New short aliphatic chain ionic liquids: synthesis, physical properties, and catalytic activity in aldol condensations

This paper reports on the synthesis of new short aliphatic chain ionic liquids and the study of the temperature dependence of density, ultrasonic velocities, and ionic conductivity in the range of 278.15-338.15 K. Fourier transform infrared spectra establishes their simple ionic salt structure. Because of their polarity, the ionic liquids are able to dissolve polar solvents and inorganic salts, all of them showing high tolerance in hydroxylic media. The observed temperature trend of the studied properties points out the special packing of these ionic liquids, as well as the strong influence of the steric hindrance among linear aliphatic residues enclosed in anions and cations. One of them showed a very high melting temperature. A collection of slightly basic ionic liquids were used to test their catalytic activity in several aldol condensation reactions of some carbonyl compounds. The best conversions and selectivities were obtained using single ionic liquids, with no synergetic effects being observed when different concentrations of mixed ionic liquids were used as catalysts. In any case, the ionic liquid can also easily be recycled from reaction media, suggesting a promising method of process design for this kind of reaction.     

功能化苯并咪唑类离子液体的合成及性质

合成了一系列由磺酸基、 羧基修饰的新型功能化苯并咪唑类离子液体, 采用IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR和ESI-MS对其结构进行了表征, 研究了化合物的热稳定性、 电导率以及室温下在各种溶剂中的溶解性等性质. 结果表明, 该类离子液体在 280 ℃以下基本没有失重, 热稳定性较好; 在水溶液浓度为1×10^-3 mol/L时, 随着温度的升高, 电导率几乎与温度呈正比增大; 能与大多数有机溶剂互溶, 溶解性随着溶剂极性的增加而增大.     

Recent progress in studies on polarity of ionic liquids

Although many ionic liquids have been reported, their polarity is not completely understood. Different empirical polarity scales for molecular solvents always lead to different polarity orders when they are applied on ionic liquids. Based on a literature survey, this review summarizes the recent polarity scales of ionic liquids according to the following 4 classes: (1) equilibrium and kinetic rate constants of chemical reactions; (2) empirical polar parameters of ionic liquids; (3) spectral properties of probe molecules; (4) multiparameter approaches. In addition, their interrelations are presented. A systematic understanding of the relationship between different polarity parameters of ionic liquids is of great importance for finding a universal set of parameters that can be used to predict the polarities of ionic liquids quantitatively. The potential utilization of the electron paramagnetic resonance in this field is also addressed.     

Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for the determination of solvent properties of room temperature ionic liquids

Room temperature ionic liquids are novel solvents with favorable environmental and technical features. Synthetic routes to over 200 room temperature ionic liquids are known but for most ionic liquids physicochemical data are generally lacking or incomplete. Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods afford suitable tools for the study of solvation properties under conditions that approximate infinite dilution. Gas-liquid chromatography is suitable for the determination of gas-liquid partition coefficients and activity coefficients as well as thermodynamic constants derived from either of these parameters and their variation with temperature. The solvation parameter model can be used to define the contribution from individual intermolecular interactions to the gas-liquid partition coefficient. Application of chemometric procedures to a large database of system constants for ionic liquids indicates their unique solvent properties: low cohesion for ionic liquids with weakly associated ions compared with non-ionic liquids of similar polarity; greater hydrogen-bond basicity than typical polar non-ionic solvents; and a range of dipolarity/polarizability that encompasses the same range as occupied by the most polar non-ionic liquids. These properties can be crudely related to ion structures but further work is required to develop a comprehensive approach for the design of ionic liquids for specific applications. Data for liquid-liquid partition coefficients is scarce by comparison with gas-liquid partition coefficients. Preliminary studies indicate the possibility of using the solvation parameter model for interpretation of liquid-liquid partition coefficients determined by shake-flask procedures as well as the feasibility of using liquid-liquid chromatography for the convenient and rapid determination of liquid-liquid partition coefficients. Spectroscopic measurements of solvatochromic and fluorescent probe molecules in room temperature ionic liquids provide insights into solvent intermolecular interactions although interpretation of the different and generally uncorrelated "polarity" scales is sometimes ambiguous. All evidence points to the ionic liquids as a unique class of polar solvents suitable for technical development. In terms of designer solvents, however, further work is needed to fill the gaps in our knowledge of the relationship between ion structures and physicochemical properties.     

