4. Applications

The numerous publications and patents on the preparation and/or uses of imidazolium carboxylates (see the Patents section in the Find out more section) clearly show their potential and applications in the following sectors:

• the chemical industry for the synthesis of ultra-pure "green" organic ionic solvents, liquid crystals, electrolytes for batteries or fuel cells, and so on. Indeed, imidazolium salts are the motifs of choice in ionic liquids, better known as "green" organic ionic solvents, due to their very low volatility. This property, combined with their strong conductive and solubilizing properties, has led to increased production of these ionic solvents, which are widely used in catalysis as recyclable media, as they can be used multiple times in chemical transformations before being incinerated. Several companies and start-ups already...