Electrochemical properties of quaternary ammonium salts for electrochemical capacitors

The limiting reduction and oxidation potentials and electrolytic conductivities of new quaternary ammonium salts were examined for electrochemical capacitor applications, whose anions have already been tested as lithium salts for lithium battery applications. The anodic stability was in the following order BR{sub 4}{sup {minus}} < ClO{sub 4}{sup {minus}} {le} CF{sub 3}SO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} < (CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2}N{sup {minus}} {le} C{sub 4}F{sub 9}SO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} < BF{sub 4}{sup {minus}} < PF{sub 6}{sup {minus}} {le} AsF{sub 6}{sup {minus}} < SbF{sub 6}{sup {minus}}. The electrolytic conductivities of Me{sub 4{minus}n}Et{sub n}N(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2}N (n = 0--4) were examined in comparison with Me{sub 4{minus}n}Et{sub n}NBF{sub 4} counterparts. These imide salts showed good solubility, relatively high conductivity, and anodic stability in propylene carbonate. Et{sub 4}N(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 2}){sub 2}N was found to be a good supporting salt for low permittivity organic solvents, and it afforded a highly conductive electrolyte system based on the ethylene carbonate-dimethyl carbonate mixed solvent, which is useful for electrochemical capacitor applications.