolites in the environment by using those new tools (US and BDD) to minimize the blockage of the electrode surface that usually hinders such processes.The first part of the work presents the determination of methylparathion (MP), their degradation product 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and carbaryl in pure water and food samples by square wave voltammetry (SWV) in the absence and presence of ultrasound using the BDD electrode. The results obtained in pure water were compared with the high performance liquid chromatography data.The sonoelectroanalytical methodologies for all analytes in pure water and food matrices showed greater sensitivity and precision and lower limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) than the silent measurements. For the reduction of MP and 4-NP and oxidation of carbaryl in pure water, the LOD diminished from 10.8 to 4.86 μg L-1, from 6.38 to 2.57 μg L-1 and from 2.96 to 2.08 μg L-1, respectively. For the detection of MP in potato extract and of 4-NP in lemon juice, the LOD value diminished from 36.6 to 10.1 μg L-1 and from 13.8 to 8.32 μg L-1, respectively.In all cases, it was observed that the LOD and LOQ values are inside of the maximum allowed concentration for compounds in food samples (50 and 500 μg kg-1 for potato and corn samples, respectively, 1000 μg kg-1 for citrus fruit and 500 μg kg-1 for pineapple sample). Satisfactory recovery values for the analytes in the samples indicate the possibility of the direct determination of MP in potato and corn extracts (83 to 96 %) and 4-NP in orange and lemon juices (84 to 94 %) and also for the detection of carbaryl in a pineapple juice after a liquid-liquid extraction procedure (89 to 92 %). In all these food samples, no initial detectable residues of the compounds were found.The advantages observed for the insonated studies are due to the increase in the mass transport of species to the electrode surface and also to the cleaning of the surface, since the intermediary cleaning is not necessary thus resulting in a more rapid and reproducible analysis.In the second part of the work, the beneficial effects of the ultrasound, particularly the cleaning of electrode surface, were evaluated in association to potentiostatic electrolyses for the degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) at 0.9, 2.0 and 3.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl and for carbaryl at 3.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl.For pentachlorophenol the electrolyses at 0.9 V showed that the blockage of the electrode surface was faster in the sonoelectrolysis than in the absence of ultrasound due to the formation of a dimeric compound on the electrode surface. Electrolyses at 2.0 V and 3.0 V showed greater decay levels of the PCP bands for insonated studies than those obtained for the silent measurements, due the increase of mass transport, minimization of the electrode fouling and to the added generation of hydroxyl radicals by both ultrasound and the polarized BDD surface. Similar results to those for pentachlorophenol at the higher potential were also observed for the degradation of carbaril at 3.0 V.

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is considered as a highly promising power source. It is based on polymer electrolytes membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology. It posses a number of advantages such as a liquid fuel, quick refueling, low cost of methanol and the compact cell, design making it suitable for various potential applications including stationary and portable applications. DMFCs are also environmentally friendly. Although carbon dioxide is produced, there is no production of sulfur or nitrogen oxides. The development of commercial DMFCs has nevertheless been hindered by some important issues. The most important are the low power density caused by the slow electrochemical methanol oxidation at the anode and methanol crossover through PEM, which is responsible for inhibiting the activity of the cathode catalyst as well. With the eventual goal of improving the overall performance of the DMFC, this study has been concerned with an investigation of the issues and effect of various parameters on its performance. First of all, the electrode preparation methodology and the effect of the catalyst were investigated. The most efficient membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared with Pt/Ru black at anode and Pt black cathode on either side of a Nafion 117 membrane. Performance was however limited by current oscillations observed at low cell voltage and high current density attributed to carbon dioxide removal. Consequently, the effect of flow rate was investigated. Higher flow rates eliminated these oscillations. Then attention was focused on the management of the two-phase flow that occurs in the diffusion layer of the electrode as well as in the anode bipolar plate flow channels. Removal of carbon dioxide formed during methanol oxidation was thus found to be an important issue in DMFC. There is a competition between methanol diffusion to the catalyst layer and CO2 removal in the opposite direction. The two fluxes needed to be balanced in order to optimize performance. To accomplish this, the ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pores respectively formed in the catalytic layer by Nafion and PTFE (Teflon) was altered. It also had an effect on crossover. The effect of a barrier layer was investigated to reduce crossover. Finally, zirconia and silica nano-composite membranes were tested instead of Nafion and found to reduce crossover. Developing a good understanding of what happens on the catalyst surface is important to develop a strategy on how improve DMFC performance. Thus is why a dynamic model based on a simplified mechanism for methanol electro-oxidation reaction was developed. It shows, amongst other insights, how the intermediate species coverage evolves with time. The mechanism was however too simple to provide an idea of which poisoning species are formed on the catalyst surface. A more exhaustive mechanism is thus being developed using Reaction Route analysis.

