Electrochemical anomalies of protic ionic liquid - Water systems: A case study using ethylammonium nitrate - Water system

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to evaluate protic ionic liquid (pIL)-water mixtures in the temperature range of −35-25 °C. The pIL used in this study was ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). At room temperature, the resonant mode of conductivity was observed in the high frequency region. The anomalous conductivity disappeared once solidification occurred at low temperatures. The kinetic pH of the EAN-water system was investigated at a fixed temperature. Rhythmic pH oscillations in the EAN-H2O mixtures were induced at 70 < x < 90 mol% H2O. The electrochemical instabilities in a EAN-water mixture are caused in an intermediate state between pIL and bulk water. From the ab initio calculations, it was observed that the dipole moment of the EAN-water complex shows a discrete jump at around 85 mol% H2O. Water-mediated hydrogen bonding network drastically changes at the crossover concentration.

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