Efficient and Energy-Saving CO2 Capture through the Entropic Effect Induced by the Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Anion-Functionalized Ionic Liquids

A strategy for improving the capture of CO2 was developed through the entropic effect by tuning the geometric construction of anion-functionalized ionic liquids. Several kinds of anion-functionalized ionic liquids with the amino group at the para or ortho position were designed and applied for the capture of CO2, which indicates that the former exhibited both higher capacity and lower enthalpy, resulting in the efficient and energy-saving CO2 capture. Viscosity measurements, spectroscopic investigations, and quantum chemical calculations showed that such a unique behavior originated from the entropic effect, which was induced by the intermolecular hydrogen bonding in these ionic liquids. The entropic control for gas separation developed by this work provides an efficient strategy to both increased capacity and reduced enthalpy.