What alkyl chain length is best for ionic liquid electrolytes?

Short chains — C2 (ethyl) or C3 (propyl) — are optimal for electrolyte applications. At these lengths, nonpolar nanodomains remain small and disconnected, preserving fast ion transport and high ionic conductivity. Moving from C2 to C8 within the imidazolium TFSI series can reduce conductivity by roughly half.

At what chain length does nanostructuring appear in imidazolium ionic liquids?

Nanostructuring becomes experimentally detectable by small-angle X-ray scattering at C4 (butyl). Below C4, the liquid appears structurally homogeneous. At C4, a broad diffraction peak emerges, and by C6 through C10 the peak sharpens progressively, indicating well-defined polar and nonpolar nanodomains.

Which ionic liquid chain length is best for lubrication?

C6 to C8 is the practical optimum for most lubrication applications. At these lengths, the bicontinuous sponge-like nanostructure is fully developed, enabling thick, ordered adsorbed films at metal surfaces. Longer chains produce more robust films but at the cost of higher viscosity and more difficult handling.

Why do longer alkyl chain ionic liquids have higher viscosity?

Van der Waals interactions between alkyl chains within the nonpolar nanodomains are the primary driver. As chains lengthen, they entangle and interdigitate within these domains, resisting flow. Viscosity in the imidazolium TFSI series can increase by an order of magnitude between C2 and C10.

Does the anion affect ionic liquid nanostructure?

The anion has minimal effect on nanoscale domain spacing. Triolo et al. showed that chloride, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate salts produce nearly identical domain spacings for the same cation chain length. The nanoscale segregation is controlled by alkyl chain aggregation, not the anion.

What happens to ionic liquid structure above C12?

Beyond approximately C12, many ionic liquids begin forming ordered lamellar or smectic phases resembling liquid crystals. Melting points, which initially decrease with chain length, begin rising again past C10 as van der Waals cohesion between chains dominates. These materials may no longer behave as free-flowing isotropic liquids at room temperature.

What purity grades does RoCo® offer for imidazolium-TFSI ionic liquids?

Most CnMIM-TFSI products are available in three grades: HP (>99%), UP (>99.5%), and OP (>99.9%). Grade selection depends on whether residual chloride or water will affect your results. The RoCo® applications team can advise on the right grade for your application.

Can I order imidazolium-TFSI ionic liquids in kilogram quantities?

Yes. Most catalog SKUs are listed in gram quantities online, but kilogram and multi-kilogram orders are available on request for scale-up and pilot work. Contact the RoCo® applications team for pricing and lead time on quantities above the listed catalog sizes.

Terms & Conditions

Liquid Ion Solutions, LLC d/b/a RoCo®

Effective date: July 2026

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the website located at roco.global (the “Site”) and your purchase of products and services from Liquid Ion Solutions, LLC d/b/a RoCo® (“RoCo”, “RoCo®”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). By accessing the Site, creating an account, or placing an order, you (“you”, “your”, the “Customer”) agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site or purchase our products.

1. About Us

RoCo® is the brand and registered trade name of Liquid Ion Solutions, LLC, a U.S.-based supplier of ionic liquids, metal salts, battery materials, precursors, and related advanced materials that also provides custom synthesis and technical services. Our principal place of business is 1816 Parkway View Dr., Bldg. 18, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, United States.

2. Definitions

“Products” means the chemicals, materials, and other goods offered for sale by RoCo®. “Services” means custom synthesis, contract R&D, consulting, and other services we provide. “Order” means a request submitted by you to purchase Products or Services. “COA” means a Certificate of Analysis and “SDS” means a Safety Data Sheet.

3. Eligibility and Professional Use

The Site and our Products are intended for businesses, research institutions, and professionals engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and related lawful activities. By ordering, you represent and warrant that: (a) you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal authority to enter into these Terms, including on behalf of any organization you represent; (b) you are ordering Products for professional, research, industrial, or commercial purposes and not for personal, household, or consumer use; and (c) you have the training, facilities, and qualifications necessary to handle, store, use, and dispose of the Products safely and lawfully. Our Products are not intended for use as, or in, drugs, food, cosmetics, medical devices, household products, or any application involving human or animal consumption or implantation, unless expressly agreed by RoCo® in writing.

4. Accounts

You may need to create an account to place certain Orders. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information and to keep it updated. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or that we reasonably believe are being used unlawfully.

5. Products, Orders, and Order Acceptance

Product descriptions, specifications, images, and availability are provided for general information and may change without notice. We make reasonable efforts to display Products accurately, but we do not warrant that descriptions or other content are complete, current, or error-free.

Your submission of an Order is an offer to purchase. All Orders are subject to acceptance and availability, and no contract is formed until we confirm acceptance of your Order (for example, by sending an order confirmation or shipping the Products). We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to refuse, limit, cancel, or reject any Order, including where a Product is unavailable, where there is an error in pricing or description, where we cannot verify your identity or intended use, or where fulfillment would violate applicable law or export controls.

Custom synthesis and other Services may be subject to a separate quotation, statement of work, or agreement, which will govern in the event of a conflict with these Terms as to those Services.

6. Pricing and Payment

Prices are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated and exclude taxes, duties, shipping, handling, and hazardous-materials fees unless stated. Certain Products are quoted on request rather than listed with a fixed price. We reserve the right to correct pricing errors and to change prices at any time before Order acceptance. You are responsible for all applicable sales, use, excise, and similar taxes, and for any customs duties or import charges on international shipments. Payment must be made by the methods we make available and must be received (or authorized) before Products are shipped, unless credit terms have been agreed in writing.

