Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Electroanalysis of neutral precursors in protic ionic liquids and synthesis of high-ionicity ionic liquids

Sean, Goodwin; Daniel, Smith; Joshua, Gibson; Jones, Robert; Walsh, Darren A.

Authors

Goodwin Sean

Smith Daniel

Gibson Joshua

Robert Jones

DARREN WALSH DARREN.WALSH@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Chemistry



Abstract

Protic ionic liquids (PILs) are ionic liquids that are formed by transferring protons from Brønsted acids to Brønsted bases. While they nominally consist entirely of ions, PILs can often behave as though they contain a significant amount of neutral species (either molecules or ion clusters), and there is currently a lot of interest in determining the degree of “ionicity” of PILs. In this contribution, we describe a simple electroanalytical method for detecting and quantifying residual excess acids in a series of ammonium-based PILs (diethylmethylammonium triflate, [dema][TfO], dimethylethylammonium triflate, [dmea][TfO], triethylammonium trifluoroacetate, [tea][TfAc], and dimethylbutylammonium triflate [dmba][TfO]). Ultramicroelectrode voltammetry reveals that some of the accepted methods for synthesising PILs can readily result in the formation of non-stoichiometric PILs containing up to 230 mM excess acid. In addition, vacuum purification of PILs is of limited use in cases where non-stoichiometric PILs are formed. While excess bases can be readily removed from PILs, even under ambient conditions, excess acids cannot, even under high vacuum. The effects of excess acid on the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PILs have been studied, and the onset potential of the ORR in [dema][TfO] increases by 0.8 V upon addition of excess acid to PIL. Based on the results of our analyses, we provide some recommendations for the synthesis of highly-ionic PILs.

Citation

Sean, G., Daniel, S., Joshua, G., Jones, R., & Walsh, D. A. (in press). Electroanalysis of neutral precursors in protic ionic liquids and synthesis of high-ionicity ionic liquids. Langmuir, 33(34), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02294

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 7, 2017
Online Publication Date Aug 7, 2017
Deposit Date Aug 7, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Langmuir
Print ISSN 0743-7463
Electronic ISSN 1520-5827
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Issue 34
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02294
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/877011
Publisher URL http://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b02294

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations