Dielectric-dependent electron transfer behaviour of cobalt hexacyanides in a solid solution of sodium chloride

Abstract

Here we emphasise the importance of the dielectric environment on the electron transfer behavior in interfacial electrochemical systems. Through doping cobalt hexacyanide (Co(CN)₆³⁻) into single microcrystals of sodium chloride (NaCl), for the first time, we obtained the direct electrochemical behavior of Co(CN)₆³⁻ which is hardly ever obtained in either aqueous or conventional nonaqueous solutions. DFT calculations elucidate that, as the Co(CN)₆³⁻ anions occupy the lattice units of NaCl₆⁵⁻ in the NaCl microcrystal, the redox energy barrier of Co(CN)₆^3−/4− is decreased dramatically due to the low dielectric constant of NaCl. Meanwhile, the low-spin Co(CN)₆⁴⁻ anions are stabilized in the lattices of the NaCl microcrystal. The results also show that the NaCl microcrystal is a potential solvent for solid-state electrochemistry at ambient temperature.