Physical Chemistry of Ionic Liquids and their Industrial Applications

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a unique class of salts that remain liquid below 100°C and exhibit remarkable physicochemical properties such as negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and tunable solvation behavior. These features make them attractive alternatives to conventional volatile organic solvents. This paper discusses the physical chemistry of ionic liquids, including their structure, thermodynamic properties, and transport behavior, followed by an analysis of their major industrial applications. The growing importance of ILs in green chemistry, catalysis, energy storage, and separation technologies is highlighted.