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Title: Characterization of Acetonitrile Isotopologues as Vibrational Probes of Electrolytes

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States, Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States, Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60637, United States
  2. Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States

Acetonitrile has emerged as a solvent candidate for novel electrolyte formulations in metal-ion batteries and supercapacitors. It features a bright local C≡N stretch vibrational mode whose infrared (IR) signature is sensitive to battery-relevant cations (Li+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ca2+) both in pure form and in the presence of water admixture across a full possible range of concentrations from the dilute to the superconcentrated regime. Stationary and time-resolved IR spectroscopy thus emerges as a natural tool to study site-specific intermolecular interactions from the solvent perspective without introducing an extrinsic probe that perturbs solution morphology and may not represent the intrinsic dynamics in these electrolytes. The metal-coordinated acetonitrile, water-separated metal–acetonitrile pair, and free solvent each have a distinct vibrational signature that allows their unambiguous differentiation. The IR band frequency of the metal-coordinated acetonitrile depends on the ion charge density. To study the ion transport dynamics, it is necessary to differentiate energy-transfer processes from structural interconversions in these electrolytes. Isotope labeling the solvent is a necessary prerequisite to separate these processes. We discuss the design principles and choice of the CD313CN label and characterize its vibrational spectroscopy in these electrolytes. The Fermi resonance between 13C≡N and C–D stretches complicates the spectral response but does not prevent its effective utilization. Time-resolved two-dimensional (2D) IR spectroscopy can be performed on a mixture of acetonitrile isotopologues and much can be learned about the structural dynamics of various species in these formulations.

Research Organization:
University of Chicago, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0014305; DEAC0206CH11357; AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1837616
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1839909
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. B Vol. 126 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 1520-6106
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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