Electrochemistry of fe(ii)/fe in a hydrophobic amide-type ionic liquid

Electrode reaction of Fe(II)/Fe was investigated in a hydrophobic amide-type room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-1- methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (BMPTFSA) containing Fe(TFSA)2 with and without an additive of acetonitrile (AN). A bright deposit obtained by galvanostatic electrolysis at 150°C was confirmed to be crystalline Fe by X-ray diffraction. Addition of AN altered the coordination environment of Fe(II), the cathodic current density, and the diffusion coefficient, while the nucleation/growth process of Fe was classified into three-dimensional progressive nucleation under diffusion control regardless of the presence of AN. However, the morphology of deposit obtained in the presence of AN was better than that in the absence of AN.