Time-resolved determination of the potential of zero charge at polycrystalline Au/ionic liquid interfaces

Single-Particle Imaging Reveals the Electrical Double-Layer Modulated Ion Dynamics at Crowded Interface

The dynamics of ion transport at the interface is the critical factor for determining the performance of an electrochemical energy storage device. While practical applications are realized in concentrated electrolytes and nanopores, there is a limited understanding of their ion dynamic features. Herein, we studied the interfacial ion dynamics in room-temperature ionic liquids by transient single-particle imaging with microsecond-scale resolution. We observed slowed-down dynamics at lower potential while acceleration was observed at higher potential. Combined with simulation, we found that the microstructure evolution of the electric double layer (EDL) results in potential-dependent kinetics. Then, we established a correspondence between the ion dynamics and interfacial ion composition. Besides, the ordered ion orientation within EDL is also an essential factor for accelerating interfacial ion transport. These results inspire us with a new possibility to optimize electrochemical energy storage through the good control of the rational design of the interfacial ion structures.

Time-Resolved Selective Electrochemical Sensing of Carbon Particles

This work demonstrated a new method for electrochemical detection of carbon black particles based on impact electrochemistry that was capable of selective detection of carbon black from the insulating oxide particles. We systematically studied the electrochemical collision events with carbon black particle suspension solution (pH 7.0 phosphate buffer) at varying carbon black concentrations using a convective condition and a gold microelectrode. We evaluated the effect of bias potential on the number and magnitude of collision spikes by changing the applied potential in chronoamperometry experiments. Our results showed that the biased potential of +0.4 V was the most suitable potential among the tested potential biases. Current blips were observed in the amperometric i-t response, and the spike numbers scaled linearly with the concentration of carbon black particles in the range of 2.5-20 μM (i.e., mass/volume concentration of 0.03 to 0.24 mg L^-1) with the lowest detection limit of 0.396 μM (i.e., mass/volume concentration of 0.00475 mg L^-1). The selective detection of carbon particles in the presence of representative poorly conductive oxide particles in our experimental conditions was achieved. The sensing mechanism of the sensitive and selective detection of carbon black particles is proposed. This work provides the basis for the development of powerful electroanalytical methods and technologies for the detection and classification of carbon particles in varying environmental conditions such as coalmines, engineered carbon particle factories, and coal power plants.

Potential-Induced Adsorption and Structuring of Water at the Pt(111) Electrode Surface in Contact with an Ionic Liquid

Water adsorption is important in many fields from surface electrochemistry to electrocatalysis, where molecular-level information is much needed in order to gain a detailed understanding of the role of interfacial water. Here we report on water at Pt(111) surfaces in contact with an [EIMIM][BF₄] ionic liquid, which was spectroscopically resolved by using in situ sum-frequency generation (SFG). O-H modes are used to study water adsorption and water structure as a function of electrode potential, while the analysis of C-H modes is used to infer orientational changes of [EMIM] cations at the interface. Different from the bulk where free water molecules are found, SFG spectra provide evidence that an interfacial layer with an extended network of hydrogen-bonded water molecules exists and grows with increasing absolute potential which is used to identify the potential of zero charge at +0.1 V SHE, where a pronounced minimum in O-H intensity is found.

A mean-field theory on the differential capacitance of asymmetric ionic liquid electrolytes. II. Accounts of ionic interactions

A size-asymmetric mean-field theory with ionic interactions is developed for the electric double layer of room temperature ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes, based on the previous work on non-interacting ions (Y. Han et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 2014, 26, 284103). By solving the modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation with some simplified assumptions following a recent work (Z. A. H. Goodwin et al., Electrochim. Acta, 2017, 225, 190-197), an analytical expression of differential capacitance can be derived, with a scaled electrode potential due to the ionic interactions. Compared with non-interacting ions, the main effect of ionic interactions is the insufficient screening of the electrode potential, and this depresses the differential capacitance compared with the non-interactive case.