This thesis examines the use of electrochemically treated viscose rayon based activated carbon cloth (ACC) for the removal of metal ions from aqueous effluent streams. Two types of treatment were performed: (i) electrochemical oxidation and (ii) electrochemical reduction to enhance cation and anion sorption capacities of the ACC, respectively. Electrochemical oxidation resulted in a loss of 61% BET surface area due to blockage of pores through formation of carboxylic acidic groups but its cation exchange capacity and oxygen content increased by 365% and 121%, respectively. The optimum constant current at which a combination of applied current and oxidation time at any extent of oxidation to produce ACC of maximum cation exchange capacity was found to be 1.1 A, with voltage of 4.2 V and current density of 0.8 mA/m2. Batch sorption experiments showed that the maximum copper and lead sorption capacities for electrochemically oxidised ACC increased 17 and 4 times, respectively, for noncompetitive sorption and 8.8 and 8.6 times, respectively for competitive sorption. Therefore, electrochemically oxidised ACC is an effective adsorbent for treating aqueous solution contaminated with copper/lead in both single component and multi-component systems. Industrial wastewaters are multicomponent systems, therefore, electrochemical oxidation of ACC is an efficient way of enhancing lead and copper ions sorptive capacity for industrial wastewater treatment. Electrochemical reduction resulted in a loss of 28% BET surface area due to formation of ether groups but its anion exchange capacity increased by 292%. The optimum constant current at which a combination of applied current and reduction time at any extent of reduction to produce ACC of maximum anion exchange capacity was found to be 5.5 A, with voltage of 9.8 V and current density of 6.4 mA/m2. Batch sorption experiments showed that the maximum chromium(VI) sorption capacity for electrochemically reduced ACC increased 2.12 times, with highest maximum chromium(VI) sorption capacity of 3.8 mmol/g at solution pH 4. Most industrial wastewaters contaminated with chromium(VI) are highly acidic, therefore, electrochemical reduction of ACC is an efficient way of enhancing chromium(VI) sorptive capacity for industrial wastewater treatment.

Orientador: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T15:24:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rocha_RobsondaSilva_M.pdf: 1261455 bytes, checksum: df1d32d1e649b02714911e4465f4c58e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Este projeto propõe o desenvolvimento e a otimização do tratamento eletroquímico de um efluente farmacêutico sintético contendo diclofenaco sódico. Neste trabalho foram executadas duas etapas, iniciando-se pelo estudo das reações redox do diclofenaco e, em seguida, pelo processo de degradação em um reator eletroquímico de bancada. No estudo eletroquímico do diclofenaco foram realizadas voltametrias hidrodinâmicas em meio aquoso (0,1 M de K2SO4) e meio não aquoso (N,N Dimetil Formamida, DMF, com 0,1 mol.L-1 de perclorato de sódio), no eletrodo de carbono vítreo e nas rotações de 0 rpm a 3000 rpm. O eletrodo de Carbono Vítreo em meio não aquoso apresentou as melhores respostas, foram observados dois picos de oxidação, -0,33 V vs. Ag/AgCl e 0,57 V vs. Ag/AgCl e um pico de redução em 0,73 V vs. Ag/AgCl. O estudo das voltametrias hidrodinâmicas mostrou, que as reações de oxi-redução do diclofenaco são influenciadas pela rotação do eletrodo de carbono vítreo. Na degradação do diclofenaco sódico foi utilizado um reator eletroquímico de bancada, como catodo utilizou-se um eletrodo de difusão gasosa e como anodo, um DSA-Cl2 ®, como eletrólito foi utilizado 1,0 L de K2SO4 0,1 M com 200 mg.L-1 de Diclofenaco, com uma vazão de 200 L.h-1, a pressão de O2 foi de 0,2 Bar e os ensaios no reator foram realizados com e sem 10 mM de FeSO4. Os resultados mostraram que o reator eletroquímico é eficiente na geração de H2O2 alcançando 350 mg.L-1 em duas horas de eletrólise sem a adição do fármaco. Os ensaios de degradação do diclofenaco utilizaram a oxidação química indireta, pelos radicais hidroxila formados a partir do H2O2 eletrogerado, e pela oxidação eletroquímica direta no anodo. Este processo se mostrou eficiente na degradação do diclofenaco, alcançando 99,2 % de redução da concentração inicial do fármaco e 27,4 % de redução da demanda química de oxigênio (DQO). Quando se utilizou eletro-Fenton, adição de FeSO4, como catalisador da formação de radicais hidroxila, a eficiência aumentou, a degradação do diclofenaco alcançou 99,4 % da concentração inicial e a diminuição da DQO chegou a 63,2 %. Os resultados mostraram que o processo de degradação utilizando reator eletroquímico é eficiente na degradação do fármaco e na diminuição da DQO / Abstract: This work proposes the development