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Single-phase multicomponent perovskite-type cobalt oxide containing five cations in equiatomic amounts on the A-site, namely, (Gd0.2Nd0.2La0.2Sm0.2Y0.2)­CoO3, has been synthesized via the modified coprecipitation hydrothermal method. Using an original approach for heat treatment, which comprises quenching utilizing liquid nitrogen as a cooling medium, a single-phase ceramic with high configuration entropy, crystallizing in an orthorhombic distorted structure was obtained. It reveals the anomalous temperature dependence of the lattice expansion with two weak transitions at approx. 80 and 240 K that are assigned to gradual crossover from the low- via intermediate- to high-spin state of Co3+. The compound exhibits weak ferromagnetism at T ≤ 10 K and signatures of antiferromagnetic correlations in the paramagnetic phase. Ab initio calculations predict a band gap Δ = 1.18 eV in the ground-state electronic structure with the dominant contribution of O_p and Co_d orbitals in the valence and conduction bands, respectively. Electronic transport measurements confirm the negative temperature coefficient of resistivity characteristic to a semiconducting material and reveal a sudden drop in activation energy at T ∼ 240 K from E a ∼ 1 eV in the low-temperature phase to E a ∼ 0.3 eV at room temperature. The possibility of fine tuning of the semiconducting band gap via a subtle change in A-site stoichiometry is discussed.

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Metformin (MET) is an antidiabetic drug most commonly used in treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2D). Adsorptive stripping voltammetric method using carbon black – hydrated ruthenium dioxide – Nafion modified glassy carbon electrode (CB‐RuO2‐Nafion GC electrode) have been developed for metformin determination in pharmaceutical formulations. By using ruthenium dioxide, electrode's lifespan was extended to at least 3 weeks (change of metrological parameters estimated as 3–4 %) what is an excellent result concerning other solutions previously described in the literature. Moreover the fabrication of the sensor is simple and fast. Deposition step was carried out at the potential 0 mV for 15 s. The best results were obtained in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 4.6). Important aspect was fixed MET : Cu(II) ratio equal to 1 : 8, otherwise linear dependence between register current and MET concentration could not be obtained. In addition, a significant improvement in the parameters of the calibration curve was obtained. Limit of detection was equal to 0.7 μM. Developed method was successfully applied in analysis of 2 pharmaceuticals products and in wastewater and river water. Accuracy of the method was estimated using recoveries, which were in the range 101–110 %. In order to adapt developed system into hydrodynamic conditions, amperometry in hydrodynamic transport conditions and flow injection analysis (FIA) measurements have been conducted. Conducted FIA measurements prove that developed method has potential for application in automized flow systems without frequent calibration.

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