1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate

Chemical type

• Imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL)

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• Ionic liquid (imidazolium-based)

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Key properties

• [EMIM]⁺ cation promotes CO₂RR similar to [BF₄] counterpart
• [OTf]⁻ anion chemically binds to undercoordinated Mo sites (via CF₃ group), poisoning active sites
• Leads to surface passivation and deactivation for CO₂RR
• High affinity for HER promotion when sites are blocked
• Stable structure but aggressive anion interaction

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• Hydrolytically stable
• Thermally and electrochemically stable
• Does not crystallize under high pressure (up to 10 GPa)
• Crystallizes upon cooling (around 220–200 K)
• Anion resides above imidazolium plane with C2–O distance ≈ 2.23 Å

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• Potential co-catalyst for CO₂RR, but results in exclusive H₂ production due to poisoning
• Electrolyte for studying anion effects in catalysis

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• Reaction medium (alternative to hydrolytically unstable PF₆⁻ and BF₄⁻ salts)
• Electrolyte component for electrochemical cells
• Potential use in heat transfer materials and lubricants
• Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (high molecular weight)

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Classification by use

• Electrolyte components for electrochemical systems
• Co-catalysts for comparative studies in reaction selectivity

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• Chemicals used as electrolytes
• Chemicals used as reaction media/solvents
• Chemicals used in polymer production

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1. [1] Influence of ionic liquid anions on electrochemical CO2 reduction to higher hydrocarbons on sulfur-vacant MoS2, Applied Catalysis O: Open, Volume 210, January 2026, 207083
2. [2] Temperature and Pressure Dependence of the Infrared Spectrum of 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Trifluoromethanesulfonate Ionic Liquid, Appl. Sci., 2020, 10(12), 4404