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Reductive metal deposition at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES), the oil/water interface, is an attractive methodology to produce metal nanostructures. However, the metals that can be deposited are limited to noble metals; otherwise, water molecules are reduced. Herein, a method to overcome this limitation by utilizing a novel waterfree ITIES between a hydrophilic ionic liquid and oil was introduced. As proof-of-concept experiments, the reductive deposition of zinc, a base metal with a standard redox potential more negative than that of water, was successfully realized at the ionic liquid/oil interface. The morphology of the zinc nanostructures was investigated, and the reaction mechanism was discussed, in which the electron transfer and ion transfer reactions across the interface simultaneously occurred to maintain the electroneutrality of the liquids.

What is the most significant result of this study?This study just showed that Zn is reductively deposited at the liquid/liquid interface. However, this study has proved a new concept, i.e that base metals can be reductively deposited at the liquid/liquid interface. There are a number of metal elements that have the standard redox potentials more negative than water, and they are unexplored to be studied for deposition at the soft interfaces and to be prepared as possibly interesting and beneficial nanostructures.

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