Quaternary ammonium and phosphonium based ionic liquids: a comparison of common anions.

A series of ammonium-based ionic liquids and their phosphonium analogues have been investigated using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). A robust C 1s peak fitting model has been developed and described for the tetraalkylphosphonium and tetraalkylammonium families of ionic liquid, with comparisons made between the two series. Cation-anion interactions have been investigated to determine the impact of changing the cationic core from nitrogen to phosphorus upon the electronic environment of the anion. Comparisons between long and short chain cationic systems are also described.