Charge transport and diffusion of ionic liquids in nanoporous silica membranes

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2010 Nov 7;12(41):13798-803. doi: 10.1039/c004546b. Epub 2010 Sep 8.

Abstract

Charge transport in 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid in oxidized nanoporous silicon membranes is investigated in a wide frequency and temperature range by a combination of Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) and Pulsed Field Gradient Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (PFG NMR). By applying the Einstein-Smoluchowski relations to the dielectric spectra, diffusion coefficient is obtained in quantitative agreement with independent PFG NMR measurements. More than 10-fold systematic decrease in the effective diffusion coefficient from the bulk value is observed in hydrophilic silica nanopores. A model assuming a reduced mobility at the pore-matrix interface is shown to provide a quantitative explanation for the remarkable decrease of effective transport quantities (such as diffusion coefficient, dc conductivity and consequently, the dielectric loss) of the ionic liquid in non-silanized membranes. This approach is supported by the observation that silanization of porous silica membranes results in a significant increase of the effective diffusion coefficient, which approaches the value for the bulk liquid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Borates / chemistry
  • Dielectric Spectroscopy
  • Diffusion
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Ionic Liquids / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Nanopores / ultrastructure*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium
  • Borates
  • Imidazoles
  • Ionic Liquids
  • Silicon Dioxide