Effect of pore size on the magnetic properties of emim FeCl4 confined in the pores of SBA-15

[Display omitted] •Emim FeCl4 is adsorbed in pores of SBA-15 by liquid phase adsorption.•The small saturation values of the magnetization of the MIL adsorbed SBA-15s.•Pore size effect on the magnetic properties of the adsorbed MIL.•Antiferromagnetic interaction observed near room temperature in mesopores.•The distance between magnetic anions increases with a decrease in temperature. The magnetic moments of a magnetic ionic liquid, emim FeCl4, confined in the micropores and mesopores of SBA-15 with two different fractional pore fillings were measured over the temperature range of 1.8–300 K. The slightly negative Weiss temperature of the bulk decreased to −67 K above the high-temperature region more than 120 K in the system both micropores and mesopores filled. X-ray scattering profiles of the confined emim FeCl4 revealed that the magnetic anions confined in mesopores are loosely bounded to the pore walls, thus have unique magnetic properties.