## 3 Results  
The FTIR spectra of the xerogel matrix and SILTF2 NX20 (see Figure 1), respectively, show i) in the region between 3550-3416 and 3488 cm\({}^{-1}\) the presence of O-H bands of silanol groups; ii) at 2977 and 2975 cm\({}^{-1}\) C-H stretching of CH\({}_{3}\) groups; and iii) at 1638 and 1627 cm\({}^{-1}\) C-O stretching of methody groups. In these spectra, the presence of bands 1277 and 1275 cm\({}^{-1}\) characterize the Si-CH\({}_{3}\) bond and at 1037 and 1049 cm\({}^{-1}\) the Si-O-Si bond. The presence of the imidazole IL linked to the xerogel is mainly characterized by a band at 1577 cm\({}^{-1}\) corresponding to a C=C aromatic stretching and a band at 3167 cm\({}^{-1}\) corresponding to an aromatic C-H, both belonging to the imidazolium ring [37; 41]. In addition, the FTIR spectrum of SILTF2 NX20 also shows two signals at 1353 and 1196 cm\({}^{-1}\) corresponding respectively to the Si-O and Si-O-CH\({}_{3}\) stretching [37]. It is noteworthy that the siloxane bands of Si-O-Si, in the range of 1136-1186 cm\({}^{-1}\) and disiloxane band of R\({}_{3}\)Si-O-SiR\({}_{3}\) in the range of 1049-1070 cm\({}^{-1}\) are ascribed to the chemical bonds between silicon and IL indicating a strong interaction between the IL and the gel matrix. Table 1 presents data corresponding to the \({}^{29}\)Si CPMAS analysis of the xerogel matrix synthesized without IL, XEROGEL, and the xerogel containing IL. This data confirms, in the case of XEROGEL, the presence of chemical environments for Si at \(-\)63.58 and \(-\)72.38 ppm related to T\({}^{2}\) and T\({}^{3}\), and at \(-\)117.31 ppm attributed to Q\({}^{4}\), respectively. For all samples containing ILs, the largest composition is of T\({}^{2}\) corresponding to (-O-)\({}_{2}\)Si-(O-R)\({}_{2}\), independently of the anion. Only the samples with the IL have the Cl\({}^{-}\) anion present Q\({}^{3}\) form corresponding to (-O-)\({}_{3}\)Si-OH. The forms T\({}^{2}\) and T\({}^{3}\) indicate the immobilization of IL, therefore we observed that the major quantity of T\({}^{2}\)+T\({}^{3}\) is that with a higher load IL (40%). The values of T\({}^{2}\) and T\({}^{3}\) allow verification if there are free OH groups on the support or if the IL is bonded through the OH groups and then being part of the xerogel. SEM images of the xerogel matrix and of the xerogels containing the (MeO)\({}_{3}\)Sipmim.Tf\({}_{2}\)N in different concentrations are represented in Figure 2. Based on these images it can be observed that the use of 1% IL (MeO)\({}_{3}\)Sipmim.Tf\({}_{2}\)N as precursor is not sufficient to form the typical spheres of the xerogel matrix. However, as the concentration of IL increases to 5, 10, and 20% the formation of the microspheres becomes increasingly visible. When the IL load reaches 30%, the collapse of the spheres can be observed indicating an over concentration of IL as precursor for the synthesis of the xerogel. The images of the synthesized xerogel also demonstrate a peculiar feature related to the presence of the ionic liquids that acts as a surfactant resulting in the formation of spherical particles during the sol-gel process. As the (MeO)\({}_{3}\)Sipmim.Cl and (MeO)\({}_{3}\)Sipmim.Tf\({}_{2}\)N ILs are amphiphilic structures composed of a polar head (the imidazolium ring) that is hydrophilic and carbon or siloxane chain that is hydrophobic, they form micelles during the sol-gel process synthesis [42]. The XEROGEL, SILTF2 NX20, and SILTF2 NX40 were characterized through N\({}_{2}\) sorption at 77 K and helium pycnometry. Specific surface area (S\({}_{\text{BET}}\)), pore volume (V\({}_{\text{p}}\)), pore and diameter size and density results are shown in Table 2.