Stability of divalent europium in an ionic liquid: spectroscopic investigations in 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate.

In this work, devoted to 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid (BumimPF6), the importance of the purity of the solvent for spectroscopic investigations is highlighted. Results from small angle X-ray scattering indicate that the pure solvent exhibits a local organization. Europium(II), which appears to be unusually stable in BumimPF6, is characterized by spectroscopic techniques (absorption, luminescence). Solvation of Eu(II) in BumimPF6 and complexation effects in the presence of the crown ether 15C5 solubilized in the ionic liquid are discussed.