Fig. 1. Snapshots of the structure of [C_nmim][PF₆] for n = 2–12 (from left to right). Polar domains: anion + cation imidazolium ring (red); nonpolar domains: cation alkyl chain (green). When n = 2, small and globular apolar “islands” form within the continuous polar network. An increase of the alkyl chain length (n = 6, 8, 12) enables hydrocarbon domains to interconnect in a bicontinuous, sponge-like nanostructure. [C₄mim][PF₆] marks the transition between the two solvent morphologies. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [35]. Copyright 2006, American Chemical Society.

Fig. 2. SANS profiles for mixtures of [C₄mim][BF₄] and D₂O at 25 °C (Molecular weight of [C₄mim][BF₄]: 226 g/mol). (Reprinted with permission from Ref. [42]. Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society).

Fig. 3. Field-emission SEM images of [Bmim][BF₄] after addition of varying amounts of water: (a) dry sample; (b) ionic liquid with traces of water; (c)–(f) mixtures of ionic liquid with (c) 5 vol%, (d) 10 vol%, and (e), (f) 20 vol% added water. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [45]. Copyright 2016, John Wiley and Sons.

Fig. 4. MD-simulated structures of water H-bonding and ion networks in concentrated LiTFSI aqueous solutions. (a) and (b) MD snapshot structures of a LiTFSI solution (Fig. S7), ion aggregate (red), and water network (blue) at two different concentrations, 15 m and 21 m, respectively. (c) A slab of snapshot structure of a 21 m LiTFSI solution exhibits water channels and ion networks that serve as a porous framework providing open channels through which water can flow. (d) A mobile lithium (gray) ion at four sequential 1 ps steps through a bulk-like water channel, although one lithium ion in the ion network does not move (e). Reprinted with permission from Ref. [69]. Copyright 2018, American Chemical Society.

Fig. 5. Vehicular and structural diffusion contribution to the metal ion transport electrolyte solutions and corresponding influencing factors. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [84]. Copyright 2018, Elsevier.

Fig. 6. Depiction of water (blue) intercalating within polar hopping sites. H₂O hops between sites at a rate dictated by an activation energy. H₂O diffusion occurring as a series of hops between relatively immobile, polar sites, akin to lattice diffusion in solids. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [77]. Copyright 2019, American Physical Society.

Fig. 7. Comparison of solvated lithium ion transfer and desolvated lithium ion transfer at graphite electrodes. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [103]. Copyright 2005, Electrochemical Society

Fig. 8. Comparison of the energy barriers of desolvation of Li⁺, E_a2, in the appearance and absence of the specific adsorption in the inner Helmholtz plane (IHP). OHP influences the energy barrier of the transport of solved Li⁺, E_a1. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [96]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.