and the optimization of the electrochemical treatment of a synthetic effluent with sodium diclofenac. In this work two stages were executed the study of the redox reactions of the sodium diclofenac and, the process of this organic compound. Hydrodynamic voltammetry experiments were recorded to identity sodium diclofenaco redox reaction in a non-aqueous medium (DMF with 0,1 mol L-1 of NaClO4) and in aqueous medium (0.1 M of K2SO4). These experiments were performed using glassy carbon as working electrodes, at different rotations (0 up to 3000 rpm). The glassy carbon electrode in non aqueous medium presented the best answers, where observed two peaks of oxidation, at 0.33 V vs. Ag/AgCl and 0.57 V vs. Ag/AgCl, and a peak of reduction at 0.73 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The hydrodynamic voltammetry it experiments showed that the redox reactions of the sodium diclofenac are influenced by the rotation of the glassy carbon electrode. A flow electrochemical reactor was used for the sodium diclofenac degradation. It was used a gas diffusion electrode as cathode and DSA-Cl2 ® as anode. The electrolyte used was 1.0 L of 0.1 M K2SO4 with 200 mg L-1 of sodium diclofenac (flow rate: 200 L.h-1, pressure (O2): 0,2 Bar), with and without 10 mM of FeSO4. The performance was evaluated considering concentration decay of sodium diclofenac concentration (HPLC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) as a function of the applied current and addiction of Fe(II) ions. The results showed that the electrochemical reactor was efficient in the generation of 350 mg L-1 of H2O2 after two hours of electrolysis without the addition of the organic compound. The sodium diclofenac degradation occurred by indirect chemical oxidation, for the hydroxyl radicals formation from H2O2 electrogenerated, and by direct electrochemical oxidation on anode. This process showed the efficiency in the degradation of sodium diclofenaco: 99,2 % of reduction of the initial concentration and 27,4 % of reduction of the chemical oxygen demand (COD). When electro-Fenton was used by addition of FeSO4 as catalyst hydroxyl radicals formation, the degradation efficiency increased. The of the drug degradation was 99,4 % of the initial concentration and the COD reduction was 63,2 %. The results showned that the degradation process using electrochemical reactor was efficient in the sodium diclofenac degradation and COD reduction / Mestrado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:41:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AlineMSS_DISSERT.pdf: 3248448 bytes, checksum: 238473f18fc530ccf887915ce75c940d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-14 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / In this work, electrochemical technology was used to treat synthetic wastewater containing Methyl Red (MR) and Blue Novacron (BN) by anodic oxidation using anodes platinum (Pt) and real samples of textile effluents using DDB anodes and platinum (Pt). The removal of color from the galvanostatic electrolysis of synthetic wastewater MR and BN, and the actual sample has been observed under different conditions (different current densities and temperature variation). The investigation of these parameters was performed in order to establish the best conditions for removal of color and chemical oxygen demand (BOD). According to the results obtained in this study, the electrochemical oxidation processes suitable for the degradation process of color and COD in wastewater containing such textile dyes, because the electrocatalytic properties of Pt and BDD anodes consumption energy during the electrochemical oxidation of synthetic solutions AN and MR and real sample, mainly depend on the operating parameters of operation, for example, the synthetic sample of MR, energy consumption rose from 42,00kWhm-3 in 40 mAcm-2 and 25 C to 17,50 kWhm-3 in 40mAcm-2 and 40 C, from the BN went 17,83 kWhm-3 in 40mAcm and 40?C to 14,04 kWhm- 3 in 40mAcm-2 and 40 C (data estimated by the volume of treated effluent). These results clearly indicate the applicability of electrochemical treatment for removing dyes from synthetic solutions and real industrial effluents / Neste trabalho, a tecnologia eletroqu?mica foi utilizada no tratamento de efluentes sint?ticos, contendo Vermelho de Metila (VM) e Azul de Novacron (AN), atrav?s da oxida??o an?dica utilizando ?nodos de Ti recoberto com platina (Ti/Pt). Ap?s isso, a fim de verificar a aplicabilidade do tratamento eletroqu?mico, amostras reais de efluentes t?xteis utilizando ?nodos de DDB e platina (Ti/Pt) foram tratadas eletroquimicamente visando a elimina??o completa dos corantes dissolvidos. A remo??o da cor a partir da eletr?lise galvanost?tica dos efluentes sint?ticos de VM e AN, e da amostra real tem sido observada em diferentes condi??es operacionais (diferentes