Synthesis, structural, and electrochemical properties of boron-based ionic liquid

In the present work, a new boron-based room-temperature ionic liquid (BBRTIL) is reported. An ionic liquid based on the boron cation was synthesized by an easy metathesis procedure yielding clean products. The composition, thermal behavior, physical, and electrochemical properties of the BBRTIL were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. NMR and FTIR have confirmed the structure formation of 0.3-0.4-mm-sized B2O3-based BBRTIL. Furthermore, the correlation between the electrochemical stability and the identified electrolyte equilibrium species was investigated via voltammetry. This procedure, in the future, could be an original alternative to the deposition of elemental boron through easy, one-step synthesis from high-temperature molten salt electrolysis.

Automated summary

A new boron-based room-temperature ionic liquid (BBRTIL) was synthesized and characterized in this study. The composition, thermal behavior, physical, and electrochemical properties of the BBRTIL were determined using various analytical techniques. The correlation between electrochemical stability and electrolyte equilibrium species was also investigated. The BBRTIL shows great potential as an alternative method for the deposition of elemental boron.