I'm new to electrochem/cyclic voltammetry. I'm interested in measuring cyclic voltammograms of organic semiconductors in organic solvents, specifically, THF.
I know that in principle I should be drying my THF over sodium, distilling, and storing over molecular sieves, but are these steps really necessary if my compound is reasonably stable? Is it also essential to remove the inhibitor that comes dissolved in most THF? Is it essential to degas my THF under an inert atmosphere during the cyclic voltammetry measurement? These details are often lacking from papers, and I'm looking for a clean voltammogram akin to the plot in 10.1021/ja310131k
Thanks in advance.
Dear Max Attwood, I have with other RG Scholars have uploaded interesting documents on similar questions, please make search within RG on 'cyclic voltametry' and for sure you will get the answer. My Regards
Dear Max Attwood, I have with other RG Scholars have uploaded interesting documents on similar questions, please make search within RG on 'cyclic voltametry' and for sure you will get the answer. My Regards
Dear Max Attwood:
- The reason to degas the solvent is to avoid interference from dissolved oxygen.
- You should distil the solvent so is dry (avoiding interference from water) and to remove the inhibitor which can also interfere with your measurements. I suggest you to use it immediately and avoid storing inhibitor-free THF as it can form explosive peroxides. Also, never distil it to dryness as the peroxides will concentrate on the residue, increasing the risk of an explosion.
I would say that you can try to perform the CV experiment without all these steps, but you have to be sure that your blank doesn't have any peaks in the measured range.
Follow the Alvaro procedure! Can try this too: Break the peroxides (start with larger volume), clean, dry through anhydrous Sodium Sulphate, collect the middle distillate at its boiling point, leaving the beginning and last of the about 50 ml each, don't try to collect more! store over fresh activated molecular sieve for a longer time, use!
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