Electrochemical Characterization of Bromine Reduction to Tribromide in Individual Nitrobenzene-in-Water Emulsion Droplets

Journal Article · Mon Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab80ab· OSTI ID:1616175

Chang, L. ^[1]; Bard, A. J.  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

We report an electrochemical study of bromine reduction to tribromide in a single nitrobenzene (NB) droplet during a single collision event. The feasibility of this study is based on the favorable distribution of Br₂ in NB rather than in water, which was demonstrated by voltammetry at the NB/water interface. The NB-in-water emulsions containing the ionic liquids trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (ILPA) as the supporting electrolyte and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as the surfactant were prepared by a high-power ultrasonication. Its single droplet as an attoliter reactor, colliding on a 25 μm Pt UME, was monitored by chronoamperometry. The spike-type current transients of Br₂ reduction can elucidate the size and size distribution of NB, and measure the diffusion in the droplet as analyzed by a bulk electrolysis model. The frequency of collisions can provide diffusion coefficient of the droplets to the UME. Moreover, the i-t decay behavior can be simulated, which fits well with the experimental one.

• Research Organization: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage (BEES); Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0019409
• OSTI ID: 1616175
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Online), Vol. 167, Issue 6; ISSN 1945-7111
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
25 ENERGY STORAGE