Tailoring nickel coatings via electrodeposition from a eutectic-based ionic liquid doped with nicotinic acid

Pure nickel (Ni) was electrodeposited onto a copper (Cu) substrate from choline chloride-urea (1:2 molar ratio) eutectic-based ionic liquid (1:2 ChCl-urea IL) with 0-1200 mg/L additions of nicotinic acid (NA). The effect of NA on the voltammetric behavior of Ni (II) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, whilst the nucleation/growth of Ni deposits was studied by chronoamperometry. The resultant surface morphologies and microstructures of the Ni coatings were revealed by SEM/EDXS, XRD and TEM, demonstrating that NA can inhibit, hence tailor, the Ni deposition and serve as a very effective brightener producing highly uniform and smooth Ni deposits. The nucleation/growth process of Ni was not affected by the presence of NA, proceeding via three-dimensional instantaneous nucleation. NA has a profound grain refining effect with a grain size of ∼4.2 nm achievable.     

Hydrodynamic sono-voltammetry of ferrocene in [Tf2N] based ionic liquid media

The present work deals with the hydrodynamic behavior of several room-temperature ionic liquids presenting the same bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyles)imide anion, associated with four different cations: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium, N-trimethyl-N-propylammonium and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium cations. Steady state voltammetry was used as an electrochemical technique to characterize mass transfer in both silent and sonicated conditions, using a rotating disk electrode. Results obtained in RTILs media are compared to those acquired in synthetic solutions of controlled viscosity, in order to develop a better understanding of the phenomena involved in such media.     

The impact of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride on electrospinning process of SAN polymer solutions and electrospun fiber morphology

The aim of this research was to investigate how addition of IL [Bmim]Cl¹ into SAN² solution in 1,2-DCE³ will influence electrospinning variables, stability of process and morphology of obtained nanofibers and find out the appropriate way of utilizing [Bmim]Cl in the electrospinning process. The solutions of pure SAN in 1,2-DCE of different concentrations (10–20%) and solutions with different concentrations (0.5–20%) of IL were spun at different variables (10–20 cm and 10–20 kV). All results were investigated by optical and SEM microscopy. Also solution parameters like electrical conductivity, surface tension and viscosity were measured and their effect on the obtained fibers morphology estimated.     

Acoustic cavitation in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide based ionic liquid

In this work, a comparison between the temperatures/pressures within acoustic cavitation bubble in an imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(triflluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide ([BMIM][NTf₂]), and in water has been made for a wide range of cavitation parameters including frequency (140–1000 kHz), acoustic intensity (0.5–1 W cm⁻²), liquid temperature (20–50 °C) and external static pressure (0.7–1.5 atm). The used cavitation model takes into account the liquid compressibility as well as the surface tension and the viscosity of the medium. It was found that the bubble temperatures and pressures were always much higher in the ionic liquid compared to those predicted in water. The valuable effect of [BMIM][NTf₂] on the bubble temperature was more pronounced at higher acoustic intensity and liquid temperature and lower frequency and external static pressure. However, confrontation between the predicted and the experimental estimated temperatures in ionic liquids showed an opposite trend as the temperatures measured in some pure ionic liquids are of the same order as those observed in water. The injection of liquid droplets into cavitation bubbles, the pyrolysis of ionic liquids at the bubble-solution interface as well as the lower number of collapsing bubbles in the ionic liquid may be the responsible for the lower measured bubble temperatures in ionic liquids, as compared with water.     

Nucleation, growth and properties of Co nanostructures electrodeposited on n-Si(1 1 1)

In the present work, cobalt thin films deposited directly on n-Si(1 1 1) surfaces by electrodeposition in Watts bath have been investigated. The electrochemical deposition and properties of deposits were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and alternating gradient field magnetometer (AGFM) techniques. The nucleation and growth kinetics at the initial stages of Co studied by current transients indicate a 3D island growth (Volmer-Weber); it is characterized by an instantaneous nucleation mechanism followed by diffusion limited growth. According to this model, the estimated nucleus density and diffusion coefficient are on the order of magnitude of 10⁶ cm⁻² and 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. AFM characterization of the deposits shows a granular structure of the electrodeposited layers. XRD measurements indicate a small grain size with the presence of a mixture of hcp and fcc Co structures. The hysteresis loops with a magnetic field in the parallel and perpendicular direction and showed that the easy magnetization axis of Co thin film is in the film plane.     

