Interactions of [BMIM][BF4] with Metal Oxides and Their Consequences on Stability Limits

Interactions between 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIM][BF4], and high-surface-area metal oxides, SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3, ZnO, γ-Al2O3, CeO2, MgO, and La2O3, covering a wide range of point of zero charges (PZC), from pH = 2 to 11, were investigated by combining infrared (IR) spectroscopy with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The shifts in spectroscopic features of the ionic liquid (IL) upon coating different metal oxides were evaluated to elucidate the interactions between IL and metal oxides as a function of surface acidity. Consequences of these interactions on the short- and long-term thermal stability limits as well as the apparent activation energy (Ea) and rate constant for thermal decomposition of the supported IL were evaluated. Results showed that stability limits and Ea of the IL on each metal oxide significantly decrease with increasing PZC of the metal oxide. Results presented here indicate that the surface acidity strongly controls the IL–surface interactions, which determine the material properties, such as thermal stability. Elucidation of these effects offers opportunities for rational design of materials which include direct interactions of ILs with metal oxides, such as solid catalysts with ionic liquid layer (SCILL), and supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalysts for catalysis applications or supported ionic liquid membranes (SILM) for separation applications.