Influence of water on the surface structure of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride

The molecular surface structure of an ionic liquid (IL) with and without the presence of water was studied with the surface sensitive technique neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (NICISS). The IL chosen is 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, which is known to be hydrophilic. Binary mixtures were investigated within the water mole fraction range 0.43 ≤ χ water ≤ 0.71 at 283 K. During approximately 3 h exposition time in vacuum, we have observed a very low water loss rate from sample. The NICISS measurements suggest that admixture of water to [HMIm]Cl leads to a layered surface structure. Three layers were identified (layer 1 — cations, layer 2 — cations and water, layer 3 — cations, water, and anions). While the first layer is unaffected by water, the thickness of the second layer depends on the water concentration. The thickness of layer 2 is relatively constant for water concentrations χ water ≤ 0.61, but increases for water contents χ water ≥ 0.68. The concentration range 0.61 ≤ χ water ≤ 0.68 seems to play a key role in water network formation. ► Binary mixtures of water and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. ► Application of vacuum based particle spectroscopic method. ► Very low water loss rate from sample during 3 h exposition time in vacuum. ► Surface layering as function of water content.