Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts with low melting points (typically &lt;100 °C) composed of positively and negatively charged molecules that do not pack effectively. Ionic liquids are widely used as high-temperature reaction media, battery electrolytes, and catalysts. The Coulombic character of ILs results in an extremely low vapor pressure and thermal stability, thereby making ILs ideal for solution phase chemistry in extreme conditions (e.g. temperatures &gt;200 °C, high vacuum space environments, highly oxidizing/reducing potentials). Although numerous cation-anion combinations were studied as ionic liquids, anisotropic cations are often the major contributor to the liquid properties of ionic liquids. Boron-rich clusters are excellent non-coordinating anions with high electrochemical stability that serve as a platform for incorporating anisotropy in the anionic component of ionic liquids. In this work, we present a new approach to preparing IL electrolytes. These ILs feature silver-halide coordination complexes, supported by non-coordinating, anisotropic boron clusters, to achieve highly reversible silver electrodeposition. The effects of anisotropy and functionalization of 1-closo-carbadodecaborate on IL melting point and electrodeposition will be discussed. These materials could find potential uses in high vacuum environments, such as those found in outer space.

Boron cluster-based ionic liquids for reversible electrodeposition

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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