Investigations with Infrared Spectroscopy on Films of the Ionic Liquid [EMIM]Tf2N

The refection-absorption infrared (RAIRS) spectra of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM]Tf2N) are presented as a function of temperature between 114 and 292 K. A comparison is made with the corresponding infrared spectra (obtained with transmission spectroscopy) from bulk [EMIM]Tf2N. The liquid and amorphous films show rather similar spectra, indicating that the film structure is similar in both cases. On the other hand, these spectra differ considerably from those of crystalline films. Characteristic differences seen between the film and bulk spectra are attributed to the different structures of the respective networks. There are, however, indications that under all studied conditions the cation-anion interaction is between the C-H groups of the [EMIM] ring and the SO2 groups of the anion.