Electrical conductivity of seven binary systems containing 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium alkyl sulfate ionic liquids with water or ethanol at four temperatures

Factor defining the effects of tetraalkylammonium chloride on stability, folding, and dynamics of horse cytochrome c

This article describes the molecular mechanism by which tetraalkylammonium chloride ([R4N]Cl: R- = methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), propyl (Pr),butyl (Bu)) modulates the stability, folding, and dynamics of cytochrome c (Cyt c). Analysis of [R4N]Cl effects on thermal/chemical denaturations, millisecond refolding/unfolding kinetics, and slow CO-association kinetics of Cyt c without and with denaturant providing some significant results: (i) [R4N]Cl decreasing the unfolding free energy estimated by thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of thermal/chemical denaturation curves and kinetic chevrons (Log kobs-[GdmCl]) of Cyt c, respectively (ii) hydrophobicity of R-group of [R4N]Cl, preferential inclusion of [R4N]Cl at the protein surface, and destabilizing enthalpic attractive interactions of [Me4N]Cl and steric entropic interactions of [Et4N]Cl,[Pr4N]Cl and [Bu4N]Cl with protein contribute to [R4N]Cl-induced decrease thermodynamic stability of Cyt c (iii) [R4N]Cl exhibits an additive effect with denaturant to decrease thermodynamic stability and refolding rates of Cyt c (iv) low concentrations of [R4N]Cl (≤ 0.5 M) constrain the motional dynamics while the higher concentrations (>0.75 M [R4N]Cl) enhance the structural-fluctuations that denture protein (v) hydrophobicity of R-group of [R4N]Cl alters the [denaturant]-dependent conformational stability, refolding-unfolding kinetics, and CO-association kinetics of Cyt c. Furthermore, the MD simulations depicted that the addition of 1.0 M of [R4N]Cl increased the conformational fluctuations in Cyt c leading to decreased structural stability in the order [Me4N]Cl < [Et4N]Cl < [Pr4N]Cl < [Bu4N]Cl consistent with the experimental results.

Non-Substituted Imidazolium-Based Electrolytes as Potential Alternatives to the Conventional Acidic Electrolytes of Polyaniline-Based Electrode Materials for Supercapacitors

Although disubstituted imidazolium cation is sterically crowded, hundreds of ionic liquids based on this cation have been reported as electrolytes for energy storage devices. In contrast to disubstituted imidazolium, non-substituted imidazolium is uncrowded sterically and has not yet been investigated as an electrolyte, to the best of our knowledge. Hence, imidazolium hydrogen sulfate [Imi][HSO4], in mixture with water, was studied as an electrolyte for PANI-based electrode materials. For comparison, pyrrolidinium with hydrogen sulfate or p-toluene sulfonate ([Pyrr][HSO4] or [Pyrr][PTS]), in mixture with water, were also investigated as alternatives to the conventional electrolyte (i.e., aqueous H2SO4) for PANI electrodes. Walden plots of binary mixture ionic liquid-water weight ratios with the optimal ionic conductivity (i.e., [Imi][HSO4]/water 48/52 wt% (195.1 mS/cm), [Pyrr][HSO4]/water 41/59 wt% (186.6 mS/cm), and [Pyrr][PTS]/water 48/52 wt% (43.4 mS/cm) along with the electrochemical performances of PANI in these binary mixtures showed that [Pyrr][HSO4]aq or [Imi][HSO4]aq are convenient electrolytes for PANI/PIL, as opposed to [Pyrr][PTS]aq. Furthermore, replacing the conventional aqueous electrolyte H2SO4 with [Imi][HSO4] aq increased the specific capacitance of PANI/PIL from 249.8 to 268.5 F/g at 15 mV/s. Moreover, PANI/PIL electrodes displayed a quasi-ideal capacitive behavior in [Imi][HSO4]aq (the correction factor of CPE4 was 0.99). This primary study has shown that non-substituted imidazolium as an electrolyte could enhance the electrochemical performances of PANI electrodes and could be a good alternative to the conventional electrolyte.

