What Kinds of Liquids are Ionic Liquids?

Abstract

Mixing states of imidazolium-based ionic liquids, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide and nitrate (C_nmimTFSA and C_nmimNO₃, respectively, n gives the alkyl chain length) with various molecular liquids, such as methanol, benzene, and water, have been elucidated on both mesoscopic and microscopic scales using SANS, infrared (IR), and NMR techniques. In many cases, where the interactions between ionic liquids and molecular liquids are not strong, both liquid molecules may form clusters. On the contrary, as the interactions are strong, both liquid molecules are homogeneously mixed with each other at least on the SANS scale.