Electrochemical Window

 

Electrochemical Windows of Common Solvents

Stability limits (V vs. SCE). Hover over bars for specific electrode and electrolyte conditions.

Sort by: Window Width (Max to Min) Sort by: Cathodic Limit (Lowest V) Sort by: Anodic Limit (Highest V) Sort by: Name (A-Z)

Understanding Potential Windows

In nonaqueous electrochemistry, the observable potential window is dictated not only by the intrinsic redox stability of the solvent but also by the supporting electrolyte and the working electrode material. For instance, mercury electrodes provide an exceptionally wide cathodic (negative) range due to high overpotentials for hydrogen evolution and alkali metal amalgam formation, but are severely limited anodically by mercury dissolution. Conversely, platinum and glassy carbon offer wider anodic (positive) windows.

Furthermore, trace impurities (especially water) can drastically narrow the working window. In protophobic aprotic solvents like acetonitrile or propylene carbonate, trace water is easily reduced or oxidized, severely masking the true potential limits of the pure solvent system.

Reference: Izutsu, K. Electrochemistry in Nonaqueous Solutions, 2nd, Revised and Enlarged Edition; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, 2010; pp. 103–105.

Solvent Name

Cathodic:

Anodic:

Total Span: V

Dielectric (ε):

Cathodic Cond:

Anodic Cond: