Surface chemistry of room-temperature ionic liquids

Abstract

In many applications of room-temperature ionic liquids, it has been recognized that the interface is a vital component. In electrochemistry, for instance, the electron transfer is significant to the efficiency of the solar cell and is very much dependent on the behavior of a given interface. This review presents the current state of knowledge of room-temperature ionic liquids in contact with solids, liquids, and gas phases. Experimental and molecular modeling studies have been conducted to investigate the surface structure and composition of ions in pure ionic liquids. However, surface studies on these liquids are still in its infancy and as the range of the available surface techniques and systematic investigations are increased, our understanding will improve which will lead to advances on this field.