Quantitative Relation between Ionic Diffusivity and Ionic Association in Ionic Liquid-Water Mixtures

Molecular dynamic simulations of aqueous mixtures of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) were performed to elucidate the dependence of the ionic diffusivity on the microscopic structures changed by water. Two distinct regimes of the average ionic diffusivity (D_ave) were identified with the increased water concentrations: the jam regime with slowly increased D_ave and the exponential regime with rapidly increased D_ave, which are found to be directly correlated to the ionic association. Further analysis leads to two general relationships independent of IL species between D_ave and the degree of ionic association: (i) a consistent linear relationship between D_ave and the inverse of ion-pair lifetimes (1/τ_IP) in the two regimes and (ii) an exponential relationship between normalized diffusivities (D̃_ave) and short-ranged interactions between cations and anions (Ẽ_ions), with different interdependent strengths in the two regimes. These findings revealed and quantified the direct correlation between dynamic properties and ionic association in IL-water mixtures.

Effect of cation alkyl chain length on 3-sulfopropylmethacrylate-based draw solutes having lower critical solution temperature

We investigated the effect of change in alkyl chain length of cation in tributylalkylphosphonium 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate ([P444#][C3S], # = 4, 6, and 8) ionic liquids (ILs) on their osmolality and recovery properties as the draw solute in the forward osmosis (FO) process. The ILs aqueous solutions exhibited a characteristic of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase separation, which allowed for the easy recovery of the draw solute or clean water from the diluted draw solution. The LCSTs of 31, 26, 22, and 18 °C were obtained from 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 wt% aqueous solutions of [P4446][C3S]. When deionized water, 2000 ppm NaCl solution, and 10.0 wt% orange juice aqueous solution were used as feed solution, the water fluxes of the aqueous [P4446][C3S] solutions were approximately 4.49, 3.87, and 1.55 LMH, respectively, in the active layer facing the draw solution mode at 7.5 wt% of draw solution. This study demonstrates the applicability of a thermoresponsive ionic structure material as a draw solute for the FO process.

Anion Effect on Forward Osmosis Performance of Tetrabutylphosphonium-Based Draw Solute Having a Lower Critical Solution Temperature

The applicability of ionic liquids (ILs) as the draw solute in a forward osmosis (FO) system was investigated through a study on the effect of the structural change of the anion on the FO performance. This study evaluated ILs composed of tetrabutylphosphonium cation ([P₄₄₄₄]⁺) and benzenesulfonate anion ([BS]^-), para-position alkyl-substituted benzenesulfonate anions (p-methylbenzenesulfonate ([MBS]^-) and p-ethylbenzenesulfonate ([EBS^-]), and methanesulfonate anion ([MS]^-). The analysis of the thermo-responsive properties suggested that the [P₄₄₄₄][MBS] and [P₄₄₄₄][EBS] ILs have lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs), which play a beneficial role in terms of the reusability of the draw solute from the diluted draw solutions after the water permeation process. At 20 wt% of an aqueous solution, the LCSTs of [P₄₄₄₄][MBS] and [P₄₄₄₄][EBS] were approximately 36 °C and 25 °C, respectively. The water flux and reverse solute flux of the [P₄₄₄₄][MBS] aqueous solution with higher osmolality than [P₄₄₄₄][EBS] were 7.36 LMH and 5.89 gMH in the active-layer facing the draw solution (AL-DS) mode at osmotic pressure of 25 atm (20 wt% solution), respectively. These results indicate that the [P₄₄₄₄]⁺-based ionic structured materials with LCST are practically advantageous for application as draw solutes.

Polarizable molecular dynamics simulations on the conductivity of pure 1-methylimidazolium acetate systems

The protic ionic liquid 1-methylimidazolium acetate is in equilibrium with its neutral species 1-methylimidazole and acetic acid. Although several experimental data indicate that the equilibrium favors the neutral species, the system exhibits a significant conductivity. We developed a polarizable force field to describe the ionic liquid accurately and applied it to several mixtures of the neutral and charged species. In addition to comparing single values, such as density, diffusion coefficients, and conductivity, with experimental data, the complete frequency-dependent dielectric spectrum ranging from several MHz to THz can be used to determine the equilibrium composition of the reaction mentioned above.

