Nature of Mesoscopic Organization in Protic Ionic Liquid–Alcohol Mixtures

Nanostructure of Locally Concentrated Ionic Liquids in the Bulk and at Graphite and Gold Electrodes

The physical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) have led to intense research interest, but for many applications, high viscosity is problematic. Mixing the IL with a diluent that lowers viscosity offers a solution if the favorable IL physical properties are not compromised. Here we show that mixing an IL or IL electrolyte (ILE, an IL with dissolved metal ions) with a nonsolvating fluorous diluent produces a low viscosity mixture in which the local ion arrangements, and therefore key physical properties, are retained or enhanced. The locally concentrated ionic liquids (LCILs) examined are 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (HMIM TFSI), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (HMIM FAP), or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (BMIM FAP) mixed with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (TFTFE) at 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 (w/w) IL:TFTFE, as well as the locally concentrated ILEs (LCILEs) formed from 2:1 (w/w) HMIM TFSI-TFTFE with 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 m lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Rheology and conductivity measurements reveal that the added TFTFE significantly reduces viscosity and increases ionic conductivity, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) reveals minimal reductions in electrochemical windows on gold and carbon electrodes. This is explained by the small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (S/WAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data, which show that the local ion nanostructures are largely retained in LCILs and LCILEs in bulk and at gold and graphite electrodes for all potentials investigated.

The pervasive impact of critical fluctuations in liquid-liquid extraction organic phases

Liquid-liquid extraction is an essential chemical separation technique where polar solutes are extracted from an aqueous phase into a nonpolar organic solvent by amphiphilic extractant molecules. A fundamental limitation to the efficiency of this important technology is third phase formation, wherein the organic phase splits upon sufficient loading of polar solutes. The nanoscale drivers of phase splitting are challenging to understand in the complex hierarchically structured organic phases. In this study, we demonstrate that the organic phase structure and phase behavior are fundamentally connected in a way than can be understood with critical phenomena theory. For a series of binary mixtures of trialkyl phosphate extractants with linear alkane diluents, we combine small angle x-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate how the organic phase mesostructure over a wide range of compositions is dominated by critical concentration fluctuations associated with the critical point of the third phase formation phase transition. These findings reconcile many longstanding inconsistencies in the literature where small angle scattering features, also consistent with such critical fluctuations, were interpreted as reverse micellar-like particles. Overall, this study shows how the organic phase mesostructure and phase behavior are intrinsically linked, deepening our understanding of both and providing a new framework for using molecular structure and thermodynamic variables to control mesostructure and phase behavior in liquid-liquid extraction.

Liquid structure and dynamics in the choline acetate:urea 1:2 deep eutectic solvent

We report on the thermodynamic, structural, and dynamic properties of a recently proposed deep eutectic solvent, formed by choline acetate (ChAc) and urea (U) at the stoichiometric ratio 1:2, hereinafter indicated as ChAc:U. Although the crystalline phase melts at 36-38 °C depending on the heating rate, ChAc:U can be easily supercooled at sub-ambient conditions, thus maintaining at the liquid state, with a glass-liquid transition at about -50 °C. Synchrotron high energy x-ray scattering experiments provide the experimental data for supporting a reverse Monte Carlo analysis to extract structural information at the atomistic level. This exploration of the liquid structure of ChAc:U reveals the major role played by hydrogen bonding in determining interspecies correlations: both acetate and urea are strong hydrogen bond acceptor sites, while both choline hydroxyl and urea act as HB donors. All ChAc:U moieties are involved in mutual interactions, with acetate and urea strongly interacting through hydrogen bonding, while choline being mostly involved in van der Waals mediated interactions. Such a structural situation is mirrored by the dynamic evidences obtained by means of ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, which show how urea and acetate species experience higher translational activation energy than choline, fingerprinting their stronger commitments into the extended hydrogen bonding network established in ChAc:U.

Mesostructuring in Liquid-Liquid Extraction Organic Phases Originating from Critical Points

Organic phase structure plays an important role in solute extraction energetics and phase behavior of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) systems. For a binary extractant (amphiphile)/solvent mixture of relevance to LLE, we find that the organic phase mesostructuring is consistent with extractant concentration fluctuations as the compositional isotherm traverses the Widom line above its liquid-liquid critical point. This reveals a different mechanism for the well-documented heterogeneities in LLE organic phases that are typically attributed to micellization.

