Biphasic oxygen reduction with electrochemical electron donor regeneration within supported molecular solvent or ionic liquid film
摘要
In recent years, electrochemical 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction became an important research topic because of the quest for a sustainable method of H2O2 production. The biphasic H2O2 generation with electrochemical recycling of the electron donor is one of the possibilities and was earlier studied employing an organic phase as a binder with a carbon paste electrode. Here, we report that H2O2 can be generated at the interface formed by electron donor (decamethylferrocene) solution in supported molecular solvent (2-nitrophenyloctyl ether) or ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) film deposited on an indium tin oxide electrode and acidic aqueous solution. The efficiency of this reaction was estimated on the basis of electrochemical detection of H2O2 at a Pt microelectrode tip approaching the liquid|liquid interface. It was shown that its yield is higher when the electron donor is electrochemically recycled.