Electrochemical investigation of the solvolytic properties of ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and propylammonium nitrate (PAN)

Ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and propylammonium nitrate (PAN) are unique fus ed ionic media which have received relatively little attention despite thei r unusual physical and chemical properties. As a consequence very few appli cations for these media have been described in the literature. The utility of EAN and PAN as conductive solvents suitable for electrochemical analysis was examined by carrying out cyclic voltammetric analyses of ferrocene, et hylferrocene, and acetylferrocene dissolved in these molten media. Reversib ility was observed for the ferrocene redox systems in EAN while those in PA N were not quire as well behaved. A comparison of the diffusion coefficient of ferrocene in EAN and PAN employing both Stokes-Einstein values and valu es derived from chronocoulometry shows that diffusion is very slow and near ly ideal in these solvents.