Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/806534

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Title
Pronounced structure in confined aprotic room-temperature ionic liquids
Author/Creator
Hayes, Robert;  El Abedin , Sherif Zein;  Atkin, Rob
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Description
Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are attracting considerable research interest as replacements for traditional molecular solvents in a diverse range of chemical applications, mostly due to their green characteristics and remarkable physical properties. Previously, we reported the liquid structure of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate confined between mica and an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, and found that approximately three solvation layers form. In this manuscript, we present new data, derived from similar experiments, for three different aprotic ILs [1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorphosphate (BMIm PF₆), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (EMIm TSFA), and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (BMP TSFA)] and between five and six solvation layers are identified depending on the IL species. These new results allow us to make suggestions for molecularly designing IL architectures likely to be suitable for a particular application, depending on whether near surface order is desirable or not. Where mobility of component ions and transfer of species to and from the interface is required (DSSCs, hetereogeneous catalysis, etc.), multiple sterically hindered allylic functional groups could be incorporated to minimize substrate-IL interactions and maximize compressibility of the solvation layers. Conversely, in situations where IL adsorption to the interface is desirable (e.g., lubrication or electrode surface restructuring), symmetric ions with localized charge centers are preferable.
Relation
Journal of Physical Chemistry B Vol. 113, Issue 20, p. 7049-7052
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp902837s
Date
2009
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Keyword(s)
sensitized solar cells;  solvation forces;  ionic liquids;  aprotic ionic liquids
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/806534
Identifier
ISSN:1520-6106
Reviewed
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Subject
"Journal of Physical Chemistry B"
 
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