Ionic liquid mesophases and their structural and physiochemical properties

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Anja-Verena Mudring
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2006 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29303644

This project is focused on the design and characterization of new metal-containing ionic liquid crystals. By incorporation of metal ions and mesogenic groups into ionic liquids, it is possible to transform ionic liquids from solvents to advanced functional materials. The cationic part of the ionic liquid crystals will contain a N,N-dialkylpyrrolidinium unit, which is preferable because of its high thermal and electrochemical stability. This allows the stabilization of metal fragments with reducing or oxidizing properties. The anionic part will be halometalate complexes of d-block and f-block elements. Examples of d-block complexes include classical tetrachlorometalate complexes like [MCl4]2-, where M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Pt, or Cd, but also more exotic complexes like [ReCl6]2-, [Re2Cl8]2-, [Re2Cl9]-, [OsCl6]2- and [IrCl6]2-. Examples of f-block complexes are [LnCl6]3- (where Ln = lanthanide) and [UO2Cl4]2-. Research topics of this project are the structural determination of the complexes in the solid phase and in the mesophase, as well as exploration of the physico-chemical properties (luminescence, magnetism, redox behavior). In order to establish the structure-properties relationship, experimental and theoretical approaches will be combined.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1191: Ionic Liquids