New types of Br?nsted acid-base ionic liquids-based membranes for applications in PEMFCs.

A series of ionic liquids (ILs) are prepared by neutralizing tertiary amines with N,N-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (HTFSI). As demonstrated by thermal and electrochemical characterizations, these ILs have very good temperature stability and a high ionic conductivity, that is, of the order of 10(-2) S cm-1. By incorporating these ILs into a poly(vinylidenfluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) polymer matrix, membranes with a high melting temperature, high decomposition point and with an ionic conductivity of about 10(-2) S cm-1 at 140 degrees C, are obtained. These IL-based, proton-conducting membranes are proposed as new polymer electrolytes for high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs).     

Potentialities of ionic liquids as new electrolyte media in advanced electrochemical devices

This paper reviews the various classes of ionic liquids (ILs) in view of their established and expected applications in advanced electrochemical devices, such as lithium batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. In this respect, particular attention is devoted to aprotic and protic ILs, with a related discussion in terms of their thermal and transport properties. In addition, the role in the electrochemical technology of a new class of ILs having cation and anion tethered in an intramolecular form is stressed. Due to their emerging importance, IL-based polymers are finally reported and discussed. A conclusion, where the expected evolution of the ILs research and development is evaluated, is also included.     

Experimental and numerical analysis in heat flow sensors calibration

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The 2010/31/CE directive has highlighted the necessity to improve the energy efficiency in buildings, since they are responsible for 40% of energy...     

Conformational evolution of TFSI− in protic and aprotic ionic liquids

We here report on the conformational evolution of the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion (TFSI⁻) in protic and aprotic TFSI⁻‐based ionic liquids as a function of temperature. The investigation is performed by Raman spectroscopy in the spectral ranges 240‐380 cm⁻¹ and 715‐765 cm⁻¹, where the interference from bands due to the cations is negligible. The contribution from each TFSI⁻ conformation, i.e. the cisoid (C₁) and the transoid (C₂), is quantified in order to estimate the enthalpy of conformational change, ΔH, which is found to be in the range 3.4–7.3 kJ/mol in the liquid state. Conformational information is for the first time determined from the 740 cm⁻¹ band, which previously mainly has been used as an indicator of ion‐ion interactions. The similarity in ΔH values obtained from the two spectral ranges demonstrates the validity of using also the 740 cm⁻¹ band for the quantification of the TFSI conformational evolution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical properties of proton conducting membranes based on a protic ionic liquid

We have investigated the physical properties of proton conducting polymer membranes based on a protic ionic liquid (IL). Properties such as ionic conductivity, melting point of the polymer phase, and glass transition temperature of the liquid phase are studied as a function of IL/polymer ratio and temperature. We observe an increased thermomechanical stability of the membrane with increasing polymer content. However, there is a concomitant decrease in the conductivity with increasing polymer content. This decrease is larger than what can be expected from the dilution of the conducting IL by the insulating polymer matrix. The origin of this decrease can be caused both by the morphology of the membrane and by interactions between the polymer matrix and the ionic liquid. We find a change in the glass transition temperature and in the temperature dependence of the conductivity with increasing polymer content. Both effects can be related to the physical confinement of the IL in the polymer membrane.