Low toxicity functionalised imidazolium salts for task specific ionic liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitised solar cells: a step towards less hazardous energy production

Literature Information

Publication Date 2014-02-07
DOI 10.1039/C3GC42393J
Impact Factor 10.182
Authors

Owen Byrne, Lena Altes, Praveen K. Surolia, Marcel Spulak, Brid Quilty


View Original

Abstract

Novel solvent free task specific ionic liquid (TSIL) electrolytes for dye sensitised solar cells (DSSC) were synthesised and tested. Of great concern is the replacement of low-moderate toxicity second generation ILs, with high toxicity third generation TSILs. As most 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Bmim) and especially 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (Emim) based ILs have low toxicity, the designing of replacement TSILs of comparable toxicity is a challenge. Structural features of TSIL investigated herein were incorporation of heteroatoms into the side chain of imidazolium cations (i.e. ether, ester and amide) and anion (bromide, iodide, and triflimide [NTf2]). Preliminary toxicity screening against 20 microorganisms (8 bacteria and 12 fungi) found that all ILs, imidazolium salts, N-butylbenzimidazole (NBB) and guanidinium thiocyanate (GNCS) do not exhibit high antimicrobial toxicity. However NBB and a pentyl ester substituted IL displayed moderate toxicity to several strains of bacteria and fungi. Further toxicity testing to establish IC50 values shows several novel TSIL compounds and imidazolium salts are in fact less toxic to microorganisms (e.g. bacteria) than commonly used 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (EmimI) and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium iodide (DmimI). We have demonstrated that the presence of ether and either ester or amide groups in the structure of the cation of the TSIL and imidazolium salts reduces antimicrobial toxicity, which is consistent with the lowering of the lipophilicity of ILs. Iodide and bromide analogues have lower toxicity than the NTf2 examples in this study. The DSSC performance using these “greener” ILs in place of the standard EmimI compare quite favourably. Two low antibacterial toxicity iodide examples exhibit photocurrents of 9.27 mA cm−2 and 8.85 mA cm−2, respectively, achieving promising efficiencies of 3.39% and 3.31%, respectively (EmimI = 4.94%). DSSC performance is further improved by 15% minimum to 66% maximum, depending on IL chosen, by the presence of small amounts of moisture and DSSCs employing a low antibacterial toxicity iodide TSIL or imidazolium salt can surpass the performance of dry EmimI. Of note the DSSC containing TSIL NTf2 examples, performed poorly compared to the halide analogues, with the outcome that the most toxic TSILs under investigation are also the least preferred based on performance.

Related Literature

Electronic structure, doping effect and topological signature in realistic intermetallics Li3−xNaxM (x = 3, 2, 1, 0; M = N, P, As, Sb, Bi)

Lei Jin, Xiaoming Zhang, Tingli He, Weizhen Meng, Xuefang Dai, Guodong Liu

2020-02-28 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/C9CP06033B

Intramolecular hydrogen tunneling in 2-chloromalonaldehyde trapped in solid para-hydrogen

Michèle Chevalier, Justinas Ceponkus, Claudine Crépin

2020-02-13 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/C9CP06866J

Halogen⋯halogen interactions in decahalo-closo-carboranes: CSD analysis and theoretical study

Maria de las Nieves Piña, Antonio Bauzá, Antonio Frontera

2020-02-21 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/D0CP00114G

Theoretical study of the reaction mechanism and kinetics of the phenyl + propargyl association

Alexander N. Morozov, Alexander M. Mebel

2020-03-09 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/D0CP00306A

Energy landscape of Au13: a global view of structure transformation

Xiao-Tian Li, Shao-Gang Xu

2020-01-27 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/C9CP06463J

Co-deposition of gas hydrates by pressurized thermal evaporation

Alexander Ostermann, Tobias M. Gasser, Thomas Loerting, Jörg Petrasch

2020-02-11 Paper

DOI: 10.1039/C9CP04735B

Contents list

Front/Back Matter

DOI: 10.1039/D0CP90063J

You might also like

Compound Q&A

What is the market or research trend for N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-2-pyridinamine (CAS: 52818-63-0)?

N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-2-pyridinamine (CAS: 52818-63-0) is increasingly being used ...

52818-63-0N-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-...
Compound Q&A

What precautions should be taken when handling Ethyl 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylate (CAS: 1050507-06-6)?

