Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia in molten salts

Ammonia is important feedstock for both fertilizer production and carbon-free liquid fuel.Many techniques for ammonia formation have been developed,hoping to replace the industrial energy-intensive Haber-Bosch route.Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia in molten salts is one promising alternative method due to the strong solubility of N~(3-) ions,a wide potential window of molten salt electrolytes and tunable electrode reactions.Generally,electrochemical synthesis of ammonia in molten salts begins with the electro-cleavage of N_2/hydrogen sources on electrode surfaces,followed by diffusion of N~(3-)/H~+-containing ions towards each other for NH_3 formation.Therefore,the hydrogen sources and molten salt composition will greatly affect the reactions on electrodes and ions diffusion in electrolytes,being critical factors determining the faradaic efficiency and formation rate for ammonia synthesis.This report summarizes the selection criteria for hydrogen sources,the reaction characteristics in various molten salt systems,and the preliminary explorations on the scaling-up synthesis of ammonia in molten salt.The formation rate and faradaic efficiency for ammonia synthesis are discussed in detail based on different hydrogen sources,various molten salt systems,changed electrolysis conditions as well as diverse catalysts.Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia might be further enhanced by optimizing the molten salt composition,using electrocatalysts with well-defined composition and microstructure,and innovation of novel reaction mechanism.     

Ionic conduction in composite polymer electrolytes at subambient temperatures

The majority of investigations carried out on polymer(SINGLEBOND) salt systems have been on polyether electrolytes at moderate temperatures where such electrolytes exhibit macroscopic uniformity. Relatively little attention has been paid to the subambient temperature region where composite electrolytes based on polyethers exhibit much higher conductivities than their pure polyether electrolyte analogues. For all of the composite systems studied the conduction mechanism changes from one in which the ions are coupled to the polymer segmental relaxations to one in which the ions are decoupled and thermally activated ionic hopping produces higher conductivities than would be expected from ion-segmental coupling and higher than observed for the base polyether(SINGLEBOND) salt system. This change has been observed at temperatures between 10 and 80°C above the respective glass transition temperatures. The relationship between this interaction and these higher conductivities at subambient temperatures is explored and discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Kinetic salt effects on the outer sphere electron transfer reaction between hexacyanoferrate(II) and 4-pyridinecarboxylatopentammine cobalt(III)

A study is made of the kinetic salt effects upon the outer-sphere electron transfer reaction between hexacyanoferrate(II) and 4-pyridinecarboxylatopentaamminecobalt(III). The observed salts effects are analyzed, taking into account the possible association of the reactants with the ions of the supporting electrolyte, though no conclusive results could be obtained. A correlation has been established between the logarithm of the observed second-order rate constants and the logarithm of the rate constants for a related innersphere electron transfer reaction. From this correlation the conclusion can be drawn that the observed salt effects in concentrated electrolyte solutions are mainly due to the effects on the electron transfer step. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Behaviour of dodecyltriethylammonium ion at the mercury electrode at negative potentials: Effect of supporting electrolyte

Measurements of differential capacity have been made for dodecyltriethylammonium chloride solutions containing supporting electrolytes of different type and concentration. The results obtained permit us to relate the observed effects to the change of the orientation of the adsorption layer from horizontal to vertical. The structure of the adsorption layer with vertical orientation of the cations was proposed as follows: the counter-ions are present in the adsorption layer and they are located between neighbouring nitrogen atoms and separated from the electrode by ethyl groups of the ammonium heads. Taking into account the cation-anion interaction one can explain the influence of the type and concentration of inorganic electrolytes on the cathodic capacity peaks. The possibility of formation of the hemimicelle-type aggregates was assumed for the highes ammonium salt concentrations studied.     

Highly concentrated polycarbonate‐based solid polymer electrolytes having extraordinary electrochemical stability

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are compounds of great interest as safe and flexible alternative ionics materials, particularly suitable for energy storage devices. We study an unusual dependence on the salt concentration of the ionic conductivity in an SPE system based on poly(ethylene carbonate) (PEC). Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy reveals that the ionic conductivity of PEC/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) electrolyte continues to increase with increasing salt concentration because the segmental motion of the polymer chains is enhanced by the plasticizing effect of the imide anion. Fourier transfer‐infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy suggests that this unusual phenomenon arises because of a relatively loose coordination structure having moderately aggregated ions, in contrast to polyether‐based systems. Comparative FTIR study against PEC/lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) electrolytes suggests that weak ionic interaction between Li and TFSI ions is also important. Highly concentrated electrolytes with both reasonable conductivity and high lithium transference number (t₊) can be obtained in the PEC/LiTFSI system as a result of the unusual salt concentration dependence of the conductivity and the ionic solvation structure. The resulting concentrated PEC/LiTFSI electrolytes have extraordinary oxidation stability and prevent any Al corrosion reaction in a cyclic voltammetry. These are inherent effects of the highly concentrated salt. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2442–2447     

