Spatial organization of the ions at the free surface of imidazolium-based ionic liquids

HYPOTHESIS

Experimental information on the molecular scale structure of ionic liquid interfaces is controversial, giving rise to two competing scenarios, namely the double layer-like and "chessboard"-like structures. This issue can be resolved by computer simulation methods, at least for the underlying molecular model. Systematically changing the anion type can elucidate the relative roles of electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic (or, strictly speaking, apolar) effects and steric restrictions on the interfacial properties.

SIMULATIONS

Molecular dynamics simulation is combined with intrinsic analysis methods both at the molecular and atomic levels, supplemented by Voronoi analysis of self-association.

FINDINGS

We see no evidence for the existence of a double-layer-type arrangement of the ions, or for their self-association at the surface of the liquid. Instead, our results show that cation chains associate into apolar domains that protrude into the vapour phase, while charged groups form domains that are embedded in this apolar environment at the surface. However, the apolar chains largely obscure the cation groups, to which they are bound, while the smaller and more mobile anions can more easily access the free surface, leading to a somewhat counterintuitive net excess of negative charge at the interface. Importantly, this excess charge could only be identified by applying intrinsic analysis.

Long-ranged heterogeneous structure in aqueous solutions of the deep eutectic solvent choline and geranate at the liquid-vapor interface

The deep eutectic solvent choline and geranate (CAGE) has shown promise in many therapeutic applications. CAGE facilitates drug delivery through unique modes of action making it an exciting therapeutic option. We examine the behavior of aqueous CAGE solutions at a liquid-vapor interface. We find that the liquid-vapor interface induces large oscillations in the density, which corresponds to spontaneous segregation into regions enriched with geranate and geranic acid and other regions enriched with water and choline. These heterogeneities are observed to extend nanometers into the liquid. Additionally, we find that the geranate and geranic acid orient so that their polar carboxyl or carboxylate groups are on average pointed toward the layer containing water and choline. Finally, we report surface tension and thermal expansion coefficients for various concentrations of aqueous CAGE. We find a non-monotonic trend in the surface tension with concentration. The structural and thermodynamic properties we report provide a new perspective on CAGE behavior, which helps deduce the action of CAGE in more sophisticated systems and inspire other studies and applications of CAGE and related materials.

Comment on "Bi-layering at ionic liquid surfaces: a sum - frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy - and molecular dynamics simulation-based study" by T. Iwahashi, T. Ishiyama, Y. Sakai, A. Morita, D. Kim and Y. Ouchi, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 12565

This Comment raises several questions concerning the surface structure concluded in the paper referenced in the title. Specifically, that paper ignores previous experiments and simulations which demonstrate for the same ionic liquids depth-decaying, multilayered surface-normal density profiles rather than the claimed molecular mono- or bi-layers. We demonstrate that the claimed structure does not reproduce the measured X-ray reflectivity, which probes directly the surface-normal density profile. The measured reflectivities are found, however, to be well-reproduced by a multilayered density model. These results, and previous experimental and simulation results, cast severe doubt on the validity of the surface structure claimed in the paper referenced in the title.

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.

Molecular-level insights into the structures, dynamics, and hydrogen bonds of ethylammonium nitrate protic ionic liquid at the liquid-vacuum interface

A series of molecular dynamics simulations have been used to systematically explore the structures, dynamics and hydrogen bonds (HBs) of ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) protic ionic liquid (IL) and their mutual relationship at the liquid-vacuum interface. The simulation results clearly demonstrate that there exists a sandwich structure at the interface, with the double-layer of the EA+ cations on both sides and one intercalated layer of the NO3- anions in the middle. Wherein, the outermost cation layer prefers the orientation with the CH3 groups pointing to the vacuum phase due to the hydrophobic interactions, while the CH3 groups in the second layer direct to the bulk liquid phase owing to the HB formation between their NH3+ groups and the intercalated NO3- anions in the middle layer. On the other hand, the continuous HB strength of the cations in the outermost layer (denoted as Cation-1) is found to be almost identical with the counterpart of the cations in the second layer (denoted as Cation-2), whereas the intermittent HB strength of Cation-1 is much larger than that of Cation-2 at all temperatures. Furthermore, the rotational motion of Cation-1 with the normal vector of the C-C-N plane in the cation is faster than that of Cation-2 with the same vector, resulting from more free space in the outermost layer. On the contrary, the rotational motion of Cation-1 with the vector from the mass center of the cation to its N atom is much slower than that of Cation-2 with the same vector, which can be attributed to the combined effects of the stronger intermittent HBs of Cation-1 and the hydrophobic interactions of its CH3 group in the outermost layer.

