Multiple evidences of dynamic heterogeneity in hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents

Unraveling relationship between complex lifetimes and microscopic diffusion in deep eutectic solvents

Aqueous mixtures of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as a subject of interest in recent years for their tailored physicochemical properties. However, a comprehensive understanding of water's multifaceted influence on the microscopic dynamics, including its impact on improved transport properties of the DES, remains elusive. Additionally, the diffusion mechanisms within DESs manifest heterogeneous behavior, intricately tied to the formation and dissociation kinetics of complexes and hydrogen bonds. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the intricate interplay between bond kinetics, diffusion mechanism, and dynamical heterogeneity. This work employs water as an agent to explore their relationships by studying various relaxation phenomena in a DES based on acetamide and lithium perchlorate over a wide range of water concentrations. Notably, acetamide exhibits Fickian yet non-Gaussian diffusion across all water concentrations with Fickian (τf) and Gaussian (τg) timescales following a power-law relationship, τg∝τfγ, γ ∼ 1.4. The strength of coupling between bond kinetics and different diffusion timescales is estimated through various power-law relationships. Notably, acetamide-water hydrogen bond lifetime is linked to diffusive timescales through a single power-law over the entire water concentration studied. However, the relationship between diffusive timescales and the lifetime of acetamide-lithium complexes shows a sharp transition in behavior at 20 wt. % water, reflecting a change from vehicular diffusion below this concentration to structural diffusion above it. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of understanding bond dynamics within DESs, as they closely correlate with and regulate the molecular diffusion processes within these systems.

Menthol-Based (Deep) Eutectic Solvents: A Review on Properties and Application in Extraction

In the last 10 years the interest in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a new class of green solvents has considerably increased. The emergence of numerous of hydrophobic DESs has stimulated intensive research into their application in extraction technologies, including sample preparation. As the properties of such systems are highly dependent on the properties of their components (hydrogen bond donors and acceptors) and can be finely tuned, DESs can be successfully used for the extraction of both metal ions and organic substances, including biomolecules. Despite the rapidly increasing number of publications on the use of DESs as an extraction medium, including review articles, information on the extraction properties of DESs in terms of their chemical composition has not yet been summarized. This review covers available literature data on the physicochemical properties of menthol-based eutectic solvents and the results of their practical application as an extraction medium. Also, the appropriateness of using the term "DES" for all mixtures with melting points lower than the melting points of their components is discussed.

Solvation Shell Anatomy of H2S and CO Dissolved in Reline and Ethaline Deep Eutectic Solvents

Rising atmospheric concentrations of anthropogenic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO) as a result of industrialization have encouraged researchers to explore innovative technologies for capturing these gases. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an alternative media for mitigating H2S and CO emissions. Herein, we have employed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structures of the nearest-neighbor solvation shells surrounding H2S and CO when they are dissolved in reline and ethaline DESs. We aim to delineate the structural arrangement responsible for favorable H2S and CO capture by analyzing the key interactions between H2S and CO solutes with various components of the DESs. We observe that in the reline-H2S system, chloride and carbonyl oxygen of urea are found to have the closest distance interaction with hydrogen atoms of the H2S solute. The sulfur atom of H2S is found to be predominantly solvated by hydrogen and oxygen atoms of urea molecules and the hydroxyl hydrogen of choline cations. The chloride ions and ethylene glycol molecules predominantly govern the solvation of H2S in the ethaline-H2S system. In both the DESs, H2S is solvated by the hydroxyl group of the choline cations rather than by their ammonium group. In the reline-CO system, all the atoms of urea along with chloride dominate the immediate solvation shell around CO. In the ethaline-CO system, hydroxyl oxygen and hydrogen atoms of ethylene glycol are found in the nearest solvation structure around CO. Both the DESs exhibit a stronger solvent-solute charge-transfer tendency toward the H2S solute compared to CO.

