Comparing two tetraalkylammonium ionic liquids. II. Phase transitions.

Phase transitions of the ionic liquids n-butyl-trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [N₁₁₁₄][NTf₂], and methyl-tributylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, [N₁₄₄₄][NTf₂], were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD and Raman spectra were obtained as a function of temperature at atmospheric pressure, and also under high pressure at room temperature using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). [N₁₄₄₄][NTf₂] experiences glass transition at low temperature, whereas [N₁₁₁₄][NTf₂] crystallizes or not depending on the cooling rate. Both the ionic liquids exhibit glass transition under high pressure. XRD and low-frequency Raman spectra provide a consistent physical picture of structural ordering-disordering accompanying the thermal events of crystallization, glass transition, cold crystallization, pre-melting, and melting. Raman spectra in the high-frequency range of some specific cation and anion normal modes reveal conformational changes of the molecular structures along phase transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]