Unique orientations and rotational dynamics of a 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid at the gas–liquid interface: the effects of the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions

Two-stage rotational motions of the interfacial [BMIM]⁺ cations are essentially determined by both hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Probing the tricationic ionic liquid/vacuum interface: insights from molecular dynamics simulations

The surface properties of three symmetric linear tricationic ionic liquids (LTILs) with the common anion, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf₂]⁻), were studied using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation and identification of the truly interfacial molecules (ITIM) analysis.

Molecular Dynamics Studies on Liquid/Vapor Interface Properties and Structures of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Dimethylphosphate-Water

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethylphosphate ([Emim][Dmp])-water binary solution is one of the promising new working-pairs for absorption heat pump and absorption chillers, which are widely used to recover industrial waste heat. In the absorption process, the mass and heat transfer at the interface greatly depend on interface microscopic structure. Therefore, in order to understand the absorption process, it is very important to study the interface microscopic structure. The liquid-vapor interface properties, as well as the orientation of [Emim]⁺, [Dmp]^-, water at the interface and its aqueous solution with different water mole fraction, were studied using classical all-atom force field by molecular dynamic simulations. The simulated bulk mass density fitted by hyperbolic tangent function for each system was in good agreement with the experiment data, with the relative deviation between simulated and experimental value within 2%. The simulated results indicate that anion is always distributed at the outmost layer of the interface, followed by cation and water molecule. In [Emim][Dmp], the tilt angle of imidazolium rings to the surface normal is in the range of 0° < θ < 12°; for most cation, their ethyl and methyl tilted toward gas phase and bulk, respectively, but for a few cation, their ethyl and the methyl take the opposite orientation. For anion, one methyl prefers to turn toward gas phase and another methyl (PC vector from P atom to C atom) lie nearly parallel to the surface, while one PO vector (from P atom to O atom) turns toward liquid bulk and another PO vector is nearly parallel to the surface. In aqueous solution of [Emim][Dmp], the tilt angle of the imidazolium ring to the surface normal becomes larger (0° < θ < 37°) at the interface, but almost all ethyl intend to tilt toward gas phase and the methyl tilt toward liquid bulk compared with pure [Emim][Dmp]. Two methyl in anion prefer to turn toward gas phase and its two PO vectors toward liquid bulk. This orientation indicates that pure [Emim][Dmp] absorb water in gas phase more easily than [Emim][Dmp]+H₂O system does. Water molecules are distributed in the inner layer of the interface with two OH vectors (from O atom to H atom) tilting toward external surface.

π+–π+ stacking of imidazolium cations enhances molecular layering of room temperature ionic liquids at their interfaces

The interfacial structure of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) is governed by the competing effects of the randomization due to the molecular polarizability and the ordered structure stabilized by π⁺–π⁺ interactions between the cationic molecules of RTILs.

Structures of Ionic Liquids Having Both Anionic and Cationic Octyl Tails: Lamellar Vacuum Interface vs Sponge-Like Bulk Order

Numerous experimental and computational studies have shown that the structure of ionic liquids is significantly influenced by confinement and by interactions with interfaces. The nature of the interface can affect the immediate ordering of cations and anions, changing important rheological characteristics relevant to lubrication. Most studies suggest that such changes are local or short-ranged and that bulk properties are reestablished on a length scale of a few nanometers. The current study focuses on the 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium octylsulfate ionic liquid for which both the cation and anion have moderate length linear alkyl tails. For this system, we find that the bulk phase is dominated by the very common sponge-like morphology characteristic of many ionic liquids. However, at the vacuum interface, a lamellar structure is observed that is not restricted to the vicinity of the surface but instead extends across the full 9 nm slab of our simulation. We suspect that in reality it could extend significantly beyond this.

Effect of cation symmetry on the organization of ionic liquids near a charged mica surface

Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out to understand the effect of the symmetry of cations on the microscopic organization of ionic liquids near a charged mica surface. Ionic liquids with a 1,3-alkylimidazolium ([C(n)C(m)im](+)) cation and a bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf2](-)) anion were investigated. Apart from symmetry, the length of the alkyl group attached to the cation is found to crucially determine the ion structure near the solid surface. In the first adsorbed layer, the ring planes of cations with shorter alkyl groups (less than four carbon atoms) are oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the surface. However, cations with longer alkyl tails are exclusively observed to have their ring planes parallel to the mica surface. The alkyl groups too show a similar dependence of their orientation on the tail length. Further, symmetric cations with alkyl groups of intermediate length are more highly structured at the interface than their asymmetric counterparts.

