Adsorption and Thermal Evolution of the Carbonyl-functionalized Ionic Liquid [5-oxo-C₆C₁Im][NTf₂] on Pt(111): A...

The coating of heterogeneous catalysts with ionic liquids enables precise tuning of catalytic activity and selectivity. Recently, the fundamentals of solid catalysts with ionic liquid layers have been extensively studied. So far, investigations have focused on simple ILs without specialized functional groups. In our current work, we aim to involve functionalized ILs to take advantage of the interactions between these functional groups, the catalyst, and the reactants. In this study, we investigated the interaction, and thermal stability of the carbonyl-functionalized IL [5-oxo-C₆C₁Im][NTf₂] on Pt(111) by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. In addition, we performed density functional theory calculations to support our interpretation. At 200 K and low coverage, the carbonyl group of the [5-oxo-C₆C₁Im]⁺ cation is oriented parallel to the Pt(111) surface. With increasing coverage, the alkyl chain detaches from the surface and orients towards the vacuum. The [NTf₂]^- anion adsorbs parallel to the surface via the oxygen atoms of the SO₂ groups. At higher coverage, at least one of the SO₂ groups completely detaches from the surface. Upon heating to 250 K, we observe decomposition and partial desorption of [5-oxo-C₆C₁Im][NTf₂], with further decomposition and desorption occurring between 350 and 400 K.