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Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
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Cation Code: Designing Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-Based Ionic Liquids for Electrochemical Applications
Pranav J Thacker1, Jiaying Jin1, Jon-Marc McGregor1
1McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|August 22, 2025
Summary
Cation choice in bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids impacts electrochemical applications. Pyrrolidinium and triethylsulfonium cations offer promising conductivity and electrochemical windows, despite being less explored.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) based on bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf2N]-) are crucial for electrochemical applications.
- The cation structure significantly influences RTIL properties like electrochemical window (ECW) and conductivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of different core cation structures on [Tf2N]- based RTILs for electrochemical applications.
- To identify overlooked RTIL candidates with desirable properties for electrochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of electrochemical windows (ECWs), viscosity, molar conductivity, and degree of dissociation for various RTILs.
- Analysis of aliphatic, aromatic, and sulfur-containing cations.
Main Results:
- Aliphatic cations (pyrrolidinium, etc.) offer wide ECWs (> 6 V) but higher viscosity and lower conductivity compared to some aromatic and sulfur-containing cations.
- Pyrrolidinium-based RTILs show good molar conductivity (e.g., 0.81 S cm2 mol-1 for butylmethylpyrrolidinium [Tf2N]).
- Triethylsulfonium [Tf2N] exhibits the highest molar conductivity, alongside high dissociation, similar to pyridinium-based RTILs.
Conclusions:
- While pyrrolidinium and imidazolium RTILs are common, pyridinium and triethylsulfonium RTILs are promising, yet largely overlooked, candidates for electrochemical applications.
- Superbase-derived RTILs are generally unsuitable due to poor electrochemical performance.
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