Probing the distribution of ionic liquid mixtures at charged and neutral interfaces via simulations and lattice-gas theory

Room temperature ionic liquid solutions confined between neutral and charged surfaces are investigated by means of atomistic Molecular Dynamics simulations. We study 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([EMIm]⁺[DCA]^-) in water or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) mixtures in confinement between two interfaces. The analysis is based on the comparison of the molecular species involved and the charged state of the surfaces. Focus is given on the influence of different water/DMSO concentrations on the microstructuring and accumulation of each species. Thermodynamic aspects, such as the entropic contributions in the observed trends are obtained from the simulations using a lattice-gas theory. The results clearly underline the differences in these properties for the water and DMSO mixtures and unravel the underlying mechanisms and inherent details. We were able to pinpoint the importance of the size and the relative permittivity of the molecules in guiding their microstructuring in the vicinity of the surfaces, as well as their interactions with the latter, i.e. the solute-surface interactions. The influence of water and DMSO on the overscreening at charged interfaces is also discussed. The analysis on the molecular accumulation at the interfaces allows us to predict whether the accumulation is entropy or enthalpy driven, which has an impact in the removal of the molecular species from the surfaces. We discuss the impact of this work in providing an essential understanding towards a careful design of electrochemical elements.

How Temperature, Pressure, and Salt Concentration Affect Correlations in LiTFSI/EMIM-TFSI Electrolytes: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Classical polarizable molecular dynamics simulations have been performed for LiTFSI solutions in the EMIM-TFSI ionic liquid. Different temperature or pressure values and salt concentrations have been examined. The structure and dynamics of the solvation shell of Li+ cations, diffusion coefficients of ions, conductivities of the electrolytes, and correlations between motions of ions have been analyzed. The results indicated that regardless of the conditions, significant correlations are present in all systems. The degree of correlations depends mainly on the salt fraction in the electrolyte and is much less affected by temperature and pressure changes. A positive correlation between motions of Li+ cations and TFSI anions, leading to the occurrence of negative Li+ transference numbers, exists for all conditions, although temperature and pressure changes affect the speed of anion exchange in Li+ solvation shells.

Phase Transitions and Electrochemical Properties of Ionic Liquids and Ionic Liquid-Solvent Mixtures

Recent advances in studies of ionic liquids (IL) and ionic liquid-solvent mixtures are reviewed. Selected experimental, simulation, and theoretical results for electrochemical, thermodynamical, and structural properties of IL and IL-solvent mixtures are described. Special attention is paid to phenomena that are not predicted by the classical theories of the electrical double layer or disagree strongly with these theories. We focus on structural properties, especially on distribution of ions near electrodes, on electrical double layer capacitance, on effects of confinement, including decay length of a dissjoining pressure between confinig plates, and on demixing phase transition. In particular, effects of the demixing phase transition on electrochemical properties of ionic liquid-solvent mixtures for different degrees of confinement are presented.

Capillary Ionization and Jumps of Capacitive Energy Stored in Mesopores

We study ionic liquid-solvent mixtures in slit-shaped nanopores wider than a few ion diameters. Using a continuum theory and generic thermodynamic reasoning, we reveal that such systems can undergo a capillary ionization transition. At this transition, the pores spontaneously ionize or deionize upon infinitesimal changes of temperature, slit width, or voltage. Our calculations show that a voltage applied to a pore may induce a capillary ionization, which-counterintuitively-is followed by a re-entrant deionization as the voltage increases. We find that such ionization transitions produce sharp jumps in the accumulated charge and stored energy, which may find useful applications in energy storage and heat-to-energy conversion.