Particle self-assembly at ionic liquid-based interfaces

This review presents an overview of the nature of ionic liquid (IL)-based interfaces and self-assembled particle morphologies of IL-in-water, oil- and water-in-IL, and novel IL-in-IL Pickering emulsions with emphasis on their unique phenomena, by means of experimental and computational studies. In IL-in-water Pickering emulsions, particles formed monolayers at ionic liquid-water interfaces and were close-packed on fully covered emulsion droplets or aggregated on partially covered droplets. Interestingly, other than equilibrating at the ionic liquid-water interfaces, microparticles with certain surface chemistries were extracted into the ionic liquid phase with a high efficiency. These experimental findings were supported by potential of mean force calculations, which showed large energy drops as hydrophobic particles crossed the interface into the IL phase. In the oil- and water-in-IL Pickering emulsions, microparticles with acidic surface chemistries formed monolayer bridges between the internal phase droplets rather than residing at the oil/water-ionic liquid interfaces, a significant deviation from traditional Pickering emulsion morphology. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed aspects of the mechanism behind this bridging phenomenon, including the role of the droplet phase, surface chemistry, and inter-particle film. Novel IL-in-IL Pickering emulsions exhibited an array of self-assembled morphologies including the previously observed particle absorption and bridging phenomena. The appearance of these morphologies depended on the particle surface chemistry as well as the ILs used. The incorporation of particle self-assembly with ionic liquid science allows for new applications at the intersection of these two fields, and have the potential to be numerous due to the tunability of the ionic liquids and particles incorporated, as well as the particle morphology by combining certain groups of particle surface chemistry, IL type (protic or aprotic), and whether oil or water is incorporated.

Influence of the ionic liquid/gas surface on ionic liquid chemistry

Applications such as gas storage, gas separation, NP synthesis and supported ionic liquid phase catalysis depend upon the interaction of different species with the ionic liquid/gas surface. Consequently, these applications cannot proceed to the full extent of their potential without a profound understanding of the surface structure and properties. As a whole, this perspective contains more questions than answers, which demonstrates the current state of the field. Throughout this perspective, crucial questions are posed and a roadmap is proposed to answer these questions. A critical analysis is made of the field of ionic liquid/gas surface structure and properties, and a number of design rules are mined. The effects of ionic additives on the ionic liquid/gas surface structure are presented. A possible driving force for surface formation is discussed that has, to the best of my knowledge, not been postulated in the literature to date. This driving force suggests that for systems composed solely of ions, the rules for surface formation of dilute electrolytes do not apply. The interaction of neutral additives with the ionic liquid/gas surface is discussed. Particular attention is focussed upon H(2)O and CO(2), vital additives for many applications of ionic liquids. Correlations between ionic liquid/gas surface structure and properties, ionic liquid surfaces plus additives, and ionic liquid applications are given.

Molecular dynamics simulations of nanoparticle self-assembly at ionic liquid-water and ionic liquid-oil interfaces

We have studied the self-assembly of hydrophobic nanoparticles at ionic liquid (IL)-water and IL-oil (hexane) interfaces using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF(6)])/water system, the nanoparticles rapidly approached the IL-water interface and equilibrated more into the IL phase although they were initially in the water phase. In contrast, when the nanoparticles were dispersed in the hexane phase, they slowly approached the IL-hexane interface but remained primarily in the hexane phase. Consequently, the IL-hexane interface was rather undisturbed by the nanoparticles whereas the IL-water interface changed significantly in width and morphology to accommodate the presence of the nanoparticles. The equilibrium positions of the nanoparticles were also supported and explained by potential of mean force (PMF) calculations. Interesting ordering and charge distributions were observed at the IL-liquid interfaces. At the IL-hexane interface, the [BMIM] cations preferentially oriented themselves so that they were immersed more in the hexane phase and packed efficiently to reduce steric hindrance. The ordering likely contributed to a heightened IL density and a slightly positive charge at the IL-hexane interface. In contrast, the cations at the IL-water interface were oriented isotropically unless in the presence of nanoparticles, where the cations aligned across the nanoparticle surfaces.