Electrolytic conductivity and molar heat capacity of two aqueous solutions of ionic liquids at room-temperature: Measurements and correlations

As part of our systematic study on physicochemical characterization of ionic liquids, in this work, we report new measurements of electrolytic conductivity and molar heat capacity for aqueous solutions of two 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids, namely: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethylsulfate, at normal atmospheric condition and for temperatures up to 353.2 K. The electrolytic conductivity and molar heat capacity were measured by a commercial conductivity meter and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. The estimated experimental uncertainties for the electrolytic conductivity and molar heat capacity measurements were ±1% and ±2%, respectively. The property data are reported as functions of temperature and composition. A modified empirical equation from another researcher [1] was used to correlate the temperature and composition dependence of the our electrolytic conductivity results. An excess molar heat capacity expression derived using a Redlich–Kister type equation was used to represent the temperature and composition dependence of the measured molar heat capacity and calculated excess molar heat capacity of the solvent systems considered. The correlations applied represent the our measurements satisfactorily as shown by an acceptable overall average deviation of 6.4% and 0.1%, respectively, for electrolytic conductivity and molar heat capacity.     

Ionogels: Squeeze flow rheology and ionic conductivity of quasi-solidified nanostructured hybrid materials containing ionic liquids immobilized on halloysite

Ionogels are hybrid ion-conducting materials consisting of ionic liquids stabilized by inorganic or polymer fillers and having good prospects for application in solid-state and flexible electronics and energy storage devices. The work presents the results of studying the rheological properties and ionic conductivity of a series of ionogels based on halloysite nanoclay and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids with EMIm⁺, BMIm⁺, BM₂Im⁺, BMPyrr⁺, BMPip⁺ and MOc₃Am⁺ cations and content of the dispersion phase of 43–48%. The obtained values are compared with the analogous characteristics of bulk ionic liquids. It has been established that the IL cation structural characteristics affect the viscoplastic properties of ionogels subjected to uniaxial quasistatic compression (20 °C), ionic conductivity and structural resistance coefficient of an inorganic filler (from ?20 to +80 °C). Additive models of conductivity in binary systems are applied to obtain correlations linking ionic conductivity of ionogels with that of pure ionic liquids.     

Estimation of the thermal conductivity λ(T,P) of ionic liquids using a neural network optimized with genetic algorithms

In this study, an artificial neural network was optimized using a genetic algorithm in order to estimate the thermal conductivity of ionic liquids at different temperatures and pressures. Experimental thermal conductivity data of 41 ionic liquids (400 experimental data points) in the range from 0.10 to 0.22 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ were used to obtain the proposed method for the temperature range of 273–390 K and the pressure range of 100–20,000 kPa. In addition, the molecular mass M and structure of molecules, represented by the number of well-defined groups forming the molecule, were provided as input parameters in order to characterize the different molecules of ionic liquids. A heterogeneous set of ionic liquids includes cations such as imidazolium, ammonium, phosphonium, pyrrolidinium, and pyridinium. It also includes anions such as halides, sulfonates, tosylates, imides, borates, phosphates, acetates, and amino acids. The whole dataset was divided into a training set with 300 experimental data points and a prediction set with 100 experimental data points. Several architectures were studied, and the optimum weights for the network were determined. The results showed that the proposed method to estimate the thermal conductivity of ionic liquids at different temperatures and pressures presented a good accuracy with lower deviations such as AARD less than 0.91% and R² of 0.9969 for the training set, and AARD less than 0.84% with R² of 0.9963 for the prediction set.     

Ionic liquids based on dicyanamide anion: influence of structural variations in cationic structures on ionic conductivity

A series of dicyanamide [N(CN)2]-based ionic liquids were prepared using 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations with different alkyl chain lengths and ethyl-containing heterocyclic cations with different ring structures, and the influence of such structural variations on their thermal property, density, electrochemical window, viscosity, ionic conductivity, and solvatochromic effects was investigated. We found that the 1,3-dimethylimidazolium salt shows the highest ionic conductivity among ionic liquids free from halogenated anions (3.6 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) at 25 degrees C), and the elongation of the alkyl chain causes the pronounced depression of fluidity and ionic conductivity. Also, such an elongation gives rise to the increase in the degree of ion association in the liquids, mainly caused by the van der Waals interactions between alkyl chains. N(CN)2 salts with 1-ethyl-2-methylpyrazolium (EMP) and N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium (PY(12)) cations as well as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI) cation are liquids at room temperature (RT), while the N-ethylthiazolium salt shows a melting event at higher temperature (57 degrees C). Among the three RT ionic liquids with ethyl-containing cations, RT ionic conductivity follows the order EMI > PY(12) > EMP, which does not coincide with the order of fluidity at RT (EMI > EMP > PY(12)). Such a discrepancy is originated from a high degree of ion dissociation in the PY(12) salt, which was manifested in the Walden rule deviation and solvatochromic effects. A series of N(CN)2/C(CN)3 binary mixtures of the EMI salts were also prepared. RT ionic conductivity decreases linearly with increasing the molar fraction of C(CN)3 anion.     

Quantum design of ionic liquids for extreme chemical inertness and a new theory of the glass transition

In many modern technologies (such as batteries and supercapacitors), there is a strong need for redox-stable ionic liquids. Experimentally, the stability of ionic liquids can be quantified by the voltage range over which electron tunneling does not occur, but so far, quantum theory has not been applied systematically to this problem. Here, we report the electrochemical reduction of a series of quaternary ammonium cations in the presence of bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anions and use nonadiabatic electron transfer theory to explicate the results. We find that increasing the chain length of the alkyl groups confers improved chemical inertness at all accessible temperatures. Simultaneously, decreasing the symmetry of the quaternary ammonium cations lowers the melting points of the corresponding ionic liquids, in two cases yielding highly inert solvents at room temperature. These are called hexyltriethylammonium TFSI (HTE-TFSI) and butyltrimethylammonium TFSI (BTM-TFSI). Indeed, the latter are two of the most redox-stable solvents in the history of electrochemistry. To gain insight into their properties, very high precision electrical conductivity measurements have been carried out in the range +20 °C to +190 °C. In both cases, the data conform to the Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) equation with “six nines” precision (R ²?>?0.999999). The critical temperature for the onset of conductivity coincides with the glass transition temperature T _g. This is compelling evidence that ionic liquids are, in fact, softened glasses. Finally, by focusing on the previously unsuspected connection between the molecular degrees of freedom of ionic liquids and their bulk conductivities, we are able to propose a new theory of the glass transition. This should have utility far beyond ionic liquids, in areas as diverse as glassy metals and polymer science.     

Reactive Oligomeric Protic Cationic Linear Ionic Liquids with Different Types of Nitrogen Centers

Reactive linear oligo(ethylene oxides) containing terminal secondary hydroxyl groups and secondary amino groups combined with nitrogen heterocyclic fragments are synthesized by the reaction of oligo(oxyethylene glycol) α,ω-diglycidyl ether (М = 1.0 × 10³) with 1-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole, 2-aminopyridine, or 2-amino-3-methylpyridine. Protonation of the synthesized compounds by ethanesulfonic acid and p-toluenesulfonic acid at their different ratios is studied. This process makes it possible to obtain oligomeric linear protic cationic ionic liquids capable of condensation. The proton conductivity of oligomeric ionic liquids is investigated under anhydrous conditions in the temperature range of 40–120°С. The highest conductivity (1.36 × 10^–3 S/cm) is attained in the case of methylpyridinium ethanesulfonate oligomeric ionic liquid at 120°С. These compounds are thermally stable to a temperature of 250–290°С. They show promise for the synthesis of polymeric analogs of block ionic liquids suitable in the production of electrochemical devices for various purposes.     

Effect of solvated ionic liquids on the ion conducting property of composite membranes for lithium ion batteries

We prepared the polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite membrane electrolytes which contained the specialized ionic liquids and the inorganic filler of Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO). Mixtures of ionic liquids and tetragonal inorganic fillers were used as additives to prepare composite electrolytes for an application of all solid-state lithium ion batteries (ASLBs). In order to improve the ionic conductivity of composite membranes, we studied the structural change and the electrochemical behaviors as a function of the amounts of solvated ionic liquids (ILs). The addition effect of solvated ILs showed the higher ionic conductivity such as 10^?4 S/cm at 55 °C by reducing the crystalline character of polymer based composite, resulting in the enhanced ion conducting property. The hybrid composite membranes were successfully made in flexible form, and have an excellent thermal and electrochemical stability. Finally, the electrochemical performance of the half-cell was evaluated, and it was confirmed that the ion-conducting characteristics were influenced and controlled by the effect of ILs.     

Determination of the Thermal Conductivities of Several Molten Alkali Halides by Means of a Sheathed Hot-Wire Technique

Abstract

A modification of the transient hot-wire method has been used for the measurement of the thermal conductivities of electrically conducting fluids. Although the method is probably not as accurate as the concentric-cylinder method in similar applications, it avoids radiation problems which hamper studies with many molten salts. We report here hot-wire measurements of the thermal conductivity values for molten alkali halides. These results indicate that, as was noted by White and Davis⁽¹⁾ for alkali nitrates, the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivities for those substances is positive. Such a temperature dependence seems to be an intrinsic property of ionic liquids and is not associated with the internal degrees of freedom of the ions constituting a molten salt.     

High ionic conductivity of all-solid polymer electrolytes based on polyorganophosphazenes

A series of all-solid polymer electrolytes were prepared by cross-linking new designed poly(organophosphazene) macromonomers. The ionic conductivities of these all-solid, dimensional steady polymer electrolytes were reported. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the all-solid polymer electrolytes suggested that the ionic transport is correlated with the segmental motion of the polymer. The relationship between lithium salts content and ionic conductivity was discussed and investigated by Infrared spectrum. Furthermore, the polarity of the host materials was thought to be a key to the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte. The all-solid polymer electrolytes based on these poly(organophosphazenes) showed ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature.     

Prediction of macroscopic properties of protic ionic liquids by ab initio calculations

We have systematically investigated combinations of anions and cations in a number of protic ionic liquids based on alkylamines and used ab initio methods to gain insight into the parameters determining their liquid range and their conductivity. A simple, almost linear, relation of the experimentally determined melting temperature with the calculated volume of the anion forming the ionic liquid is found, whereas the dependence of the melting temperature with increasing cation volume goes through a minimum for relatively short side chain length. On the basis of the present results, we propose a strategy to predict the nature of protic ionic liquids in terms of low vapor pressure and conductivity. Comparisons with previously reported strategies for prediction of melting temperatures for aprotic ionic liquids are also made.     

Low glass transition temperature polymer electrolyte prepared from ionic liquid grafted polyethylene oxide

In this contribution, we report a new type of poly (ionic liquids) prepared by imidazolium ionic liquids directly grafting onto polyethylene oxide backbone. Different molecular weights of poly (ionic liquids) are obtained with a low glass transition temperature up to ?14 °C. The materials as polymer electrolyte achieve a high conductivity around 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 30 °C and close to 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 90 °C. High viscosity up to 4000 Pa s at room temperature would minimize the electrolytes leaking in electrochemical devices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2104–2110     

Comparative Investigation of the Ionicity of Aprotic and Protic Ionic Liquids in Molecular Solvents by using Conductometry and NMR Spectroscopy

Electrical conductivity (σ), viscosity (η), and self‐diffusion coefficient (D) measurements of binary mixtures of aprotic and protic imidazolium‐based ionic liquids with water, dimethyl sulfoxide, and ethylene glycol were measured from 293.15 to 323.15 K. The temperature dependence study reveals typical Arrhenius behavior. The ionicities of aprotic ionic liquids were observed to be higher than those of protic ionic liquids in these solvents. The aprotic ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmIm][BF₄], displays 100 % ionicity in both water and ethylene glycol. The protic ionic liquids in both water and ethylene glycol are classed as good ionic candidates, whereas in DMSO they are classed as having a poor ionic nature. The solvation dynamics of the ionic species of the ionic liquids are illustrated on the basis of the ¹H NMR chemical shifts of the ionic liquids. The self‐diffusion coefficients D of the cation and anion of [HmIm][CH₃COO] in D₂O and in [D₆]DMSO are determined by using ¹H nuclei with pulsed field gradient spin‐echo NMR spectroscopy.     

