Die Arbeit befaßt sich mit Modellsystemen zur elektrokatalytischen Reduktion von Sauerstoff in wäßriger saurer Elektrolytlösung. Ziel ist es, zum Verständnis des Reduktionsmechanismus an makrozyklischen Elektrokatalysatoren beizutragen, da diese Stoffklasse ein Potential zum Einsatz in PEM-Brennstoffzellen besitzt. Untersucht wurden meso-arylsubstituierte Fe-, Co- und Ni-Metalloporphyrine auf einem graphitischen Träger. Die Moleküle wurden in systematischer Weise modifiziert, um Struktur-Reaktivitäts-Beziehungen zu finden. Synthese, spektroskopische Charakterisierung (UV-vis, IR, Raman) und Applikation sind beschrieben. Die Reduktion wurde mit klassischer Elektroanalytik (CV, RDE, RRDE, Impedanzmessung) und in situ-Ramanspektroskopie untersucht. Die Aktivität der Modellkatalysatoren ist abhängig vom Zentralion und den Arylsubstituenten und läßt sich teilweise mit den Hammett-Konstanten von Substituenten korrelieren. Aussagen zum Mechanismus lassen sich aus klassischer Elektroanalytik ableiten, es wurde jedoch ausschließlich 2-Elektronen-Reduktion beobachtet. Mit der in situ-Ramanspektroskopie läßt sich unter Ausnutzung des Resonanzeffekts der elektronische Zustand der Komplexe unter elektrochemischen Bedingungen beobachten. Aussagen zum Elektronentransfer und zur Redoxkatalyse werden gewonnen. Weiterhin lassen sich sowohl die geometrische Orientierung und Koordination der Chelate an die Kohlenstoffunterlage als auch die Art der Koordination des Sauerstoffmoleküls an den Katalysator untersuchen. Die untersuchten Moleküle waren parallel zur Kohlenstoffoberfläche orientiert, mit sauerstoffhaltigen Oberflächengruppen als axialem Ligand am Zentralion. Für Fe-Porphyrine wurde eine gewinkelt lineare Koordination des Sauerstoffmoleküls an das Metallzentrum gefunden.

