Electroreduction of Copper Dichloride Powder to Copper Nanoparticles in an Ionic Liquid

Abstract EN

There were a large number of ionic liquids electrodeposition reported in the literature; but were still in the laboratory stage some problems in the practical application of electrodeposition remain such as easily reacted with moisture in the air (AlCl3 ionic liquid), high cost, and corrosive (dialkylimidazolium cation and BF4−, PF6− ionic liquid).

In addition to the above shortcomings, low solubility of many metal salts in ionic liquids limits the practical application.

In order to solve the problem of low solubility, [Bmim]Cl could be added [Bmim]PF6, which could significantly increase the solubility of metal chlorides; this method could be commonly used in preparing metal electrochemical reduction of metal chlorides.

Our study showed that adding cationic groups in hydroxyl ionic liquid could cause the good solubility of transition metal chlorides, such as CuCl2.

Complexation of hydroxyl functional group and transition metal ions increased solubility, resulting in a larger deposition current density and surface electrochemical reduction of copper nanoparticles deposited on the metal Ni.

The electroreduction mechanism and behavior of CuCl2 in hydroxyl ionic liquid and the Cu nanoparticle formation mechanism were investigated based on a comparison between similar experiments in the ionic liquid.