A monomer, 4-(2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl) benzenamine (SNS-NH2), was synthesized via the reaction of 1,4-di(2-thienyl)-1,4-butanedione with benzene-1,4-diamine. Chemical polymerization of the monomer yielded a polymer which was completely soluble in organic solvents. The chemical structures of both the monomer and the polymer were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The average molecular weight of the chemically synthesized polymer was determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) as Mn = 2.2x103 g/mol. The electrochemical oxidative polymerization of SNS-NH2 was carried out via potentiodynamic electrolysis in the presence of LiClO4, NaClO4 (1:1) supporting electrolyte in acetonitrile. Electrochemical copolymerization of SNS-NH2 in the presence of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was achieved in acetonitrile (ACN) / NaClO4/LiClO4 (0.1M) solvent-electrolyte couple via potentiodynamic electrolysis. Conductivities of samples were measured by four probe technique. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Ultraviolet&ndash / Visible Spectroscopy were used to investigate electrochemical behavior of the monomer and redox reactions of conducting polymers. Surface morphologies of the polymer films were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Second part of the study was devoted to investigate the one of most interesting property of conducting polymers, the ability to switch reversibly between the two states of different optical properties, &lsquo / electrochromism&rsquo / . The electrochromic properties of the conducting polymers were investigated via spectroelectrochemistry, kinetic and colorimetry studies. Spectroelectrochemistry analysis of homopolymer, P(SNS-NH2), reflected electronic transitions at 376 and 650 nm indicating &amp / #960 / -&amp / #960 / * transition and polaron band formation respectively. The polymer has an electronic bandgap of 2.12 eV with a yellow color in the fully reduced form and a blue color in the fully oxidized form. Switching ability of the homopolymer was evaluated by kinetic studies upon measuring the % transmittance as 20.7 % at the maximum contrast point. The spectroelectrochemical behavior of the P(SNS-NH2-co-EDOT) compare to that of the homopolymer revealed solid evidence of copolymerization based upon the differences in the spectral signatures. Copolymer revealed multichromic property with five different colors at different applied potentials. Colorimetry studies for P(SNS-NH2-co-EDOT) proved that it is possible to provide fine tuning of these colors by varying applied potential during synthesis. The results of colorimetry, spectroelectrochemistry and FTIR studies showed the possible control of the color of the electrochromic material in a predictable, controlled and reproducible manner. As the last part of the study, dual-type complementary colored electrochromic devices (ECD) using P(SNS-NH2) and P(SNS-NH2-co-EDOT)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in sandwich configuration were constructed and evaluated. Spectroelectrochemistry, electrochromic switching and open circuit stability of the devices were investigated by UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and Cyclic Voltammetry. They have shown to possess good switching times, reasonable contrasts and high stabilities.

In the first part of this study, 4-(2,5-di-2-thiophen-2-yl-pyrrol-1-yl)-phthalonitrile (SNS-PN) was synthesized by utilizing 1,4-di(2-thienyl)-1,4- butadione (SOOS) and 4-aminophthalonitrile via Knorr-Paal Reaction. Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies were utilized for the characterization of this compound. SNS-PN monomer was then electrochemically polymerized in acetonitrile/0.2 M LiClO4 solvent/electrolyte couple. Characterizations of the resulting polymer P(SNS-PN) were carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV&ndash / vis and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. Spectroelectrochemical studies revealed that P(SNS-PN) has an electronic band gap of 2.5 eV and exhibits electrochromic behaviour. The switching ability of polymer was also monitored. It was also found that P(SNS-PN) was fluorescent and its fluorescence intensity enhanced in the presence of cations. In the second part, novel tetrakis (4-(2,5-di-2-thiophen-2-yl-pyrrol-1-yl)) substituted metal-free (H2Pc-SNS), zinc (ZnPc-SNS) and nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc-SNS) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The solution redox properties of these complexes were also studied by using CV and differential pulse voltammetry. All of the complexes showed two reversible reduction peaks having ligand-based character and one irreversible oxidation peak. Also, the electrochemical polymerization of these complexes was performed in dichloromethane/tetrabutylammonium perchlorate solvent/electrolyte couple. Resulting polymer films were characterized by UV&ndash / vis and FTIR spectroscopic techniques and their electrochemical behaviors were investigated utilizing CV. In-situ spectroelectrochemical investigations revealed that all the polymer films could be reversibly cycled and exhibit electrochromic behavior. Furthermore, the band gap of P(H2Pc-SNS), P(ZnPc-SNS) and P(NiPc-SNS) were calculated as 2.38 eV, 2.25 eV and 2.69 eV, respectively. Moreover, the fluorescence property of the P(ZnPc-SNS) was investigated in dimethyl sulfoxide and toluene.