Die Elektrochemie und die Spektroelektrochemie von Nitroanilinen (ortho-, meta- und para- Isomere) und deren entsprechenden Diaminoverbindungen (ortho-, meta- und para-Phenylendiamin) wurden an zwei verschiedenen Elektroden (Platin und Gold) und in zwei Elektrolytlösungen (saure und neutrale Perchloratlösung) untersucht. Die erhaltenen Messergebnisse wurden als Referenz für die spektroelektrochemische Untersuchung von Polyvinylaminen mit o- oder p- Nitroanilinsubstituenten verwendet. Es wurden außerdem spektroelektrochemische Untersuchungen mit anderen Polyvinylaminen, die das Wurster Kationradikal oder Stilbene als Substituenten enthalten, durchgeführt. Die oxidative und reduktive Elektrochemie von drei Nitroanilinisomeren wurde in neutraler (0.1 M KClO4) und saurer (0.1 M HClO4) wässriger Elektrolytlösung mit zyklischer Voltammetrie und oberflächenverstärkter Ramanspektroskopie (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy SERS) untersucht. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer Elektrolytlösung für o- und p-Nitroanilin aufgezeichnet wurden, zeigten die Bildung von o- und p-Phenylendiamin beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. In neutraler Elektrolytlösung ist die Situation anders und die Endprodukte der elektrochemischen Reduktion dieser Isomere sind o- und p- Amino-N-phenylhydroxylamin. Aus den zyklischen Voltammogrammen, die mit Gold- und Platinelektroden bei anodischem Potenzialdurchlauf für diese Isomere in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung aufgezeichnet wurden, erhält man folgende Reihenfolge für die Lage der Oxidationspotentiale m-Nitroanilin > p-Nitroanilin > o-Nitroanilin. Eine Sauerstoff-Gold-Adsorbat- Streckschwingung wurde zwischen 400 und 430 cm-1 in den SER-Spektren der drei isomeren Nitroaniline in beiden Elektrolytlösungen bei positiven Elektrodenpotenzialen beobachtet. Das SERS-Experiment zeigte auch eine senkrechte Orientierung der adsorbierten Nitroaniline zur Oberfläche der Goldelektrode. Für die isomeren Phenylendiamine wurde in beiden Elektrolytlösungen und mit beiden Elektroden im anodischen Durchlauf das gleiche Verhalten beobachtet. Das beim Ein- Elektronenübergang erhaltene Oxidationsprodukt (Radikalkation) reagiert im Fall von o- und m- Phenylendiamin über eine C-N-Kopplung mit einem weiteren Radikal zum Dimer (1.Schritt der Elektropolymerisation). p-Phenylendiamin wird nach dem ECE-Mechanismus (E = Elektronentransfer, C = chemische Reaktion) oxidiert, wobei die Ladungsübertragung in zwei Schritten erfolgt, gekoppelt mit Säure-Base-Reaktionen, was zur Bildung des Diimin führt. Aus den SERS-Messungen kann man schlussfolgern, dass m- und p-Phenylendiamin waagerecht zur Metalloberfläche über den Benzenring und die Stickstoffatome adsorbiert sind. Die Adsorption von o-Phenylendiamin erfolgt über die Stickstoffatome und mit schräger Orientierung zur Metalloberfläche. Die zyklischen Voltammogramme, die mit einer Goldelektrode in saurer und neutraler Elektrolytlösung von den Polyvinylaminen mit Nitroanilinsubstituenten aufgenommen wurden, zeigen dasselbe Verhalten wie Nitroanilinmonomere beim Potenzialdurchlauf in kathodischer Richtung. Die für diese Polymere im anodischen Durchlauf erhaltenen Zyklovoltammogramme unterscheiden sich von denen für die Monomere. Die Zahl der Adsorptionsplätze und die Adsorptionsstärke der Polyvinylamine verändern sich in Abhängigkeit vom Elektrodenpotential, vom Prozentsatz und der Art des aromatischen Substituenten am Polymerrückgrat und vom pH-Wert der Lösung. / The electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of nitroanilines (ortho, meta, and para isomers) and their respective amino compounds (ortho-, meta- and paraphenylenediamines) have been investigated at two different electrodes (platinum and gold) and in two different electrolyte solutions (acidic and neutral perchlorate). The results of these investigations were used as a reference for the spectroelectrochemistry of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents. Spectroelectrochemical investigations of polyvinylamine containing Wurster radical cation or stilbene as a substituent were also carried out. The oxidative and reductive electrochemistry of the three isomeric nitroanilines has been studied in neutral (0.1 M KClO4) and acidic (0.1 M HClO4) aqueous electrolyte solutions with cyclic voltammetry and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic electrolyte solution showed formation of o- and p-phenylenediamine in the negative going potential scan for o- and pnitroaniline respectively. In neutral electrolyte solution the situation is different and the final products of electrochemical reduction of these isomers are o- and p-amino-Nphenylhydroxylamine. The order of increasing electrochemical oxidation potential is mnitroaniline > p-nitroaniline > o-nitroaniline as observed from cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold and platinum electrodes and in the positive going potentials scan for these isomers in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions. An oxygen-gold adsorbate stretching mode was detected between 400 to 430 cm-1 in SER-spectra of the three isomeric nitroanilines in both electrolyte solutions at positive electrode potentials. The SERS experiments showed also a perpendicular orientation of adsorbed nitroanilines on a gold electrode with respect to the metal surface. General trends are observed in the anodic scans of isomeric phenylenediamines at both electrodes and in both electrolyte solutions. The one-electron electrochemical oxidation product (radical cation) in case of o- and m-phenylenediamine go into fast C-N coupling between radicals to form dimers (the first step of electropolymerization). The pphenylenediamine is oxidized according to an ECE mechanism (E = electron transfer reaction, C = chemical reaction), which involved two charge transfer steps coupled with acidbase reactions to form diimine. As we deduced from SERS measurements, m- and p-phenylenediamine adsorbed in flat orientation with respect to the metal surface via benzene ring and nitrogen atoms, respectively. o-Phenylenediamine adsorption is taking place via nitrogen atoms and with tilted orientation with respect to the metal surface. The cyclic voltammograms recorded with a gold electrode in acidic and neutral electrolyte solutions of polyvinylamines containing o- or p-nitroaniline substituents exhibit the same features like nitroaniline monomers in the negative going potentials scan. The result observed in the anodic scan for these polymers are different from those observed for monomers. Adsorption site and strength of the polyvinylamine polymer varies according to the applied electrode potential, percentage and type of the aromatic substituent at the polymer backbone, and the pH of the medium.

In this paper, we report that various kinds of active sites on graphite surface including active hydrophilic sites markedly affect the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes for lithium ion batteries under different humidity conditions. After depositing metals such as Ag and Cu by immersing and heat-treating, these active sites on the graphite surface were removed or covered and its electrochemical performance under the high humidity conditions was markedly improved. This suggests that lithium ion batteries can be assembled under less strict conditions and that it provides a valuable direction to lower the manufacturing cost for lithium ion batteries.

