The role of structural and fluidic aspects of room temperature ionic liquids in influencing the morphology of CdSe nano/microstructures grown in situ

Computational approach to (ZnS)_{i} nanoclusters in ionic liquids

Unique and attractive properties have been predicted for II-VI-type semiconductor nanoclusters within the field of nanotechnology. However, the low reaction kinetics within the usual solvents gives only thermodynamic control during their production process, making the obtention of different metastable polymorphs extremely difficult. The use of ionic liquids as solvents has been proposed to overcome this problem. Identifying how these nanoclusters are solvated within ionic liquids is fundamental if this strategy is to be pursued. While computational chemistry tools are best suited for this task, the complexity and size of the system requires a careful design of the simulation protocol, which is put forward in this work. Taking as reference the (ZnS)_{12} nanocluster and the [EMIM][EtSO_{4}] ionic liquid, we characterize the interactions between the nanoparticle and first solvation shell by density functional theory calculations, considering most of the solvent implicitly. The DFT results are consistent through different theory levels showing a strong interaction between the Zn atoms of the nanocluster and the [EtSO_{4}^{-}] anion of the ionic liquid. A more realistic representation of the system is obtained by classical MD calculations, for which various classical force fields were considered and several atomic interactions parameterized. This new set of parameters correctly describes the interaction of different (ZnS) nanoclusters, supporting its transferability. The resulting MD simulation shows the formation of a structured ionic liquid solvation shell around the nanocluster with no exchange of ions for at least 5 ns, in agreement with the strong interactions observed in the density functional theory calculations.

A 10 minute approach for the phase specific synthesis of Se nanoparticles with tunable morphology: their anticancer efficacy and the role of an ionic liquid

The current work demonstrates a rapid and highly facile controlled phase-specific synthesis of Se nanoparticles, their anticancer efficacy and the 3-in-1 role of a RTIL.

Porous nanostructures of SnSe: role of ionic liquid, tuning of nanomorphology and mechanistic studies

Porous SnSe nanoparticles have been synthesized in imidazolium based RTILviaelectron beam irradiation. RTIL provides a stabilizing environment as well as anin situsource of reducing radicals for the reduction of precursors.

A Green Synthesis of Nanosheet-Constructed Pd Particles in an Ionic Liquid and Their Superior Electrocatalytic Performance

The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) is investigated as a solvent for the synthesis of Pd particles. Interestingly, nanosheet-constructed Pd particles could be successfully synthesized in [EMIM]Ac without any additional reducing agent and template under ionothermal conditions. [EMIM]Ac itself works as the solvent, the reducing agent, and the template for the formation of these interesting Pd particles, making this method complementary to the well-known ionic-liquid-precursor approach. Furthermore, [EMIM]Ac can be recycled with no loss of activity for the formation of nanosheet-constructed Pd particles within our studied cycles. Specifically, the nanosheet-constructed Pd particles exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards ethanol oxidation and formic acid oxidation compared with commercially available Pd black catalyst, thus demonstrating their promising applications in fuel-cell area. The current approach, thus, presents a green approach towards the synthesis of Pd particles, using only a simple palladium salt and an ionic liquid.

Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of morphology-controlled TiO2 particles with efficient photocatalytic activity

A facile ionic liquid-assisted route is proposed for the controllable synthesis of anatase TiO₂ particles with efficient photocatalytic activity.