title: Effect of water and organic solvents on the ionic dissociation of ionic liquids.
abstract: The effect of water and several organic solvents on the density, viscosity, and conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]), 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([bmim][CF3CO2]) was studied at 298.15 K in wide composition ranges. The density, viscosity, and conductivity of the three neat ILs were also determined at various temperatures. Upon the basis of the molar conductivity of the mixtures and that of the neat ILs of the same viscosity, the degree of dissociation of ILs in the solutions was investigated. It can be deduced that the organic solvents enhance the ionic association of the ILs, the effect depending on the solvent dielectric constant, while water promotes dissociation significantly due to its high dielectric constant and its ability to form strong hydrogen bonds with the anions of the ILs.
authors.affiliation: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhaofu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Buxing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Suqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guanying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang