Thin solid films of Nb2O5 and Nb2O5:Li+ were prepared by the sol-gel process using the sonocatalytic method. The films reported here were prepared from a NbCl5 as precursor and butanol as solvent. Through the addition of lithium salt LiCF3SO3 to the precursor solution, films with different electrochemical performance were obtained. The electrochemical and optical responses of the films were determined from the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements using a 0.1 M LiClO4/PC as electrolyte. The electrochromic properties of the films were investigated using in situ spectroelectrochemical method. They exhibit a gray coloration under Li+ insertion with a reversible variation of the transmittance in the visible and near infrared range between 20% and 80%

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This paper presents the characterization of poly(aniline) (PANI) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) coatings obtained by mixing PANI with PMMA aqueous dispersions (latex particles). These dispersions were characterized by using dynamic light scattering for sizing, zeta-potential analysis and thermal analysis. PMMA and PANI/PMMA dispersions show negative charged particles with zeta potential greater than |40| mV, a zeta-average diameter of 64 nm for pure PMMA and a bi-modal particle-size distribution centered at 45 and 120 nm for a mixture with 25% w/w of PANI. Films obtained by casting were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy and they show a conductivity increase upon PANI content reaching a value of 1 mS cm -1 for a film with 25% w/w of PANI. In addition, Raman spectroscopy have shown the presence of the conducting form of PANI in the films and cyclic voltammetry experiments corroborated that they are electroactive in both acid and neutral solutions.