Abstract The behavior of platinum and gold electrodes in the hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) N,N-Trimethylbutylammonium Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([N4111][NTf2]) was investigated using transient electrochemistry e.g. voltammetry and chronoamperometry. As previously observed and contrary to what is often stated, these electrodes are not inert in the electroactivity domain of the solvent, between −3.0 and 2.7 V vs Fc/Fc+ for this RTIL. Indeed, a two-step oxidation of the platinum surface is observed at potentials higher than 1.0 V vs Fc/Fc+. The platinum oxide formed is reduced on reverse scan. Moreover, water being ubiquitous in ionic liquids, we can observe the oxidation of residual water and formation of O2. These processes both generate protons and lead to an activated state of the platinum surface. As a consequence, various signals around 0 V vs Fc/Fc+ can be attributed to the adsorption/desorption of protons and subsequent reduction to H2. In presence of water or HNTf2, this signal is enhanced. The behavior is very similar on a gold electrode but shows some specificity, particularly when it comes to the hydrogen evolution reaction.

中文翻译：

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铂和金电极在非质子离子液体 N , N - 三甲基丁基铵双（三氟甲磺酰）亚胺中的电化学行为

摘要 铂电极和金电极在疏水性室温离子液体 (RTIL) N,N-三甲基丁基铵双（三氟甲磺酰基）亚胺（[N4111][NTf2]）中的行为使用瞬态电化学如伏安法和计时电流法进行了研究。正如之前观察到的并且与通常所说的相反，这些电极在溶剂的电活性域中不是惰性的，对于该 RTIL，在 -3.0 和 2.7 V 与 Fc/Fc+ 之间。事实上，在高于 1.0 V vs Fc/Fc+ 的电位下观察到铂表面的两步氧化。形成的氧化铂在反向扫描中被还原。此外，水在离子液体中无处不在，我们可以观察到残留水的氧化和 O2 的形成。这些过程既会产生质子，又会导致铂表面处于活化状态。作为结果，0 V vs Fc/Fc+ 附近的各种信号可归因于质子的吸附/解吸以及随后还原为 H2。在存在水或 HNTf2 的情况下，该信号会增强。这种行为在金电极上非常相似，但表现出一些特异性，尤其是在析氢反应方面。