Structural changes of electroactive species during electrochemical reactions cannot be determined from the electroanalytical technique alone. By incorporating spectroscopic techniques with electrochemistry, additional information about analyte structure and composition of the double layer can be obtained during electrochemical processes. Several spectroscopic methodologies have been tailored for this purpose including electronic and vibrational spectroscopies. Mid-infrared ATR spectroscopy is especially interesting as it provides in-situ information about adsorbates at the electrode surface. Mass transport limitations present in mid-infrared (mid-IR) external reflection and transmission spectroelectrochemistry are circumvented with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroelectrochemistry. However, limitations of appropriate electrode materials for internal reflection configurations have hindered widespread adoption of the technique. The work described in this thesis focuses on the development and coupling of electrically conducting DLC films with mid-IR transparent multi-reflection waveguides for ATR spectroelectrochemistry. Conducting diamondlike carbon (DLC) thin films were developed utilizing pulsed laser deposition systems in collaboration with Joanneum Research (Leoben, Austria) and at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). Nitrogen doping and incorporation of noble metal nanoclusters were investigated as approaches aimed at improving the electrical conductivity of DLC. Detailed compositional studies of nitrogen-doped DLC layers showed that sp2-hybridized carbon is responsible for the observed electrochemical activity. Optical transparency of thin (~ 40 nm) DLC layers in the mid-IR regime was confirmed by transmission-absorption measurements upon deposition on zinc selenide ATR waveguides. Additionally, the first spectroelectrochemical application of conducting DLC films was demonstrated via the electropolymerization of polyaniline onto coated ATR elements. Metal-DLC nanocomposite layers were investigated with various analytical techniques obtaining detailed compositional information. Improved electrochemical activity of metal-DLC demonstrated their suitability as electrode materials. Sufficient mid-IR transmissivity of metal-DLC coated germanium waveguides was displayed to enable spectroelectrochemical application. Finally, electropolymerization of poly(4-vinylpyridine) in acetonitrile was pursued to produce highly cross-linked ion-exchange membranes for spectroelectrochemical sensing. The composition of the pre-polymerization mixture and deposition conditions were tailored to obtain uniform semipermeable membranes. Diffusion of cations to electrodes is restricted by performing the electropolymerization as established herein. By employing the described electropolymerization procedure at DLC-coated waveguides, spectroelectrochemical sensing strategies can now be extended into the mid-IR regime.

Neste trabalho, serão apresentados o comportamento eletroquímico e espectro-eletroquímico dos polímeros condutores poli(sulfeto de fenileno fenilenamina) (PPSA) e poli(anilina) (PANI) no líquido iônico bis(trifluorometanosulfonil)imideto de 1-butil-2,3-dimetilimidazólio (BMMITFSI). Os experimentos eletroquímicos em BMMITFSI mostram que o PPSA apresenta dois processos redox reversíveis sem sinais de perda de eletroatividade e mostram também a obtenção da PANI pela polimerização eletroquímica da anilina com os dois processos redox típicos das transformações em leucoesmeraldina ↔ esmeraldina ↔ pernigranilina, sem a necessidade de adição de ácidos e sem nenhum sinal de degradação em potenciais elevados. Os experimentos de UV-Vis e Raman Ressonante evidenciaram a estabilização das estruturas oxidadas formadas em líquido iônico tornando este fato a principal razão para o comportamento reversível dos processos redox de ambos os polímeros. Os experimentos de resistência in situ da PANI, demonstraram que a pernigranilina obtida em potenciais elevados é mantida na forma condutora. Estes fenômenos observados em ambos os polímeros indicam que a alta atmosfera iônica do BMMITFSI, estaria estabilizando as estruturas mais oxidadas (dicátions) em potenciais elevados, o que evita a degradação e perda de eletroatividade do PPSA e permite a condutividade da PANI na forma pernigranilina sal. / In this work, the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behavior of Poly(phenylenesulfide phenyleneamine) (PPSA) and polyaniline (PANI) conducting polymers in a room temperature ionic liquids, 1-butyl-2-3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluorometanessulfonil)imide (BMMITFSI) is presented. Electrochemical experiments of a PPSA in BMMITFSI show two reversible redox processes without loss of electroactivity. Aniline polymerization to obtain PANI films with typically two redox processes due to leucoemeraldine ↔ esmeraldine ↔ pernigraniline transformations was also carried out in the absence of acids, and even cycling till high positive potentials, no degradation signals were observed. UV-Vis and Resonance Raman studies show the stabilization of dications in BMMITFSI as the main reason to the reversible redox behavior observed on both conducting polymers and the in-situ resistance measurements corroborated the stabilization of pernigraniline salt at high oxidation potentials in the conducting form of PANI. These results obtained in room temperature ionic liquid shows that the high ionic medium given by the BMMITFSI would shield the positive charges, which would stabilize the dication species at high potentials, avoiding the degradation and loss of electroaticity of PPSA and allowing charge transport on pernigraniline salt.

