(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane as a Model Silylamine Reversible Ionic Liquid Used as a Reversible Electrolyte

Abstract

Separation of the electrochemical product from an electrolyte can add challenges to the overall process. Use of a switchable electrolyte offers the possibility to reduce or eliminate these separation challenges while maintaining high conductivity. Reversible ionic liquids (RevILs) are a type of switchable solvent that could be used as a switchable electrolyte. Switchable solvents are solvents that can have dramatic step-changes in their properties with the introduction of an external stimulus. RevIL systems can be switched from a molecular liquid state to an ionic liquid (IL)-like state. (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (TEtoxySA) has been investigated as a reversible electrolyte. When in the pure RevIL state, the conductivity is prohibitively low to be used as a combined solvent and electrolyte, but in the presence of methanol the conductivity increases by three orders of magnitude. The impact of methanol content, degree of conversion to RevIL and viscosity are shown here.