Synthesis and characterization of the ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-(2,6-(S)-dimethyloct-2-ene)-imidazol tetrafluoroborate

Ionic liquids (ILs) are good electrical conductors and organic liquid compounds at room temperature, with potential applicability in water electrolysis for H2 generation. The objective of this work is to describe the synthesis, characterization and study of the feasibility of ionic liquid 1-methyl-3-(2,6-(S)-dimethyloct-2-ene)-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (MDI-BF4) as electrolyte to produce hydrogen through electrolysis of water. The synthesized MDI-BF4 was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), mid-infrared spectroscopy with Fourier Transform by method of attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hydrogen (NMR 1H) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The yield of the synthesis were calculate by the TGA and DSC. From the results: The infrared spectroscopy identified the functional groups of the compound and the B-F bond at 1053 cm-1. The NMR 1H analyzed and compared with literature data confirms the structure of MDI-BF4. The yield of the synthesis of MDI-BF4 which was 88.84%. The current density achieved by MDI-BF4 in the voltammogram shows that the IL can conduct electrical current regardless the concentration of water, indicating that the MDI-BF4 is a potential electrolyte for hydrogen production from water electrolysis.