molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 12818

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIQUP, Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Faculty of Science, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: physical and materials chemistry; thin films; organic semiconductor materials; perovskites; ionic liquids

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIQUP, Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Faculty of Science, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Interests: physical and materials chemistry; chemical thermodynamics; thermophysics and thermoanalysis; experimental methodologies; ionic liquids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The potential application of ionic liquids has become a hot research topic in multidisciplinary fields such as chemistry, physics, biology, and materials engineering. Particularly, ionic liquids have been widely used as advanced materials for energy applications due to their outstanding physical-chemical properties which are related to various unique characteristics derived from their dual character (ionic and molecular) and nano-structuration behavior. Their surface and interface properties are of utmost relevance in nano-surface science and technology. Knowledge on the bulk, interfacial, and transport properties of ionic liquids is crucial for the application of these ionic fluids in energy storage and conversion materials and devices.

This Special Issue aims to collate the latest advances in ionic liquid-based materials from across the scientific community. Advanced research on the physical and chemical characterization of ionic liquids, interfacial nanostructures, the wetting behavior of ionic liquid films, transport properties, as well as the application of ionic liquid-based materials into energy harvesting and storage will be considered in this Special issue.

Dr. José C. S. Costa
Dr. Luís M.N.B.F. Santos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ionic liquids
  • physical and chemical properties
  • nano-structuration and self-assembly
  • bulk properties
  • surface and interfacial properties
  • energy harvesting and storage