When handling Ethyl 4-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazole-2-carboxylate, appropriate p...

1050507-06-6Ethyl 4-(2-chlorophe...
Compound Q&A

What regulatory guidelines apply to diethyldiselane (CAS: 628-39-7)?

Diethyldiselane (CAS: 628-39-7) is classified under the Globally Harmonized Syst...

628-39-7Diethyldiselane
Compound Q&A

What is the market or research trend for oxocopper (CAS: 12053-18-8)?

The market for oxocopper (CAS: 12053-18-8) is primarily driven by its use in cat...

12053-18-8oxocopper; oxo-(oxoc...
Compound Q&A

What is the market or research trend for 5-{[(2-Methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-7-carboxylic acid?

The market for 5-{[(2-Methyl-2-propanyl)oxy]carbonyl}-5-azaspiro[2.4]heptane-7-c...

1268519-54-55-{[(2-Methyl-2-prop...
Compound Q&A

What is 2-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyridinamine (CAS: 35981-63-6)?

2-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-4-pyridinamine is a chemical compound with the CAS number 359...

35981-63-62-(1-Pyrrolidinyl)-4...
Compound Q&A

What are the physical and chemical properties of 2-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (CAS: 91556-75-1)?

2-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (CAS: 91556-75-1) is a crystalline sol...

91556-75-12-(3-Pyridinyl)-1-az...
Compound Q&A

How is (S)-Alpha-allyl-proline hydrochloride (CAS: 129704-91-2) typically synthesized?

(S)-Alpha-allyl-proline hydrochloride is usually synthesized via a Wittig reacti...

129704-91-2(S)-Alpha-allyl-prol...
Compound Q&A

What is 3-Methyl-1,2-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid (CAS: 4857-42-5)?

3-Methyl-1,2-oxazole-5-carboxylic acid (CAS: 4857-42-5) is an organic compound w...

4857-42-53-Methyl-1,2-oxazole...
Compound Q&A

How is Lys-SMCC-DM1 (CAS: 1281816-04-3) typically synthesized?

Lys-SMCC-DM1 is synthesized via a multi-step process involving the coupling of S...

1281816-04-3Lys-SMCC-DM1

Source Journal

Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry
CiteScore: 16.1
Self-citation Rate: 7.5%
Articles per Year: 944

Green Chemistry provides a unique forum for the publication of innovative research on the development of alternative green and sustainable technologies. The scope of Green Chemistry is based on, but not limited to, the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P T Anastas and J C Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998). Green chemistry is the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry is at the frontiers of this continuously-evolving interdisciplinary science and publishes research that attempts to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. Submissions on all aspects of research relating to the endeavour are welcome. The journal publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. To be published, work must present a significant advance in green chemistry. Papers must contain a comparison with existing methods and demonstrate advantages over those methods before publication can be considered. For more information please see this Editorial. Coverage includes the following, but is not limited to: Design (e.g. biomimicry, design for degradation/recycling/reduced toxicity…) Reagents & Feedstocks (e.g. renewables, CO2, solvents, auxiliary agents, waste utilization…) Synthesis (e.g. organic, inorganic, synthetic biology…) Catalysis (e.g. homogeneous, heterogeneous, enzyme, whole cell…) Process (e.g. process design, intensification, separations, recycling, efficiency…) Energy (e.g. renewable energy, fuels, photovoltaics, fuel cells, energy storage, energy carriers…) Applications (e.g. electronics, dyes, consumer products, coatings, pharmaceuticals, preservatives, building materials, chemicals for industry/agriculture/mining…) Impact (e.g. safety, metrics, LCA, sustainability, (eco)toxicology…) Green chemistry is, by definition, a continuously-evolving frontier. Therefore, the inclusion of a particular material or technology does not, of itself, guarantee that a paper is suitable for the journal. To be suitable, the novel advance should have the potential for reduced environmental impact relative to the state of the art. Green Chemistry does not normally deal with research associated with 'end-of-pipe' or remediation issues.

Recommended Compounds

Recommended Suppliers

Disclaimer
This page provides academic journal information for reference and research purposes only. We are not affiliated with any journal publishers and do not handle publication submissions. For publication-related inquiries, please contact the respective journal publishers directly.
If you notice any inaccuracies in the information displayed, please contact us at support@chemtradehub.com. We will promptly review and address your concerns.