Lithium Ion Quantification Using Mercury Amalgams as in Situ Electrochemical Probes in Nonaqueous Media

作者:Barton Zachary J; Rodriguez Lopez Joaquin*
来源:Analytical Chemistry, 2014, 86(21): 10660-10667.
DOI:10.1021/ac502517b

摘要

We report on the quantitative, spatially resolved study of ionic processes for energy materials in nonaqueous environments by in situ electrochemical means at the micro- and nanoscale. Mercury-capped platinum ultramicroelectrodes (Hg/Pt UMEs) were tested as probes for alkali ions in propylene carbonate (PC) in an oxygen- and water-free environment. Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) performed at Hg/Pt UMEs displayed a linear response to Li+ concentration extending from 20 mu M to at least 5 mM. The sensitivities of these probes for ionic lithium are 1.93 and -23.2 pA mu M-1 by the steady-state amalgamation current and the peak stripping current, respectively. These values showed excellent agreement with simulated results as well as to those obtained experimentally for Cd2+ in H2O. We further explored the interfacial imaging of lithium ion flux at an electrified interface. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) using Hg/Pt UMEs showed that the steady-state amalgamation of ionic lithium could be used to reliably position a probe close to a substrate. Investigations on a selectively insulated gold electrode in an organic solvent system showcased the response of Hg/Pt UMEs to lithium uptake by an electroactive material. Additionally, lithium stripping voltammetry at Hg deposits on a 120 nm carbon nanoelectrode demonstrated the possibility of implementing the introduced imaging strategy at the nanoscale. This work opens a way to directly correlate material defects and reactive heterogeneity in energy materials with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.

  • 出版日期2014-11-4