Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 2015-09-21

Two phosphonium ionic liquids with high Li(+) transport number.

Vitor L Martins, Nédher Sanchez-Ramirez, Mauro C C Ribeiro, Roberto M Torresi

Index: Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 17 , 23041-51, (2015)

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Abstract

This work presents the physicochemical characterization of two ionic liquids (ILs) with small phosphonium cations, triethylpenthylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([P2225][Tf2N]) and (2-methoxyethyl)trimethylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([P222(201)][Tf2N]), and their mixtures with Li(+). Properties such as the electrochemical window, density, viscosity and ionic conductivity are presented. The diffusion coefficient was obtained using two different techniques, PGSE-NMR and Li electrodeposition with microelectrodes. In addition, the Li(+) transport number was calculated using the PGSE-NMR technique and an electrochemical approach. The use of these three techniques showed that the PGSE-NMR technique underestimates the diffusion coefficient for charged species. The Li(+) transport number was found to be as high as 0.54. Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations were used to evaluate the short-range structure of the liquids. These experiments suggested that the interaction between the Li(+) and the Tf2N(-) anion is similar to that seen with other ILs containing the same anion. However, the MD simulations also showed that the Li(+) ions interact differently with the cation containing an alkyl ether chain. The results found in this work suggest that these Li(+) mixtures have promising potential to be applied as electrolytes in batteries.