Electrochemistry of indium in methyl-trioctylammoniumbis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid

Electrochemical methods play important role in many schemes of metals recycling which is one of basic preconditions of circular economy. In this context, electrochemistry of indium (In) species was studied in an amide-type ionic liquid methyl-trioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide at 80°C. Cyclic voltammetry results show two-step reduction of In(III) to indium metal particles with In(I) as an intermediate product. Disproportionation of In(I) adds complexity to the process, but In metal deposition in form of nanoscale particles was achieved on both inert and reactive electrodes demonstrating the possibility of electrochemical recovery of In using ionic liquid as a carrier system.