This dissertation describes the assessment and use of carbon optically transparent electrodes (C-OTEs) based on pyrolyzed photoresist films (PPFs) as a platform for spectroelectrochemical investigations. C-OTEs are examined for use in UV-Vis spectroelectrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence and compared to non-transparent glassy carbon (GC) and the conventional transparent electrode indium tin oxide (ITO). Chapter 1 provides a general overview of transparent electrodes, carbon electrodes, and spectroelectrochemistry. Chapter 2 details a UV-Vis spectroelectrochemical investigation of electrogenerated graphitic oxides (EGO) on the surface of the C-OTE in the presence of KCl. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy are used to determine EGO composition. Several supporting electrolytes are investigated to determine the mechanism of EGO formation. Chapter 3 details experiments to electrochemically access the exciton emission from self-assembled double-walled tubular J-aggregates via electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL). Optimization of ECL intensity with respect to the coreactant concentration and the supporting electrolyte pH is performed on opaque glassy carbon electrodes. ECL and fluorescence spectra are compared, and C-OTEs are utilized to determine the source of disagreement between the spectra. Chapter 4 describes the preparation and characterization (i.e. transparency, thickness, sheet resistance, rms roughness, and electroactive surface area) of C-OTEs and explores C-OTEs for general use in ECL under a variety of conditions. Simultaneous cyclic voltammograms and ECL transients are obtained for three thicknesses of PPFs and compared to non-transparent GC and the conventional transparent electrode ITO in both front face and transmission electrode cell geometries. Despite positive potential shifts in oxidation and ECL peaks, attributed to the internal resistance of the PPFs that result from their nanoscale thickness, the PPFs display similar ECL activity to GC, including the low oxidation potential observed for amine coreactants on hydrophobic electrodes. Overall, C-OTEs are promising electrodes for spectroelectrochemical applications because they yield higher ECL than ITO in both oxidative-reductive and reductive-oxidative ECL modes, are more stable in alkaline solutions, display a wide potential window of stability, and have tunable transparency for more efficient detection of light in the transmission cell geometry. Future directions for this research are discussed in Chapter 5, which outlines several approaches to designing and improving spectroelectrochemical sensors. / text

With the ever expanding utility of transition metal catalysis, there has been a thrust both to develop catalysts with unique selectivites or activites, and to understand the factors which govern these characteristics at both a fundamental and practical level. Olefin metathesis has become an essential reaction for the synthesis of small molecules in addition to polymeric materials. We have pursued two distinct ligand classes based on diaminocarbenes with novel architectures to address specific limitations within this useful class of reactions: 1) limited access to polymeric materials with controlled microstructures and 2) poor stereoselectivity in Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis (CM) reactions. Numerous phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been used as ligands for Ru metathesis catalysts, and the resulting activity is very sensitive to their steric and electronic nature. We envisioned that we could take advantage of this dependence by developing a catalyst with tunable ligand donicity. Redox-switchable ligands can lead to catalysts whose selectivity and/or activity are dependent upon the ligand oxidation state. Towards this purpose, we have developed a ligand which incorporates a 1,1’-disubstituted ferrocene moiety into the backbone of a diaminocarbene (FcDAC). Upon ligation of FcDAC to various transition metals, we were able to use cyclic voltammetry and a spectroelectrochemical FT-IR experiment to show electronic communication between FcDAC and the coordinated metal. We then pursued Ru metathesis catalysts incorporating these ligands. The ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene was studied using [(FcDAC)(PPh₃)Cl₂Ru=(3-phenylindenylid-2-ene)] as the catalyst. Chemical redox reactions were used to establish the ability of FcDAC to impart redox-tunable properties to Ru metathesis catalysts. A new ligand class pioneered in our group, N-aryl,N-alkyl acyclic diaminocarbenes (ADCs), was also studied in various Ru metathesis catalysts. To our delight, these catalysts showed lower E : Z ratios than analogous NHC ligands in two representative CM reactions. We also investigated the conformational diversity of these differentially substituted ADCs given their ability to rotate about their C–N bonds, in particular, to determine how this might influence their donicity. Complexes of the type [(ADC)Ir(COD)Cl] and [(ADC)Ir(CO)₂Cl] were studied, given the wealth of structural and spectral data available for analogous compounds incorporating related ligand classes. Different conformations resulted depending on the N-substituents and the nature of the metal complex. Interestingly, the electron donating ability of ADC ligands was found to depend on their conformation, as evidenced by FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry. This established a new avenue for tuning the donor properties of differentially substituted ADC ligands. The unique properties of these novel ligand classes were demonstrated in Ru metathesis catalysts. However, on a broader level, these ligands are expected to have utility in diverse catalytic applications. / text

