Search

Reduction and nanoparticle nucleation of Cu2+ by decamethylferrocene was studied with cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry at a microscale liquid–liquid interface established at the tip of a micropipette. With square‐wave voltammetry, two reduction steps could be distinguished as two separate current waves. Comparing the experimental results of cyclic voltammetry with finite element method simulations, particle growth could be observed as an increasing limiting current. Furthermore, kinetic parameters could be estimated with square‐wave voltammetry simulations following Butler‐Volmer kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal reduction at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) has been studied with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Metal cations in the aqueous phase are reduced by 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane anion (TCNQ−) residing in the oil phase, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). TCNQ− is formed at the SECM tip by reducing TCNQ, which results in a positive feedback loop between the tip and the ITIES when an electron is donated to a metal cation. The effect of the Galvani potential difference on the rate of the interfacial electron transfer was investigated, establishing the potential difference either by an additional substrate electrode in the aqueous phase or by an a common ion in both phases. It is shown that the Galvani potential difference as a driving force does enable TCNQ− mediated Cu2+ reduction. Finite element method (FEM) simulations were run to provide information on the reaction kinetics and stoichiometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]