Linking the Thermal and Electronic Properties of Functional Dicationic Salts with Their Molecular Structures

The two major properties that underpin ionic liquids are tunability and the potential to create task-specific media. Together, these allow surpass roles long held by traditional molecular solvents. However, at elevated temperatures or under prolonged heating, structural components impart such decompose degrade. Dicationic pyridine salts present new opportunities extend functionality high because they coordinating thermally robust. In this work, we three structurally related series of dicationic salts, which have been characterized a wide array techniques link thermal electronic variation. phase transitions stabilities were significantly influenced small changes, several candidates for high-temperature-based applications identified. electron density, therefore donating ability, functional group could also be controlled variation cations anions. Therefore, highly tunable choices solvents temperatures. Importantly, robust not only operational ranges but reduce need replace replenish degrade over time commonly employed in industrial settings (i.e., 150–200 °C); solvent lifetimes extended, production is reduced. This critical requirement complex media as liquids, economic environmental costs.