Abstract
In this work we analyzed the cathodic reactions of an important ionic liquid (IL) based electrolyte solution, namely lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI)/N-methyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium (BMP) TFSI. In situ FTIR spectroscopy was used for the analysis of gaseous products of the electrochemical decomposition of this IL solution during cathodic polarization of lithium metal and graphite electrodes. The main volatile product of the reductive decomposition of the anion in these BMPTFSI solutions is trifluoromethane. BMP cations decompose to mixtures of tertiary amines and hydrocarbons. The composition of the products is influenced by the nature of the anode material. Graphite possesses a catalytic activity in the electroreduction process of BMP cations which occurs along with their intercalation into the graphite structure. The liquid phase after cathodic polarization of graphite electrodes was analyzed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy coupled with FTIR spectroscopy. 15N NMR and FTIR spectra revealed an increase in the Li cations content in the electrolyte solution, as a result of BMP cations decomposition during repeated cycling of graphite electrodes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2687-2696 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Electrochimica Acta |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Mar 2010 |
Keywords
- In situ FTIR spectroscopy
- Ionic liquids
- Lithium batteries
- N NMR spectroscopy
- N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide
- Spectroelectrochemistry