Ion transfer voltammetry at the interface of water and low dielectric constant organic solutions

Abstract

Ion transfer reaction at the water (W)|low dielectric constant organic solution (O) interface was investigated using cyclic voltammetry with a micro-interface electrolytic cell. Organic solvents used in this work were benzene, anisole and chloroform, in addition to the previously reported toluene. The transfer reactions of quaternary ammonium ions and anions across the W|low dielectric constant O interface were found to be reversible. Formal potentials for ion transfer from W to benzene, anisole, chloroform and toluene, ΔbenzeneWφ0’, ΔanisoleWφ0’, ΔchloroformWφ0’ and ΔtolueneWφ0’ were evaluated, and linear correlations were observed between these formal potentials and the standard potential reported at the W|1,2-dichloroethane interface, ΔDCEWφ0. While plots for cations and anions fall on different straight lines between ΔbenzeneWφ0’ and ΔDCEWφ0, ΔanisoleWφ0’ and ΔDCEWφ0, or ΔtolueneWφ0’ and ΔDCEWφ0, ΔchloroformWφ0’ for cations and anions and ΔDCEWφ0 appeared on the same straight line.