Increasing the potential window of the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions to more than 1.2 V
By Cousens, Nico E.A. & Kucernak, Anthony R.
Published in Electrochemistry Communications
2011
Abstract
The polarisation window of an interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) was maximised by systematically investigating different electrolyte and solvent combinations. The bulky organic electrolyte bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate and three inorganic electrolytes, LiF, NaCl and MgSO4 were studied. These electrolytes have high free energies of transfer between organic and aqueous phases, making them ideal choices. An unconventional solvent system produced by mixing 1,2-dichloroethane with cyclohexane was also used resulting in a 30% increase of the potential window. An ITIES system composed of 2 M MgSO4 in water and 1 mM bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate in 1:1 DCE/cyclohexane achieves a potential window of 1256 mV.