Dynamics of Ionic Liquids in Confinement by Means of NMR Relaxometry—EMIM-FSI in a Silica Matrix as an Example

Abstract

¹H and ¹⁹F spin–lattice relaxation studies for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in bulk and mesoporous MCM-41 silica matrix confinement were performed under varying temperatures in a broad range of magnetic fields, corresponding to ¹H resonance frequency from 5Hz to 30MHz.A thorough analysis of the relaxation data revealed a three-dimensional translation diffusion of the ions in the bulk liquid and two-dimensional diffusion in the vicinity of the confining walls in the confinement. Parameters describing the translation dynamics were determined and compared. The rotational motion of both kinds of ions in the confinement was described by two correlation times that might be attributed to anisotropic reorientation of these species.