Ionic transport properties of PVdF-HFP-MMT intercalated nanocomposite electrolytes based on ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide

Ionic conductivity and transport properties of polyvinylidenefluoride–co-hexafluoropropylene– montmorillonite intercalated nanocomposite electrolytes based on ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide have been studied for various concentrations of montmorillonite clay. Ionic conductivity of the order of 10^?3?S?cm^?1 at room temperature with thermal stability up to about 235 °C has been obtained for the electrolyte system. The electrolyte system has superior properties at 5 wt% of clay loading with highly amorphous morphology as seen from selected area electron diffraction micrograph. Scanning electron microscope studies show that the electrolyte system has highly porous morphology and the ionic liquid is trapped in the pores. Dielectric properties of the electrolyte system have been studied to investigate the relaxation processes occurring in the system. Variation of real part of dielectric permittivity with frequency shows two relaxation processes occurring in the system, slow at low frequency and fast at high frequency. Kohlrausch exponential parameter has been calculated from modulus formalism, and the values show that the distribution of conductivity relaxation times becomes narrower with increasing clay loading.     

Volumetric, acoustic and spectroscopic studies for binary mixtures of ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) with alkoxyalkanols at T = (288.15 to 318.15) K

Densities and speeds of sound have been measured for the binary mixtures of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim][PF₆] with ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGMEE), diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Di-EGMEE), triethylene glycol monoethyl ether (Tri-EGMEE) over the whole composition range at atmospheric pressure. Experimental densities have been used to estimate excess molar volumes, V^E. Changes in isentropic compressibility, Δκ_s have been estimated by using experimental speed of sound and density values. Excess properties were fitted to the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation to obtain the binary coefficients and the standard errors. The molecular scale interactions between ionic liquid and alkoxyalkanols have been investigated through ¹H NMR spectroscopy. NMR chemical shifts for hydroxyl group of alkoxyalkanols and their deviations show hydrogen bonding interactions of varying strengths between ionic liquid and alkoxyalkanol in their binary mixtures.     

Pressure-induced crystallization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

We have investigated the pressure-induced crystallization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) associated with the conformational changes of [bmim]⁺ by Raman spectroscopy. [bmim]⁺ has trans-trans and gauche-trans (GT) conformers of the butyl side chain at ambient pressure. Our result revealed that liquid to solid-phase transition occurs at 0.2–0.4 GPa region, where the GT conformer becomes dominant. We found that the GT dominant state continues up to 4 GPa.     

Electrochemical study and electrodeposition of copper in the hydrophobic tri-n-octylmethylammonium chloride ionic liquid media

The electrodeposition of metallic Copper in binary mixture ionic liquid/organic solvent (tri-n-octylmethylammonium chloride (TOMAC))/chloroform (CHCl₃) was investigated. The electrochemical behavior of Cu(II) in TOMAC/CHCl₃ at glassy carbon working electrode at room temperature was studied by cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopy impedance. The results from the cyclic voltammetry showed that the electrodeposition of metallic Cu in the binary mixture ionic liquid/organic solvent was an irreversible process and was controlled by the diffusion of Cu(II) on a glassy carbon working electrode. The average value of αn_α was found to be 0.23 at 25 °C and the diffusion coefficient (D₀) of Cu(II) was calculated to be 7.12 10^− 9 cm²/s at room temperature. The performance of TOMAC ionic liquid such as internal resistance has been investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs was used to observe that the copper plating was moderately dense and contains fine crystallites with average sizes of about 1 μm at room temperature. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) profile showed that the obtained film was copper.     

