Specific carbon/iodide interactions in electrochemical capacitors monitored by EQCM technique

Abstract

This paper reports on the ion fluxes at the interfaces of various porous carbon electrodes/aqueous solutions of alkali metal cations (Na⁺, K⁺ and Rb⁺) and iodide anions, monitored by an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Different electrode material compositions as well as various electrolyte concentrations have also been considered. By tracking the ions during electrochemical polarization, we aimed to identify the reasons for the fading capacitor performance that occurs during long-term operation. The mass change profile suggests that hydroxide anions are responsible for counterbalancing the charge stored on the negative electrode. Furthermore, we found that iodide-based species are physically adsorbed on the carbon surface immediately after the electrodes come into contact with the electrolyte, regardless of the textural properties of the activated carbon used or electrode composition. Apart from the qualitative description, the mass change profiles allow the sequence of pore occupation to be determined. Additionally, the solvation numbers for alkali metals (Na⁺, K⁺ and Rb⁺) and hydroxide-based species have been determined. It is claimed that the solvation number is strongly affected by the electrolyte composition. Apparently, the concentration of water molecules available in the electrolyte cannot be neglected. The outcome of this research has fundamental and application context.