Microstructural and Dynamical Heterogeneities in Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a special category of molten salts solely composed of ions with varied molecular symmetry and charge delocalization. The versatility in combining varied cation-anion moieties and in functionalizing ions with different atoms and molecular groups contributes to their peculiar interactions ranging from weak isotropic associations to strong, specific, and anisotropic forces. A delicate interplay among intra- and intermolecular interactions facilitates the formation of heterogeneous microstructures and liquid morphologies, which further contributes to their striking dynamical properties. Microstructural and dynamical heterogeneities of ILs lead to their multifaceted properties described by an inherent designer feature, which makes ILs important candidates for novel solvents, electrolytes, and functional materials in academia and industrial applications. Due to a massive number of combinations of ion pairs with ion species having distinct molecular structures and IL mixtures containing varied molecular solvents, a comprehensive understanding of their hierarchical structural and dynamical quantities is of great significance for a rational selection of ILs with appropriate properties and thereafter advancing their macroscopic functionalities in applications. In this review, we comprehensively trace recent advances in understanding delicate interplay of strong and weak interactions that underpin their complex phase behaviors with a particular emphasis on understanding heterogeneous microstructures and dynamics of ILs in bulk liquids, in mixtures with cosolvents, and in interfacial regions.

Structural investigations of molecular solutes within nanostructured ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) containing sufficiently long alkyl chains form amphiphilic nanostructures with well-defined polar and non-polar domains. Here we have explored the robustness of these amphiphilic nanostructures to added solutes and gained insight into how the nature of the solute and IL ions affect the partitioning of these solutes within the nanostructured domains of ILs. To achieve this, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) investigations were performed and discussed for mixtures of 9 different molecular compounds with 6 different ILs containing imidazolium cations. The amphiphilic nanostructure of ILs persisted to high solute concentrations, over 50 mol% of added solute for most 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ILs and above 80 mol% for most 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium ILs. Solute partitioning within these domains was found to be controlled by the inherent polarity and size of the solute, as well as specific interactions between the solute and IL ions, with SAXS results corroborated with IR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Molecular dynamics simulations also revealed the ability to induce π⁺-π⁺ stacking between imidazolium cations through the use of these added molecular compounds. Collectively, these results provide scope for the selection of IL ions to rationally influence and control the partitioning behaviour of given solutes within the amphiphilic nanostructure of ILs.

Structural analysis of zwitterionic liquids vs. homologous ionic liquids

Zwitterionic liquids (Zw-ILs) have been developed that are homologous to monovalent ionic liquids (ILs) and show great promise for controlled dissolution of cellulosic biomass. Using both high energy X-ray scattering and atomistic molecular simulations, this article compares the bulk liquid structural properties for novel Zw-ILs with their homologous ILs. It is shown that the significant localization of the charges on Zw-ILs leads to charge ordering similar to that observed for conventional ionic liquids with monovalent anions and cations. A low-intensity first sharp diffraction peak in the liquid structure factor S(q) is observed for both the Zw-IL and the IL. This is unexpected since both the Zw-IL and IL have a 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl (diether) functional group on the cationic imidazolium ring and ether functional groups are known to suppress this peak. Detailed analyses show that this intermediate range order in the liquid structure arises for slightly different reasons in the Zw-IL vs. the IL. For the Zw-IL, the ether tails in the liquid are shown to aggregate into nanoscale domains.

X-Ray scattering and physicochemical studies of trialkylamine/carboxylic acid mixtures: nanoscale structure in pseudoprotic ionic liquids and related solutions

We report the results of X-ray scattering, physical, and spectroscopic measurements on a series of water-saturated trialkylamine/carboxylic acid mixtures. The results demonstrate the existence of well-defined nanoscale structures in bulk liquid mixtures at specific acid : amine ratios. These structures are analogous to those observed in ionic liquids but are driven by the formation of a hydrogen-bonded network rather than via inter-ion Coulomb forces. The results of the physical components of this study are closely analogous to prior observations on anhydrous, low molecular weight acid/amine mixtures, but this is to our knowledge the first time these observations have been augmented by the use of X-ray scattering. The results therefore bridge the gap between early work on amine/acid mixtures and recent studies of protic and pseudoprotic ionic liquids.

Soft matter: rubber and networks

Rubber networks are important and form the basis for materials with properties ranging from rubber tires to super absorbents and contact lenses. The development of the entropy ideas of rubber deformation thermodynamics provides a powerful framework from which to understand and to use these materials. In addition, swelling of the rubber in the presence of small molecule liquids or solvents leads to materials that are very soft and 'gel' like in nature. The review covers the thermodynamics of polymer networks and gels from the perspective of the thermodynamics and mechanics of the strain energy density function. Important relationships are presented and experimental results show that the continuum ideas contained in the phenomenological thermodynamics are valid, but that the molecular bases for some of them remain to be fully elucidated. This is particularly so in the case of the entropic gels or swollen networks. The review is concluded with some perspectives on other networks, ranging from entropic polymer networks such as thermoplastic elastomers to physical gels in which cross-link points are formed by glassy or crystalline domains. A discussion is provided for other physical gels in which the network forms a spinodal-like decomposition, both in thermoplastic polymers that form a glassy network upon phase separation and for colloidal gels that seem to have a similar behavior.

