1
|
An R, Wu N, Gao Q, Dong Y, Laaksonen A, Shah FU, Ji X, Fuchs H. Integrative studies of ionic liquid interface layers: bridging experiments, theoretical models and simulations. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2024; 9:506-535. [PMID: 38356335 DOI: 10.1039/d4nh00007b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) are a class of salts existing in the liquid state below 100 °C, possessing low volatility, high thermal stability as well as many highly attractive solvent and electrochemical capabilities, etc., making them highly tunable for a great variety of applications, such as lubricants, electrolytes, and soft functional materials. In many applications, ILs are first either physi- or chemisorbed on a solid surface to successively create more functional materials. The functions of ILs at solid surfaces can differ considerably from those of bulk ILs, mainly due to distinct interfacial layers with tunable structures resulting in new ionic liquid interface layer properties and enhanced performance. Due to an almost infinite number of possible combinations among the cations and anions to form ILs, the diversity of various solid surfaces, as well as different external conditions and stimuli, a detailed molecular-level understanding of their structure-property relationship is of utmost significance for a judicious design of IL-solid interfaces with appropriate properties for task-specific applications. Many experimental techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, surface force apparatus, and so on, have been used for studying the ion structuring of the IL interface layer. Molecular Dynamics simulations have been widely used to investigate the microscopic behavior of the IL interface layer. To interpret and clarify the IL structure and dynamics as well as to predict their properties, it is always beneficial to combine both experiments and simulations as close as possible. In another theoretical model development to bridge the structure and properties of the IL interface layer with performance, thermodynamic prediction & property modeling has been demonstrated as an effective tool to add the properties and function of the studied nanomaterials. Herein, we present recent findings from applying the multiscale triangle "experiment-simulation-thermodynamic modeling" in the studies of ion structuring of ILs in the vicinity of solid surfaces, as well as how it qualitatively and quantitatively correlates to the overall ILs properties, performance, and function. We introduce the most common techniques behind "experiment-simulation-thermodynamic modeling" and how they are applied for studying the IL interface layer structuring, and we highlight the possibilities of the IL interface layer structuring in applications such as lubrication and energy storage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong An
- Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Nanhua Wu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Catalytic Materials and Technology, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China
| | - Qingwei Gao
- College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Protection and Advanced Materials in Electric Power, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yihui Dong
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Aatto Laaksonen
- Energy Engineering, Division of Energy Science, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden.
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, ''Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi 700469, Romania
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Faiz Ullah Shah
- Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden
| | - Xiaoyan Ji
- Energy Engineering, Division of Energy Science, Luleå University of Technology, 97187 Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Harald Fuchs
- Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
- Center for Nanotechnology (CeNTech), Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mo T, He H, Zhou J, Zeng L, Long Y, Feng G. Molecular Understanding of Charging Dynamics in Supercapacitors with Porous Electrodes and Ionic Liquids. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:11258-11267. [PMID: 38060214 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Porous electrodes and ionic liquids could significantly enhance the energy storage of supercapacitors. However, they may reduce the charging dynamics and power density due to the nanoconfinement of porous electrodes and the high viscosity of ionic liquids. A comprehensive understanding of the charging mechanism in porous supercapacitors with ionic liquids provides a crucial theoretical foundation for their design optimization. Here, we review the progress of molecular simulations of the charging dynamics in supercapacitors consisting of porous electrodes and ionic liquids. We highlight and delve into the breakthroughs in the ion transport and charging mechanism for electrodes with subnanometer pores and realistic porous structures. We also discuss future directions for the charging dynamics of supercapacitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tangming Mo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-cycle Safety for Composite Structures, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Haoyu He
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Jianguo Zhou
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Liang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Yu Long
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- State Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-cycle Safety for Composite Structures, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
| | - Guang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research for Mathematics and Applied Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
He C, Liu T, Miao P, Yuan S, Wang J, Wang Q. Wettability of Ionic Liquids in High Magnetic Fields. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9656-9662. [PMID: 37909288 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Here, we demonstrate that high magnetic fields alter the wettability of water and ionic solutions on the single-crystal α-Al2O3. We investigated the relationship between the substrate crystal orientation, material magnetism, liquid conductivity, and the surface contact angle. Applying high magnetic fields decreased the water contact angles on all of the surface orientations studied, and the reduction was larger for more magnetic substrates. For ionic solutions, high magnetic fields increased the contact angle on the (0001) α-Al2O3 surface but decreased the contact angles on the (112̅0), (101̅0), and (011̅2) surfaces. We attribute these orientation-dependent ionic solution responses to competition between the field-induced sample magnetization energy and the Lorentz force acting on the ionic solution. Overall, this work provides new magnetic-field-based strategies for changing the wettability and provides guidelines for fabricating novel microfluidic systems or biointerfaces with in situ magnetic control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyu He
- Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Tie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Peng Miao
- Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Shuang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shanxi, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dai D, Cao B, Hao XL, Li ZH, Yu ZW. Free-Standing Two-Dimensional Crystals Formed from Self-Assembled Ionic Liquids. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:2744-2749. [PMID: 36897097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The fabrication of two-dimensional crystals (2DCs) has attracted very large interest because it creates materials with various surface structural features and special surface properties. Normally, this is limited to sheets networked together with strong covalent or coordination bonds. Against this understanding, we discovered macroscopic scale free-standing 2DCs in the aqueous dispersions of [Cnmim]X (X = Br, NO3; n = 14, 16, 18) using simultaneous synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering techniques. On the other hand, the 2DCs are also a kind of novel hydrogel holding water content up to 98 wt %. This unusual phenomenon is attributed to the weak interactions between imidazole headgroups and counterions. The observation reported in this work is expected to contribute to theorists in their pursuit of the general principles governing the stability of 2D materials. It may also enlighten experimentalists in designing new free-standing 2DCs for various applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Dai
- MOE Key Laboratory on Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bobo Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory on Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Hao
- MOE Key Laboratory on Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF), Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhi-Wu Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory on Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| |
Collapse
|