Voltammetry in Microemulsion Formed by Electron Donor Solution in Organic Solvent|Ionic Liquid Microdroplets in Aqueous Electrolyte
Authors: Dusilo Katarzyna , Opallo Marcin 
Published: February 2024

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)1 or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)2 at liquid|liquid interface provide the possibility of separation of their products: hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen.3,4 Typically, these reactions are studied at single interface formed between immiscible electrolyte solutions in quiescent conditions. In such geometry the frequency of successful reaction events when highly hydrophobic electron donor (i.e. decamethylferrocene (DMFc) or excited form of decamethylruthenocene (DMRc)) dissolved in organic phase meet proton from aqueous phase is rather limited. Importantly, electrochemical recycling of electron donor at electrode positioned close to the liquid|liquid interface increases efficiency of this reaction.5,6

The use of microemulsion is promising higher efficiency alternative, because of extended interfacial area of numerous organic droplets. As efficient electron exchange between oxidized form of electron donor and the electrode is crucial for biphasic ORR and HER one has to focus on electrochemical studies of DMFc or DMRc in emulsions.are important. Voltammetric signal of various redox probes as ferrocene or ferrocene surfactants in quiescent emulsions is similar to that in single phase with some variation of peak density currents or redox potential.7-11 Other studies focused on chronoamperometric experiments to detect collisions of redox probe (e.g. ferrocene12) containing droplets with the electrode surface. It was found that the addition of an hydrophobic ionic liquid, typically trihexyltetradecyl-phosphonium bis(trifluoro-methylsulfonyl) amide to the organic phase as stabiliser and electrolyte, does not influence the magnitude of the electrochemical signal.13

Here we will report results of electrochemical studies of emulsion prepared from aqueous HClO4 and DMFc or DMRc and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (IL-PI) solution in toluene. As aqueous phase acid solution was selected, because in biphasic ORR or HER it serves as a source of protons. During the measurements the microemulsion was stirred to achieve faster droplets transport towards the electrode surface. Results will be compared with these obtained in a single organic phase.

Voltammograms obtained with glassy carbon disc electrode indicate reversible oxidation/reduction of the redox probe similar to the seen with an electrode immersed in single organic phase. During continuous scanning redox only small change of peak currents is seen. Importantly, when after experiment in emulsion working electrode was transferred to aqueous HClO4, the voltammetric signal is still seen, but the peak currents are significantly smaller. This may indicate the redox reaction in liquid film formed on the electrode surface. Formation of liquid organic film is confirmed by the results of chronoamperometric experiments. When the electrode is set at potential corresponding to the oxidation of the redox probe, of the current is seen after c.a. 100 s drop, what may indicate the gradient of redox probe concentration. As DMFc is insoluble in water this points out on gradient of organic phase close to the glassy carbon surface.14 In turn voltammetric current related to electroreduction of highly hydrophilic hexacyanoferrate(III) is significantly diminished in emulsion as compared to pure aqueous electrolyte indicating partial coverage of the GC surface by hydrophobic film.

Other effects related with electrochemical behavior of studied emulsions will be also presented and discussed.

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