Appearance of an Electrochemical Oxidative Peak of Gold/Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide-based Ionic Liquid Interfaces at Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

The electrochemical behavior of a Au(111) electrode was investigated in three ionic liquids (ILs) containing trifluoromethylsulfonyl-based anions at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 100 °C. Gold oxidation, that is, gold etching, occurred at elevated temperatures (≥70 °C) and was found to be dependent on the chemical structure of the ILs. These results allow us to simplify the procedure of gold dissolution in bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide-based ILs, thereby improving the efficiency of electrochemical etching.

Nanoscale Electrochemical Surface Science on Molecular Assembly and Surface Function

“…81 We found that Au can be oxidized in [Tf 2 N] ¹ -based ILs at high temperatures (²70 °C). 82 The temperature change of ILs promotes the elution of gold complexes even in the absence of specific adsorption of halide ions. These are fundamental studies, but we could elucidate only one aspect of the surface electrochemistry of ILs.…”