7. Shipping and Delivery

Shipping, handling, delivery timeframes, and related terms are described in our Shipping Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Because many Products are regulated or hazardous materials, shipping methods and carriers may be restricted, and additional documentation, fees, or lead time may apply. Risk of loss and title pass to you upon delivery to the carrier, unless otherwise required by law or agreed in writing. Delivery dates are estimates only, and we are not liable for delays outside our reasonable control.

Commercial addresses only. We ship exclusively to commercial or business delivery addresses. We do not ship to residential addresses, P.O. boxes, or other non-commercial locations. Orders submitted with a residential or non-commercial delivery address may be delayed, held, or cancelled, and you are responsible for providing a valid commercial shipping address.

8. Returns, Cancellations, and Refunds

Returns, cancellations, and refunds are governed by our Return & Cancellation Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. For safety and quality reasons, chemical Products generally cannot be returned once shipped except as expressly provided in that policy or as required by law. Custom-synthesized and made-to-order Products are non-cancellable and non-returnable once production has begun, except where the Product fails to conform to its agreed specification.

9. Product Use, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

You acknowledge that many Products are hazardous chemicals that can cause injury, property damage, or environmental harm if handled improperly. You are solely responsible for:

reviewing the applicable SDS and COA before use, and following all safety, handling, storage, transport, and disposal instructions;
ensuring that any use of the Products is safe, lawful, and suitable for your intended application, and for independently testing and validating the Products for that application;
complying with all applicable federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations, including those relating to chemical control, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, transportation, and licensing; and
ensuring that Products are handled only by appropriately trained and equipped personnel.

You agree not to resell, relabel, or redistribute Products in a manner that removes or obscures safety information, and not to use Products for any unlawful, weapons-related, or prohibited purpose. RoCo® provides technical information and guidance in good faith, but such information does not relieve you of your responsibility to determine the suitability and safety of the Products for your use.

10. Export Controls and Trade Compliance

Products and related technical data may be subject to U.S. export control and economic sanctions laws. You agree to comply with all such laws and not to export, re-export, divert, or transfer any Product or technical data in violation of them, or to any restricted party or embargoed destination. You represent that you are not located in, or ordering on behalf of, a sanctioned party or jurisdiction, and that Products will not be used in connection with any prohibited end-use.

11. Warranties and Disclaimers

Subject to the foregoing, RoCo® warrants that, at the time of delivery, Products will conform in all material respects to the specifications stated in the applicable COA or written specification. This limited warranty is your exclusive warranty and is made only to the original Customer.

Making It Right. RoCo® stands behind its Products. If a Product does not conform to the warranty in this Section, we will make it right by, at our option, either replacing the non-conforming Product or refunding the price you paid for it. To let us help you quickly, please notify us in writing within 30 days of delivery, include the lot or batch number, and, if we ask, return a sample so we can investigate. This replacement-or-refund remedy is your sole and exclusive remedy, and RoCo®’s entire liability, for any non-conforming Product, and it applies notwithstanding Section 8 (Returns). It does not cover Products that have been altered, contaminated, or improperly stored, transported, or handled after delivery.

EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY EXPRESSLY STATED ABOVE, THE SITE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” AND ROCO® DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. ROCO® DOES NOT WARRANT THAT PRODUCTS ARE SUITABLE FOR ANY PARTICULAR APPLICATION OR THAT THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

12. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ROCO® AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AFFILIATES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SITE, PRODUCTS, OR SERVICES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. ROCO®’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY PRODUCT, SERVICE, OR ORDER WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless RoCo® and its officers, employees, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use, handling, storage, transport, disposal, or resale of the Products; (b) your breach of these Terms or violation of any law; or (c) your negligence or willful misconduct.

14. Intellectual Property

The Site and all content on it — including text, graphics, logos, images, product data, and the RoCo® name and trademarks — are owned by or licensed to RoCo® and are protected by intellectual-property laws. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any part of the Site without our prior written permission, except as reasonably necessary to use the Site for its intended purpose.

RoCo® and the RoCo® logo are registered trademarks of Liquid Ion Solutions, LLC (U.S. Reg. Nos. 6,890,184 and 6,890,183). All other product names, logos, and marks are the property of RoCo® or their respective owners. Nothing on the Site grants any right or license to use any RoCo® trademark without RoCo®’s prior written consent, and any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

All photographs, graphics, and images displayed on the Site are owned by RoCo® or used with permission, and are protected under applicable copyright law. Nothing on the Site grants any license to use RoCo®’s images, trademarks, or content without RoCo®’s prior written permission.

15. Acceptable Use of the Website

You agree not to use the Site to: violate any law; infringe the rights of others; upload malicious code; attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems; scrape or harvest data except as expressly permitted; or interfere with the proper operation of the Site. We may suspend or terminate access for any violation.

16. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites or resources. We provide these for convenience only and are not responsible for their content, products, or practices. Your use of third-party sites is at your own risk and subject to their terms.

17. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

18. Force Majeure

RoCo® is not liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, supply shortages, carrier delays, government actions, or public-health emergencies.

19. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules, and excluding the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, Products, or Services will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and you consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date, and will apply to Orders placed after it is posted. Your continued use of the Site or placement of Orders after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

21. Miscellaneous

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision is not a waiver of that right or provision. These Terms, together with the policies incorporated by reference and any written quotation or agreement for Services, constitute the entire agreement between you and RoCo® regarding the Site, Products, and Services. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

22. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms & Conditions can be directed to:

Liquid Ion Solutions, LLC d/b/a RoCo®
1816 Parkway View Dr., Bldg. 18
Pittsburgh, PA 15205, United States
Phone: 724-315-9170
Email: info@roco.global