Energetics, charge selectivity and interfacial charge transfer kinetics affect the efficiency of solar electric energy conversion and solar photochemical formation of fuels. The research described herein focuses on understanding and controlling the energetics, charge selectivity, and interfacial charge transfer processes in organic photovoltaics, as well as new generation semiconductor-semiconductor and metal-semiconductor heterostructured nanorods (NRs) as photocatalysts. Waveguide and transmission based spectroelectrochemistries, photoemission spectroscopies, and impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the frontier orbital energies, charge selectivity and interfacial charge transfer kinetics in heterostructured NRs and organic photovoltaics. CdSe NRs tipped with Au nanoparticles and CdSe seeded CdS NRs tipped with Pt nanoparticles were used to study the effect of compositional asymmetry and catalytic sites on band edge energies of NRs. We used UV photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) and waveguide and transmission-based spectroelectrochemistry of NR monolayers/multilayers on conductive substrates to estimate valence/conduction band energies. Potential-modulated attenuated total reflectance (PM-ATR) spectroscopy was utilized to measure the apparent heterogeneous rate constants of reversible electron injection into NR films on indium tin oxide (ITO). We conclude from these measurements that metal tipping, which is designed to enhance the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor NRs, altered band edge energies and enhanced electronic coupling to conductive substrates, in ways that are predicted to influence their efficiency as photoelectrocatalysts. Monolayers of functionalized phosphonic acid ruthenium phthalocyanines (RuPcPA) tethered to ITO as a model organic photovoltaic donor/electrode interface were studied to understand the aggregation and orientation dependent charge transfer kinetics and energetics of these systems. The effect of surface roughness on the orientation of RuPcPA was theoretically modeled and compared to the experimental results. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies revealed the presence of only monomeric species on ITO. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) and PM-ATR were used to measure charge transfer rate constants. Further, frontier orbital energies of RuPcPA modified ITO were measured using UPS, and the results indicated favorable energetics for hole collection at the RuPcPA/ITO interface for OPV applications. The effect of "UV-light soaking" on the performance of organic photovoltaic devices employing metal oxide (MO) electron selective interlayers (ESL) was addressed using sputtered zinc oxide (ZnO) ESL films. This study provides a coherent methodology for differentiating between the proposed origins of the s-shaped current-voltage (J-V) responses in the literature for organic photovoltaics using MO ESLs. We use IS and UPS to demonstrate that the energetic barrier for charge extraction at the ZnO/active layer interface leads to the observed s-shape response in OPVs using ZnO ESLs. Furthermore, this study provides clear guidelines for minimizing the s-shaped J-V response and the effect of UV light on the performances of OPV devices using ZnO ESLs. We have developed solution electrochemical protocols to characterize nanometer-scale porosity and electronic properties of both solution-deposited and sputtered ZnO thin films used as interlayers for electron-harvesting contacts in inverted organic solar cells on ITO substrates. These electrochemical experiments were performed in order to evaluate the hole-blocking abilities of these ZnO ESLs as well as their effective "pinhole density," thus demonstrating a strong correlation to their OPV performances. These electrochemical experiments can be used to characterize and optimize ESLs rapidly, before OPV device fabrication.

In this research various techniques were used to study surface groups on carbon electrodes, including the spectroscopic techniques UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, PAS, XPS and XAS, as well as the Boehm titration. The methods determined to give the best insight to the surface functionalities on the carbon were XPS, XAS and the Boehm titration. The Boehm titration methodology was standardized before use. An in situ method of examining surface groups using spectroscopy during electrochemistry was attempted. Spectroelectrochemistry is a useful way to gain information on how electrochemistry affects electrodes during experimentation; however, it was unsuccessful for the carbon used and remains to be developed. Polymerization of the copolymer of PANI and PPy as a potential electrode material for ECs was achieved by electrochemical cycling and was studied through spectroelectrochemical measurements. Overall, the research completed included the initial stages to studying electrodes for electrochemical capacitors using analytical, non-electrochemistry techniques in conjunction with electrochemistry.