Effect of supporting electrolyte on the activation energy for diffusion of some monovalent ions

The effect of some alkali metal bromides, iodides and sulphates on the diffusion of bromide, iodide and thallium ions, respectively, is studied at various temperatures. The activation energy required for the process of diffusion of these three ions in different supporting electrolytes have been calculated. It is found that activation energy for a given ion decreases in the reverse order of the charge density of alkali metal ions of the supporting electrolyte. This observed trend in activation energy is explained qualitatively by considering the distortion in the water structure caused by these ions and agar molecules.     

Laser Raman and FTIR studies on Li+ interaction in PVAc-LiClO4 polymer electrolytes

The polymer electrolytes composed of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) with various stoichiometric ratios of lithium perchlorate (LiClO(4)) salt have been prepared by solution casting method. The techniques Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and Laser Raman spectroscopy have been used to monitor polymer-salt complex formation, ion-ion and ion-polymer interactions as a function of salt concentration. Significant changes in both Laser Raman and FTIR spectra are observed which reveals an interaction between ester oxygens with lithium cation coordination. These results strongly suggest the interaction of lithium cation and network polymer chains. When the salt content is increased, the intensity of the internal Raman modes of the ClO(4)(-) increases. The ClO(4)(-) stretching mode observed at 934 cm(-1) in Laser Raman shows some additional shoulder peaks with increase in salt concentration. This reveals the presence of free anions, ion contact pairs and higher order ionic clusters. From the FTIR and Laser Raman results the transport mechanism of ions in PVAc:LiClO(4) polymer electrolytes has been discussed.     

Polarography in hexamethylphosphoramide: Effect of supporting electrolyte cations

Polarographic reductions of various metal ions such as the silver, cupric, zinc, cobaltous, nickel, ferric, ferrous ions and hydrogen ion in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), have been investigated in the supporting electrolytes with various perchlorates. The reduction of most of these ions is strongly influenced by the cation of the supporting electrolyte. In the presence of the tetraethylammonium ion, when the size of the cation of the supporting electrolyte is small and easily adsorbed on the negatively charged electrode surface, the reductions of metal ions are controlled by some preceding processes and are naturally irreversible. The rate of reduction becomes more rapid with the increase of the size of the cation. Thus, in Hex₄NClO₄ or LiClO solutions, the reduction of these various metal ions takes place almost totally under diffusion control, although the waves of most of metal ions show a maximum. These effects of the cation of the supporting electrolytes on reduction can be explained as a phenomenon occurring on the electrode surface. This phenomenon has been reported in previous papers [1] on the reductions of the alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. The difference in the electrocapillary curves in these solutions is rarely shown at the potential around the electrocapillary maximum, but it is very obviously shown at more negative potential. The difference in the effect of the size of the cation of the supporting electrolyte on reduction of metal ion coincides well with the difference in the electrocapillary curves in these solutions: the effect of the size of the supporting electrolyte cation on the polarographic reduction is rarely shown at the potential around the electrocapillary maximum, but it is very obviously shown at more negative potential; therefore this effect is due to the electrode double-layer difference.     

Study of microstructural characterization and ionic conductivity of a chemical-covalent polyether-siloxane hybrid doped with LiClO4

The chemical-covalent polyether-siloxane hybrids (EDS) doped with various amounts of LiClO4 salt were characterized by FT-IR, DSC, TGA, and solid-state NMR spectra as well as impedance measurements. These observations indicate that different types of complexes by the interactions of Li+ and ClO4- ions are formed within the hybrid host, and the formation of transient cross-links between Li+ ions and ether oxygens results in the increase in T(g) of polyether segments and the decrease in thermal stability of hybrid electrolyte. Initially a cation complexation dominated by the oxirane-cleaved cross-link site and PEO block is present, and after the salt-doped level of O/Li+ = 20, the complexation through the PPO block becomes more prominent. Moreover, a significant degree of ionic association is examined in the polymer-salt complexes at higher salt uptakes. A VTF-like temperature dependence of ionic conductivity is observed in all of the investigated salt concentrations, implying that the diffusion of charge carrier is assisted by the segmental motions of the polymer chains. The behavior of ion transport in these hybrid electrolytes is further correlated with the interactions between ions and polymer host.     