Revisiting Ionic Liquid Structure-Property Relationship: A Critical Analysis

In the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been the focus of extensive studies concerning the relationship between structure and properties and how this impacts their application. Despite a large number of studies, several topics remain controversial or not fully answered, such as: the existence of ion pairs, the concept of free volume and the effect of water and its implications in the modulation of ILs physicochemical properties. In this paper, we present a critical review of state-of-the-art literature regarding structure–property relationship of ILs, we re-examine analytical theories on the structure–property correlations and present new perspectives based on the existing data. The interrelation between transport properties (viscosity, diffusion, conductivity) of IL structure and free volume are analysed and discussed at a molecular level. In addition, we demonstrate how the analysis of microscopic features (particularly using NMR-derived data) can be used to explain and predict macroscopic properties, reaching new perspectives on the properties and application of ILs.

Short-Range Order and Transport Properties in Mixtures of the Protic Ionic Liquid [C2HIm][TFSI] with Water or Imidazole

We investigate the effect of adding different molecular cosolvents, water or imidazole, to the protic ionic liquid 1-ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, i.e., [C₂HIm][TFSI]. We explore how the added cosolvent distributes within the ionic liquid by means of molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray scattering. We also analyze the degree of short-range heterogeneity in the resulting mixtures, finding that while imidazole easily mixes with the protic ionic liquid, water tends to form small clusters in its own water-rich domains. These differences are rationalized by invoking the nature of intermolecular interactions. In aqueous mixtures water-water hydrogen bonds are more likely to form than water-ion hydrogen bonds (water-TFSI bonds being particularly weak), while imidazole can interact with both cations and anions. Hence, the cation-anion association is negligibly influenced by the presence of water, whereas the addition of imidazole creates solvent-separated ion pairs and is thus able to also increase the ionicity. As a consequence of these structural and interactional features, transport properties like self-diffusion and ionic conductivity also show different composition dependencies. While the mobility of both ions and solvent is increased considerably by the addition of water, upon adding imidazole this property changes significantly only for molar fractions of imidazole above 0.6. At these molar fractions, which correspond to a base-excess composition, the imidazole/[C₂HIm][TFSI] mixture behaves as a glass-forming liquid with suppressed phase transitions, while homomixtures such as imidazole/[HIm][TFSI] can display a eutectic point.

The peculiar effect of water on ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents

Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been suggested as eco-friendly alternatives to organic solvents. A trace amount of water is often unavoidable as impurity, and water is also added on purpose to reduce their problematically high viscosity and lower their high price. Understanding the distinct effects of water on the properties of ILs/DESs is highly important. In this review, we collect published experimental and theoretical results for IL/DES-H2O systems at varied water concentrations and analyze them. Results from mechanistic studies, thermodynamic modelling and advanced experiments are collected and critically discussed. Six commonly studied IL/DES-H2O systems were selected to map experimental observations onto microscopic results obtained in mechanistic studies. A great variety of distinct contours of the excess properties can be observed over the entire compositional range, indicating that the properties of IL/DES-H2O systems are highly unpredictable. Mechanistic studies clearly demonstrate that the added H2O rapidly changes the heterogeneous 3D structures of pure ILs/DESs, leading to very different properties and behaviour. There are similarities between aqueous electrolytes and IL/DES solutions but the bulky and asymmetric organic cations in ILs/DESs do not conform to the standard salt dissolution and hydration concepts. Thermodynamic modelling previously assumes ILs/DESs to be either a neutral ion-pair or completely dissociated ions, neglecting specific ion hydration effects. A new conceptual framework is suggested for thermodynamic modelling of IL/DES-H2O binary systems to enable new technologies for their practical applications.

Transport properties and intermolecular interactions in binary mixtures based on the protic ionic liquid ethylimidazolium triflate and ethylene glycol

The binary mixture based on the protic ionic liquid (PIL) ethylimidazolium triflate (C2HImTfO) and the diol compound ethylene glycol (EG) has been investigated in the whole composition range from pure PIL to pure EG. At 30 °C the addition of EG increases both the ionic conductivity and the self-diffusivity of the ions. These quantities, however, change at different rates suggesting that the ionicity of the system is composition dependent. This behaviour is explained by means of new intermolecular forces established when a second compound like EG is introduced into the ionic network. More specifically, a complex H-bonded network is formed that involves the -NH group of the cation, the -OH group of EG and the -SO3 group of the anion. This configuration may increase the fluidity of the mixture but not necessarily the ionic dissociation. Moreover, diffusion NMR results indicate the occurrence of local proton dynamics, which arise from a proton exchange between the -NH of the cation and the -OH of EG, providing the requisite for a long-range Grotthuss mechanism of proton transport.

