Physical and electrochemical properties of room-temperature dicyanamide ionic liquids based on quaternary phosphonium cations

The physicochemical and electrochemical properties of room temperature ionic liquids based on quaternary phosphonium cations together with a dicyanamide anion are presented in this report. The most dicyanamide-based phosphonium ionic liquids prepared were hydrophilic, except ionic liquids containing a long alkyl chain in the phosohonium cation. It was found that asymmetric phosphonium cations gave low-melting salts in combination with a dicyanamide anion. The dicyanamide-based phosphonium ionic liquids exhibited relatively low viscosities and high conductivities when compared to those of the corresponding ammonium ionic liquids. Particularly, the ionic liquids containing a methoxy group in the phosphonium cations indicated very low viscosities. Comparatively good electrochemical stability of the dicyanamide-based phosphonium ionic liquids was confirmed by voltammetric measurements. The thermogravimetric analysis suggested that the dicyanamide-based phosphonium ionic liquids showed higher thermal stability than those of the corresponding ammonium ionic liquids, indicating an improving effect of the phosphonium cations on the thermal stability.