Solvation effect of the cation of the supporting electrolyte in hexamethylphosphoramide

Polarographic reductions of sodium and potassium ions in hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) have been examined in various supporting electrolytes. The supporting electrolytes, which have much the same solvated radii and much the same electrocapillary curves, sometimes have a significantly different influence on the polarographic reductions of metal ions. The Li⁺ and Hex₄N⁺ ions provide a typical example. Their effective radii are seen to have much the same characteristics. However, the polarographic reduction of the sodium ion shows a difference in shape between that occurring in Li⁺ solution and that in Hex₄N⁺ solution. Another example is found in the case of Et₄N⁺, Me₄N⁺ and 5N6⁺, whose r_eff and the electrocapillary curves are much the same. However, the polarographic reductions of the sodium and potassium ions are different in these solutions. The solvation number of the solvent molecule of the supporting electrolyte cation seems to exert a great influence on these reductions. The electrocapillary curves were also examined with the tetradodecylammonium ion, tetradecylammonium ion and tetraphenylphosphonium ion used as the supporting electrolytes. The inhibition of the reduction of metal ion for these cations is evidence for their lack of solvation. The effects of the solvated asymmetrical tetraalkylammonium ions on the polarographic behaviour were also examined. When some methyl groups cooperate with the tetraalkylammonium ion, the chemical character is between that of the Et₄N⁺ ion and that of the Me₄N⁺ ion.     

Electro-initiated cationic polymerizations—III: Polymerization of anethole in the presence of tetra-alkylammonium perchlorates

The electro-polymerization of trans-anethole in 1,2-dichloroethane solution with tetraethyland tetrabutylammonium perchlorates as supporting electrolytes was studied: the dependences of polymerization rates and molecular weight on some experimental parameters were determined.To investigate the electrolytic formation of initiating species, the anolyte from the electrolysis of the supporting salt in the absence of monomer was examined; the presence of electrolytically produced perchloric acid was ascertained unequivocally. However, owing to the polarographic behaviour of anethole, which shows an oxidation wave at lower anodic potential than the solvent—salt couple, it was not possible to postulate any reaction mechanism based on a single initiation reaction.The fact that the polymerizations were carried out without control of the anodic potential and some of the kinetic results indicate that two parallel initiation reactions (direct monomer oxidation and protonation by electrolytically formed perchloric acid) can occur.     

Buffer salt effect on pH in the interior of an anion exchange resin

The internal pH of Q Sepharose Fast Flow anion exchange resin in equilibrium with a bis-tris acetate buffer solution is investigated as a function of buffer salt concentration. Direct evidence of a resin phase pH shift is presented. At low buffer salt concentrations of 20 mM NaCl the resin phase pH is found to be as much as 1.1 pH units greater than that of the buffer phase, approaching to within 0.1 units of the buffer phase at salt concentrations greater than 250 mM. An ideal model with no adjustable parameters based on the Boltzmann distribution and the electroneutrality condition provides excellent agreement with experimental observations. The model assumes that small ions do not bind to the resin fixed charge sites and the agreement between the model predictions and observed resin internal pH suggests that strong electrolytes do not form ion pairs with the resin fixed charge sites.     

Features of the formation of interpolymer complexes of poly(carboxylic acids) and nonionic polymers in aqueous solutions in the presence of low-molecular-mass electrolytes

The published experimental data on the interpolymer reactions that involve nonionic polymers and poly(carboxylic acids) in aqueous solutions in the presence of low-molecular-mass electrolytes have been analyzed. A theoretical approach that allows one to interpret the character and direction of a shift in the critical pH values of the complexation reaction due to the effect of low-molecular-mass electrolyte has been proposed. It has been found that the character of interactions between poly(carboxylic acids) and nonionic polymers in the presence of a low-molecular-mass salt is significantly influenced by the processes of local ion exchange resulting in the heterogeneous distribution of low-molecular-mass ions throughout the solution volume.     