Recent advances in nanofabrication techniques have opened up new avenues and numerous possible applications in both nanoscale electrochemistry and analytical nanoscience by enabling the fabrication of reproducible nanoelectrodes with different new geometries. Nanoelectrodes exhibit advantages including enhanced mass transport, higher current densities, improved signal-to-noise ratios, and lower ohmic drop. In this dissertation, the use of nanoelectrodes in the electrochemical response properties investigations or in the spectroelectrochemical studies is the unifying factor among all the chapters. First (in Chapter 4), we presented a direct comparison between the electrochemical characteristics of two finite nanoelectrodes arrays with different geometries: 6 × 6 recessed nanodiscs and nanorings microarrays. Using computational methods, it was demonstrated that the electrode geometry’s parameters have a drastic influence on the mass transport properties of the nanoelectrodes. The results presented here are the first combination of experimental and numerical studies that elucidate the transport on nanoring electrode arrays. The comparison of the electrochemical behavior between nanostructures using full 3D simulations is also unique. Second, we have provided a comprehensive numerical study on the redox cycling performance properties of a 6 × 6 recessed nanorings-ring electrode array configuration. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data. After validating the model against experiments, a comprehensive computational investigation revealed avenues to optimize the performance of the structure in terms of geometric parameters and scan rates. The second half of this dissertation is comprised of the spectroelectrochemical studies. The combination of surface plasmon resonance with electrochemistry presents new paths to investigateredox reaction events at the electrode surface since it brings an additional dimension to the classical electrochemical approaches. Third, we have reported a novel active plasmonic device based on a new switching mechanism for the nanohole electrodes array to bridge between photonics and electronics at nanoscales. The inner surfaces of the nanohole electrodes in the array were coated with an electroconductive polymer, polypyrrole, (PPy). Then, it was shown that light transmitted through the PPy- modified nanohole electrodes can be easily tuned and controled by applying an external potential. We were also able to switch on and off the transmitted light intensity through the modified nanohole arrays by potential steps, demonstrating the potential of this platform to be incorporated into optoelectronic devices. Finally, we have fabricated larger area plasmonic periodic nanopillar 3D electrodes using a rapid, high-throughput, and cost-effective approach: the laser interference lithography. Then, the electrochemical behavior of these electrodes was investigated both experimentally and computationally. The properties were ‘compared with a flat electrode with an equivalent geometric area. Afterward, we have successfully probed the changes in the concentration of a reversible redox pair near the electrode surface induced by various applied potentials, in an in-situ EC-SPR experiment. / Graduate

Tetrathiafulvalene derivatives are remarkable molecules, with various application, reported relatively recently. The radical cation of these compounds has very inter- esting optical, electronic, electrocatalytic superconducting and magnetic properties that have been intensively studied recently. Quantitative in-situ EPR voltammetric spectroelectrochemistry studies of 2-(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)-3-(benzylsulfanyl)-6,7- bis(octadecylsulphanyl)tetrathiafulvalene (TTF-Der3) have been carried out with the aim to confirm the oxidation sites, follow-up reactions (after the first electron transfer), and electrochemical behaviour. The diffusion process was confirmed by the depen- dence of current on the square root of the scan rate. It was claimed that the ratio of the number of generated radicals to transferred charge (electrons) for two representative TTF derivatives was determined to 5.5:500 for and 7:500 for TTF, indicating the follow- up reactions. Experiments were performed using the commercially available EPR standards, calibrated for this method (experimental setup). The latter was validated by quantitative EPR with standard 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl radical concentration (1·10−4 mol dm−3). For the ratios the confidence interval was reported for the first time for TTF-Der3 it was...

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Die vorliegende Arbeit beschreibt die Synthese Ferrocenyl-funktionalisierter Phosphole und deren elektrochemische sowie spektroelektrochemische Charakterisierung zur Bestimmung der Stärke der Metall-Metall-Wechselwirkungen. Aufgrund der mangelnden Aromatizität stehen das freie Elektronenpaar am Phosphoratom und das dienische System für weitere Reaktionen zur Verfügung. Somit konnten gezielt Modifikationen am heterozyklischen Grundgerüst vorgenommen werden, um dessen elektronische Eigenschaften zu beeinflussen. Ein Schwerpunkt der Arbeit lag im Aufbau eines Phospholsystems mit Ferrocenyl-substituenten in 2- und 5-Position des Heterozyklus. Weiterhin wurden die Auswirkungen auf die elektronischen Eigenschaften des Moleküls nach chemischer Oxidation des Phosphoratoms von PIII zu PV mit Schwefel und Selen untersucht. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt lag in der Synthese von Übergangsmetallkomplexen des 2,5-Diferrocenyl-1-phenyl-1H-phosphols, um den Einfluss des Phosphoratoms und des dienischen Systems auf die elektronische Wechselwirkung der Ferrocenylgruppen genauer zu untersuchen und die elektronischen Eigenschaften gezielt zu beeinflussen. In weiteren Arbeiten wurden räumlich anspruchsvolle Substituenten am Phosphoratom zur Veränderung der Geometrie der pyramidalen Phosphorumgebung und somit zur Erhöhung der Delokalisierung im Heterozyklus eingeführt. Die Phosphole mit räumlich anspruchsvollen Gruppen zeigten die größte Metall-Metall-Wechselwirkung der Fc/Fc+-Gruppen über den Phospholring.

