Synthesis and characterization of quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquids containing an alkyl carbonate group

A series of quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) containing an alkyl carbonate group on the cation was first prepared and their physical and electrochemical properties including density, viscosity, thermal stability, electrochemical stability, and ionic conductivity were reported. These ILs exhibited wide electrochemical windows of at least 5.0 V and relatively high conductivities. In contrast to dialkyl-substituted ionic liquids, the ILs with an alkyl carbonate group on the cation showed much smaller drop in conductivities when mixed with a lithium salt, due to the interaction of lithium ions with carbonate groups. Upon interaction with a Li salt, the carbonyl stretching frequency of the carbonate group shifted to a lower frequency whereas the peak associated with C-O single bond moved to a higher frequency.