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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
The effect of structural modifications on the thermal stability, melting points and ion interactions for a series of
Cody A Cassity1, Benjamin Siu, Mohammad Soltani
1Department of Chemistry, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA.
Abstract:
A family of mesothermal ionic liquids comprised of tetraarylphosphonium cations and the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amidate anion are shown to be materials of exceptional thermal stability, enduring (without decomposition) heating in air at 300 °C for three months. It is further established that three specific structural elements - phenoxy, phenacyl, and phenyl sulfonyl - can be present in the cation structures without compromising their thermal stability, and that their incorporation has specific impacts on the melting points of the salts. Most importantly, it is shown that the ability of such a structural component to lower a salt melting point is tied to its ability to lower cation-cation repulsions in the material.
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