Organic electrical energy storage (EES) is a growing field of research that is expected to play an important role in the future, as the need for sustainable EES increases. Conducting redox polymers (CRPs), i.e. conducting polymers with incorporated redox active moieties e.g. as pendant groups (PGs), are proposed as a promising class of compounds for this purpose. Redox cycling of the PGs can be utilized for high charge storage capacity, while the conducting polymer backbone provides fast charge transport through the material. Some of the major challenges with small-molecule systems for EES could be solved by using CRPs, e.g. capacity fading due to dissolution of the active compound, and high resistance due to slow charge transport between molecules. The latter issue is often solved by adding large amounts of conducting additives to the active material, drastically lowering the specific capacity. In this project, CRPs are shown to be able to function in battery cells without any additives, making both high capacity and high power possible. Although several CRPs have been reported in the literature, very few detailed studies have been conducted on the electrochemical processes of the two systems (i.e. the conducting polymer backbone and the redox active PGs). An important factor to consider in CRP design is the possibility for interaction between the two redox systems, which could be either beneficial or detrimental to the function as EES material. In this thesis, CRP model systems composed of hydroquinone functionalized polypyrrole have been studied, and they exhibit separate redox reactions for the PGs and the backbone, overlapping in potential. Significant interaction between them was observed, as oxidation of the PGs has severe impact on the backbone: When the oxidized and hydrophobic p-benzoquinone PGs are formed, they pack and force the polymer backbone to twist, localizing the bipolarons, and decreasing the conductivity. This is accompanied by a contraction of the polymer film and expulsion of electrolyte. Overall, the interaction in these polymers is destructive for their EES function, and it could be eliminated by introduction of a long linker unit between the PGs and the backbone.

Il y a un intérêt croissant concernant la découverte de nouvelles méthodes commercialement viables pour réaliser des analyses spectro-électrochimiques — combinant des techniques électrochimiques et spectrales. Pour ce faire, nous avons préparé un matériau d'électrode transparent et conducteur, l’oxyde d’indium dopé à l’étain. Nous avons utilisé la technique d’électrofilage conduisant à la formation de fibres très fines avec une surface spécifique élevée. Ces électrodes ont ensuite été recouvertes d'une couche supplémentaire de silice poreuse et fonctionnalisée pour maximiser la surface spécifique et introduire des propriétés de détection supplémentaires. Le dispositif a été utilisé dans la détection du bleu de méthylène qui est un colorant industriel mais également un polluant environnemental. il a été mis en évidence qu’avec l'utilisation d'une telle électrode, il était possible de détecter des concentrations inférieures aux niveaux environnementaux nocifs. Enfin, les électrodes fonctionnalisées ont également été utilisées avec succès pour générer une luminescence plus intense et plus stable, ce qui ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour la conception de capteurs spectroélectrochimiques / There is a growing interest in finding new and commercially viable methods of performing a spectroelectrochemical analysis which combines electrochemical and spectral techniques. For this purpose, an electrode material that is transparent and conductive needs to be prepared. In this work, such electrode was prepared by electrospinning which is a technique capable of forming very thin fibers with high surface area. Those electrodes were also covered with additional layer of porous and functionalized silica to maximize the surface area and introduced additional sensing properties. This material was used in the detection of methylene blue which is an industrial dye and an environmental pollutant. It was found that using such electrode it was possible to detect concentrations that are smaller than the harmful environmental levels. Finally, the layers were also used with success to generate luminescence which is opening new prospects for the design of spectroelectrochemical sensors

Os comportamentos espectroeletroquímicos do ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS) e seu produto de hidrólise, o ácido salicílico (AS), foram estudados em soluções aquosas nas regiões de pH ácido, neutro e alcalino. Resultados para experimentos de voltametria cíclica sugeriram possíveis processos de eletro-oxidação e eletro-redução dos fármacos. O monitoramento do espectro de absorbância na região do UV-vis, simultâneo à medida de carga envolvida na eletrólise, permitiu a identificação de processos redox e o cálculo do número de elétrons envolvidos, aplicando a Lei de Faraday. O fármaco mostrou-se estável em pH ácido, reduziu em pH neutro e oxidou em pH alcalino. Tanto no processo de eletro-redução como na eletro-oxidação, os mecanismos propostos estabelecem o envolvimento de 1 elétron para a identificação de mudanças no nível molecular. Estas foram observadas pelas alterações de espectros de absorbância na região do UV-vis. Técnicas complementares, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (RPE) e espectroscopia de transmitância FT-IR, foram usadas para a caracterização dos produtos obtidos em experimentos de eletrólise. As respostas espectrofotométricas associadas à processos eletroquímicos permitiram o desenvolvimento de método espectroeletroquímico para a detecção do fármaco em amostras reais contidas em soluções com pH neutro, utilizando a técnica de voltabsormetria derivada linear (DLVA). A interação entre os fármacos e íons de ferro no ambiente do estômago, foi simulada em experimentos in vitro, empregando eletroquímica e espectrofotometria. Na presença do AAS ocorreram interações fracas sem a interferência para a absorção de ferro pelo organismo. Em contrapartida, o AS interagiu formando um complexo estável com o Fe3+, podendo ser apontado como um potencial interferente para a absorção de ferro provocando anemia em indivíduos vegetarianos que fazem uso contínuo deste fármaco. / The spectroelectrochemical behavior of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and its spin off hydrolysis, salicylic acid (SA), were studied in aqueous solutions in the acid, neutral and alkaline pH regions. Results for cyclic voltammetry experiments suggested a possible electro-oxidation and electro-reduction of the drugs. The monitoring of the absorbance spectra in the region of the UV-vis, simultaneously with the measurement of the charge involved in the electrolysis, allowed the identification of redox processes and the calculation of the number of electrons involved applying Faraday\'s Law. The drug was stable in acid solutions, reduced in neutral and oxidized in alkaline ones. In electro-reduction and electro-oxidation processes, the proposed mechanisms establish the involvement of 1 electron to identify changes at the molecular level. These were observed by changes in absorbance spectra in the UV-vis region. Complementary techniques, electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and FT-IR transmittance spectroscopy were used to characterize the products obtained in electrolysis experiments. The spectrophotometric responses associated to the electrochemical processes allowed the development of a spectroelectrochemical method for the detection of the drug in real samples contained in solutions with neutral pH, using the technique of derivative linear voltabsorptometry (DLVA). The interaction between drugs and iron ions in the stomach environment was simulated in in vitro experiments using electrochemistry and spectrophotometry. In the presence of ASA, weak interactions occurred without interference for the absorption of iron by the organism. On the other hand, AS interacted to form a stable complex with Fe3+ and could be considered as a potential interfering agent for the iron absorption, causing anemia in vegetarian individuals who make continuous use of this drug.

O presente trabalho versa sobre o aperfeiçoamento e a avaliação de uma nova célula espectroeletroquímica de longo caminho óptico, com detecção espectrofotométrica in situ, na região do ultravioleta e visível, otimizada para operação em fluxo, sobretudo no modo FIA (Flow Injection Analysis). Monitoramento sensível e razoavelmente seletivo, além da facilidade de construção e adaptação à instrumentação comercial existente, foram características consideradas no aprimoramento da célula, que utiliza filmes de Au como eletrodos de trabalho, obtidos à partir de certos tipo de CDs regraváveis (Compact Disc-Recordable), colados sobre bases acrílicas e diretamente acomodados em cubetas convencionais, com 1 cm de caminho óptico, tornando seu custo de produção inferior a qualquer outro modelo proposto. Utilizando como sistemas modelo, a o-tolidina e o hexacianoferrato de potássio, foram avaliados parâmetros instrumentais tais como: potencial aplicado, vazão, volume injetado; repetibilidade e faixa de concentração de analito, com a finalidade de se estabelecer as melhores condições de trabalho e funcionamento da célula, tendo em vista sua aplicação analítica. Alta sensibilidade óptica, operação estável e reprodutível, além da possibilidade de se trabalhar tanto no modo estacionário como em fluxo, com a vantagem de se poder combinar a técnica à metodologia utilizada na análise por injeção em fluxo (FIA), foram algumas das características observadas para a célula construída. Desvendadas as potencialidades da célula, em busca de maior compreensão sobre os processos envolvidos, passou-se à investigação do mecanismo de oxidação de alguns derivados fenotiazínicos, através da realização de um estudo comparativo entre: a prometazina, a promazina e a clorpromazina, em diferentes meios de trabalho. A combinação de informações eletroquímicas e espectroscópicas obtidas in-situ contribuiu para melhor entendimento dos mecanismos envolvidos, revelando que, embora o meio de trabalho escolhido possa exercer significativa influência no mecanismo de oxidação, a estrutura da cadeia lateral é, neste caso, o fator preponderante na formação dos produtos de oxidação. Visando