Electrochemistry in Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids: Potential Windows at Mercury Electrodes

Abstract

The cathodic and anodic potential limits of eleven different ionic liquids were determined at a mercury hemisphere electrode. Ionic liquids containing the phosphonium cation (tri(n-hexyl)tetradecylphosphonium, [P14,6,6,6]+) give the largest potential window, especially when coupled to a trifluorotris(pentafluoroethyl)phosphate, [FAP]−, or bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [NTf2]−, anion.