Electrochemical characteristics of simple nitrate + amide melts at ambient temperatures

Abstract

Mixtures of inorganic nitrate salts and short chain aliphatic amides form room temperature liquid phases with a remarkable tendency to supercool. Differential scanning calorimetry studies show a very low glass transition temperature (ca. −40°C) for the liquid phase. The supercooled NH 4NO 3 + amide and LiNO 3 + amide melts can withstand storage at −20°C for days or months, respectively, without spontaneous nucleation. The conductivity of melts at a fixed mole fraction of nitrate decreases in the order NH 4 + ⪢ Na + ≅ Li +. Room temperature conductivities exceeding 10 −3 Ω −1 cm −1 have been noted for several such melts and suggest possible applications as battery electrolytes. Electrode reactions in molten amides and molten nitrate + amides are discussed.