The relationship between ionic structure and viscosity in room-temperature ionic liquids

We investigate the relationship between ionic structure and viscosity in room-temperature ionic liquids. We build on an earlier theoretical work and derive an ionic property we call the charge lever moment (CLM) that provides insight on ionic liquid dynamics. We use electronic structure calculations to determine the CLM for ions in typical ionic liquids and demonstrate a correlation between this property and the experimental viscosities of ionic liquids. The relationship provides insight into the role of librational motion in ionic liquids in general, and the interpretation of Kerr effect experiments is discussed.