Nanostructure Determines the Wettability of Gold Surfaces by Ionic Liquid Ultrathin Films

Carbon-Induced Changes in the Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Ionic Liquids on the Mesoscale

Thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) have gained significant attention due to their unique properties and broad applications. Extensive research has focused on studying the influence of ILs' chemical composition and substrate characteristics on the structure and morphology of IL films at the nano- and mesoscopic scales. This study explores the impact of carbon-coated surfaces on the morphology and wetting behavior of a series of alkylimidazolium-based ILs. Specifically, this work investigates the effect of carbon coating on the morphology and wetting behavior of short-chain ([C2C1im][NTf2] and [C2C1im][OTf]) and long-chain ([C8C1im][NTf2] and [C8C1im][OTf]) ILs deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO), silver (Ag), and gold (Au) substrates. A reproducible vapor deposition methodology was utilized for the deposition process. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphological and structural characteristics of the substrates and obtained IL films. The experimental data revealed that the IL films deposited on carbon-coated Au substrates showed minor changes in their morphology compared to that of the films deposited on clean Au surfaces. However, the presence of carbon coatings on the ITO and Ag surfaces led to significant morphological alterations in the IL films. Specifically, for short-chain ILs, the carbon film surface induced 2D growth of the IL film, followed by subsequent island growth. In contrast, for long-chain ILs deposited on carbon surfaces, layer-by-layer growth occurred without island formation, resulting in highly uniform and coalesced IL films. The extent of morphological changes observed in the IL films was found to be influenced by two crucial factors: the thickness of the carbon film on the substrate surface and the amount of IL deposition.

Confined Silver Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Films

This work reports the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by sputter deposition in thin films of three different ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and cation (imidazolium), but with different alkyl chain lengths and symmetries in the cationic moiety ([C4C1im][NTf2], [C2C2im][NTf2], and [C5C5im][NTf2]). Ionic liquid (IL) films in the form of microdroplets with different thicknesses (200 to 800 monolayers) were obtained through vacuum thermal evaporation onto glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO). The sputtering process of the Ag onto the ILs when conducted simultaneously with argon plasma promoted the coalescence of the ILs’ droplets and the formation, incorporation, and stabilization of the metallic nanoparticles in the coalesced IL films. The formation/stabilization of the AgNPs in the IL films was confirmed using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that the IL films with larger thicknesses (600 and 800 monolayers) were better media for the formation of AgNPs. Among the ILs used, [C5C5im][NTf2] was found to be particularly promising for the stabilization of AgNPs. The use of larger IL droplets as capture media was found to promote a better stabilization of the AgNPs, thereby reducing their tendency to aggregate.

Nucleation, Coalescence, and Thin-Film Growth of Triflate-Based Ionic Liquids on ITO, Ag, and Au Surfaces

This study investigates the nucleation and growth of micro-/nanodroplets of triflate-based ionic liquids (ILs) fabricated by vapor deposition on different surfaces: indium tin oxide (ITO); silver (Ag); gold (Au). The ILs studied are constituted by the alkylimidazolium cation and the triflate anion—[CnC1im][OTF] series. One of the key issues that determine the potential applications of ILs is the wettability of surfaces. Herein, the wetting behavior was evaluated by changing the cation alkyl chain length (C2 to C10). A reproducible control of the deposition rate was conducted employing Knudsen cells, and the thin-film morphology was evaluated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study reported here for the [CnC1im][OTF] series agrees with recent data for the [CnC1im][NTf2] congeners, highlighting the higher wettability of the solid substrates to long-chain alkylimidazolium cations. Compared to [NTf2], the [OTF] series evidenced an even more pronounced wetting ability on Au and coalescence processes of droplets highly intense on ITO. Higher homogeneity and film cohesion were found for cationic groups associated with larger alkyl side chains. An island growth was observed on both Ag and ITO substrates independently of the cation alkyl chain length. The Ag surface promoted the formation of smaller-size droplets. A quantitative analysis of the number of microdroplets formed on Ag and ITO revealed a trend shift around [C6C1im][OTF], emphasizing the effect of the nanostructuration intensification due to the formation of nonpolar continuous domains.

The impact of the cation alkyl chain length on the wettability of alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids at the nanoscale

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely used for energy storage and conversion devices due to their negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and outstanding interfacial properties. Notably, the interfacial nanostructure and the wettability of thin ionic liquid films on solid surfaces are of utmost relevance in nanosurface science and technology. Herein, a reproducible physical vapor deposition methodology was used to fabricate thin films of four alkylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ILs. The effect of the cation alkyl chain length on the wettability of ILs was explored on different surfaces: gold (Au); silver (Ag); indium-tin oxide (ITO). High-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to evaluate the morphology of the produced micro- and nanodroplets and films. SEM and AFM results revealed an island growth for all the ILs deposited on ITO and Ag surfaces, with a lower minimum free area to promote nucleation (MFAN) in Ag and higher wettability for ILs having larger non-polar domains. The low wettability of ITO by the studied ILs was highlighted. For long-chain ILs, nucleation and growth mechanisms were strongly conditioned by coalescence processes. The results also supported the higher affinity of the ILs to the Au surface. The increase in the length of the cation alkyl chain was found to promote a better film adhesion inducing a 2D growth and higher wetting ability.