Structural analysis of [Bmim]2CuCl4 ionic liquids in the presence of water and ethanol by XAFS technique

Abstract

The structure of [Bmim]2CuCl4 ionic liquids (Bmim: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) with different ratios of H2O and C2H5OH was investigated using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) technique. In this study, XAFS was employed to directly probe the conformational variations of copper ions in [Bmim]2CuCl4 with the addition of either water or ethanol. XAFS analysis confirmed that the structure of ionic liquids gradually transformed from tetrahedral to octahedral configuration with the increase in ratio of H2O. Our results also showed that water molecules coordinated with the copper ions of [Bmim]2CuCl4, leading to the conformational change in ionic liquids. However, the XAFS spectra of [Bmim]2CuCl4/C2H5OH indicated no coordination of anhydrous ethanol with the copper ions of [Bmim]2CuCl4. The structure of [Bmim]2CuCl4 ionic liquids is maintained as the tetrahedral configuration in presence of ethanol. Therefore, anhydrous ethanol causes little variation in the structure of ionic liquids and it is a good solvent for the dilution of ionic liquids.