densidades de corrente e varia??o da temperatura). A investiga??o destes par?metros foi realizada com o objetivo de estabelecer as melhores condi??es para remo??o da cor e da Demanda Qu?mica de Oxig?nio (DQO). De acordo com os resultados obtidos na realiza??o deste trabalho, o processo de oxida??o eletroqu?mica ? adequado para o processo de elimina??o da cor e da redu??o da DQO em efluentes que contenham esses corantes t?xteis, gra?as as propriedades eletrocatal?ticas dos ?nodos de DDB e Pt. O consumo de energia durante a oxida??o eletroqu?mica das solu??es sint?ticas contendo VM e AN e da amostra real depende principalmente das condi??es experimentais usadas, por exemplo, para a amostra sint?tica de VM, o consumo energ?tico passou de 42,00 kWhm-3 em 40 mAcm-2 e 25?C para 17,50 kWhm-3 em 40 mAcm-2 e 40?C; no entanto, o consumo de energia na eletr?lise do AN passou de 17,83 kWhm-3 em 40 mAcm-2 e 25?C para 14,04 kWhm-3 em 40 mAcm-2 e 40?C (dados estimados por volume de efluente tratado). Estes resultados indicam claramente a aplicabilidade de tal m?todo na remo??o de corantes dissolvidos em efluentes sint?ticos ou reais

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NathaliaCVN_DISSERT.pdf: 2020842 bytes, checksum: efcd9ca5e5cfd7d63412f72c80546c39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-31 / In this paper, the technique of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) has been studied for monitoring the concentration of oxalic acid (OA) during their electrochemical oxidation (EO) in acidic medium using platinum anode supported on titanium (Ti / Pt). The DPV was standardized and optimized using a glassy carbon electrode modified with cysteine. The modification with cysteine was developed electrochemically, forming a polymeric film on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode. The formation of the polymer film was confirmed by analysis of scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope, confirming the modification of the electrode. The electrochemical degradation was developed using different current densities 10, 20 30 and 40 mA cm -2 electrode with Ti / Pt observing the degradation of oxalic acid, and monitored using the method of KMnO4 titration. However, the analyzes with DPV showed the same behavior elimination of oxalic acid titration. Compared with the titration method classical observed and DPV could be a good fit, confidence limits of detection and confirming the applicability of the technique electroanalytical for monitoring the degradation of oxalic acid / No presente trabalho, a t?cnica de voltametria de pulso diferencial (DPV) foi estudada para o monitoramento da concentra??o de ?cido ox?lico (OA) durante a sua oxida??o eletroqu?mica (EO) em meio ?cido utilizando o ?nodo de platina suportada em tit?nio (Ti/Pt). A t?cnica de DPV foi padronizada e otimizada usando um eletrodo de carbono v?treo modificado com ciste?na. A modifica??o com ciste?na foi desenvolvida eletroquimicamente, formando um filme polim?rico na superf?cie do eletrodo de carbono v?treo. A forma??o do filme polim?rico foi confirmada por an?lise de Microsc?pio Eletr?nico de Varredura e Microsc?pio de For?a At?mica, confirmando a modifica??o na superf?cie do eletrodo. A degrada??o eletroqu?mica foi desenvolvida usando diferentes densidades de corrente, 10, 20 e 30 mA cm-? com eletrodo de Ti/Pt, observando a degrada??o do ?cido ox?lico, sendo monitorado empregando a metodologia de titula??o com KmnO4. No entanto, as an?lises com DPV mostraram o mesmo comportamento de elimina??o do acido ox?lico, observado com a titula??o. Comparado com o m?todo de titula??o cl?ssica e DPV conseguiu-se um bom ajuste, intervalos de confian?a e limites de detec??o confirmando a aplicabilidade da t?cnica eletroanal?tica para o monitoramento da degrada??o de ?cido ox?lico

In this work, well-defined and stable thin films based on polythiophene and its derivative, are employed as the hole-injection contact of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). The polymer films are obtained by the electropolymerization or the electrochemical doping/dedoping of a spin-coated layer. Their electrical properties and energetics are tailored by electrochemical adjustment of their doping levels in order to improve the hole-injection from the anode as well as the performance of small molecular OLEDs. By using dimeric thiophene and optimizing the electrodeposition parameters, a thin polybithiophene (PbT) layer is fabricated with well-defined morphology and a high degree of smoothness by electro-polymerization. The introduction of the semiconducting PbT contact layer improves remarkably the hole injection between ITO anode and the hole- transport layer (NPB) due to its favourable energetic feature (HOMO level of 5.1 eV). The vapor-deposited NPB/Alq3 bilayer OLEDs with a thin PbT interlayer, show