Redox Chemistry of the Superoxide Ion in a Phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquid in the Presence of Water.
Stable electrogenerated superoxide ion has been observed for the first time in a phosphonium-based ionic liquid in the presence of water, leading to a chemically reversible O2/O2(•-) redox couple instead of the disproportionation reaction that is usually observed. It appears that the cation solvates the superoxide anion, stabilizing it against the disproportionation reaction. The electrogeneration is studied at various levels of water or other diluents including toluene to explore the limits of stability of the superoxide ion under these conditions.
†ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, IFM-Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Cristina
C
Pozo-Gonzalo
†ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, IFM-Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Angel A J
AA
Torriero
†ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, IFM-Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Maria
M
Forsyth
‡ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
Douglas R
DR
MacFarlane
†ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, IFM-Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Patrick C
PC
Howlett
ionic liquids; oxygen reduction reaction; superoxide anion