Dynamic heterogeneity in aqueous ionic solutions

It is well known that supercooled liquids have heterogeneous dynamics, but it is still unclear whether dynamic heterogeneity also exists in aqueous ionic solutions at room or even higher temperatures.

Inhomogeneity in Ethylammonium Nitrate-Acetonitrile Binary Mixtures: The Highest "Low q Excess" Reported to Date

The binary mixtures of the ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate with acetonitrile have been studied by means of wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering and via two different computational methods, namely, classical molecular dynamics and DFT. The recently debated odd feature in the extreme low q region of some ionic liquid-based binary mixtures is linked to density fluctuations within the system. We show how the "low q excess" is due to some nanoscopic objects which are formed at certain compositions. These structures have different density with respect to the surrounding, thus generating the feature observed. Our results also show how the local arrangement is directly linked to the long-range structure. Moreover, we found once again a similarity in the physicochemical behavior of ethylammonium nitrate and water.

Mesoscopic organization in ionic liquids

We discuss some published results and provide new observations concerning the high level of structural complexity that lies behind the nanoscale correlations in ionic liquids (ILs) and their mixtures with molecular liquids. It turns out that this organization is a consequence of the hierarchical construction on both spatial (from ångström to several nanometer) and temporal (from fraction of picosecond to hundreds of nanosecond) scales, which requires joint use of experimental and computational tools.

Emerging Evidences of Mesoscopic-Scale Complexity in Neat Ionic Liquids and Their Mixtures

Ionic liquids (ILs) represent a blooming class of continuously developing advanced materials, with the aiming of a green chemical industry. Their appealing physical and chemical properties are largely influenced by their micro- and mesoscopic structure that is known to possess a high degree of hierarchical organization. High-impact application fields are largely affected by the complex morphology of neat ionic liquids and their mixtures. This Perspective highlights new arising research directions that point to an enhanced level of structural complexity in several IL-based systems, including mixtures. The latter represent a change in paradigm in the approach to formulate new, task-specific IL-based media, and the reported phenomenology has the potential to further expand their range of applications by calling for a revisitation of the nature of interactions in these exciting media.

Bio ionic liquids and water mixtures: a structural study

In this study we have explored, by means of ab initio molecular dynamics, a subset of three different water/cho⁺–phe⁻ mixtures.

Small-angle scattering and morphologies of ultra-flexible microemulsions

Three-component fluids can exhibit structured density fluctuations, and their small-angle scattering patterns present similarities to those of classical microemulsions. One general analytical expression with two additive contributions (one for the two immiscible fluids and a smaller one for a structured fluid) allows the whole phase diagram to be mapped in the single-phase domain.

The phase diagrams of ternary mixtures of partly miscible solvents containing a hydrotropic co-solvent exhibit a variable miscibility gap and one critical point. This work investigates the entire monophasic region far from and near to the miscibility gap in octan-1-ol/ethanol/water, for which ultra-flexible micro­emulsions (UFMEs) are observed by small-angle scattering techniques. SWAXS (combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering) allows the elucidation of these types of structure. Three distinct areas can be identified in the phase diagram, with scattering data resembling those from direct, bicontinuous and reverse local structures. These UFMEs are far more polydisperse than their surfactant-based counterparts. Water-rich and solvent-rich domains are only delimited by a small excess of hydrotrope, instead of a well defined surfactant layer of fixed area per molecule. It is shown that all scattering spectra obtained for the nanostructured compositions can be modelled by a simple unified analytical model composed of two uncorrelated contributions. The main one is the Ornstein–Zernike formula for composition fluctuations which gives information about the pseudo-phase domain size. The second is a Lorentzian that captures the structure of at least one of the coexisting pseudo-phases. No Porod law can be measured in the SAXS domain. The proposed expression gives access to two characteristic sizes as well as one inter-aggregate distance.

Alcohols as molecular probes in ionic liquids: evidence for nanostructuration

A comprehensive study of the solution and solvation of linear alcohols (propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol and pentan-1-ol) in ionic liquids (ILs) is presented.

Ionic liquid nanostructure enables alcohol self assembly

Weakly structured solutions are formed from mixtures of one or more amphiphiles and a polar solvent (usually water), and often contain additional organic components.