a remarkable reduction of the operating voltage as well as enhanced luminous efficiency compared to the devices without PbT. Investigations have also been made on the influence of PbT thickness on the efficiency and I-V feature as well as device stability of the OLED. It is demonstrated that the use of an electropolymerization step into the production of vapor deposited molecular OLED is a viable approach to obtain high performance OLEDs. The study on the PbT has been extended to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) and the highly homogenous poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) doped PEDT layer from a spin-coating process has been applied. The doping level of PEDT:PSS was adjusted quantitatively by an electrochemical doping/dedoping process using a p-tuoluenesulfonic acid containing solution, and the redox mechanism was elucidated. The higher oxidation state can remain stable in the dry state. The work function of PEDT:PSS increases with the doping level after adjusting at an electrode potential higher than the value of the electrochemical equilibrium potential (Eeq) of an untreated film. This leads to a further reduction of the hole-injection barrier at the contact of the polymeric anode/hole transport layer and an ideal ohmic behavoir is almost achieved at the anode/NPB interface for a PEDT:PSS anode with very high doping level. Molecular Alq3-based OLEDs were fabricated using the electrochemically treated PEDT:PSS/ITO anode, and the device performance is shown to depend on the doping level of polymeric anode. The devices on the polymer anode with a higher Eeq than that for the unmodified anode, show a reduction of operating voltage as well as a remarkable enhancement of the luminance. Furthermore, it is found that the operating stability of such devices is also improved remarkably. This originates from the removal of mobile ions such as sodium ions inside the PEDT:PSS by electrochemical treatment as well as the planarization of the ITO surface by the polymer film. By utilizing an Al/LiF cathode with an enhanced electron injection and together with a high Eeq- anode, a balanced injection and recombination of hole and electron is achieved. It leads to a further reduction of the operating voltage and to a drastic improvement of EL efficiency of the device as high as 5.0 cd/A. The results demonstrate unambiguously that the electrochemical treatment of a cast polymer anode is an effective method to improve and optimize the performance of OLEDs. The method can be extended to other polythiophene systems and other conjugated polymers in the fabrication of the OLEDs as well as organic transistors and solar cells.

La réfrigération magnétique attire beaucoup d’attention ces dernières années parce qu’elle est considérée comme une technologie respectueuse de l’environnement et énergétiquement économique. Aujourd’hui, cette technologie avancée est encore en phase de recherche que des dispositifs de réfrigérations magnétiques soient déjà opérationnels. Ce travail de thèse consiste à étudier la potentialité de résistance à la corrosion de différents types de matériaux magnétocaloriques (Gd6Co1.67Si3, Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga et Pr0.66Sr0.34MnO3) en contact avec un fluide caloporteur. Afin de comprendre les propriétés magnétocaloriques des matériaux, nos recherches se sont aussi focalisées sur les relations entre la transition magnéto-structurales d’alliages Heusler Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga et (i) la distribution cationique au sein de la structure cristalline et/ou (ii) la microstructure. Finalement, le diagramme de phase magnétique et nucléaire en lien avec les effets magnétocalorique obtenu grâce à la diffraction de neutrons et de pérovskite Pr1-xSrxMnO3 (0.25≤x≤0.45) est également présenté. / Magnetic refrigeration has gained lot of importance and attention as they are highlighted to be environmental friendly, energy efficient. Presently, though at research stage, the magnetic refrigerators are pushed towards realization in domestic application with extensive work on materials and with few working models. One critical issue, the potential resistance to corrosion in case of different class of magnetocaloric materials (Gd6Co1.67Si3, Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga and Pr0.66Sr0.34MnO3) against the heat transport fluid is addressed. To better understand and improve the observed magnetocaloric properties in Heulser alloys Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga and to elaborate the same with the magneto-structural relation, studies on (i) cation distribution with in crystal structure and/or (ii) microstructural dependence are presented. Nuclear and magnetic phase diagram based on detailed neutron diffraction and magnetism studies for magnetocaloric perovskite oxide Pr1-xSrxMnO3 (0.25≤x≤0.45) is also presented

