Surface Initiated Immobilization of Molecules Contained in an Ionic Liquid Framework

A simple and general route for the immobilization of molecules containing ionic liquids framework was described. The proposed approach is inspired from the classical synthesis of ionic liquid and labeled surface-initiated synthesis of molecules bearing ionic liquid components. In the first step, bromide end layer was electrochemically grafted onto the electrode surface followed by its reaction with imidazole derivatives. The generated modified materials were characterized by electrochemistry and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, molecule-based ionic liquids were successfully attached onto electrode material. The possibility to perform an anion-exchange reaction within the layer was demonstrated. Furthermore, the proposed surface functionalization approach was successfully performed without requiring the synthesis of any intermediate. The generated structures provide multifunctional systems containing ions, immobilized cation and mobile anion, and redox species.