Radiation Chemistry of Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) have potentially important applications in nuclear fuel and waste processing, energy production, improving the efficiency and safety of industrial chemical processes, and pollution prevention. Successful use of ionic liquids in radiation-filled environments will require an understanding of ionic liquid radiation chemistry. For example, characterizing the primary steps of IL radiolysis will reveal radiolytic degradation pathways and suggest ways to prevent them or mitigate their effects on the properties of the material. A second reason to study ionic liquid radiation chemistry is to use our knowledge of primary species reactivity to conduct pulse radiolysis studies of general chemical reactivity in ILs, which will aid in the development of energy production, chemical industry and environmental applications. Our main approach has been to conduct picosecond pulse radiolysis studies at BNL’s Laser-Electron Accelerator Facility (LEAF) to identify reactive species in ionic liquids and measure their reaction rates. In addition, we develop new ionic liquids to facilitate radiolysis studies and characterize their physical properties.