Electrochemical study of copper in the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide room temperature ionic liquid

The potential utility of the air- and water-stable ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMI-DCA) for electrochemical application was evaluated with copper(I) chloride. The temperature dependency of the density and absolute viscosity of EMI-DCA were measured over a temperature range from 297 to 343 K, and equations describing the dependencies are presented. Due to the ligand property of the DCA anion, both CuCl and CuCl2 are soluble in EMI-DCA. Cyclic voltammograms of Cu(I) in EMI-DCA and other two ionic liquids were compared. Cu(I) can be oxidized to Cu(II) or reduced to Cu metal in these solutions. The electrodeposition of Cu on glassy carbon and nickel electrodes involves a three-dimensional progressive nucleation and growth process. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results indicate that the morphology of the copper electrodeposits is dependent on the deposition potential, and compact coatings containing nanocrystalline copper could be obtained by potentiostatic electrolysis at low overpotentials. The low viscosity of EMI-DCA and the high solubility of metal chlorides in it would facilitate the electrodeposition of metals using this ionic liquid. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.