Abstract
We have investigated the pressure-induced Raman spectral changes of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF4]). We found that [emim][BF4] did not crystallize up to 1.2 GPa. The Raman CH stretching spectra arising from the CH3 groups of the ethyl-chain and the CH3 group adjacent to the imidazolium-ring in [emim]+ cation largely changed against pressure. Moreover, the Raman intensity of the CH2 (N) bending band arising from the alkyl-chain drastically changes with increasing pressure, but that of the imidazolium-ring in-plane bending band arising from the imidazolium-ring is independent of pressure. Our results show that the environment around the alkyl-chain of [emim][BF4] is largely perturbed rather than that around the imidazolium-ring upon compression.