Correlation of solute diffusion with dynamic viscosity in lithium salt-added (choline chloride + glycerol) deep eutectic solvents

Due to their favorable physicochemical properties, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are finding increased use in chemistry. Metal salt-added DESs are currently being investigated for their potential applications in electrochemistry as a replacement for organic electrolytes. Insights into solute diffusion in salt-added DESs, in this context, are of the utmost importance. Solute diffusion in a LiCl-added DES composed of the H-bond acceptor choline chloride and the H-bond donor glycerol in a 1 : 2 mole ratio, named glyceline, is assessed as a function of temperature and LiCl concentration. For relative translational diffusion, the fluorophore-quencher pair of pyrene-nitromethane is used, whereas for rotational diffusion a fluorescent anisotropic rotor, perylene, is selected. The fluorescence quenching of pyrene by nitromethane was found to be purely dynamic in nature. The estimated bimolecular quenching rate constant (kq) exhibits excellent adherence to the Stokes-Einstein relation, suggesting relative translational diffusion of the solute to be controlled by the dynamic viscosity of the LiCl-added glyceline solution. The rotational reorientation time (θ) of the rotor perylene is also found to scale with dynamic viscosity and obey the Stokes-Einstein relation satisfactorily. Linear correlation between θ and dynamic viscosity (η) improves for glyceline solutions with fixed LiCl concentrations hinting at the possible change in the hydrodynamic volume with LiCl concentration within the DES. Control of rotational diffusion of the solute by the dynamic viscosity is established nonetheless. The effect of earlier reported micro- and/or nano-heterogeneities within salt-added DES systems on solute diffusion dynamics is found to be minimal. The work highlights DESs in offering a solubilizing medium for solutes where the diffusion dynamics are simply controlled by the dynamic viscosity.

Solvation Shell Structures of Ammonia in Reline and Ethaline Deep Eutectic Solvents

Because of increasing atmospheric anthropogenic ammonia (NH₃) emission, researchers are devising new techniques to capture NH₃. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are found as potential media for NH₃ mitigation. In the present study, we have carried out ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to decipher the solvation shell structures of an ammonia solute in reline (1:2 mixture of choline chloride and urea) and ethaline (1:2 mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol) DESs. We aim to resolve the fundamental interactions which help stabilize NH₃ in these DESs, focusing on the structural arrangement of the DES species in the nearest solvation shell around NH₃ solute. In reline, the hydrogen atoms of NH₃ are preferentially solvated by chloride anions and the carbonyl oxygen atoms of urea. The nitrogen atom of NH₃ renders hydrogen bonding with hydroxyl hydrogen of the choline cation. The positively charged head groups of the choline cations prefer to stay away from NH₃ solute. In ethaline, strong hydrogen bonding interaction exists between the nitrogen atom of NH₃ and hydroxyl hydrogen atoms of ethylene glycol. The hydrogen atoms of NH₃ are found to be solvated by hydroxyl oxygen atoms of ethylene glycol and choline cation. While ethylene glycol molecules play a crucial role in solvating NH₃, the chloride anions remain passive in deciding the first solvation shell. In both the DESs, choline cations approach NH₃ from their hydroxyl group side. We observe slightly stronger solute-solvent charge transfer and hydrogen bonding interaction in ethaline than those in reline.

Solvent Organization around Methane Dissolved in Archetypal Reline and Ethaline Deep Eutectic Solvents as Revealed by AIMD Investigation

Because of the rising concentration of harmful greenhouse gases like methane in the atmosphere, researchers are striving for developing novel techniques for capturing these gases. Recently, neoteric liquids such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as an efficient means of sequestration of methane. Herein, we have performed ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations to elucidate the solvation structure around a methane molecule dissolved in reline and ethaline DESs. We aim to elicit the structural organization of different constituents of the DESs in the vicinity of methane, particularly highlighting the key interactions that stabilize such gases in DESs. We observe quite different solvation structures of methane in the two DESs. In ethaline, chloride ions play an active role in solvating methane. Instead, in reline, chloride ions do not interact much with the methane molecule in the first solvation shell. In reline, choline cations approach the methane molecule from their hydroxyl group side, whereas urea molecules approach methane from their carbonyl oxygen as well as amide group sides. In ethaline, ethylene glycol and Cl^- dominate the nearest neighbor solvation structure around the methane molecule. In both the DESs, we do not observe any significant methane-DES charge transfer interactions, apart from what is present between choline cation and Cl^- anion.