The present PhD thesis deals with the synthesis and characterization of functionalized ferrocenes with up to four aldehyde and vinyl groups and their usage as monomers to produce novel ferrocene-based oligomers with conjugated backbones via ADMET (acyclic diene metathesis) and HWE (Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons) reaction protocols. In addition, ferrocene-containing polymers (linear, cross-linked and co-polymers) with aliphatic backbones generated by anionic bulk and solution polymerization routes, and their electrochemistry behaviors were studied. The main aspects of this work lies in the enhancement of the electrical properties of the ferrocene-based materials (oligomers or polymers) by varying the polymer backbone, providing multi-functionalities for cross-linking and co-polymerization processes and thereby increasing the molecular weight of the products, furthermore, the application as electro-active materials, especially for the charge storage purposes is discussed. High monomer consumption, relatively high molar mass as well as longer chains were achieved by bulk protocol. Electrochemical measurements (CV) reveals that formyl-ferrocenes bearing more than two formyl functionalities are very electron poor materials and easily decomposes upon oxidation. Reducing the measurement temperature and the usage of [NnBu4][B(C6F5)4] as electrolyte allowed for reliable behavior. A linear correlation between the redox potential and the number of the formyl functionalities was found. Multicyclic measurements showed that ferrocenyl / ferrocenium redox couples in the polymeric materials are stable at least up to 100 cycles. The spectro-electrochemical studies show that the conjugated materials (oligomers) have electron transfer interactions (IVCT) through the chains, while the aliphatic backbone between the ferrocenyl units (poly vinylferrocene materials) hindered the metal-metal coupling along the chain and only a ligand-to-metal charge transfer excitation could be observed. / Die vorliegende Doktorarbeit beschäftigt sich mit Synthese und Charakterisierung von funktionalisierten Ferrocenen mit bis zu vier Aldehyd- und Vinylgruppen und ihrer Verwendung als Monomere für neuartige ferrocenbasierte Oligomere mit konjugiertem Rückgrat unter ADMET (acyclic diene metathesis) und HWE- (Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons) Reaktionsbedingungen. Zusätzlich wurden ferrocenhaltige Polymere mit einem aliphatischen Rückgrat durch Polymerisation mit und ohne Lösemittel hergestellt und ihr elektrochemisches Verhalten untersucht. Das Hauptaugenmerk dieser Arbeit liegt in der Optimierung der elektrochemischen Eigenschaften der ferrocenbasierten Materialien (Oligomere oder Polymere) durch Variation des Polymerrückgrats, welche zahlreiche funktionelle Gruppen für die vernetzte Polymerisation und die Co-Polymerisation liefert. Durch diesen Prozess wird das molekulare Gewicht erhöht. Zusätzlich wird die Verwendung als elektroaktive Materialien insbesondere für die Energiespeichertechnik diskutiert. Durch lösungsmittelfreie Reaktionsbedingungen wurden ein hoher Monomerumsatz, relativ hohe molare Massen und zugleich längere Polymerketten erzielt. Elektrochemische Messungen (CV) zeigten, dass Ferrocenmoleküle mit mehr als zwei Formylgruppen die Elektronendichte an der Ferrocenyleinheit verringern und bei Oxidation leicht zersetzt werden. Erniedrigung der Messtemperatur und die Verwendung des nur schwach koordinierenden Leitsalzes [NnBu4][B(C6F5)4] führten zu aussagekräftigen Ergebnissen. Weiterhin konnte ein linearer Zusammenhang zwischen dem Redoxpotential und der Anzahl der Formyleinheiten aufgezeigt werden. Mutlizyklische Messungen bestätigten, dass das Ferrocen / Ferrocenium-Redoxpaar mindestens 100 Zyklen stabil ist. Mittels spektroelectrochemisches Messungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass konjungierte (oligomere) Verbindungen eine elektronische Wechselwirkung (IVCT) aufweisen, während aliphatische Rückgrade eine Wechselwirkung zwischen Ferrocen / Ferrocenium (polyvinylferrocenbasierte Materialien) verhindern und nur ein LMCT Übergang (Ligand zu Metall Charge-Transfer) beobachtet werden kann.