Dissolution and Regeneration in Films of Natural Luffa in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride

Regenerated cellulose film was successfully prepared from natural luffa, a new cellulose raw material. A pretreatment of natural luffa was carried out by an alkali and hydrogen peroxide mixed solution. The dissolution process of the pretreated luffa in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]C1) was observed by polarized optical microscope. The structures and properties of the luffa films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TGA), and porosity measurements. The results showed that the luffa fibers were transformed to fibrils after the pretreatment. [BMIM]Cl was a good non-derivatizing solvent for the luffa cellulose. The solution conditions were 80°C and 10 h for a 15% solution. After being regenerated, as films, from the luffa/[BMIM]Cl solution, the crystalline structure of the luffa film was transformed completely from cellulose I to cellulose II. The film showed the strong characteristic functional groups of cellulose in FTIR results. The surface of the film was smooth with a compact structure. The porosity of the film was 66.2% and the average pore size was 17.8 nm. It was thermally stabile up to 280°C.     

Characterization of solid electrolytes prepared from ionic glass and ionic liquid for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Glassy solid electrolytes were prepared by combining the 50Li₂SO₄·50Li₃BO₃ (mol%) ionic glass and the 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMI]BF₄) ionic liquid. High-energy ball milling was carried out for the mixture of the inorganic ionic glass and the organic ionic liquid. The ambient temperature conductivity of the glass electrolyte with 10 mol% [EMI]BF₄ was 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹, which was three orders of magnitude higher than that of the 50Li₂SO₄·50Li₃BO₃ glass. The addition of [EMI]BF₄ to the ionic glass decreased glass transition temperature (T_g) of the glass and the decrease of T_g is closely related to the enhancement of conductivity of the glass. Morphology and local structure of the glass electrolyte was characterized. The dissolution of an ionic liquid in an ionic glass with Li⁺ ion conductivity is a novel way to developing glass electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium secondary batteries.     

Ultrasound-promoted catalyst-free one-pot four component synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones in neutral ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide

A catalyst-free one-pot four component methodology for the synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones under ultrasonic irradiation at room temperature using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, [Bmim]Br, as a neutral reaction medium is described. A broad range of structurally diverse aldehydes (aromatic aldehydes bearing electron withdrawing and/or electron releasing groups as well as heteroaromatic aldehydes) were applied successfully, and corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields without any byproduct.     

ZnS nanoparticle synthesis and stability of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]) under glow discharge plasma

Ionic liquid glow discharge electrolysis for nanoparticle synthesis is an emerging nanomaterials processing technology and the stability of ionic liquid when they are in contact with plasma is an important issue. This paper discusses the stability of [BMIM][BF4] after exposing this ionic liquid to glow discharge plasma and the synthesis of cubic crystalline ZnS nanoparticles by plasma electrochemical method. Stability of the ionic liquid after plasma exposure to 20 min at 250 V is explained by their FTIR spectra and found that the ionic liquid is stable even after the plasma exposure.     

Electrodeposition of magnesium film from BMIMBF4 ionic liquid

In this paper, we reported for the first time magnesium electrodeposition and dissolution processes in the ionic liquid of BMIMBF₄ with 1 M Mg(CF₃SO₃)₂ at room temperature. Our study found that complete electrochemical reoxidation of the electrodeposited magnesium film was feasible only on Ag substrate, comparing with the Pt, Ni, and stainless-steel. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results showed that magnesium was found in the deposited film and the deposits were dense. The electrodeposition of magnesium on Ag substrate in the ionic liquid was considered to be a reversible process by cyclic voltammetry. Plots of peak current versus the square root of the scan rate were found to be linear, which indicates that the mass-transport process of electroactive species was mainly diffusion controlled. The diffusion coefficient D values of electroactive species were calculated from cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry, respectively.     