The Analysis of WJ Distribution as an Extended Gaussian Function: Case Study

The double exponential WJ distribution has been shown to competently describe extreme events and critical phenomena, while the Gaussian function has celebrated rich applications in many other fields. Here we present the analysis that the WJ distribution may be properly treated as an extended Gaussian function. Based on the Taylor expansion, we propose three methods to formulate the WJ distribution in the form of Gaussian functions, with Method I and Method III being accurate and self-consistent, and elaborate the relationship among the parameters of the functions. Moreover, we derive the parameter scaling formula of the WJ distribution to express a general Gaussian function, with the work illustrated by a classical case of extreme events and critical phenomena and application to topical medical image processing to prove the effectiveness of the WJ distribution rather than the Gaussian function. Our results sturdily advocate that the WJ distribution can elegantly represent a Gaussian function of arbitrary parameters, whereas the latter usually is not able to satisfactorily describe the former except for specific parameter sets. Thus, it is conclusive that the WJ distribution offers applicability in extreme events and critical phenomena as well as processes describable by the Gaussian function, namely, implying plausibly a unifying approach to the pertinent data processing of those quite distinct areas and establishing a link between relevant extreme value theories and Gaussian processes.

An Overview of Structure and Dynamics Associated with Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents and Their Applications in Extraction Processes

Recent development of novel water-immiscible green solvents known as hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) has opened the gates for applications requiring media where presence of water is undesirable. Ever since they were prepared, researchers have used HDESs in diverse fields such as extraction processes, CO 2 sequestration, membrane formation, and catalysis. The microstructure and dynamics associated with the species comprising HDESs guide their suitability for specific applications. For example, varying the alkyl tail length of HDES components significantly affects the dynamics of the components and thus helps in tuning the efficiency of extraction processes. The development of HDESs is still in infancy and very few theoretical studies are available in the literature that help in understanding the structure and dynamics of HDESs. This review highlights the recent work focused on the microscopic structure and dynamics of HDESs and their potential applications, particularly in extraction processes. We have also provided a glimpse of how the integration of experiments and computational techniques can help understand the mechanism of extraction processes.

Improvement of solubility, stability and antioxidant activity of carotenoids using deep eutectic solvent-based microemulsions

Natural carotenoids have been widely used as colorants and antioxidants in process of food, medicine, and cosmetic. However, the carotenoids have low bioactivity in vivo due to poor water-solubility. To enhance the solubility, stability and antioxidant activity of carotenoids, novel microemulsions (MEs) composed with deep eutectic solvents (DESs), tween 80 and water were developed as alternatives to organic solvents. The phase diagrams and physicochemical properties (viscosity, pH, and diameter) of the DES-based MEs were investigated at different temperatures. Then the solubility distribution, storage stability and DPPH free radical-scavenging activity of three carotenoids (astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester and lutein) in the MEs were evaluated. Compared with ethanol, methanol, and acetone, all the DES-based MEs studied significantly enhanced the solubility of the carotenoids due to the stronger hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals interactions. The highest solubilities of 0.27, 473.63, and 12.50 mg/mL for astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester and lutein, respectively, were observed in the MEs containing DES (DL-menthol:acetic acid = 1:2) at 35 ℃. Moreover, astaxanthin ester can be well preserved in the MEs containing DES (DL-menthol:octanoic acid = 1:2) with a half-life of more than 69 days. In addition, the DPPH scavenging capacities of the three carotenoids in all the MEs were higher than the organic solvents. The results revealed that the DES-based MEs with low viscosity (<0.2 Pa•s) and mild acidic pH (4-5) are potential solvents for natural carotenoids in food processing and storage, medicine making, as well as biomaterials processing.

