1-Hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, CAS: 61546-01-8

Key Applications

1. Surfactant and Interfacial Engineering

• Functions as a high‑performance cationic surfactant due to its long C16 alkyl chain, enabling strong adsorption at liquid–liquid and solid–liquid interfaces.
• Used to tune interfacial tension in emulsions, dispersions, and microemulsion systems.
• Supports formation of stable micelles, vesicles, and lyotropic liquid crystalline phases for formulation science and colloid research.

2. Antimicrobial and Antifouling Studies

• Exhibits broad antimicrobial activity typical of long‑chain imidazolium salts, making it suitable for evaluating membrane disruption mechanisms.
• Investigated as an antifouling additive in coatings, polymer matrices, and surface treatments.
• Applied in studies of biofilm inhibition and microbial growth suppression.

3. Template and Structure‑Directing Agent

• Serves as a structure‑directing agent in the synthesis of mesoporous silica, metal oxides, and hybrid inorganic–organic materials.
• Supports controlled pore formation and ordered nanostructure assembly due to its amphiphilic character.
• Used in templating soft‑matter architectures such as nanorods, nanofibers, and hierarchical porous frameworks.

4. Phase‑Behavior and Self‑Assembly Research

• Enables systematic investigation of alkyl‑chain‑length effects on ionic liquid self‑assembly, aggregation number, and critical micelle concentration.
• Applied in studies of thermotropic and lyotropic phase transitions.
• Useful in modeling hydrophobic domain formation in ionic liquid–water and ionic liquid–solvent mixtures.

5. Polymer and Composite Material Modification

• Incorporated into polymer matrices to impart antimicrobial, antistatic, or surface‑active properties.
• Used as a compatibilizer or dispersant for nanomaterials, pigments, and fillers.
• Supports ionic‑conductive polymer development through controlled ion transport and microphase separation.

6. Electrochemical and Interfacial Charge‑Transfer Studies

• Investigated as a hydrophobic ionic additive in electrochemical systems to modify double‑layer structure and electrode–electrolyte interactions.
• Used to study ion pairing, charge mobility, and interfacial organization in non‑aqueous and mixed‑solvent environments.

7. Solvent, Co‑solvent, and Extraction Medium

• Acts as a hydrophobic ionic liquid component in biphasic extraction systems.
• Supports selective extraction of hydrophobic organics, dyes, and metal complexes.
• Useful in partitioning studies that examine the role of long‑chain cations in solvation and transport.

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