Radiation and Radical Chemistry of Ionic Liquids for Energy Applications

Ionic liquids (ILs) are becoming important components of many advanced devices and technologies. Several such applications, such as photoelectrochemical solar cells, high-performance batteries and recycling of spent nuclear fuel, expose ILs to extreme conditions where they are subject to ionization or the injection of excess charges. It is thus important to understand what happens to ILs under those conditions. The unique combinations of IL properties, and their inherent binary (cation-anion) nature, lead to significant behavioral differences compared to conventional liquids. This chapter explores ionization processes in ionic liquids, the formation of reactive intermediates, and the influence of IL properties on the ensuing chemical reactivity, as revealed by radiation chemistry techniques. Mechanisms of radiolytic damage accumulation in ILs and strategies to avoid or control them are discussed.