RESUMEN La posibilidad de usar el oxihidróxido del cobalto en la detección electroquímica de la gabapentina ha sido evaluada, y se sugirió un mecanismo del desempeño del analito y del modificador. Este fue desarrollado y analizado (mediante la teoría de estabilidad lineal y análisis de bifurcaciones) un modelo matemático basado en este mecanismo. La evaluación teórica confirma que el oxihidróxido de cobalto puede ser un modificador eficiente para la detección de la gabapentina, a pesar de la hibridez de su mecanismo de oxidación. La posibilidad y las causas de los comportamientos oscilatorio y monotónico también han sido investigadas.

SUMMARY The possibility for the use of cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide in gabapentine electrochemical determination has been evaluated. A mechanism for analyte and modifier function has been suggested. A mathematical model based in this mechanism has been developed and analyzed (by means of linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis). The theoretical evaluation confirms that the cobalt (III) oxyhydroxide may be an efficient modifier for gabapentine electrochemical determination, despite of the hybridity of its oxidation mechanism. The possibility and the causes for oscillatory and monotonic instabilities have also been investigated.

This article reports the synthesis and characterization of pure and N-, B-, and Ag-doped TiO2 and the ability of these oxides to photodegrade methylene blue (MB) under sunlight or UV-ABC radiation. The compounds were synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photocatalytic efficiency was significantly increased by N-doping, resulting in 98% MB decomposition under UV-ABC irradiation for 180 min. Ag- and B-doped TiO2 lowered MB degradation rates to 52 and 73%, respectively, compared with pure TiO2. The same behavior was observed with exposure to UV-Vis, with 88, 65, 60, and 42% MB removal with N-doped, pure, B-doped, and Ag-doped TiO2, respectively. Under visible light alone, N-doped TiO2 exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency than commercial P25-type TiO2. Photocatalysis with N-doped TiO2 proved to be a promising alternative for MB degradation, given the potential of employing solar energy, thus minimizing operating costs.

The purpose of this study was to synthesize TiO2-polymer composites able to act as photocatalyst membranes. TiO2 catalysts were prepared using the sol-gel method to contain 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt.% of embedded Ag particles, subsequently incorporated into natural rubber latex at a weight fraction of 15%. Samples of these ceramic powders were suspended in a latex emulsion (natural rubber), cast in Petri dishes and slowly dried in an oven. The resulting materials were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and photocatalytic assaying using methylene blue as an organic pollutant reference. All composite membranes exhibited good photoactivity conferred by TiO2 powder, with 98% dye fading after 300 min of ultraviolet irradiation.

Some aspects of electrochromism phenomena are presented in this review paper. A deep literature revision about the subject dealing with materials and device configurations developed in the last years, is presented. Great efforts of the scientific community have been done in this field. On the other hand, new electrochomic devices based on reversible deposition of metals are specially emphasized here. These devices present many advantages such as simple operation and construction and they have also shown high cycling rates. These factors make them suitable for application in display industry. In this way, many concepts used in the developement of electrodeposition baths are very useful for the improvement of these new devices; specially, all knowledge about the use of additives for modifying films microstructure and morfology.