Effect of Water on a Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) formed by hydrogen bond donors and acceptors are a promising new class of solvents. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic binary DESs readily absorb water, making them ternary mixtures, and a small water content is always inevitable under ambient conditions. We present a thorough study of a typical hydrophobic DES formed by a 1:2 mole ratio of tetrabutyl ammonium chloride and decanoic acid, focusing on the effects of a low water content caused by absorbed water vapor, using multinuclear NMR techniques, molecular modeling, and several other physicochemical techniques. Already very low water contents cause dynamic nanoscale phase segregation, reduce solvent viscosity and fragility, increase self-diffusion coefficients and conductivity, and enhance local dynamics. Water interferes with the hydrogen-bonding network between the chloride ions and carboxylic acid groups by solvating them, which enhances carboxylic acid self-correlation and ion pair formation between tetrabutyl ammonium and chloride. Simulations show that the component molar ratio can be varied, with an effect on the internal structure. The water-induced changes in the physical properties are beneficial for most prospective applications but water creates an acidic aqueous nanophase with a high halide ion concentration, which may have chemically adverse effects.

Computer Simulations of Deep Eutectic Solvents: Challenges, Solutions, and Perspectives

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are one of the most rapidly evolving types of solvents, appearing in a broad range of applications, such as nanotechnology, electrochemistry, biomass transformation, pharmaceuticals, membrane technology, biocomposite development, modern 3D-printing, and many others. The range of their applicability continues to expand, which demands the development of new DESs with improved properties. To do so requires an understanding of the fundamental relationship between the structure and properties of DESs. Computer simulation and machine learning techniques provide a fruitful approach as they can predict and reveal physical mechanisms and readily be linked to experiments. This review is devoted to the computational research of DESs and describes technical features of DES simulations and the corresponding perspectives on various DES applications. The aim is to demonstrate the current frontiers of computational research of DESs and discuss future perspectives.

Deep eutectic solvents-The vital link between ionic liquids and ionic solutions

When selecting a solvent for a given solute, the strongly held idiom "like dissolves like", meaning that polar solvents are used for polar solutes, is often used. This idea has resulted from the concept that most molecular solvents are homogeneous. In a deep eutectic solvent (DES), however, both components can be ionic or non-ionic, polar or non-polar. By tuning the components, DESs can solubilize a wide variety of solutes, often mixing hydrophobic and hydrophilic components, and the mixture can be designed to control phase behavior. The liquids often contain significant short-length order, and preferential solvation of one component often occurs. The addition of small polar molecules such as water or alcohols results in non-homogeneous liquids, which have significantly decreased viscosity and increased ionic conductivity. Accordingly, the areas covered in this special issue focus on structure and dynamics, solvation, the mobility of charged species, and the ability to obtain controllable phase behavior by adding polar diluents or using hydrophobic DESs.

Hydrogen Bonding and Vaporization Thermodynamics in Hexafluoroisopropanol-Acetone and -Methanol Mixtures. A Joined Cluster Analysis and Molecular Dynamic Study

Binary mixtures of hexafluoroisopropanol with either methanol or acetone are analyzed via classical molecular dynamics simulations and quantum cluster equilibrium calculations. In particular, their populations and thermodynamic properties are investigated with the binary quantum cluster equilibrium method, using our in‐house code peacemaker 2.8, upgraded with temperature‐dependent parameters. A novel approach, where the final density from classical molecular dynamics, has been used to generate the necessary reference isobars. The hydrogen bond network in both type of mixtures at molar fraction of hexafluoroisopropanol of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 respectively is investigated via the molecular dynamics trajectories and the cluster results. In particular, the populations show that mixed clusters are preferred in both systems even at 0.2 molar fractions of hexafluoroisopropanol. Enthalpies and entropies of vaporization are calculated for the neat and mixed systems and found to be in good agreement with experimental values.