Soft Somatosensitive Actuators via Embedded 3D Printing

Humans possess manual dexterity, motor skills, and other physical abilities that rely on feedback provided by the somatosensory system. Herein, a method is reported for creating soft somatosensitive actuators (SSAs) via embedded 3D printing, which are innervated with multiple conductive features that simultaneously enable haptic, proprioceptive, and thermoceptive sensing. This novel manufacturing approach enables the seamless integration of multiple ionically conductive and fluidic features within elastomeric matrices to produce SSAs with the desired bioinspired sensing and actuation capabilities. Each printed sensor is composed of an ionically conductive gel that exhibits both long-term stability and hysteresis-free performance. As an exemplar, multiple SSAs are combined into a soft robotic gripper that provides proprioceptive and haptic feedback via embedded curvature, inflation, and contact sensors, including deep and fine touch contact sensors. The multimaterial manufacturing platform enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft actuating systems, which is a necessary step toward closed-loop feedback control of soft robots, machines, and haptic devices.

Langevin behavior of the dielectric decrement in ionic liquid water mixtures

Large scale polarizable simulations of ionic liquid water mixtures reveal an universal Langevin behavior of the dielectric decrement.

Ultrasonic irradiation-assisted synthesis of Bi2S3 nanoparticles in aqueous ionic liquid at ambient condition

In this work, an easy, fast and environmentally friendly method to obtain Bi₂S₃ nanostructures with sphere-like morphology is introduced. The promising material was successfully synthesized by a sonochemical route in 20% 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate [EMIM][EtSO₄] ionic liquid solution (IL). Morphological studies by electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) show that the use of IL in the synthesis of Bi₂S₃ favors the formation of nanocrystals non-agglomerated. Micro Raman and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) were used to determine the composition and purity of the synthesized material. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and selective area electron diffraction (SAED) revealed that ultrasonic radiation accelerated the crystallization of Bi₂S₃ into orthorhombic bismuthinite structure. The band gap calculated from the diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) was found to be 1.5eV.

Probing the microscopic structural organization of neat ionic liquids (ILs) and ionic liquid-based gels through resonance energy transfer (RET) studies

With the aim to understand the role of the ionic constituents of ionic liquids (ILs) in their structural organization, resonance energy transfer (RET) studies between ionic liquids (donor) and rhodamine 6G (acceptor) have been investigated.

The properties of residual water molecules in ionic liquids: a comparison between direct and inverse Kirkwood–Buff approaches

Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of aqueous ionic liquid mixtures were performed in order to compare the resulting Kirkwood–Buff integrals with experimental data and the corresponding integrals derived by an inverse Kirkwood–Buff approach.

Molecular dynamics simulation of the behaviour of water in nano-confined ionic liquid-water mixtures

This work describes the behaviour of water molecules in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid under nanoconfinement, between graphene sheets. By means of molecular dynamics simulations, the adsorption of water molecules at the graphene surface is studied. A depletion of water molecules in the vicinity of the neutral and negatively charged graphene surfaces, and their adsorption at the positively charged surface are observed in line with the preferential hydration of the ionic liquid anions. The findings are appropriately described using a two-level statistical model. The confinement effect on the structure and dynamics of the mixtures is thoroughly analyzed using the density and the potential of mean force profiles, as well as by the vibrational densities of the states of water molecules near the graphene surface. The orientation of water molecules and the water-induced structural transitions in the layer closest to the graphene surface are also discussed.

Probing the interactions of structurally similar but chemically distinguishable organic solutes with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium alkyl sulfate (alkyl = ethyl, hexyl and octyl) ionic liquids through fluorescence, NMR and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) studies

Structurally similar but chemically distinguishable solutes provide idea about intermolecular interactions in ionic liquids.