TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The first electrode is an air cathode, and the second electrode is a metal anode. The alkaline electrolyte is potassium hydroxide. The hetero ionic complex additive is present to reduce the formation of dendrites on the cathode and/or anode. The anode comprises metal fuel and the cathode is an air cathode exposed to air.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The step (iii) is carried out by either: reacting the bisulfate salt of the heteroatomic compound with a sodium salt to produce an ionic liquid comprising the cation of the alkyl-heteroatomic compound and the anion of the sodium salt; or contacting the bisulfate salt of the heteroatomic compound with a strong anion exchange resin containing the anion to produce an ionic liquid comprising the cation of the alkyl-heteroatomic compound and the anion. The step (ii) comprises reacting the alkylcarbonate salt with sulfuric acid. The step (i) is performed in a mixture of alcohol and water. The anion exchange resin is a crosslinked polystyrene polymer comprising divinylbenzene (DVB) units (2.5-30 wt.%), where the resin comprises an anion. The hetero ionic complex additive is prepared by the steps (i)-(iii) as above per se. The step (i) comprises reacting heteroatomic compounds of formula (hetero-R-X) (a) (which can be linear or can form a hetero or heteroaromatic ring, or bicyclic ring) with dialkylcarbonate of formula (R1-O-C(=O)-O-R11) to form alkylcarbonate salt of formula ((hetero-R-X-R1)+((O-)-C(=O)-O-R11)) (b). The step (ii) comprises acidifying (b) with sulfuric acid to produce bisulfate salt of the heteroatomic compounds of formula ((hetero-R-X-R1)2+S(O4)2-) (c). The step (ii) comprises converting (c) in the presence of to metal anion of formula (MA) and water under alcoholic conditions to give ionic liquid comprising an alkyl-heteroatomic cation and the anion.R, R1, R11, = 1-20C alkyl, aralkyl (both optionally substituted) or H (preferred); andX = heteroatom consisting of N, O, P and/or S;M = alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and/or ammonium; andA = an anion.Provided that (a) cannot form a linear amine or an imidazole group. Preferred Components: The dialkylcarbonate contains two alkyl groups, where each alkyl group is 1-20C alkyl and/or aralkyl (both optionally substituted), preferably methyl. The alcohol is ethanol, a mixture of 90% ethanol, 5% isopropanol and 5% methanol, methanol and/or tetrahydrofuran. The anion is halophosphates, hexafluorophosphate, alkylphosphates, arylphosphates, nitrate, sulfate, bisulfate, carbonates, alkyl carbonates, alkylsulfates, arylsulfates, perfluorinated alkyl- and arylsulfates, sulfonate, alkylsulfonates, arylsulfonates, perfluorinated alkyl- and arylsulfonates, trifluoromethyl sulfonate, tosylate, perchlorate, tetrachloroaluminate, heptachlorodialuminate, tetrafluoroborate, alkylborates, arylborates, amides, perfluorinated amides, dicyanamide, saccharinate, thiocyanate, carboxylates, acetates, trifluoroacetate, bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)amide, chloride, hydroxide, hexafluorophosphate, iodide, other halides, tetrafluoroborate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, trifluoromethanesulfonate, dicyanamide, benzoate, acesulfame, saccharinate and/or methanesulfonate; preferably hydroxide or methyl carbonate. The heteroatomic compound is: 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane; or pyrrolidines, morpholines, piperidines, piperazines, quinuclidines, bicyclic amines, amidines, guanidines, alkanolamines, monoalkylamines, dialkylamines, pyrroles, pyrazoles, triazoles, thiazoles, oxazoles, pyridines, imidazopyridines, imidazopyrimidines, monoalkylphosphines, dialkylphosphines, trialkylphosphines, monoalkylphosphites, dialkylphosphites, trialkylphosphites, phosphorus monoamines, phosphorus diamines, phosphorus triamines, mercaptans, thiophenes, dihydrothiophenes, tetrahydrothiophenes, thioethers and/or dialkylsulfoxides. The heteroatomic compound cation is 1-methyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo(2,2,2)octane or methyl-3-quinuclidinolium. The hetero ionic complex additive is present at less than 200 mM, preferably 10-40 mM. EXAMPLE - 1-Methyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo(2,2,2)octane (714.6 g) was dissolved in a mixture of methanol (150 ml) and dimethylcarbonate (850 ml) by overhead stirring in a jacketed reactor. The reaction mixture was heated to 75-85 degrees C for 5 hours to obtain methyldabconium methylcarbonate. The methyldabconium methylcarbonate was precipitated by addition of methylethylketone (1750 ml) and acetone (1750 ml). The reactor mixture was cooled to -6 degrees C. The resultant precipitate was filtered, washed with acetone and then dried and the methyldabconium methylcarbonate was recovered. The methyldabconium methylcarbonate was then acidified with sulfuric acid to produce methyldabconium sulfate. The methyldabconium methylcarbonate was reacted with a salt of desired ion then converted to the ionic liquid comprising the cation of the heteroatomic compound and anion.