Multi-Scale Characterization of Ionic Liquid Interfacial Dynamics

Ionic liquid (IL) dynamics at solid interfaces dictate their electrochemical performance. Experimental and computational advances reveal that interfacial IL diffusion is orders of magnitude slower than in bulk, varies with surface potential, geometry and chemistry, and exhibits exceptionally slow structural relaxation. Most recently, experimental breakthroughs have enabled direct visualization of interfacial nanostructure dynamics through video-rate AFM. Parallel advances in computational methods provide molecular-level insights into potential-dependent ion redistribution and charging dynamics. We propose that coupling real-time in situ visualization with methods offering dynamic compositional information will reveal the interplay between nanostructure and chemical processes at IL/solid interfaces. Understanding this behavior holds the key to designing high-performance electrochemical systems.