Electrochemical synthesis of freestanding tin nanowires from ionic liquids

In this article, we report on the electrodeposition of tin nanowire arrays from two different ionic liquids, namely, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([EMIm]DCA) and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide ([Py_1,4]DCA). Tin nanowires were synthesized via a template-assisted electrodeposition process using polycarbonate membranes as templates. Gold or copper thin films were sputtered on one side of the track-etched polycarbonate template to make it conductive to be used as a working electrode. In order to have a thicker supporting layer, the electrodeposition process was done in two different ways; the first way was the deposition of Sn on both sides of the membrane, but Sn forms dendrites on the sputtered side so it cannot be used as a supporting layer for the synthesized nanowires. In the second way, Sn nanowires were deposited first through the nonsputtered side in the first step; then, a copper layer was deposited on the sputtered side in another step from 1 M CuCl/[EMIm]DCA.     

Electrochemical synthesis of PEDOT and PPP macroporous films and nanowire architectures from ionic liquids

We report on the electrochemical synthesis of macroporous films and on nanowire architectures of conducting polymers from ionic liquids. The electrodeposition of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and of poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) from the air and water stable ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([EMIm]TFSA) and from 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([HMIm]FAP) within the voids of a polystyrene opal structure on gold and on platinum substrates yield macroporous films. For this purpose, polystyrene spheres with an average diameter of about 600?nm were applied onto the employed electrodes by a simple dipping process resulting in a layer thickness of about 10?μm. The macroporous films turn into yellow, orange, blue, and green colors owing to the Bragg reflection of the incident artificial white light. PPP and PEDOT nanowires were electrochemically prepared in a track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membrane with an average pore diameter of 90?nm. One side of the membrane was sputtered with a thin gold film to serve as a working electrode. Electrodeposition occurs along the pores of the template. Nanowires with an average diameter of 90?nm and a length of up to 17?μm can be easily synthesized by this electrochemical template-assisted method. Such materials are of interest as catalyst in metal/air batteries and as cathode material in, e.g., microbatteries.     

Electrochemical synthesis of gallium nanowires and macroporous structures in an ionic liquid

The electrochemical synthesis of gallium nanostructures in an ionic liquid is presented. Gallium nanowires and macroporous structures were synthesized by the template-assisted electrodeposition in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([Py(1,4)]TFSA) containing GaCl(3) as the precursor. Track-etched polycarbonate membranes with an average pore diameter of 90 nm and a thickness of 21 μm were used as templates for the nanowire synthesis. Ga nanowires with a length of more than 4 μm and an average diameter corresponding to that of the template's pores were easily obtained by this method. Macroporous structures with an average pore diameter of 600 nm were obtained by the electrochemical deposition of Ga inside polystyrene colloidal crystal templates and the subsequent removal of the template by THF. The macroporous deposit showed a granular morphology with smallest grain sizes of about 40 nm and light reflections. The nanostructures of Ga were characterized by HR-SEM and EDX analysis.     

Electrochemical synthesis of aromatic sulfur compounds in ionic liquids

Electrochemical properties of ionic liquids (pyridinium and imidazolium salts) and the effect of additives of organic solvents on the electrochemical determination of organic compounds in ionic liquids have been studied. Transformations of aromatic and aliphatic sulfur compounds in ionic liquids in the presence of aromatic substrates are discussed. A new method has been proposed for identification of organic sulfur compounds–gas chromatography on columns with ionic liquid as the active phase.     

离子液体中2,4,6-三溴苯酚的电化学还原脱卤

<正>室温离子液体的许多独特的性质为其在化学分离、电化学传感器、电池等领域展示了广阔的应用前景[1-3]。室温离子液体作为有机反应介质,可以克服水溶液电化学窗口较窄的缺点,还可避免或减少造成二次污染的大量有机溶剂[4]。利用离子液体的导电性,可将电化学反应中的     

Single-step synthesis of gold-silver alloy nanoparticles in ionic liquids by a sputter deposition technique

The simultaneous sputter deposition of gold and silver onto ionic liquids formed bimetallic alloy nanoparticles, which exhibited composition-sensitive surface plasmon resonance, the peak wavelength being red-shifted with an increase in the surface area of the gold foil targets sputtered.     

Straightforward one-pot synthesis of benzofuroxans from o-halonitrobenzenes in ionic liquids

Treatment of o-halonitrobenzenes with sodium azide in a [empyrr][BF4]/Bu4NBr/H2O system gives benzofuroxans in high yields, with the recovery and reuse of the ionic liquid for at least ten times.     

Porous ionic liquids: synthesis and application

Solidification of fluidic ionic liquids into porous materials yields porous ionic networks that combine the unique characteristics of ionic liquids with the common features of polymers and porous materials. This minireview reports the most recent advances in the design of porous ionic liquids. A summary of the synthesis of ordered and disordered porous ionic liquid-based nanoparticles or membranes with or without templates is provided, together with the new concept of room temperature porous ionic liquids. As a versatile platform for functional materials, porous ionic liquids have shown widespread applications in catalysis, adsorption, sensing, actuation, etc. This new research direction towards ionic liquids chemistry is still in its early stages but has great potential.     

Enzymatic polyester synthesis in ionic liquids

The enzymatic synthesis of polyesters by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and polycondensation in three ionic liquids, i.e., [bmim][Tf₂N], [bmim][PF₆] and [bmim][BF₄] was investigated. For the enzymatic ROP of ε-caprolactone it was found that [bmim][PF₆] and [bmim][BF₄] result in an inhomogeneous reaction mixture upon polymerization, causing polymerization characteristics similar to bulk polymerization. In contrast, for [bmim][Tf₂N] characteristics similar to toluene were observed. Molecular weights of 7000-9500 g/mol were obtained. In the polycondensation of dimethyl adipate and dimethyl sebacate, respectively, with 1,4-butanol the low volatility of ionic liquids was successfully utilized to perform the reactions in an open vessel at temperatures close to the boiling point of the condensation by-product. Molecular weights up to 5400 g/mol were obtained. This, in combination with the tunable solvent hydrophilicity of ionic liquids could offer an advantage in the polymerization of highly polar monomers with low solubility in organic solvents.     

On the chemical synthesis of titanium nanoparticles from ionic liquids

Abstract  

We report on attempts towards the synthesis of titanium nanoparticles using a wet chemical approach in imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) under reducing conditions. Transmission electron microscopy finds nanoparticles in all cases. UV/Vis spectroscopy confirms the nanoparticulate nature of the precipitate, as in all cases an absorption band between ca. 280 and 300 nm is visible. IR spectroscopy shows that even after extensive washing and drying, some IL remains adsorbed on the nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy suggests the formation of anatase nanoparticles, but X-ray diffraction reveals that, possibly, amorphous titania forms or that the nanoparticles are so small that a clear structure assignment is not possible. The report thus shows that (possibly amorphous) titanium oxides even form under reducing conditions and that the chemical synthesis of titanium nanoparticles in ILs remains elusive.     

Electrochemical activation and dehalogenation of freons in low-temperature ionic liquids

The effect of various factors (the nature of the medium and the electrode material, the electronic structure of the Freons, etc.) on the electrochemical activation and dehalogenation of a series of Freons [F113 (CF₂ClCFCl₂), F13B1 (CF₃Br), F114B2 (CF₂BrCF₂Br), and F113B2 (CFClBrCF₂Br)] in various low-temperature ionic liquids (LTIL) [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, and trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imides and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, and trifluoroacetate] at various electrodes (glassy carbon, Pt, Ag) was studied. It was established in particular that the investigated processes are affected substantially by the electrical conductivity and viscosity of the medium. With decrease of the latter the peak potential in the cyclic voltammetry of the electrochemical reduction of the Freons is shifted toward less negative values while the current increases. It was found that a silver cathode has a specific effect on the electrochemical activation of the Freons in the LTILs, and this may be due to the formation of complexes Ag⋯Hal⋯R_f between the Freons and silver atoms on the electrode surface, in which cleavage of the C—Hal bond is facilitated. Such processes are compared with the processes realized in the traditional solvent dimethylformamide. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 67–74, March–April, 2007.     

不同离子液体中三氯化铁的电化学行为

本文采用循环伏安法研究了FeCl3在五种不同的离子液体(包括疏水性和亲水性的离子液体)中的电化学行为,计算了不同离子液体中FeCl4的扩散系数.实验结果表明:Fe3+在离子液体中的氧化还原过程是一个具有较高可逆性的扩散控制过程.离子液体的阴、阳离子的结构及大小对Fe3+的电化学响应有影响,且离子液体的阴离子的影响较阳离子更大一些.     

Electrochemical oxidation behavior of hydroxypivalaldehyde in the ionic liquids

The similar electrochemical oxidation behaviors of hydroxypivalaldehyde in ionic liquids （ILs） medium, C4MIMPF6, C4MIMBF4 and CsMIMPF6, are investigated using classic electrochemical methods, respectively. Only the product, hydroxypivalic acid is detected by high performance liquid chromatography （HPLC）. It can be conferred that the electrochemical oxidation of hydroxypivalaldehyde consists of two successive one-electron irreversible reactions at glass carbon （GC） electrode and the possible reaction mechanism in the ILs is proposed firstly. The diffusion coefficients of hydroxypivalaldehyde are obtained according to the electrochemical characteristics of hydroxypivalaldehyde in C4MIMPF6, C4MIMBF4 and CsMIMPF6.     

Microwave-assisted separation of ionic liquids from aqueous solution of ionic liquids

Microwave-assisted separation has been applied to recover ionic liquid (IL) from its aqueous solution as an efficient method with respect to time and energy compared to the conventional vacuum distillation. Hydrophilic ILs such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF(4)]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Bmim][TfO]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([Emim][MS]) could be recovered in 6 min from the mixture of ILs and water (1:1, w/w) under microwave irradiation at constant power of 10 W while it took at least 240 min to obtain ILs containing same water content (less than 0.5 wt%) by conventional vacuum oven at 363.15 K with 90 kPa of vacuum pressure. Energy consumptions per gram of evaporated water from the homogeneous mixture of hydrophilic ILs and water (1:1, w/w) by microwave-assisted separation were at least 52 times more efficient than those in conventional vacuum oven. It demonstrated that microwave-assisted separation could be used for complete recovery of ILs in sense of time and energy as well as relevant purity.     

Convenient synthesis of various ionic liquids from onium hydroxides and ammonium salts

Hydroxide ionic liquids, such as 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxides, undergo smooth anion metathesis with ammonium salts to produce a variety of ionic liquids in excellent yields. It is a practical supplement of traditional neutralization method due to the broader range of starting materials containing desired anions.     

Microwave-promoted synthesis of polyhydroxydeoxybenzoins in ionic liquids

A microwave-promoted synthesis of polyhydroxydeoxybenzoins and -phenylpropanones has been developed, using bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amine (HNTf₂) or BF₃·OEt₂ in an ionic liquid solvent.     

Design and synthesis of fused-ring chiral ionic liquids from amino acid derivatives

Six novel imidazolium salts, which contain a chiral moiety as well as a fused-ring system, have been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized. The synthesis of these ionic liquids is concise and practical due to the commercial availability of the starting materials. These imidazolium compounds were readily prepared from 1-methyl-2-imidazoliumcarboxaldehyde and chiral amino alcohols. Salts that contain the PF₆ anion were solids, but salts with the NTf₂ anion were liquids at room temperature. We envision that these new chiral imidazolium compounds can serve as effective reaction media as well as chiral catalysts for asymmetric reactions, which are presently being investigated in our lab.     

Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in ionic liquids with bulky organic anions

The electrochemistry of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was studied in two ionic liquids with bulky organic anions, i.e., 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIM) diethylene glycol monomethyl ether sulfate (MDEGSO₄) and BMIM octyl sulfate (OctSO₄). BMIM-MDEGSO₄ is a liquid, while BMIM-OctSO₄ is in solid form at room temperature. Electrosynthesis of PEDOT in BMIM-MDEGSO₄ with an EDOT concentration of 0.1 M and in BMIM-MDEGSO₄/EDOT 1/1 (w/w) solution resulted in no polymer at all or a very limited amount of polymer on the electrode surface, as determined by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M KCl(aq) solution. In contrast, electrosynthesis of PEDOT in BMIM-OctSO₄/EDOT 1/1 (w/w) resulted in a high yield of electroactive material on the electrode surface. Furthermore, electrosynthesis of PEDOT in ionic liquid–water solution (C_{ionic liquid}=1.5 M) containing 0.1 M EDOT was also found to give a relatively high yield of electroactive material on the electrode surface, both for 1.5 M BMIM-MDEGSO₄(aq) and 1.5 M BMIM-OctSO₄(aq). The PEDOT electrodes showed an anionic potentiometric response in 10^–5–10^–1 M KCl(aq) solution, indicating a predominant anion transfer at the polymer–solution interface despite the relatively bulky anions (MDEGSO₄^– or OctSO₄^–) incorporated as counterions in PEDOT during electropolymerization. On the basis of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the charge (ion) transport properties of the polymer film were strongly influenced by the water content of the ionic liquid (C_{ionic liquid}=0.05–2.0 M).Dedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70th birthday