Many applications of RTILs, e.g. solar and fuel cells, involve the interface with other materials, in most cases a solid. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of the spatial arrangement of the ions near a liquid/solid interface is most desirable. Using high energy x-ray reflectivity we get access to deeply buried solid-liquid interfaces and gain structural information with molecular resolution. Interfacial electron density profiles were extracted from the reflection patterns of a variety of RTILs at the sapphire interface. Composed of different anions and cations, each compound has its characteristic ion-size ratio, ion-ion and ion-substrate interaction. By comparing the distinct profiles with the corresponding bulk liquid scattering and interfacial energies we can show that the interfacial ordering of the ions mimics the local structure of the bulk liquid. References:M. Mezger et al., Science 322, 424 (2008).M. Mezger et al., J. Chem. Phys. 131, 094701 (2009).

What determines the interfacial structure of room temperature ionic liquids at a solid wall?

239th National Meeting (2010)

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