Editorial: Ionic Liquids: The Fundamentals and Forces Driving Their Rise

Abstract

During the last decade there has been an explosion of interest in ionic liquids. If the keywords “ionic liquid” or “ionic liquids” are used for a literature research in the Web of Science, more than seven thousand entries can be found for 2011. That is a tenfold increase in the number of publications dealing with ionic liquids over the past decade, and the field shows no signs of slowing down. Ionic liquids have changed from a lab curiosity to materials of tremendous academic and industrial interest. This new and remarkable liquid substance with unique and fascinating properties offers a phenomenal opportunity for new science and technology. The interest in these new materials is due to their wide range of possible applications as solvents for reaction and material processing, as extraction media or as working fluids in mechanical applications. Originating in the field of electrochemistry and based upon their wide electrochemical windows and good conductivities, ionic liquids have found useful applications in sensors, solar cells, solid-state photocells, batteries, separation devices and as thermal fluids, lubricants, hydraulic fluids, ionogels and fuels.