Salt effects upon reactions of different charge type reactants: Peroxodisulphate Oxidations of Fe(CN)4(bpy)2−, cis-Fe(CN)2(bpy)2 and Fe(bpy)32+ and Iron(II) Oxidation by Co(NH3)5Cl2+

Salt effects on the oxidation of the iron(II) complexes Fe(CN)₄(bpy)^2?, cis-(CN)₂(bpy)₂ and Fe(bpy)₃²⁺ by S₂O₈^2? as well as on the reaction Fe²⁺ + Co(NH₃)₅Cl²⁺ have been studied in concentrated electrolyte solutions at 298.2 K. We have gone from anion–anion to cation–cation reaction with the intermediate cases of anion–neutral and cation–anion reactions. Results show that the main cause of the kinetic salt effects observed is the interaction between supporting electrolytes and the solvent. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Water-in-salt electrolytes: An interfacial perspective

Liquid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, high transference number for the target ions, and excellent electrochemical, chemical, and thermal stability are essential for electrochemical energy storage devices. Water-in-salt (WIS) electrolytes, in which the salt–water ratio is larger than one, are gaining intensive attention in the electrochemical community. Here, we review the recent work on WIS electrolytes and the closely related water-in-ionic liquid electrolytes. We highlight the fact that many properties of these electrolytes, in bulk and at electrolyte–electrode interfaces, are underpinned by the physics and chemistry of the interfaces formed between water and ions (or aggregated water/ion clusters). Manipulating these interfaces by tailoring the selection of ions and water–ion ratio opens up new dimensions in the optimization of liquid electrolytes but also poses new challenges. We conclude the review by highlighting several directions for research on WIS electrolytes, in particular, the study of WIS electrolyte–electrode interfaces using surface force measurements.     

Electrochemical studies of sulfonates in non-aqueous solvents: Part I. Polarographic reductions of alkali metal ions with sulfonate supporting electrolyte in N,N-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile

The effect of the supporting electrolytes tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, methanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonate on the polarographic reduction of alkali metal ions in N,N-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile has been investigated. In tetraethylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate supporting electrolyte, the polarographic reductions of alkali metal ions are almost the same as those in perchlorate in both solvents. In tetraethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate and methanesulfonate, the half-wave potentials shift to more negative potentials, especially in acetonitrile. These shifts can be explained in terms of ion-pair formation between the alkali metal ion and the supporting electrolyte anion.     

聚合物固体电解质中的离子状态与导电机理的研究

制备得到了一种新颖的聚氨酯和丙烯酸酯复合梳形交联聚合物 (Combcross linkedpolymer) ,并以此聚合物为基体加入不同含量的高氯酸锂盐制得一系列聚合物固体电解质 ,其室温电导率可以达到 3 4× 10 - 5S·cm- 1 .通过Raman、DSC、SEM及电性能等研究了电解质中的盐浓度与离子存在状态及离子电导率之间的关系 .结果显示随着盐浓度的增加 ,聚合物固体电解质中离子对的比例和电导率都迅速增加 ,说明离子对 (由多个醚氧原子、阴离子和阳离子组成 )对体系导电起着积极的作用 .     

Role of adsorption phenomena in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitric acid at a platinized platinum electrode

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitric acid was studied at a platinized platinum electrode in the presence of different supporting electrolytes. It has been found that at low HNO₃ concentrations the polarization behaviour, the shape of the polarization curves and the reduction rate depend significantly upon the supporting electrolyte. (For instance, one maximum in HClO₄, two maxima in H₂SO₄.)With increasing nitric acid concentrations the differences in the character of the polarization curves gradually disappear. The phenomena observed can be explained by the role of competitive adsorption between nitric acid and ions of the supporting electrolyte. Strongly adsorbing chloride ions exert a very pronounced influence on the reduction rate and induce periodical phenomena under certain experimental conditions. The adsorption of chloride ions was studied by a radiotracer method. Results of this study confirm the view on the importance of adsorption competition in the polarization behaviour. On the basis of simple adsorption models an attempt was made to explain the phenomena observed.     

Specific ion effects: Interaction between nanoparticles in electrolyte solutions

Dependence of colloidal interactions on salt identity, observed frequently in experiments, can be accounted for once ion specific non-electrostatic forces are included in the theory. Ability to predict the effect of added salt on the phase diagram of colloid dispersions is essential for the design of processes involving nanocolloids. The Ornstein–Zernike equation with hypernetted chain closure approximation provides a viable first estimate for the potential of mean force between ionized nanoparticles like alumina aggregates in aqueous electrolytes subject to dispersion interactions with hydrated simple ions. Calculated potentials of mean force enable the prediction of osmotic second virial coefficients and phase diagrams showing a dramatic dependence on ion type. The choice of salt therefore provides an efficient, non-intrusive way to tune the phase behavior of nanoparticle dispersions.