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In Situ Lithiated Reference Electrode: Four Electrode Design for In-operando Impedance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 12, 2018
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Rationale for the implementation of reference electrodes in ionic liquids
C Bonnaud1, I Billard2, N Papaiconomou3
1University Grenoble-Alpes, LEPMI, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|March 1, 2016
Summary
Reference electrodes are crucial for electrochemical measurements in ionic liquids. Stable potentials from Ag/Ag+ or Fc/Fc+ reference electrodes enable reliable quantitative analysis, unlike quasi-reference electrodes.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Ionic Liquids
- Materials Science
Background:
- Ionic liquids (ILs) offer unique properties for electrochemical applications.
- Accurate electrochemical measurements require stable and reliable reference electrodes.
- The performance of reference electrodes in ILs is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of various reference electrodes (REs) and quasi-reference electrodes (QREs) in three different ionic liquids.
- To evaluate the influence of experimental parameters like internal resistance and scan rate on cyclic voltammetry.
- To determine the suitability of different electrode types for quantitative electrochemical analysis in ILs.
Main Methods:
- Cyclic voltammetry was employed to study three ILs: [BMIM][Tf2N], [OMIM][Tf2N], and [BMPyrr][Tf2N].
- Evaluated QREs (AgCl, Pt, Pd) and REs (Fc+/Fc/Pt, Ag+/Ag, Cl-/AgCl/Ag).
- Analyzed the impact of internal resistance, scan rate, and analyte concentration.
Main Results:
- Internal resistance significantly affects cyclic voltammetry and must be considered dynamically.
- Quasi-reference electrodes are suitable only for qualitative electrochemical studies.
- Reference electrodes utilizing Ag+/Ag or Fc+/Fc in ILs exhibit stable potentials for over 15 hours.
Conclusions:
- Ag+/Ag and Fc+/Fc reference electrodes provide stable potentials in ILs, enabling reliable quantitative electrochemical experiments.
- QREs are limited to qualitative assessments in ionic liquid systems.
- Dynamic consideration of internal resistance is essential for accurate cyclic voltammetry in ILs.
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