Chemistry of metals in ionic liquids
Ionic liquids (ILs) can be defined as salt mixtures with a melting point below 100 ºC. By selecting specific cations and anions, the properties of ILs can be customised so that the physical and chemical properties can be tailored for specific applications. ILs offer unique chemical conditions, such as very high ligand concentrations, higher solubilities compared to aqueous solutions and, in the absence of water, the ability to work with water-sensitive compounds. In addition, ILs have high thermal stability and low volatility and are often stable in the presence of air and moisture. ILs are considered to be more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional organic solvents as they can be recycled, resulting in less waste. Understanding the redox reactions in ILs is crucial for the development of advanced electrochemical technologies, e.g. batteries, as well as (iono)metallurgical processes, e.g. leaching and electrowinning, as ILs can provide better electrochemical performance and stability compared to traditional solvents. Knowledge of the redox chemistry of strategic metals is essential for the development of ILs with specific properties tailored to different applications.
Selected publications:
- Voltammetric and spectroscopic study of ferrocene and hexacyanoferrate and the suitability of their redox couples as internal standards in ionic liquids
N. Frenzel, J. Hartley and G. Frisch
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 17, 28841-28852 (2017) - Complexation Equilibria of Indium in Aqueous Chloride, Sulfate and Nitrate Solutions: An Electrochemical Investigation
C. Ashworth and G. Frisch
Journal of Solution Chemistry 46, 1928-1940 (2017) - Anodic dissolution of metals in ionic liquids
A.P. Abbott, G. Frisch, J. Hartley, W.O. Karim and K.S. Ryder
Progress in Natural Science: Materials International 25, 595-602 (2015)