Highlights From 29th EUCHEM Conference on Ionic Liquids and Molten Salts

Ionic liquids (ILs) and molten salts, as well as their applications, have become hot research topics in materials sciences due to their particular properties which are related to their nano-structuration behaviour. Particularly, these compounds have been widely used as advanced materials for a great number of applications, as energy, sensor and biosensor, catalysis, extraction and separation process, gas absorption, food and pharmaceutical industry, treatment of nuclear wastes and fuel purification among others. However, many aspects necessary for a large-scale use of these compounds are still known.

For the significant use of ILs in the future, and their commercial scale-up, there are still numerous gaps of knowledge and the need for further research in these fascinating compounds must be highlighted. So, this Research Topic aims to reflect the main conclusions of the meeting of 29th EUCHEM Conference on ionic liquids and molten salts that will be held in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in April 2024, gathering some of the latest developments and achievements and focusing on the next challenges.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Emerging technologies, scaling-up and commercial exploitation of novel processes with low melting point salts

• Electrodes and electrolytes. Surface charge transfer.

• Modelling of properties and processes in molten salts and ionic liquids.

• Assessment of physicochemical and biological properties of ionic liquids, molten salts and deep eutectic solvents.

• Novel separation strategies based on ionic melts, including extraction, recovery and recycling.

• Sustainable synthesis and catalysis in and of (supported) ionic liquids and molten salts, including polymerization.

• Energy and environmental applications.