Influence of chemical composition of electrode material on the differential capacitance characteristics of the ionic liquid | electrode interface

Accounting for the Quantum Capacitance of Graphite in Constant Potential Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at a constant electric potential are an essential tool to study electrochemical processes, providing microscopic information on the structural, thermodynamic, and dynamical properties. Despite the numerous advances in the simulation of electrodes, they fail to accurately represent the electronic structure of materials such as graphite. In this work, a simple parameterization method that allows to tune the metallicity of the electrode based on a quantum chemistry calculation of the density of states (DOS) is introduced. As a first illustration, the interface between graphite electrodes and two different liquid electrolytes, an aqueous solution of NaCl and a pure ionic liquid, at different applied potentials are studied. It is shown that the simulations reproduce qualitatively the experimentally-measured capacitance; in particular, they yield a minimum of capacitance at the point of zero charge (PZC), which is due to the quantum capacitance (QC) contribution. An analysis of the structure of the adsorbed liquids allows to understand why the ionic liquid displays a lower capacitance despite its large ionic concentration. In addition to its relevance for the important class of carbonaceous electrodes, this method can be applied to any electrode materials (e.g. 2D materials, conducting polymers, etc), thus enabling molecular simulation studies of complex electrochemical devices in the future.

Differential Capacitance of Ionic Liquid Confined between Metallic Interfaces

We present here a detailed analysis of the electric double layer at the gold electrode/[BMIM][BF4] interface using a polarizable model for the electrode, based on our recent approach to include image charges [Geada et al. Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 716]. A double bell (camel) shape is obtained for the differential capacitance, where the inclusion of metal polarization allows for a higher density of ions in the double layer, particularly around the maxima, thereby increasing the capacitance. The charging mechanism differs for the positive and negative electrodes, with counterion adsorption prevailing at the anode and co-ion desorption prevailing at the cathode. The charging mechanism is predominantly governed by the BF4 anions, serving as counterions and co-ions at the anode and cathode, respectively. Within the considered range of potentials, only minor changes are observed in the dynamical properties, specifically in the diffusion coefficients. Notably, it is interesting to observe that bulk properties are restored at a shorter distance from the gold surface in the case of the anode compared to the cathode.

The review of advances in interfacial electrochemistry in Estonia: electrochemical double layer and adsorption studies for the development of electrochemical devices

The electrochemistry nowadays has many faces and challenges. Although the focus has shifted from fundamental electrochemistry to applied electrochemistry, one needs to acknowledge that it is impossible to develop and design novel green energy transition devices without a comprehensive understanding of the electrochemical processes at the electrode and electrolyte interface that define the performance mechanisms. The review gives an overview of the systematic research in the field of electrochemistry in Estonia which reflects on the excellent collaboration between fundamental and applied electrochemistry.

The Influence of Anion Structure on the Ionic Liquids/Au (100) Interface by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The microstructure of electrical double layers (EDLs) of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate ([Bmim]PF₆), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumbis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide ([Bmim]TFSI) were studied by quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamics simulation. For the set of ionic liquids investigated here, we found some interesting universal laws due to differences geometry and electronic structure of anions. We show that the morphology of the three anions on the electrode surface is different due to the different geometric structure. The plane formed by the bottom three atoms of the symmetrically tetrahedral BF₄^- and the bottom atom of the symmetrically octahedral PF₆^- face the electrode whether the electrode is charged or not, while the conformation of twisted V-shaped TFSI^- changes with different surface charges on the electrode. Meanwhile, we also demonstrate that the energy of highest occupied molecular orbital (E_HOMO), the energy of lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (E_LUMO) and their energies gap (ΔE) are very interesting due to different electronic structure of anions. Specially, the E_HOMO, E_LUMO, and ΔE were related to the electronegativity of the central atom in the case of the same symmetry on the neutral surface. The more electronegative the central atom is, the lower E_HOMO, E_LUMO and higher ΔE values are. However, on the charged surface, the interaction between anion and electrode is opposite to ΔE. Moreover, different arrangements of anion and cation are related to the interaction between particles. The stronger interaction leads a double-row structure and the weak interaction lead worm-like and island patterns on Au (100) surface. In general, we observed that the higher ΔE cause stronger interaction, which lead to different patterns on Au (100) surface. Meanwhile, we also confirmed that the stronger interaction between particles and electrode lead to the thinner effective EDL and a large differential capacitance value. These results provide a new perspective for double-layer structure in atomic and molecular level. This is helpful to deepen the understanding of the interface phenomena and characteristics of [Bmim]BF₄, [Bmim]PF₆, and [Bmim]TFSI on Au (100) system and provide theoretical basis for the application of these kind of systems.

Hysteresis in the MD Simulations of Differential Capacitance at the Ionic Liquid-Au Interface

In this Letter, we report the first observation of the capacitance-potential hysteresis at the ionic liquid | electrode interface in atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. While modeling the differential capacitance dependence on the potential scan direction, we detected two long-living types of interfacial structure for the BMImPF₆ ionic liquid at specific charge densities of the gold Au(111) surface. These structures differ in how counterions overscreen the surface charge. The high barrier for the transition from one structure to another slows down the interfacial restructuring process and leads to the marked capacitance-potential hysteresis.

Formation mechanisms of Caprolactam-tetraalkyl ammonium halide deep eutectic and its hydrate

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are generally composed of two or three cheap and safe components that are associated with each other via hydrogen bonds. The formation Caprolactam (CPL)-tetraalkyl ammonium halide (TAAX) DES and its hydrate were investigated using React IR. TAAX was introduced to CPL in the molten state at 353.15 K, the intermolecular H-N-C=O⋯H-N-C=O hydrogen bonds (CPL dimer) transfer to X^-⋯H-N-C=O (CPL-TAAX DES). When water was added to CPL-TAAX DES, intermolecular X^-⋯H-N-C=O⋯H-O-H hydrogen bonds appeared, and CPL-TAAX DES hydrate was formed. However, if the ratio of water exceeded the moral fraction of 0.61, CPL-TAAX DES hydrate turned into a CPL-TAAX aqueous solution. The CO (1660 cm^-1) bonds were linearly correlated with hydrogen bonds number and TBAB amount in CPL-TBAB DES. When the molar fraction of CPL-TBAB DES was 0.39 to 0.78, the CO peak redshift has a better linear correlation with water. Halide anions and the alkyl chain length of TAAX have little influence on the redshifts and peak intensity of the CO peak.

On the thickness of the double layer in ionic liquids

The Au(111)|BF₄⁻interface model in which BF₄⁻reorients and spontaneously dissociates at surface coverageθ= 1/3.

Effects and controls of capacitive hysteresis in ionic liquid electrochemical measurements

Capacitance vs. potential relationships help electrochemists better understand electrode–liquid interfacial behaviors.