Optimizing the electrochemical performance of imidazolium‐based polymeric ionic liquids by varying tethering groups

We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of novel imidazolium cation and bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide anion (TFSI^?)‐based ionic liquid (IL) model compounds and their corresponding polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) with various tethering groups. Ethylene oxide repeating units were attached as tethering groups to an imidazolium cation to optimize the glass transition temperatures (T_g) and ionic conductivities of the PILs. The novel PILs exhibit excellent conductivity values of around 8 × 10^?4 S/cm at room temperature. The thermophysical and electrochemical properties of ILs, including thermal transition, ionic conductivity, and rheological behavior, were characterized to investigate the effect of tethering groups. We conclude that the length of poly(ethylene oxide) tethering group has a tremendous effect on both physical property and electrochemical behavior and that charge carrier density is dominant in defining ionic conductivity with free ILs, whereas ion mobility plays a more important role after polymerization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1339–1350     

Superionic Conduction over a Wide Temperature Range in a Metal–Organic Framework Impregnated with Ionic Liquids

Most molecules in confined spaces show markedly different behaviors from those in the bulk. Large pores are composed of two regions: an interface region in which liquids interact with the pore surface, and a core region in which liquids behave as bulk. The realization of a highly mobile ionic liquid (IL) in a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) is now reported. The hybrid shows a high room‐temperature conductivity (4.4×10^?3 S cm^?1) and low activation energy (0.20 eV); both not only are among the best values reported for IL‐incorporated MOFs but also are classified as a superionic conductor. The conductivity reaches over 10^?2 S cm^?1 above 343 K and follows the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation up to ca. 400 K. In particular, the hybrid is advantageous at low temperatures (<263 K), where the ionic conduction is superior to that of bulk IL, making it useful as solid‐state electrolytes for electrochemical devices operating over a wide temperature range.     

Acrylate functionalized tetraalkylammonium salts with ionic liquid properties

Acrylate functionalized ionic liquids based on tetraalkylammonium salts with terminal acrylates- and methylacrylates were synthesized. Melting points and ionic conductivity of twenty compounds in six groups were determined. Within one group the effect of three different counterions was investigated and discussed. The groups differ in cationic structure elements because of their functional groups such as acrylate and methacrylate, alkyl residues at the nitrogen and number of quaternary ammonium atoms within the organic cation. The effect of these cationic structure elements has been examined concerning the compiled parameters with a view to qualifying them as components for solid state electrolytes. The newly synthesized ionic liquids were characterized by NMR and FTIR analysis. The exchange of halide ions like bromide as counter ions to weakly coordinating [PF?]?, [OTf]? or [TFSI]? reduces the melting points significantly and leads to an ion conductivity of about 10?? S/cm at room temperature. In the case of the dicationic ionic liquid, an ion conductivity of about 10?3 S/cm was observed.     

New ionic liquids with the bis[bis(pentafluoroethyl)phosphinyl]imide anion, [(C2F5)2P(O)]2N—Synthesis and characterization

A new series of low melting and hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) containing the bis[bis(pentafluoroethyl)phosphinyl]imide anion, [(C₂F₅)₂P(O)]₂N⁻ (FPI), and ammonium, phosphonium, imidazolium, pyridinium or pyrrolidinium cations were prepared and characterized. Their density, viscosity, melting point, glass transition temperature, decomposition temperature and conductivity are discussed. Many of these ionic liquids are liquids at room temperature with melting points below 15 °C, viscosities below 110 mm² s⁻¹ and thermal stabilities above 300 °C.