Ionic Liquids Endowed with Novel Hybrid Anions for Supercapacitors

The synthesis of a novel class of ionic liquids (ILs) with sulfimide-type anions is presented herein. [Py₁₄][PTSNTF] (N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium p-tosyl(trifluoromethyl)sulfonimide) shows that the maximal electrochemical window is as high as 5.3 V, higher than that of most reported ILs. In addition, thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and the flammability test were also carried out for its thermal stability and practical safety. Impressively, these ILs exhibited good flame resistance and demonstrated an admirable intrinsic safety, in sharp contrast to ordinary electrolytes. Furthermore, the electrostatic potential of ILs was calculated theoretically, and the distribution of surrounding charge is intuitively understood. Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, and cycling stability measurement were performed to evaluate the potential as the electrolyte for supercapacitors. The insights obtained from the study of novel anions provide new ideas for the design of novel IL electrolytes for energy applications.