o desenvolvimento de novas metodologias para a quantificação de derivados fenotiazínicos em formulações farmacêuticas, foram realizados estudos com o propósito de definir as melhores condições de trabalho, bem como o efeito da presença de interferentes concomitantes. Os resultados obtidos para a determinação da prometazina no Fenergan (Rhodia-Farma) e no Lisador (Farmasa), e para a clorpromazina no Amplictil (Aventis), seja pela construção de curvas analíticas e/ou pelo método da adição de padrão, mostraram-se concordantes com os valores fornecidos pelos laboratórios fabricantes e comparáveis com os obtidos através da metodologia oficial. Para a prometazina os limites de detecção foram determinados em 1,3 10-6 mol L-1 e 3,0 10-5 mol L-1 para as medidas espectrofotométricas e eletroquímicas, enquanto os limites de quantificação foram estimados em 1,1 10-4 mol L-1 e 2,2 10-5 mol L-1 para as medidas eletroquímicas e espectrofotométricas, respectivamente. Para a clorpromazina, os limites de detecção foram de 7,6 10-5 mol L-1 e 4,1 10-5 mol L-1 para as medidas eletroquímicas e espectrofotométricas, enquanto os limites de quantificação foram determinados em 3,3 10-4 mol L-1 e 1,6 10-4 mol L-1 para as medidas eletroquímicas e espectrofotométricas, respectivamente. A dupla resposta proporcionada pela técnica empregada (amperométrica e espectrofotométrica) permite contornar os efeitos causados pela presença de interferentes eletroativos ou coloridos, contribuindo para a alta seletividade do método e melhor discriminação entre o sinal do analito e de interferentes. / The present work is concerned with the enhancement and assessment of a novel long-optical-path spectroelectrochemical cell for in situ spectrophotometric detection in the ultraviolet and visible range, optimised for flowing operation, especially under FIA (Flow Injection Analysis) conditions. The sensitive and rather selective monitoring of electrolysed species present at the electrode-solution interface, together with simplicity of assembly and adaptation to existing commercial equipments, were some of the features targeted in the cell\'s improvement. The use of Au-film electrodes obtained from certain types of recordable CDs (Compact Disc-Recordable), attached onto acrylic supports in turn accommodated directly in conventional 1-cm optical-path cuvettes, makes the production of this cell cheaper than any other model so far proposed. O-tolidine and potassium hexacyanoferrate were employed as model systems for the assessment of instrumental parameters such as applied potential, flow rate, injected volume, repeatability and concentration range of the analyte, aiming at establishing the best working conditions for its application in analytical chemistry. High optical sensitivity, stable and reproducible operation, as well as the possibility of functioning either in the stationary or in flow modes, thus with the advantage of exploiting the FIA methodology, are some of the features observed for the cell. Further to highlighting the cell\' potentials and in order to seek a better understanding of the processes involved, the oxidation mechanism of a few phenothiazinic derivatives was investigated. Prometazine, promazine and chlorpromazine were comparatively studied in different media. The combination of the electrochemical and spectroscopic information obtained in situ contributed for a better comprehension of the mechanisms involved and revealed that the structure of the side chain is the key factor in the formation of the oxidation products, although the difference in the electrolytic medium is likely to play a significant role in the oxidation process. New analytical methodologies for the quantification of phenothiazinic derivatives in farmaceutical formulations were developed through studies focused on the definition of the optimum experimental conditions and on the effect of potential interfering species. Prometazine was determined in Fenergan (Rhodia-Farma) and in Lisador (Farmasa), whereas chlorpromazine was quantified in Amplictil (Aventis). The limits of detection (LOD) for promethazine were determined to be 1,3 10-6 mol L-1 and 3,0 10-5 mol L-1 for spectrophotometric and electrochemical measurements, while the limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 1,1 10-4 mol L-1 and 2,2 10-5 mol L-1 for spectrophotometric and electrochemical measurements, respectively. For chlorpromazine, the limits of detection (LOD) were determined to be 7,6 10-5 mol L-1 and 4,1 10-5 mol L-1 for spectrophotometric and electrochemical measurements, while the limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 3,3 10-4 mol L-1 and 1,6 10-4 mol L-1 for spectrophotometric and electrochemical measurements, respectively.The results obtained using both analytical curves and the standard addition methods, were consistent with the outcome of official methods and with the data supplied by the manufactures. The double response provided by the technique, amperometric and spectrophotometric, allows overcoming the interference of electroactive and colored species, hence turning this a highly selective method with an enhanced discrimination strength between the signal of the analyte and that of interfering species.