Densities and refractive indices of imidazolium- and phosphonium-based ionic liquids: Effect of temperature, alkyl chain length, and anion

A systematic study of densities and refractive indices of 17 room temperature ionic liquids is presented at four different temperatures ranging from 293 K to 333 K. The ionic liquids are grouped into four families: 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide, [C(n)mim][Ntf(2)], ionic liquids (with n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14); 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C(n)mim][PF6], ionic liquids (with n = 4, 6, 8); ionic liquids based on the trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium cation, [P-6 6 6 14], combined with the anions bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide, [Ntf(2)], acetate, [OAc], and triflate, [OTf]: and [C(4)mim]-based ionic liquids combined with the anions [OAc], [OTf], methylsulfate [MeSO4], and tetrafluoroborate [BF4]. The data obtained were analysed to determine the effect of (i) temperature, (ii) the alkyl chain length of the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, and (iii) the nature of the anion. Different empirical models for the calculation of the densities of the ionic liquids were tested. Molar refractions were also calculated from the volumetric and refractive index data and the values were discussed with the aim of checking their utility in obtaining insights on the intermolecular forces and behaviour in solution of the different ionic liquids. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.