Anionic surfactant ionic liquids with 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cations: characterization and application.

For the first time a series of anionic surfactant ionic liquids (SAILs) has been synthesized based on organic surfactant anions and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cations. These compounds are more environmentally friendly and chemically tunable as compared to other common ionic liquids. A detailed investigation of physicochemical properties highlights potential applications from battery design to reaction control, and studies into aqueous aggregation behavior, as well as structuring in pure ILs, point to possible uses in electrochemistry.