This thesis has investigated several complex situations that may be encountered in electrochemical studies. Three main situations have been examined, they include the formation of polymer films on electrode surfaces during measurements, a novel nanocatalyst modified electrode surfaces, and organised carbon nanotube (CNT) structures on electrode surfaces. These have been utilised for different electrochemical applications owing to their dissimilar properties. Voltammetric techniques of cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and Fourier transformed large amplitude ac voltammetry (FTACV) have been utilised to examine these reactions. Chapter 3 reports the investigation of catechol oxidation and subsequent polymerisation through crosslinking with D-glucosamine or chitosan. Hydrogel can be formed on the electrode surface during the process, which changes the viscosity of the solution and thus affects the diffusion of chemical species. This process has been examined by several voltammetric techniques. A further examination of the chemical system has also been conducted using FTACV for the first time. Chapter 4 describes the preparation of carbon microsphere supported molybdenum disulfide. The material has been utilised as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic media, and the performance tested by traditional linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and advanced FTACV techniques. The FTACV technique has been used for the first time for HER processes. In addition, the synthesised particles have also been used for thermal catalytic decomposition of hydrogen sulfide, which shows a significant improvement in the conversion rate over conventional examples. Chapter 5 demonstrates the direct growth of vertically aligned CNT forests on a gold electrode. The electrochemical response of the fabricated electrode has also been examined with ferrocyanide as the redox species. Furthermore, the immobilisation of anthraquinone onto CNT forest has been attempted. The fabricated electrode was utilised as a pH sensor via CV and SWV, and both indicates a well correlated pH-potential relationship in the pH range of 2 to 12. The sensor has also been assessed by the FTACV technique.

A construção de sensor potenciométrico, utilizando Nióbio acoplado a eletrodo de referência de prata/cloreto de prata num mesmo instrumento, possibilita o acompanhamento da variação de potencial que ocorre durante uma reação ácido-base em meio aquoso. Foi utilizado eletrodo de vidro combinado, cuja membrana de vidro foi danificada fisicamente, porém com sua referência interna em pleno funcionamento. O eletrodo de Nióbio foi confeccionado com metal polido ou então com a superfície modificada com óxido eletrodepositado. O crescimento de óxido sobre o Nióbio foi obtido por eletrólise em meio a H3PO4 diluído. O metal ou o par metal/óxido foi fixado no eletrodo de vidro contendo uma solução eletrolítica. O eletrodo de Nióbio não apresenta boa sensibilidade quando utilizado como indicador em potenciometria direta, mas é sensível às variações de potenciais que ocorrem em titulações ácido-base. O eletrodo de Nióbio metálico pode substituir o eletrodo de vidro combinado na determinação do teor de acidez de vinagres. / The construction of potentiometric sensors, using Niobium combined with the reference electrode silver / silver chloride in a single instrument, allows the variation of potential monitoring that occurs during an acid-base reaction in aqueous media. It was used a combined electrode glass, whose glass membrane was damaged physically, but with the internal reference in full operation. The Niobium electrode was made with polished metal or with the surface modified by electrodeposited oxide. The oxide growth was obtained by electrolysis in the H3PO4 diluted media. The metal or metal/oxide was fixed in glass electrode containing a electrolyte solution. The Niobium electrode doesn\'t show sensitivity when used as an indicator in direct potentiometry, but is sensitive to changes of potential that occur in acid-base titrations. The electrode of Niobium metal can replace the glass electrode combined in determining the level of acidity of vinegar.