a b s t r a c tThermal stability, hydration and mechanical properties of thermally cross-linked sulfonated aromatic polymers (SAP) with high ionic exchange capacity (IEC) were measured and compared to untreated samples. The formation of cross-linking greatly stabilizes sulfonated polyphenylsulfone (SPPSU) in terms of thermal, mechanical, and hydrolytic degradation: it can resist in water even at a temperature of 145• C with improved mechanical properties, while TGA experiments demonstrate that SPPSU membranes are stable well above 200• C. Sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) membranes show, instead, a hydrolytic instability.

ZrnormalO2 nanostructured thin films were prepared by electrochemical anodization of zirconium films deposited by sputtering on silicon substrate. The influence of the electrolyte composition upon morphology of the nanostructured oxide was studied. The structure and the morphology of zirconium films (before and after anodization) as well as oxide films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures electrodeposited from aqueous zinc nitrate solution at 70 °C onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE) were used as electrochemical detectors. The morphology, structure, chemical composition and conductivity of the as-deposited layers were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis and UV-vis spectroscopy. A highly oriented crystalline ZnO deposit made of a dense array of randomly oriented hexagonal nanorods was obtained without any additives in solution. The electrocatalytic oxidation of Ascorbic Acid (AA) was studied using cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.8. Comparing the response for AA oxidation on the bare and modified electrodes, the peak potential was shifted to-0,45V on ZnO/GCE with higher current densities and transfer coefficient, due to a simultaneous increase of oxidation rate and surface area. A linear relationship was determined between the anodic peak current and the AA concentration in the range of 0.1 to 5 mM.

and Technology, Graduate school of Engineering 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.Poly(para-phenylene)vinylene (PPV) was electrochemically deposited onto silicon and porous silicon substrates. The structures of the films were characterized by SEM and AFM. The PPV layers show good uniformity and flatness. Their emission properties were studied in term of photoluminescence and electroluminescence. The photoluminescence of PPV films is green and much stronger than that of the studied porous Si layers (emitting red color). The comparative study of the electroluminescence of Si/PPV/indium tin oxide and Si/PSi/indium tin oxide devices shows that charge carrier injection is achieved in the PPV film, but that it is more difficult than in porous Si.