Electrochemistry of Sulfur and Polysulfides in Ionic Liquids

The electrochemistry of elemental sulfur (S8) and the polysulfides Na2S4 and Na2S6 has been studied for the first time in nonchloroaluminate ionic liquids. The cyclic voltammetry of S8 in the ionic liquids is different to the behavior reported in some organic solvents, with two reductions and one ox...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe journal of physical chemistry. B Vol. 115; no. 47; pp. 13873 - 13879
Main Authors Manan, Ninie S. A, Aldous, Leigh, Alias, Yatimah, Murray, Paul, Yellowlees, Lesley J, Lagunas, M. Cristina, Hardacre, Christopher
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Chemical Society 01.12.2011
Subjects
B: Statistical Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Medium Effects
Electrochemistry
Ionic liquids
Polysulfides
Radicals
Reduction
Solvents
Sulfur
Voltammetry
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The electrochemistry of elemental sulfur (S8) and the polysulfides Na2S4 and Na2S6 has been studied for the first time in nonchloroaluminate ionic liquids. The cyclic voltammetry of S8 in the ionic liquids is different to the behavior reported in some organic solvents, with two reductions and one oxidation peak observed. Supported by in situ UV–vis spectro-electrochemical experiments, the main reduction products of S8 in [C4mim][DCA] ([C4mim] = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium; DCA = dicyanamide) have been identified as S6 2– and S4 2–, and plausible pathways for the formation of these species are proposed. Dissociation and/or disproportionation of the polyanions S6 2– and S4 2– appears to be slow in the ionic liquid, with only small amounts of the blue radical species S3 •– formed in the solutions at r.t., in contrast with that observed in most molecular solvents.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1520-6106
1520-5207
DOI:10.1021/jp208159v