The adsorbate formed by adsorption of thiophenol on a polycrystalline gold electrode and brought into contact with aqueous solutions of 1 M HClO4 and 0.1 M KClO4 has been studied using cyclic voltammetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. A strong adsorption is deduced from observations made using cyclic voltammetry. From the SER spectra, interactions of thiophenol with the gold surface via a gold–sulfur bond with the aromatic ring pointing away from the surface is concluded for both electrolyte solutions. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Les supercapacités hybrides se taillent de plus en plus une place dans le secteur des énergies renouvelables. L’oxyde de manganèse possède certaines caractéristiques (faible coût, caractère écologique et une capacitance spécifique supérieure) qui font de ce dernier un matériau très attirant pour l’assemblage de tels dispositifs. Ce mémoire, divisé en trois parties, propose l’utilisation des liquides ioniques protiques comme électrolytes pour l’assemblage de supercapacités hybrides à base d’oxyde de manganèse et carbone. D’abord, le comportement pseudocapacitif des électrodes à base de films minces d’oxyde de manganèse dans les liquides ioniques protiques ainsi que leurs propriétés optiques sont étudiés et évalués. Des valeurs de capacitance spécifique allant jusqu’à 397 F/g ont été trouvées dans cette partie. Ensuite, des mélanges composés par un solvant organique (acétonitrile) et le liquide ionique protique sont présentés comme une manière de contourner la faible conductivité de ce dernier qui limite les valeurs de capacitance spécifique à obtenir. Une amélioration de la capacitance spécifique d’environ 30% est reportée dans ce chapitre. Finalement, l’assemblage d’une supercapacité hybride est présenté comme une stratégie efficace qui permet l’élargissement de la faible fenêtre de potentiel de travail obtenue avec les électrodes à base d’oxyde de manganèse. De cette façon, la faisabilité de tel arrangement est montré ici, obtenant de valeurs de capacitance spécifique (16 F/g) ainsi que de puissance (81 W/kg) et d’énergie spécifique (1,9 Wh/kg) acceptables en utilisant des liquides ioniques protiques comme électrolytes de remplissage. / Hybrid supercapacitors continue to carve out a place in the field of renewable energies. Manganese dioxide, because of some attractive characteristics (low cost, environmental friendly and high specific capacitance), is a very promising material for the assembly of such devices. This thesis, divided into three chapters, proposes the use of protic ionic liquids as electrolyte for the assembly of a manganese dioxide/carbon based hybrid supercapacitor. Firstly, the pseudocapacitive behaviour and optical properties of thin manganese dioxide based electrodes in protic ionic liquids were investigated and evaluated. Specific capacitance values of up to 397 F/g are reported in this part. Then, mixtures of an organic solvent (acetonitrile) and protic ionic liquids were proposed in order to enhance the poor conductivity of ionic liquids, which limits the specific capacitance values. A 30% improvement of specific capacitance values is shown in this chapter. Finally, the assembly of a hybrid supecapacitor is presented as an alternative strategy to increase the narrow potential window of stability of manganese dioxide electrodes in our protic ionic liquids. The last chapter describes such a device as well as its specific capacitance (16 F/g), energy (1.9 Wh/kg) and power density (81 W/kg) values obtained in protic ionic liquids.

ABSTRACT SYNTHESIS AND ELECTROCHROMIC PROPERTIES OF CONDUCTING POLYMERS OF SUCCINIC ACID BIS-(2-THIOPHEN-3-YL-ETHYL) ESTER AND THEIR USE IN ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES Sa&ccedil / an, Lale M.Sc., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Levent Toppare June 2006, 59 pages A new monomer / succinic acid bis-(2-thiophen-3-yl-ethyl)ester (SATE) was synthesized through the esterification reaction of 2-thiophen-3-yl-ethanol and succinyl chloride. The chemical structure of monomer was characterized via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Electrochemical behaviors of SATE alone and SATE in the presence of thiophene were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The synthesis of homopolymer and copolymer were achieved via constant potential electrolysis. Both homopolymer (PSATE) and copolymer [P(SATE-co-Th)] were characterized by various techniques including cyclic voltammetry, FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermal Gravimetry Analysis (TGA) and UV-VIS Spectrophotometer. Conductivities of samples were measured by four probe technique. The electrochromic properties of the polymers were investigated via spectroelectrochemistry, colorimetry and switching studies. In addition, dual type electrochromic devices (ECDs) composed of PSATE, P(SATE-co-Th) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) were constructed and evaluated. Spectroelectrochemistry, switching ability and stability of the devices were investigated by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and Cyclic Voltammetry. They have shown to possess good switching times, reasonable contrasts, high stabilities and optical memories.