Structure of ionic liquid-benzene mixtures

Abstract

The solid state and liquid structure for mixtures of 1,3- dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate with benzene have been elucidated using single crystal X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. In comparison with the structure of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate in the absence of benzene, the addition of benzene is shown to significantly alter the ionic liquid structure, in particular in the cation-cation interactions. In the crystal structure, channels are formed which contain columns of benzene whereas in the liquid structure, the benzene is homogeneously distributed throughout the ionic liquid.