Abstract: An ionic liquid composition having the following generic structural formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are equivalent and selected from hydrocarbon groups containing at least three carbon atoms, and X? is a phosphorus-containing anion, particularly an organophosphate, organophosphonate, or organophosphinate anion, or a thio-substituted analog thereof containing hydrocarbon groups with at least three carbon atoms. Also described are lubricant compositions comprising the above ionic liquid and a base oil, wherein the ionic liquid is dissolved in the base oil. Further described are methods for applying the ionic liquid or lubricant composition onto a mechanical device for which lubrication is beneficial, with resulting improvement in friction reduction, wear rate, and/or corrosion inhibition.

Abstract: A method for extracting a rare earth element from a rare earth-containing substance, the method comprising mixing the rare earth-containing substance with a protic ionic liquid, such as: wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen atom and hydrocarbon groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrocarbon groups containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and X? is an anionic species; to produce a composition of the formula (RE)(amide)yXz at least partially dissolved in the protic ionic liquid, wherein RE is at least one rare earth element having an atomic number selected from 39, 57-71, and 90-103; y is 2-6; z is a number that charge balances the total positive charge of RE; and the amide is the conjugate base of the cationic portion of the protic ionic liquid of Formula (1) and has the following formula:

Abstract: An ionic liquid composition having the following chemical structural formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrocarbon groups containing at least 1 and up to 20 carbon atoms, and X? is a cyclic anion that possesses a negatively-charged group reactive with a gaseous electrophilic species, particularly carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide. Methods for capturing a gaseous electrophilic species, such as CO2 or SO2, by contacting the gaseous electrophilic species with an ionic liquid according to Formula (1) are also described.

Abstract: A method for conversion coating a magnesium-containing surface, the method comprising contacting the magnesium-containing surface with an ionic liquid compound under conditions that result in decomposition of the ionic liquid compound to produce a conversion coated magnesium-containing surface having a substantially improved corrosion resistance relative to the magnesium-containing surface before said conversion coating. Also described are the resulting conversion-coated magnesium-containing surface, as well as mechanical components and devices containing the conversion-coated magnesium-containing surface.

Abstract: The invention provides an ionic liquid composition having the following generic structural formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently a hydrocarbon group containing at least 4 carbon atoms, and R5 is a branched hydrocarbon group containing 4 to 8 carbon atoms atoms. The invention also provides a lubricant composition containing an ionic liquid dissolved in a base oil.

Abstract: An ionic liquid composition having the following generic structural formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are equivalent and selected from hydrocarbon groups containing at least three carbon atoms, and X? is a phosphorus-containing anion, particularly an organophosphate, organophosphonate, or organophosphinate anion, or a thio-substituted analog thereof containing hydrocarbon groups with at least three carbon atoms. Also described are lubricant compositions comprising the above ionic liquid and a base oil, wherein the ionic liquid is dissolved in the base oil. Further described are methods for applying the ionic liquid or lubricant composition onto a mechanical device for which lubrication is beneficial, with resulting improvement in friction reduction, wear rate, and/or corrosion inhibition.

Abstract: A method for conversion coating a magnesium-containing surface, the method comprising contacting the magnesium-containing surface with an ionic liquid compound under conditions that result in decomposition of the ionic liquid compound to produce a conversion coated magnesium-containing surface having a substantially improved corrosion resistance relative to the magnesium-containing surface before said conversion coating. Also described are the resulting conversion-coated magnesium-containing surface, as well as mechanical components and devices containing the conversion-coated magnesium-containing surface.

Abstract: A method for extracting a radioisotope from an aqueous solution, the method comprising: a) intimately mixing a non-chelating ionic liquid with the aqueous solution to transfer at least a portion of said radioisotope to said non-chelating ionic liquid; and b) separating the non-chelating ionic liquid from the aqueous solution. In preferred embodiments, the method achieves an extraction efficiency of at least 80%, or a separation factor of at least 1×104 when more than one radioisotope is included in the aqueous solution. In particular embodiments, the method is applied to the separation of medical isotopes pairs, such as Th from Ac (Th-229/Ac-225, Ac-227/Th-227), or Ra from Ac (Ac-225 and Ra-225, Ac-227 and Ra-223), or Ra from Th (Th-227 and Ra-223, Th-229 and Ra-225).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or an integer of 1 or above, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when p is 0, the group —N—SO2—(CF2)nCF3 subtended by p is replaced with an oxide atom connected to the shown sulfur atom. The invention is also directed to a method for separating an olefin from an olefin-paraffin mixture by passing the mixture through a layer of the ionic liquid described above.