Tebuconazole belongs to widely utilized plant fungicides, mostly in vineyards. Its traces are present in plant tissues, wine as well as in soil. The aim of the study was to determine stoichiometries and stabilities of metal (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ca and Ag) complexes with tebuconazole (1) by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrommetry (ESI-MS). It was found that the complexes of tebuconazole with copper ions are particularly stable ([Cu(1)]+ has appearance energy 224 kJ·mol-1 , corresponding with the dissociation of the water molecule from the tebuconazole molecule), while the stability of another tebuconazole complexes is lower, about 150 kJ·mol-1 . In real environmental samples, the detection of 1 itself is hampered by its spreading into various species. The method involved here is based upon a hyphenation of electrochemistry (amperometry) and electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). It uses the fact that Cu creates very stable complexes with 1. We demonstrate that at appropriate potentials (at higher than 500 mV) Cu cations can be generated in an electrochemical cell and subsequently form complexes with 1 present in the sample. The resulting complex [Cu(1)]+ is detected with ESI-MS. The intensity of detected complexes depends on the concentration of 1 and the oxidation level of the...

Věra Mansfeldová: Time-resolved potentiometry on liquid-liquid interface (Dissertation thesis) Abstract The aim of this work is to explore the method of temporal resolution in potentiometry as a new prospective electrochemical analytical technique. In connection with interface of two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) it may find utilization in analytical chemistry. This technique up to my knowledge has not been published yet. Potential response of analyte on liquid/liquid interface includes both distribution processes, their temporal resolution and redox processes, which specificity can modified by changing the composition of individual phases. Unlike "classic" potentiometric techniques, limited just to potential determination, this method, which I have given the working name "time resolved potentiometry at liquid-liquid interface" utilizes time development of potential response, which was found to be an analyte-specific function. The time resolved potentiometry presented in this work includes time course of potential response to analytical parameters specific for particular analyte. It brings series of data characterizing the analyte in given environment in a similar manner as spectra and may allow creating analyte-specific data package - fingerprint. Combination with ITIES allows, unlike...

The present PhD thesis describes the synthesis and characterisation of Co(2+/3+) complexes with triarylamine-substituted polypyridyl-based ligands. A light- or temperature-induced intramolecular electron transfer between the Co and the triarylamine moieties was found in the tri-cationic complexes, which was examined with electrochemical measurements, DFT calculations, optical and dynamic 1H NMR spectroscopy. This process is coupled to a high-spin <--> low-spin transition on the metal. The emphasis of this PhD thesis was the adjustment of a redox equilibrium between the paramagnetic ([Co2+(L+)(L)]3+) and diamagnetic ([Co3+(L)2]3+) formulation (L = triarylaminedecorated ligands) via the electron transfer. The position of this equilibrium is influenced by the complexes' structure and environment. Constitutional changes in the ligand topology were performed to modify the electronic properties of the triarylamine substituents and to vary the distance between the redox centres, namely the Co ion and the triarylamine nitrogen atom. If they are located within their van-der-Waals radii, photochemical excitation of the diamagnetic ground state leads to the paramagnetic excited state. A temperature-dependent redox equilibrium was found with an increased distance between the redox centres (d = 8 Å), due to the different entropies of the redox isomers.

The physics of transition metal oxides is controlled by the combination and competition of several degrees of freedom, in particular the charge, the spin and the orbital state of the electrons. One important parameter responsible for the physical properties is the density of charge carriers which determines the oxidization state of the transition metal ions. The central objective in this work is the study of transition metal oxides in which the charge carrier density is adjusted and controlled via lithium intercalation/deintercalation using electrochemical methods. Lithium exchange can be achieved with a high degree of accuracy by electrochemical methods. The magnetic properties of various intermediate compounds are studied. Among the materials under study the mixed valent vanadium-oxide multiwall nanotubes represent a potentially technologically relevant material for lithium-ion batteries. Upon electron doping of VOx-NTs, the data confirm a higher number of magnetic V4+ sites. Interestingly, room temperature ferromagnetism evolves after electrochemical intercalation of Li, making VOx-NTs a novel type of self-assembled nanoscaled ferromagnets. The high temperature ferromagnetism was attributed to formation of nanosize interacting ferromagnetic spin clusters around the intercalated Li ions. This behavior was established by a complex experimental study with three different local spin probe techniques, namely, electron spin resonance (ESR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and muon spin relaxation spectroscopies. Sr2CuO2Br2 was another compound studied in this work. The material exhibits CuO4 layers isostructural to the hole-doped high-Tc superconductor La2-xSr2CuO4. Electron doping is realized by Li-intercalation and superconductivity was found below 9K. Electrochemical treatment hence allows the possibility of studying the electronic phase diagram of LixSr2CuO2Br2, a new electron doped superconductor. The effect of electrochemical lithium doping on the magnetic properties was also studied in tunnel-like alpha-MnO2 nanostructures. Upon lithium intercalation, Mn4+ present in alpha-MnO2 will be reduced to Mn3+, resulting in a Mn mixed valency in this compound. The mixed valency and different possible interactions arising between magnetic spins give a complexity to the magnetic properties of doped alpha-MnO2.

