Probing the chemical interaction between iridium nanoparticles and ionic liquid by XPS analysis

In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of Ir(0) nanoparticles (1.6 ± 0.3 nm) dispersed in imidazolium ionic liquid (EMI.EtSO4) shows evidences of the effective interaction between the metallic clusters and the surrounding liquid. By monitoring the C 1s signal of the ionic liquid one observes a change of the binding energy in one of its components (C2) when in the presence of Ir nanoparticles. This result was corroborated by isotope labeling experiments.

The interaction of an imidazolium ionic liquid (EMI.EtSO4) with dispersed Ir nanoparticles has been evidenced from in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.