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 1372 KiB  
Article
Transport Properties of Protic Ionic Liquids Based on Triazolium and Imidazolium: Development of an Air-Free Conductivity Setup
by Eduardo Maurina Morais, Alexander Idström, Lars Evenäs and Anna Martinelli
Molecules 2023, 28(13), 5147; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135147 - 30 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1330
Abstract
The dynamical properties of four protic ionic liquids, based on the ethyltriazolium ([C2HTr124]) and the ethylimidazolium ([C2HIm]) cation, were investigated. The associated anions were the triflate ([TfO]) and the bistriflimide ([TFSI]). Ionic conductivity values and self-diffusion coefficients [...] Read more.
The dynamical properties of four protic ionic liquids, based on the ethyltriazolium ([C2HTr124]) and the ethylimidazolium ([C2HIm]) cation, were investigated. The associated anions were the triflate ([TfO]) and the bistriflimide ([TFSI]). Ionic conductivity values and self-diffusion coefficients were measured and discussed, extending the discussion to the concept of fragility. Furthermore, in order to allow the measurement of the ionic conductivity of very small volumes (<0.5 mL) of ionic liquid under an inert and dry atmosphere, a new setup was developed. It was found that the cation nature strongly affected the transport properties, the [C2HTr124] cation resulting in slower dynamics than the [C2HIm] one. This was concluded from both conductivity and diffusivity measurements while for both properties, the anion had a lesser effect. By fitting the conductivity data with the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann (VFT) equation, we could also estimate the fragility of these ionic liquids, which all fell in the range of very fragile glass-forming materials. Finally, the slower dynamics observed in the triazolium-based ionic liquids can be rationalized by the stronger interactions that this cation establishes with both anions, as deduced from the frequency analysis of relevant Raman signatures and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 9878 KiB  
Article
Confined Silver Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Films
by Alexandre C. P. M. Alves, Luís M. N. B. F. Santos, Margarida Bastos and José C. S. Costa
Molecules 2023, 28(7), 3029; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073029 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1465
Abstract
This work reports the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by sputter deposition in thin films of three different ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and cation (imidazolium), but with different alkyl chain lengths and symmetries in the cationic moiety ([C4 [...] Read more.
This work reports the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by sputter deposition in thin films of three different ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and cation (imidazolium), but with different alkyl chain lengths and symmetries in the cationic moiety ([C4C1im][NTf2], [C2C2im][NTf2], and [C5C5im][NTf2]). Ionic liquid (IL) films in the form of microdroplets with different thicknesses (200 to 800 monolayers) were obtained through vacuum thermal evaporation onto glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO). The sputtering process of the Ag onto the ILs when conducted simultaneously with argon plasma promoted the coalescence of the ILs’ droplets and the formation, incorporation, and stabilization of the metallic nanoparticles in the coalesced IL films. The formation/stabilization of the AgNPs in the IL films was confirmed using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that the IL films with larger thicknesses (600 and 800 monolayers) were better media for the formation of AgNPs. Among the ILs used, [C5C5im][NTf2] was found to be particularly promising for the stabilization of AgNPs. The use of larger IL droplets as capture media was found to promote a better stabilization of the AgNPs, thereby reducing their tendency to aggregate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 3325 KiB  
Article
New Protic Ionic Liquids as Potential Additives to Lubricate Si-Based MEMS/NEMS
by Mariana T. Donato, Jonas Deuermeier, Rogério Colaço, Luis C. Branco and Benilde Saramago
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062678 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1550
Abstract
The motivation for this work was to develop new protic ionic liquids (PILs) as additives for the lubrication of micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). Ten PILs based on the combination of methylimidazolium ([MIMH]), 4-picolinium ([4-picH]), pyridinium ([PyrH]), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene-8-ium ([DBUH]) and tetramethylguanidinium [...] Read more.
The motivation for this work was to develop new protic ionic liquids (PILs) as additives for the lubrication of micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). Ten PILs based on the combination of methylimidazolium ([MIMH]), 4-picolinium ([4-picH]), pyridinium ([PyrH]), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene-8-ium ([DBUH]) and tetramethylguanidinium ([TMGH]) cations with hydrogen sulfate([HSO4]) and mesylate ([MeSO3]) anions were tested as additives in polyethylene glycol (PEG200) to lubricate steel/silicon and silicon/silicon contacts. The best additive was [4-picH][HSO4], which adsorbed strongly on the Si surface, leading to a protective film that reduced wear by up to 15 times compared to PEG200. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3898 KiB  
Article
The Role of the Anion in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids for Fuel and Terpenes Processing
by Aline Zambom, Sérgio M. Vilas-Boas, Liliana P. Silva, Mónia A. R. Martins, Olga Ferreira and Simão P. Pinho
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2456; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062456 - 07 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1302
Abstract
The potentialities of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents were evaluated for some relevant separation problems—terpene fractionation and fuel processing—studying selectivities, capacities, and solvent performance indices. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution of the solute (1) in the IL (3), γ13 [...] Read more.
The potentialities of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents were evaluated for some relevant separation problems—terpene fractionation and fuel processing—studying selectivities, capacities, and solvent performance indices. The activity coefficients at infinite dilution of the solute (1) in the IL (3), γ13, of 52 organic solutes were measured by inverse gas chromatography over a temperature range of 333.2–453.2 K. The selected ILs are 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C4mim][PF6], and the equimolar mixture of [C4mim][PF6] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C4mim]Cl. Generally, low polar solutes follow γ1,C4mimCl > γ1,C4mimPF6+C4mimCl > γ1,C4mimPF6 while the opposite behavior is observed for alcohols and water. For citrus essential oil deterpenation, the results suggest that cations with long alkyl chains, such as C12mim+, promote capacity, while selectivity depends on the solute polarity. Promising results were obtained for the separation of several model mixtures relevant to fuel industries using the equimolar mixture of [C4mim][PF6] and [C4mim]Cl. This work demonstrates the importance of tailoring the polarity of the solvents, suggesting the use of ILs with mixed anions as alternative solvents for the removal of aliphatic hydrocarbons and contaminants from fuels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4712 KiB  
Article
The Nanostructure of Alkyl-Sulfonate Ionic Liquids: Two 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium Alkyl-Sulfonate Homologous Series
by Hugo Marques, José Nuno Canongia Lopes, Adilson Alves de Freitas and Karina Shimizu
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2094; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052094 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1545
Abstract
The functionalization of polymers with sulfonate groups has many important uses, ranging from biomedical applications to detergency properties used in oil-recovery processes. In this work, several ionic liquids (ILs) combining 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations [CnC1im]+ (4 ≤ n ≤ 8) [...] Read more.
The functionalization of polymers with sulfonate groups has many important uses, ranging from biomedical applications to detergency properties used in oil-recovery processes. In this work, several ionic liquids (ILs) combining 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations [CnC1im]+ (4 ≤ n ≤ 8) with alkyl-sulfonate anions [CmSO3] (4 ≤ m ≤ 8) have been studied using molecular dynamics simulations, totalizing nine ionic liquids belonging to two homologous series. The radial distribution functions, structure factors, aggregation analyses, and spatial distribution functions reveal that the increase in aliphatic chain length induces no significant change in the structure of the polar network of the ILs. However, for imidazolium cations and sulfonate anions with shorter alkyl chains, the nonpolar organization is conditioned by the forces acting on the polar domains, namely, electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 3058 KiB  
Article
Investigation of H2O2 Electrochemical Behavior on Ferricyanide-Confined Electrode Based on Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Silica-Mesostructured Cellular Foam
by Ling Zhang, Zhenkuan Ma, Yun Fan, Songlin Jiao, Zhan Yu and Xuwei Chen
Molecules 2022, 27(24), 9028; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27249028 - 18 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1427
Abstract
In this work, ionic liquid (IL) of 1-propyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride-functionalized silica-mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) was prepared. The obtained MCF-IL was used to construct the Fe(CN)63−-confined electrode (MCF-IL-Fe(CN)63−/PVA) and H2O2 electrochemical behavior on the electrode [...] Read more.
In this work, ionic liquid (IL) of 1-propyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride-functionalized silica-mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) was prepared. The obtained MCF-IL was used to construct the Fe(CN)63−-confined electrode (MCF-IL-Fe(CN)63−/PVA) and H2O2 electrochemical behavior on the electrode was investigated. It was found that H2O2 was oxidized on the freshly prepared electrode while catalytically electro-reduced on the acid pretreated one. Cyclic voltametric results revealed that the real catalyst for catalytic reduction of H2O2 was Prussian blue (PB) rather than Fe(CN)63−. The electrocatalytic ability of the acid-pretreated MCF-IL-Fe(CN)63−/PVA electrode offered a wide linear range for H2O2 detection. The present study on H2O2 electrochemical behavior on an MCF-IL-Fe(CN)63−/PVA electrode might provide useful information for further developing integrated Fe(CN)63−-mediated biosensors as H2O2 is extensively involved in the classic reaction containing oxidase enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2368 KiB  
Article
Direct Correlation of Surface Tension and Surface Composition of Ionic Liquid Mixtures—A Combined Vacuum Pendant Drop and Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study
by Ulrike Paap, Vera Seidl, Karsten Meyer, Florian Maier and Hans-Peter Steinrück
Molecules 2022, 27(23), 8561; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238561 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1359
Abstract
We investigated the surface tension and surface composition of various mixtures of the two ionic liquids (ILs) 1-methyl-3-octyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C8C1Im][PF6] and 1,3-bis(polyethylene glycol)imidazolium iodide [(mPEG2)2Im]I in the temperature range from 230 [...] Read more.
We investigated the surface tension and surface composition of various mixtures of the two ionic liquids (ILs) 1-methyl-3-octyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C8C1Im][PF6] and 1,3-bis(polyethylene glycol)imidazolium iodide [(mPEG2)2Im]I in the temperature range from 230 to 370 K under ultraclean vacuum conditions. The surface tension was measured using a newly developed apparatus, and the surface composition was determined by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS). In the pure ILs, the alkyl chains of [C8C1Im][PF6] and the PEG chains of [(mPEG2)2Im]I are enriched at the IL/vacuum interface. In the mixtures, a strong selective surface enrichment of the alkyl chains occurs, which is most pronounced at low [C8C1Im][PF6] contents. For the surface tension, strong deviations from an ideal mixing behaviour take place. By applying a simple approach based on the surface composition of the mixtures as deduced from ARXPS, we are able to predict and reproduce the experimentally measured temperature-dependent surface tension values with astonishingly high accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 5104 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Vacuum Engineering of Ionic Liquids
by Yuji Matsumoto
Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1991; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041991 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1657
Abstract
Since the discovery of ionic liquids (ILs) as a new class of liquid that can survive in a vacuum at room temperature, they have been aimed at being characterized with vacuum analysis techniques and used in vacuum processes for the last two decades. [...] Read more.
Since the discovery of ionic liquids (ILs) as a new class of liquid that can survive in a vacuum at room temperature, they have been aimed at being characterized with vacuum analysis techniques and used in vacuum processes for the last two decades. In this review, our state-of-the-art of the vacuum engineering of ILs will be introduced. Beginning with nanoscale vacuum deposition of IL films and their thickness-dependent ionic conductivity, there are presented some new applications of the ellipsometry to in situ monitoring of the thickness of IL films and their glass transitions, and of the surface thermal fluctuation spectroscopy to investigation of the rheological properties of IL films. Furthermore, IL-VLS (vapor-liquid-solid) growth, a vacuum deposition via IL, has been found successful, enhancing the crystallinity of vacuum-deposited crystals and films, and sometimes controlling their surface morphology and polymorphs. Among recent applications of ILs are the use of metal ions-containing IL and thin film nano IL gel. The former is proposed as a low temperature evaporation source of metals, such as Ta, in vacuum deposition, while the latter is demonstrated to work as a gate electrolyte in an electric double layer organic transistor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Properties and Applications of Ionic Liquids-Based Advanced Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop