Direct electroreduction of solid cuprous chloride to copper powder in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid

Direct electroreduction of solid cuprous chloride to prepare copper powder in a “neutral” ambient-temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (BMIMBF 4 ) was investigated. Cyclic voltammetry of the CuCl powder in a Pt-powder cavity microelectrode exhibited that solid CuCl can be electrochemical reduced in the ionic liquid. Chronoamperometry of the salt powder filled Mo-cavity electrode (current collector) in the ionic liquid further demonstrated the conversion of chloride-to metal inside the cavity, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and X-ray diffraction spectra.