Furthermore, the broad band between 1100 and 1150 cm -1 , which corresponds to symmetric SO2 stretching vibration (sSO2), appears to be composed of two contributions which vary in intensity as the concentration increases. The low frequency band, centred around 1125 cm -1 , becomes predominant for concentrations >4 m. As this band matches the one observed for the GdmTFSI solid, we assign this band to the vibration of TFSI anions linked directly to Gdm + , i.e. ion pairs, while the high frequency band, centred around 1145 cm -1 is assigned to free TFSI anions in solution Fig. . Hence, as the concentration is increased >4 m, the fraction of ion-pairs increases which is expected to cause an effect in the ionic conductivity of the solutions. Indeed, as the concentration of GdmTFSI is increased from 1 m to 4 m there is an increase in ionic conductivity, peaking at 48 mS.cm -1 at 4 m, after which there is a drop in ionic conductivity until the saturation limit of 8 m, Fig. . This drop in conductivity beyond 4 m can be attributed to the increased ion pairing, observed in the IR spectra, which results in reduced ion mobility. Furthermore, as the concentration is increased an increase in viscosity is also expected, which also contributes to the decreased ionic conductivity. Fig. showcases the IR regions at 2800 -4000 cm -1 , which includes the -OH stretching vibration modes of water as well as the -NH stretching of Gdm + . The water clusters between 2800 -4000 cm -1 reduce in intensity as the concentration of the GdmTFSI is increased, giving way to the presence of -NH stretching frequencies associated with Gdm + . The lower wavenumber -OH stretching bands (~3200 cm -1 ), which correspond to strongly H-bonded -OH groups, exhibit a clear decrease in intensity, suggesting a weakening of the HBN of water. This phenomenon could potentially be attributed to the chaotropic effect induced by salt which can be further probed via electrochemistry. We wish to note that for the 8 m GdmTFSI aqueous solution, the salt crystallises out of solution at room temperature during CV measurements, hence measurements were carried out at 30 °C. Glassy carbon tends to have reduced electrocatalytic properties for HER and OER and thus show large overpotentials, producing an elevated ESW compared to a more practical set-up. Nevertheless, these measurements are used for comparative purposes to determine the effect of GdmTFSI salt concentration on the HER/OER kinetics. Defining the current density limit at which water splitting occurs varies from study to study, in our case we treat a current of 0.25 mA.cm -2 to be the reductive/oxidative limit of the electrolyte. Probing the ESW reveals that as the concentration is increased, there is an expansion of the ESW, from 3.06 V for 1 m GdmTFSI to 3.59 V for 8 m GdmTFSI, Fig. . Fig. showcases an expansion of the reductive limits by 0.21