Greatly enhanced fluorescence of dicyanamide anion based ionic liquids confined into mesoporous silica gel

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide EMImN(CN)2 and S-ethyltetrahydrothiophene dicyanamide EThN(CN)2 physically confined into mesoporous silica gel with pore sizes of 6–8 nm (IL-sg) were synthesized according to a proper sol–gel process. Greatly enhanced fluorescence emissions of dicyanamide based ILs after being confined were exhibited.