Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In an ongoing study an empirical force field that can correctly model N,N'- dialkylimidazolium halide ionic liquids, the Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Force Field - IILFF, was developed based on experimental data obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and data calculated using Gaussian98. Different conformations of the isolated cations were optimised at the Hartree-Fock level using the 6-31G(d) basis set. Structural, vibrational and partial atomic charge data of the lowest energy conformation of each cation were taken as observables during optimisation of the force field parameters. Initial parameters of the IILFF were taken from existing force fields and were optimised using the above mentioned data. The IILFF was used to minimise isolated cations as well as crystals. These results were successfully tested against isolated cations minimised using Gaussian98 and the experimental crystals. Finally, the melting process of the 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride crystal was studied using an NPT ensemble starting from an ordered crystal cell and increasing the simulation temperature beyond the experimental melting temperature. The IILFF was then used to calculate the potential energy of the system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 'n voortgaande studie om 'n empiriese kragveld te bou wat N,N' -dialkielimidasoliumhalied ioniese vloeistowwe korrek kan modelleer is die Imidasolium Ioniese Vloeistof Kragveld (nVK) ontwikkel. Die kragveld is ontwikkel gebasseer op eksperimentele data verkry uit die Cambridge Strukturele Databasis (CSD) asook uit data vanaf Gaussian98 berekeninge. Verskillende konformasies van die geïsoleerde katione is geoptimiseer deur middel van Hartree Fock 6-31G(d) berekeninge. Strukturele data, asook vibrasies en gedeeltelike atoom ladings van die laagste energie konformasie van elke katioon is gebruik as waarneembare veranderlikes vir die bepaling van die optimale kragveld parameters. Beginwaardes vir die nVK is geneem uit bestaande kragvelde en geoptimiseer met behulp van bogenoemde data. Die IIVK is gebruik om geïsoleerde katione asook kristalle te minimiseer. Die resultate is suksesvol getoets teen geïsoleerde katione wat met behulp van Gaussian98 geminimiseer is en eksperimenteel bepaalde kristalle. Laastens is die smeltproses van die 1,3-dimetielimidasolium chloried kristal bestudeer met behulp van 'n NPT ensemble. Daar is begin by 'n geordende kristal en die simulasie temperatuur is verhoog tot meer as die eksperimentele smeltpunt. Die IIVK is dan gebruik om die potensiële energie van die sisteem te bepaal.