Energy Applications of Ionic Liquids: Recent Developments and Future Prospects

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) consisting entirely of ions exhibit many fascinating and tunable properties, making them promising functional materials for a large number of energy-related applications. For example, ILs have been employed as electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage and conversion, as heat transfer fluids and phase-change materials for thermal energy transfer and storage, as solvents and/or catalysts for CO2 capture, CO2 conversion, biomass treatment and biofuel extraction, and as high-energy propellants for aerospace applications. This paper provides an extensive overview on the various energy applications of ILs and offers some thinking and viewpoints on the current challenges and emerging opportunities in each area. The basic fundamentals (structures and properties) of ILs are first introduced. Then, motivations and successful applications of ILs in the energy field are concisely outlined. Later, a detailed review of recent representative works in each area is provided. For each application, the role of ILs and their associated benefits are elaborated. Research trends and insights into the selection of ILs to achieve improved performance are analyzed as well. Challenges and future opportunities are pointed out before the paper is concluded.

The Mass-Balancing between Positive and Negative Electrodes for Optimizing Energy Density of Supercapacitors

“…Ionic liquid electrolytes with wider ESPWs, higher ion conductivity, and improved safety can be used to construct high-performance SCs (particularly with high energy density). However, due to large ion sizes, high viscosity, and low ionic conductivity, the actual application of ionic liquid electrolytes is restricted . Similar to aqueous and organic electrolytes, the mass matching of ionic liquid-based SCs still follows the charge balance principle. ,,, But in view of these features of ionic liquid electrolytes, we should fully consider the wettability of ionic liquids to electrode materials as well as their ion transport kinetics in realizing the mass-balancing of ionic liquid-based SCs.…”

A Review on the Recent Advances in Battery Development and Energy Storage Technologies

“…Ions are electron-gained or electron-lost in electrically charged atoms. Soluble salts, acids, and other bases in liquid, gelled, or dry forms make up the electrolyte of a battery [159]. Additionally, the electrolyte is available in solid ceramic, polymer (used in solid-state batteries), and molten salt (used in sodiumsulphur-based batteries) [160].…”

Efficient Selective Carbon Dioxide Separation via Task-Specific Ionic Liquids Incorporated in ZIF-8

“…These green solvents possess several distinguished properties, including low vapor pressure, structure tunability, and high thermal stability. ILs have been utilized in a number of applications, such as catalysis, electrolytes, sensors, energy devices, and gas separation and purification. − …”