Abstract: A method for extracting a radioisotope from an aqueous solution, the method comprising: a) intimately mixing a non-chelating ionic liquid with the aqueous solution to transfer at least a portion of said radioisotope to said non-chelating ionic liquid; and b) separating the non-chelating ionic liquid from the aqueous solution. In preferred embodiments, the method achieves an extraction efficiency of at least 80%, or a separation factor of at least 1×104 when more than one radioisotope is included in the aqueous solution. In particular embodiments, the method is applied to the separation of medical isotopes pairs, such as Th from Ac (Th-229/Ac-225, Ac-227/Th-227), or Ra from Ac (Ac-225 and Ra-225, Ac-227 and Ra-223), or Ra from Th (Th-227 and Ra-223, Th-229 and Ra-225).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a film of porous carbon, the method comprising carbonizing a film of an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid has the general formula (X+a)x(Y?b)y, wherein the variables a and b are, independently, non-zero integers, and the subscript variables x and y are, independently, non-zero integers, such that a·x=b·y, and at least one of X+ and Y? possesses at least one carbon-nitrogen unsaturated bond. The invention is also directed to a composition comprising a porous carbon film possessing a nitrogen content of at least 10 atom %.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or an integer of 1 or above, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when p is 0, the group —N—SO2—(CF2)nCF3 subtended by p is replaced with an oxide atom connected to the shown sulfur atom. The invention is also directed to a method for separating an olefin from an olefin-paraffin mixture by passing the mixture through a layer of the ionic liquid described above.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing titanium dioxide nanotubes, the method comprising anodizing titanium metal in contact with an electrolytic medium containing an ionic liquid. The invention is also directed to the resulting titanium dioxide nanotubes, as well as devices incorporating the nanotubes, such as photovoltaic devices, hydrogen generation devices, and hydrogen detection devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a film of porous carbon, the method comprising carbonizing a film of an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid has the general formula (X+a)x(Y?b)y, wherein the variables a and b are, independently, non-zero integers, and the subscript variables x and y are, independently, non-zero integers, such that a·x=b·y, and at least one of X+ and Y? possesses at least one carbon-nitrogen unsaturated bond. The invention is also directed to a composition comprising a porous carbon film possessing a nitrogen content of at least 10 atom %.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or an integer of 1 or above, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when p is 0, the group —N—SO2—(CF2)nCF3 subtended by p is replaced with an oxide atom connected to the shown sulfur atom. The invention is also directed to a method for separating an olefin from an olefin-paraffin mixture by passing the mixture through a layer of the ionic liquid described above.

Abstract: Protic ionic liquids having a composition of formula (A?)(BH+) wherein A? is a conjugate base of an acid HA, and BH+ is a conjugate acid of a superbase B. In particular embodiments, BH+ is selected from phosphazenium species and guanidinium species encompassed, respectively, by the general formulas: The invention is also directed to films and membranes containing these protic ionic liquids, with particular application as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells.

Abstract: An ionic liquid composition having the following chemical structural formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrocarbon groups containing at least 1 and up to 20 carbon atoms, and X? is a cyclic anion that possesses a negatively-charged group reactive with a gaseous electrophilic species, particularly carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide. Methods for capturing a gaseous electrophilic species, such as CO2 or SO2, by contacting the gaseous electrophilic species with an ionic liquid according to Formula (1) are also described.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing titanium dioxide nanotubes, the method comprising anodizing titanium metal in contact with an electrolytic medium containing an ionic liquid. The invention is also directed to the resulting titanium dioxide nanotubes, as well as devices incorporating the nanotubes, such as photovoltaic devices, hydrogen generation devices, and hydrogen detection devices.

Abstract: Ionic compounds which are liquids at room temperature are formed by the method of mixing a neutral organic ligand with the salt of a metal cation and its conjugate anion. The liquids are hydrophobic, conductive and stable and have uses as solvents and in electrochemical devices.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a film of porous carbon, the method comprising carbonizing a film of an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid has the general formula (X+a)x(Y?b)y, wherein the variables a and b are, independently, non-zero integers, and the subscript variables x and y are, independently, non-zero integers, such that a·x=b·y, and at least one of X+ and Y? possesses at least one carbon-nitrogen unsaturated bond. The invention is also directed to a composition comprising a porous carbon film possessing a nitrogen content of at least 10 atom %.