The Applied Materials Group (AMG) at the Air Force Research Laboratory is exploring ionic liquids for various aerospace applications. In particular, we are interested in the preparation of new ionic liquid that have unique physiochemical properties such as paramagnetism, phase transition behavior, and high stability. The proposed research will involve the synthesis of new ionic liquid compounds in order to explore their nature at a fundamental level. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, with doctoral work preferably focusing on the synthesis of ionic liquids. In addition, familiarity with typical characterization methods including NMR, FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopies as well as DSC and TGA are desired.

References

1. Perone, M. A.; Blanski, R. L.; Knoerzer, K. G.; Alabada, C. D.; Planellas, D. E.; Marcischak, J. C.; Quintana, A. S.; Boatz, J. A.; Ghiassi, K. B. "Core Differences: Examining Branched Versus Linear Substituents’ Influence on Tri(octyl)phosphonium-Based Ionic Liquid Physical Properties". 2024, ASAP. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2024.139378)
2. Cena, N.; Blanski, R. L.; Quintana, A. S.; Knoerzer, K. G.; Boatz, J. A.; Redeker, N. D.; Alabada, C. D.; Marcischak, J. C.; Ghiassi, K. B. "New room temperature ionic liquids prepared from an old phosphine: Using branching and diastereomeric mixtures to inherently benefit physical properties". J. Mol. Liq. 2023, 380, 121762.  (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121762)
3. Langtry, A. E.; Thompson, K. B.; Redeker, N. D.; Quintana, A. S.; Bui, D. L.; Greeson, K. T.; Cena, N.; Marcischak, J. C.; Moore, L. M. J.; Ghiassi, K. B. “Fluorinated phosphonium salts and ionic liquids prepared via thiol-ene click chemistry: a physical and thermal property study”. J. Mol. Liq. 2022, 359, 119282. ( https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119282)