Orientador: Rodnei Bertazzoli / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T06:46:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Spitzer_Marcos_D.pdf: 1019872 bytes, checksum: 57974ac02038eb53169c99987a119811 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: O método de oxidação eletroquímica foi aplicado a soluções aquosas contendo cloranfenicol (CAP) e outros compostos orgânicos. Para isso, utilizou-se um anodo de óxido condutor, comercial, tipo DSA®, de composição 70TiO2-30RuO2 e um anodo de diamante dopado com boro (DDB) tipo comercial. Cada anodo foi instalado em um reator tipo filtro-presa, em escala de bancada, para processamento de 2 a 3 L de solução em modo de batelo-reciclo. Inicialmente, nos reatores construídos foram realizados estudos voltamétricos, em modo hidrodinâmico. Sobre um catodo de aço inoxidável, antes da evolução de H2, observou-se a redução do grupo NO2 do CAP a HO-NH- a pH=5, e em potenciais anódicos, sobre o DSA®, observou-se o início reação de evolução de O2 a partir de 1 V vs. ECS e que a presença de CAP reduz as correntes de evolução de O2. Sobre o DDB, o CAP é oxidado a partir de 0,6 V resultado na passivação do anodo. A partir de 2,2 V observa-se o início da evolução de O2 sobre o DDB, resultando na eliminação do filme passivador. Em seguida, eletrólises exaustivas foram realizadas, em modo galvanostático, com ambos os anodos, dentro da região de evolução de O2. Cinéticas de pseudo-primeira ordem foram observadas dos decaimentos ds CAP sobre o DSA®, na faixa de 50 a 180 mA cm-2, e sobre o DDB, na faixa de 10 a 30 mA cm-2. Os decaimentos da demanda química de O2 (DQO) e do carbono orgânico total (COT) também apresentaram essa cinética quando as reações de oxidação sobre o DDB tornavam-se controladas pelos processos de transporte de massa. A partir de eletrólises de soluções de K2SO4 com o DDB observou-se a geração de H2O2. Os números adimensionais Sherwood (Se), Reynolds (Re) e Schmidt (Sc) foram determinados a partir de dados de transporte de massa obtidos a partir de cinéticas da degradação do CAP em função da vazão. No reator composto de DSA® observou-se um regime de fluxo laminar a baixo de Re = 2000 e um regime de fluxo turbulento acima desse valor, como esperado para um reator de placas paralelas. No reator de DDB, devido o aumento da área da secção transversal do compartimento entre eletrodos, há uma elevação de turbulência da face do anodo, impedindo a formação de um regime de fluxo laminar bem definido. Utilizando um efluente real contendo fenóis e derivados, foram aplicadas valores apropriados de densidade de corrente (Jap) para aumento dos valores de eficiência de corrente e diminuição dos índices de consumo energético. Aplicando-se um perfil exponencial de Jap (t) obteve-se um rendimento de corrente médio de 95 % e um consumo de 23,5 kWh por kg de O2. Com isso foi possível propor um método de operação de reatores de DDB para elevação dos índices de eficiência. De modo geral, os anodos de Ti/70TiO2-30RuO2 e de DDB ótimos desempenhos para a eletroxidação de cloranfenicol (CAP) e outros compostos orgânicos e para redução da DQO e do COT / Abstract: Electrochemical oxidation was used as a method for organic pollutant degradation in aqueous media. In the technique was used in solutions containing chloramphenicol (CAP) and phenolic compounds. A commercial DSA® type anode, of composition 70TiO2-30RuO2, and a boron-doped diamond anode (BDD) were used. Each anode was mounted in a filter-press type reactor connected to a recirculating flow system with 3 L of capacity. Initially, voltammetric studies were carried out with electrochemical reactors operating in hydrodynamic mode. On the DSA® type anode O2 evolution reaction was observed after 1 V vs. SCE and the current densities for O2 evolution decreased when chloramphenicol was present in solution. On stainless steel cathode, before H2 evolution, reduction of NO2 group to HO-NH- group was observed for CAP molecule, at pH = 5. On DDB, the anode was passived with an organic film at potentials from 0.6 V. Current responses on DDB anode were restored after anodic treatments within O2 evolution range of potentials. On BDD, O2 evolution took place after 2.2 V vs SCE. Galvanostatic experiments were carried out within the range of potentials for O2 evolution. Pseudo-first order kinetics were observed for CAP concentration decay on the DSA® anode, when current densities (Jap) were ranged from 50 to 180 mA cm-2, and from 10 to 30 mA cm-2 on DDB anode. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) showed linear concentration decays when the oxidation reactions were controlled by charge transfer process and it showed exponential decays when these reactions were controlled by mass transfer process. H2O2 production on DDB anode was investigated as function of Jap. Dimensionless numbers and their mass transfer figures of merit were studied from mass transport data of CAP decays as function of several flow rates. In the reactor composed by DSA® anode, a laminar flow was observed below Reynolds (Re) equal 2000 and a turbulent flow was observed above this value. In the BDD reactor, the transition between laminar and turbulent flow was not observed. Using a real effluent composed by phenols and derivates, appropriate values of Jap was applied on DDB reactor to increase the anodic efficiency and to reduce the energy consumption per kg of O2. Applying an exponential profile of Jap in galvanostatic experiments, an anodic efficiency of 95% was reached, corresponding to an energy consumption of 23,5 kWh per kg of O2. From these results an operation method of BDD reactors arose in order to increase the performance of this electrochemical device. Good performances were observed when DSA® and BDD anodes were used in electrochemical oxidation of chloramphenicol and other organic pollutants, especially in BDD case / Doutorado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

In this work, well-defined and stable thin films based on polythiophene and its derivative, are employed as the hole-injection contact of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). The polymer films are obtained by the electropolymerization or the electrochemical doping/dedoping of a spin-coated layer. Their electrical properties and energetics are tailored by electrochemical adjustment of their doping levels in order to improve the hole-injection from the anode as well as the performance of small molecular OLEDs. By using dimeric thiophene and optimizing the electrodeposition parameters, a thin polybithiophene (PbT) layer is fabricated with well-defined morphology and a high degree of smoothness by electro-polymerization. The introduction of the semiconducting PbT contact layer improves remarkably the hole injection between ITO anode and the hole- transport layer (NPB) due to its favourable energetic feature (HOMO level of 5.1 eV). The vapor-deposited NPB/Alq3 bilayer OLEDs with a thin PbT interlayer, show a remarkable reduction of the operating voltage as well as enhanced luminous efficiency compared to the devices without PbT. Investigations have also been made on the influence of PbT thickness on the efficiency and I-V feature as well as device stability of the OLED. It is demonstrated that the use of an electropolymerization step into the production of vapor deposited molecular OLED is a viable approach to obtain high performance OLEDs. The study on the PbT has been extended to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) and the highly homogenous poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) doped PEDT layer from a spin-coating process has been applied. The doping level of PEDT:PSS was adjusted quantitatively by an electrochemical doping/dedoping process using a p-tuoluenesulfonic acid containing solution, and the redox mechanism was elucidated. The higher oxidation state can remain stable in the dry state. The work function of PEDT:PSS increases with the doping level after adjusting at an electrode potential higher than the value of the electrochemical equilibrium potential (Eeq) of an untreated film. This leads to a further reduction of the hole-injection barrier at the contact of the polymeric anode/hole transport layer and an ideal ohmic behavoir is almost achieved at the anode/NPB interface for a PEDT:PSS anode with very high doping level. Molecular Alq3-based OLEDs were fabricated using the electrochemically treated PEDT:PSS/ITO anode, and the device performance is shown to depend on the doping level of polymeric anode. The devices on the polymer anode with a higher Eeq than that for the unmodified anode, show a reduction of operating voltage as well as a remarkable enhancement of the luminance. Furthermore, it is found that the operating stability of such devices is also improved remarkably. This originates from the removal of mobile ions such as sodium ions inside the PEDT:PSS by electrochemical treatment as well as the planarization of the ITO surface by the polymer film. By utilizing an Al/LiF cathode with an enhanced electron injection and together with a high Eeq- anode, a balanced injection and recombination of hole and electron is achieved. It leads to a further reduction of the operating voltage and to a drastic improvement of EL efficiency of the device as high as 5.0 cd/A. The results demonstrate unambiguously that the electrochemical treatment of a cast polymer anode is an effective method to improve and optimize the performance of OLEDs. The method can be extended to other polythiophene systems and other conjugated polymers in the fabrication of the OLEDs as well as organic transistors and solar cells.