Electrochemical behavior of nickel in electrolytes based on 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid for capacitor applications

Electrochemical studies were performed using Ni electrodes in solutions of a mixture of ethylene glycol or of γ-butyrolactone with 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid. The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of these systems in electrochemical double-layer capacitor. Cyclic voltammetry experiments showed a potential range at which the Ni electrode behaved as a polarizable electrode. Ni oxidizes at high anodic potentials. Inside the potential range without electrochemical activity, the capacitance and the solution resistance, which were evaluated by impedance electrochemical spectroscopy, were compared for the two solutions tested. Conductivity measurements of the electrolytes with different compositions were also acquired. The results of cyclic voltammetry indicated that the Ni has a wide electrochemical window and low current peak densities of oxidation in the γ-butyrolactone medium than in ethylene glycol medium. The γ-butyrolactone and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid solutions had the highest conductivity values. Decreased 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid content in different solvent mixtures resulted in an increase in the capacitance value at the Ni/electrolyte interface. The highest capacitance values were obtained for Ni in ethylene glycol and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate medium.