Electrochemical behaviors and spectral studies of ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) based sol–gel electrode

Abstract

Abstract Ionic liquid of [BMIM][BF 4 ] based sol–gel modified electrode ([BMIM][BF 4 ]/Gel/Au electrode) was prepared by immobilization of [BMIM][BF 4 ] into silica sol–gel matrix on the surface of Au electrode via a simple sol–gel method. Taking advantage of ion exchange reaction between [BMIM][BF 4 ] and K 3 Fe(CN) 6 , Fe ( CN ) 6 3 - was entrapped into the sol–gel matrix when [BMIM][BF 4 ]/Gel/Au electrode was immersed in K 3 Fe(CN) 6 solution. Following by continuously scans, the cyclic voltammograms of the resulting [BMIM] 3 Fe(CN) 6 /Gel/Au electrode in K 3 Fe(CN) 6 solution behaved “PB (Prussian Blue)-growing pattern”. FTIR, elemental analysis and UV–Vis absorbance spectra results manifested the formation of PB in the sol–gel matrix. Furthermore, the formation mechanism, kinetics and stability of the PB/Gel/Au electrode formed by this method were discussed.