Electrochemical behavior of ferrocene in ionic liquid media

Chemistry and applicability of ionic liquids (IL), – organic salts with low melting point – are in the focus of interest today. The ILs with melting point below room temperature are expected to be good solvents. Their applicability in organic synthetic work, in separation processes as well as in electrochemistry is very promising. In the work reported here the voltammetric behavior of ferrocene in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM+ PF6−) ionic liquid has been investigated. Conventional size and micro platinum and carbon electrodes were employed in CV and in chronoamperometric measurements. Karl Fischer method was used for the determination of water content of the solvent.Voltammetric measurements without addition of background electrolyte could be carried out in (BMIM+ PF6−) ionic liquid. A broad potential window could be used. Concentration dependence of the electrochemically determined diffusion coefficient of the ferrocene was observed.