The aim of the presented Diploma Thesis was to develop a new method for the indirect determination of formaldehyde in wood-based products using gas-diffusion microextraction coupled with electrochemical detection on unmodified screen-printed electrodes (MLEM-SPCE). Formaldehyde released from the sample is derivatized using an acetylacetone reagent present in an acceptor solution. The product of derivatization of formaldehyde with acetylacetone is 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine (DDL) which forms a selective oxidation voltammetric peak at a potential of 0.4 V. Detection and quantification limits of 0.57 mg kg−1 and 1.89 mg kg−1 , respectively, were obtained, together with intra- and inter-day precision below 10% (as relative standard deviation, RSD). The developed methodology was applied to determine formaldehyde content in seven samples. Similar results were obtained from the European standard method EN 717-3 with a significant reduction of total analysis time. The developed method MLEM-SPCE, which combines the use of a new sample preparation procedure for volatile compounds with the firstly introduced determination of formaldehyde (as the derivative product DDL) on unmodified SPCEs, proves to be a promising alternative for the determination of formaldehyde in wood-based products and other samples.

This doctoral thesis focuses on synthesis of rigid star-shaped and rod-like viologen oligomers. The work is divided in two parts: synthesis, characterization and electropolymerization of star-shaped (i) and rod-like viologens oligomers (ii). In the first part the synthesis of viologen stars consisting of a phenyl core with triple 1,3,5-branching, each branch consisting of a linear alternating series of diphenyl (PhV++) and dibenzyl (BnV++) viologens and a variety of peripheral groups –X (Br, OH), is presented. A new electrochemical method of electrode modification (Gold, GC, ITO and CNTs) with viologen derivatives based on a benzyl radical coupling mechanism is described. The radicals are excessively generated at the star periphery resulting in a highly cross-linked polyviologen film with persisting star subunits. It is characterized by CV, STM and UV-Vis methods. Redox-titration experiments monitored by UV-Vis reveals that the reduction of the viologen stars begins at the periphery with the formation of PhV+•, continues with generation of BnV+• and ends with the reduction of the radical cations in the same sequence. Thus, viologen stars combine the unique redox and electrochromic property of isolated phenyl and benzyl viologen in one molecule. The second part of the thesis focuses on the step-wise synthesis of a library of rigid rod-like conjugated difunctional viologen/diphenyl oligomers with varying chain lengths including different side chain substitution. All oligomers are soluble in DMSO or MeOH depending on the counter anion (PF6- or Cl-). In order to tune the solubility of the oligomers, the side chains are tailored as methoxy, butoxy and oligo(ethylene oxide). The most solubilizing side-chains are of the oligo(ethylene oxide) type. All viologen oligomers are characterized by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, elemental analysis, optical spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A simple surface functionalization and grafting technique has been developed for covalent binding of the viologen oligomers onto various conductive substrates e.g.: Au, GC and ITO. These modified electrodes are suitable for potential applications in designing field-effect transistors, sensors and supercapacitors. The polymer layers are characterized by means of FT-IR, STM, XPS and CV. The combined results presented in thesis represent a major advance in electrode functionalization by n-dopable viologen polymers and herald a variety of potential applications that make use of n-type semiconductors.

Plazmonika, tedy vědní obor zabývající se interakcí světla s kovovými materiály, nabízí ve spojení s nanotechnologiemi nezvyklé možnosti, jak světlo ovládat a využívat. Výsledkem tohoto spojení může být například zaostřování světla pod difrakční limit, zesilování emise nebo absorbce kvantových zářičů, či extrémně citlivá detekce molekul. Tato práce se zabývá zejména možnostmi využití plazmoniky pro vývoj plošných optických prvků, tzv. metapovrchů, a pro fotokatalytické aplikace založené na plazmonicky generovaných elektronech s vysokou energií, tzv. horkých elektronech. Nejprve jsou vysvětleny teoretické základy plazmoniky a je poskytnut přehled jejích nejvýznamnějších aplikací. Poté jsou představeny tři studie zabývající se využitím plazmonických nanostruktur pro ovládání fáze a polarizace světla, pro vytváření dynamicky laditelných metapovrchů, a pro foto-elektrochemii s horkými elektrony. Společným prvkem těchto studií je pak používání pokročilých, resp. v rámci těchto oblastí netradičních, materiálů, jako např. oxidu vanadičitého nebo dichalkogenidů přechodných kovů.