Novel DABCO-Derived Ionic Liquids for Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioning

Conventional air conditioners are inefficient, especially in hot and humid areas, to take water away from the moisture-rich air since this causes higher energy consumption. Liquid desiccant air-conditioning (LDAC) systems represent a promising alternative due to their effective temperature- and humidity-independent control with energy-saving potential. Ionic liquids (ILs) are considered desiccant substitutes for traditional halide salts with better performance and no metal corrosion. This study introduced the synthesis and structure characterization of novel ILs with cations based on 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and anions derived from trialkylphosphate. The corrosion behavior of copper and aluminum in these IL solutions was studied with an electrochemical test. The resulting ionic liquids were strongly hygroscopic and antimicrobial while showing much lower corrosivity with no risk of crystallization. These advantages made DABCO-derived ILs the potential liquid desiccants of the next generation.