Thermal stability and crystallization behavior of imidazolium halide ionic liquids

• 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium salts ([BMIm] salts).
• Thermal decomposition by TG/MS.
• Solidification and crystallization behavior.
• Glassy state.
• Homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation.

The 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium halide ionic liquids are stable up to temperatures of 246(1) °C ([BMIm]Cl), 260(1) °C ([BMIm]Br), and 238(1) °C ([BMIm]I). The thermal decomposition proceeds in thermogravimetric measurements with a total mass loss of 100%. Using evolved gas analysis (EGA) a complete degradation of [BMIm]X ionic liquids under formation of characteristic fragments CH3+, NHn+, C4Hn+, and CH3X+ (X = Cl, Br, I) has been observed.[BMIm]Cl shows enantiotropic polymorphism with a phase transition temperature at 30(1) °C, and melts at 74(1) °C (ΔHfus = 18 ± 0.5 kJ mol−1). Spontaneous re-crystallization and reversible phase transition have been found for cooling of the substance.[BMIm]Br melts at 78(1) °C (ΔHfus = 29 ± 0.5 kJ mol−1). The re-crystallization fails and thus a glassy solid is formed. The glass transition temperature is about −65 °C, the cold crystallization occurs between −30 and −20 °C. The application of both homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation agents does not interfere the glassy state.[BMIm]I undergo solidification without crystallization. The melting effect for the amorphous substance arise at −70(5) °C with ΔHfus = 0.4 ± 0.2 kJ mol−1.

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