An ARXPS and ERXPS study of quaternary ammonium and phosphonium ionic liquids: utilising a high energy Ag Lα’ X-ray source

IntroductionIonic liquid (IL) surface science has experienced rapid expansion in recent years. As such, a multitude of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) techniques have been used to probe the IL/vacuum interface including laboratory and synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), metastable impact electron spectroscopy (MIES), low energy ion scattering (LEIS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS). To date, the vast majority of these studies have focused upon cyclic nitrogen-containing cations, particularly the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium family, whereas acyclic cations including tetraalkylammonium and –phosphonium have been overlooked despite their potential use in a wide range of existing applications including heterogeneous catalysis, gas capture/separation, and nanoparticle formation