Development of new electrochemistry based on synthesis of hydroxide ion conductive ionic liquids

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21094
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 26:Materials engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Principal Investigator: Munakata Hirokazu 東京都立大学, 都市環境科学研究科, 助教 (00457821)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: イオン液体 / 水酸化物イオン / 酸素還元

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A novel electrolyte system based on hydroxide-ion conducting ionic liquids was developed to open new aspects of hydroxide-ion relating electrochemical reactions in an environment without water. "Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)", one of the basic reactions of fuel cells and electrochemical sensors, was mainly focused and evaluated in this novel electrolyte system, in which it was found that ORR proceeds in a different reaction mechanism from that in conventional aqueous solution systems reported so far. A higher ORR activity was successfully achieved on a carbon electrode than an expensive platinum electrode by designing the anion and cation species of hydroxide-ion conducting ionic liquid based on their electrode adsorption behavior.

Free Research Field

電気化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

水酸化物イオン伝導性イオン液体の創製を通し、水が介在しない環境下での水酸化物イオンの電気化学を開拓した。従来の水溶液系とは全く異なる機構で酸素還元反応が進行し、特にイオン液体のカチオン種の設計によりその反応活性を制御できることを明らかにした。本結果はイオン液体のテーラーメイド性を駆使して電気化学反応の活性を制御、設計できることを示唆しており、水酸化物イオン伝導性イオン液体中の様々な電気化学反応へ広範に展開できるものと期待される。