Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of room temperature ionic liquids and their application in sodium ion
Pauline J Fischer1, Minh Phuong Do, Robert M Reich
1Molecular Catalysis, Catalysis Research Center and Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany. fritz.kuehn@ch.tum.de.
Abstract:
Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) based on IL electrolytes have attracted great attention, particularly in large-scale energy storage systems for renewable energy due to the abundance of sodium and the excellent safety resulting from the use of non-flammable ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes. In this article, a series of 15 functionalized room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) suitable as electrolytes is presented. Special emphasis was laid on the purity of the synthesized RTILs and a consistent and uniform characterization of their physicochemical properties. Evaluation of the viscosity, conductivity, and thermal and electrochemical stabilities resulted in clear structure-property relationships, rendering the ether functionalized RTILs most promising for application in SIBs. Electrochemical investigations of the ether functionalized IL electrolytes in SIB half cells (Na0.6Mn0.9Co0.1O2 as cathode material) proved their compatibility with a SIB system. Stable cycling performance was achieved with the piperidinium based RTIL IL 6 outperforming the organic electrolyte by far with a retention of 81% after 350 cycles. These results show the suitability of RTILs to enhance the performance of SIB systems and serve as a basis for the design of high performance IL electrolytes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ions and Ionic Charges
Molecular and Ionic Solids
Molecular Solids
Molecular crystalline solids, such as ice, sucrose (table sugar), and iodine, are solids that are composed of neutral molecules as their constituent units. These molecules are held together by weak intermolecular forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole-dipole interactions, or hydrogen bonds, which...
Solubility of Ionic Compounds
Ionic Radii
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Batteries and Fuel Cells