离子液体存在下银的电沉积及其表面增强拉曼散射活性研究

离子液体作为一种绿色介质,在电化学领域的应用研究正在兴起,并已引起了研究者的浓厚兴趣。运用循环伏安法研究了离子液体(1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑硝酸盐,[bmim]NO₃)添加剂存在时,AgNO₃溶液中的Ag在玻碳电极上的电化学沉积行为。研究表明,离子液体的加入对Ag的沉积具有阻化作用。采用扫描电镜(SEM)对沉积层的表面形貌进行表征,结果显示离子液体的存在可使沉积层更加致密,Ag颗粒的尺寸减小。以甲基橙为探针分子,研究了在加入及不加[bmim]NO₃添加剂的AgNO₃溶液中电沉积所得银颗粒膜的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)效应,增强因子分别为1.7×105和1.1×105,表明在离子液体存在下制得的Ag颗粒膜具有相对较好的SERS活性。     

An active nano-supported interface designed from gold nanoparticles embedded on ionic liquid for depositing DNA

The use of an active nano-interface designed from gold nanoparticles embedded on ionic liquid for DNA damage resulted from formalehyde (HCHO) is reported in this article. The active nano-interface was fabricated by depositing gold nanoparticles on the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluroborate ([bmim][BF₄]). A glassy carbon electrode modified by this composite film was fabricated to immobilize DNA for probing into the damage resulted from HCHO. The modifying process was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and electrochemistry involving electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the modified film performs effectively in studying the DNA damage by electrocatalytic activity toward HCHO oxidation.     

Development of a united-atom force field for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate ionic liquid

Three united-atom (UA) force fields are presented for the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate, abbreviated as [EMIM]⁺[B(CN)₄]^?. The atomistic charges were calculated based on the restrained electrostatic potential (RESP) of the isolated ions (abbreviated as force field 1, FF-1) and the ensemble averaged RESP (EA-RESP) method from the most stable ion pair configurations obtained by MP2/6-31G*+ calculations (abbreviated as FF-2 and FF-3). Non-electrostatic parameters for both ions were taken from the literature and Lennard–Jones parameters for the [B(CN)₄]^? anion were fitted in two different ways to reproduce the experimental liquid density. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed over a wide temperature range to identify the effect of the electrostatic and non-electrostatic potential on the liquid density and on transport properties such as self-diffusion coefficient and viscosity. Predicted liquid densities for the three parameter sets deviate less than 0.5% from experimental data. The molecular mobility with FF-2 and FF-3 using reduced charge sets is appreciably faster than that obtained with FF-1. FF-3 presents a refined non-electrostatic potential that leads to a notable improvement in both transport properties when compared to experimental data.     

Sonochemical synthesis and characterization of Co3O4 nanocrystals in the presence of the ionic liquid [EMIM][BF4]

For the first time, a sonochemical process has been used to synthesis cobalt oxide Co₃O₄ nanoflowers and nanorods morphology in the presence of the ionic liquid 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [EMIM][BF₄] as reaction media and morphology template. Different sonication time periods and different molar ratios of the ionic liquid (IL) were used to investigate their effects on the structural, optical, chemical and magnetic properties of the produced Co₃O₄ nanoparticles. During synthesis process brown powder contains cobalt hydroxide Co(OH)₂ and cobalt oxyhydroxide (Cobalt hydroxide oxide) CoO(OH) was formed, after calcination in air for 4 h at 400 °C a black powder of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles was produced. The produced Co₃O₄ nanoparticles properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). To explain the formation mechanism of Co₃O₄ NPs some investigations were carried on the brown powder before calcination.     

Switching of hydrogen bonds of water in ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

We have investigated temperature‐induced Raman spectral changes of deuterated water in an ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), between room temperature and 77 K. The comparison of the OH and OD stretching vibrational spectra at 77 K shows that the strength of the hydrogen bonds in [bmim][BF₄]–water mixtures strongly depends on the type of water, i.e. H₂O and D₂O. In the [bmim][BF₄]–D₂O system, remarkably strong hydrogen bonds form at low temperatures, but they switch to nearly free hydrogen bonds on heating. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.