Ionic liquid surface science

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Hans-Peter Steinrück; Professor Dr. Peter Wasserscheid
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Technical Chemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 29241527

While bulk ionic liquid properties have been investigated to some extent in the last five years, the field of ionic liquid surface science is still in its infancy. Information about surface structure of purefunctionalized and non-functionalized ionic liquids, ionic liquid mixtures, and solutions of transition metal complexes in ionic liquids transition metal salt solutions is very limited to date and no attempt has been made so far to investigate surface relevant chemical reactions by means of surface sensitive photoelectron spectroscopy. Encouraged by our joint, very successful preparative studies in our closely linked, next-door laboratories, we intend to work on this cooperative project bringing together the expertise in ionic liquid chemistry in the Wasserscheid group with the extensive knowledge in surface science techniques (such as photoelectron spectroscopy) in the Steinrück group. We are confident that the combination of these highly complementary expertises will give us all necessary preconditions to successfully assess the relationship between the chemical structure of known and new ionic liquids, their mixtures and solutions on the one hand and their surface structure and surface reactivity on the other hand on an unprecedented molecular level.

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