Superpressing of a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

We have investigated the phase behavior of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF4]) at 298 K under high pressure conditions. We found that [emim][BF4] can be superpressed without crystallization up to ∼7 GPa. We propose that [emim][BF4] behaves as a superpressurized glass above 2.8 GPa. In view of the results, the environment around the alkyl-chain (C6 and C7-C8) of [emim][BF4] is largely perturbed rather than that around the imidazolium-ring in the superpressed state. We also discussed the results in view of the conformational isomerism of [emim](+) cation. Remarkably, as an alternative to pressure-induced crystallization, we have found that such a metastable liquid shows crystal polymorphism around 2.0 and 1.0 GPa upon decompression. The behavior is in contrast with the earlier results of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]).