Switching of hydrogen bonds of water in ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

We have investigated temperature‐induced Raman spectral changes of deuterated water in an ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), between room temperature and 77 K. The comparison of the OH and OD stretching vibrational spectra at 77 K shows that the strength of the hydrogen bonds in [bmim][BF₄]–water mixtures strongly depends on the type of water, i.e. H₂O and D₂O. In the [bmim][BF₄]–D₂O system, remarkably strong hydrogen bonds form at low temperatures, but they switch to nearly free hydrogen bonds on heating. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ionic liquid structure: the conformational isomerism in 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4])

As a probe of local structure, the vibrational properties of the 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF₄] ionic liquid were studied by infrared (IR), Raman spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations. The coexistence of at least four [bmim]⁺ conformers (GG, GA, TA, and AA) at room temperature was established through unique spectral responses. The Raman modes characteristic of the two most stable [bmim]⁺ conformers, GA and AA, according to the ab initio calculations, increase in intensity with decreasing temperature. To assess the total spectral behavior of the ionic liquid both the contributions of different [bmim]⁺ conformers and the [bmim]⁺− [BF₄]⁻ interactions to the vibrational spectra are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of ionic liquid-functionalized alumino-silicate MCM-41 hybrid mesoporous materials

Ionic liquid-functionalized alumino-silicate MCM-41 hybrid mesoporous materials have been synthesized with two-step approach, by means of in situ skeleton doping with aluminium and post surface grafting with N-methylimidazole ionic liquid groups. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, ²⁷Al and ¹³C MAS NMR spectra and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of NH₃. The results indicated that the bifunctionalized MCM-41 possessed ordered mesostructure. Aluminium was efficiently introduced into the framework of the mesostructure, generating Lewis and Brönsted acid sites. N-methylimidazole ionic liquid groups were covalently grafted onto the surface of mesoporous materials. The as-synthesized bifunctional MCM-41 showed good catalytic performance in the coupling reaction of CO₂ and propylene oxide.     

N.M.R. studies of liquid boron trifluoride

Previous ¹⁹F N.M.R. studies of liquid BF₃ have been extended by obtaining the ¹¹B spectrum of BF₃ and the ¹⁹F spectrum of ¹⁰BF₃ at various temperatures. Values for the B-F coupling constant and the boron relaxation times have been obtained by computer matching and visual matching of observed and calculated spectra. Relaxation times have the Arrhenius temperature dependence found previously. The temperature dependence of the B-F coupling constant is discussed. Some of the possible advantages of ‘high spin spectra’ are discussed.     

Vanadium phosphates on mesoporous supports: model catalysts for solid-state NMR studies of the selective oxidation of n-butane

SBA-15 was utilized as mesoporous support for the dispersion of vanadium phosphate (VPO) compounds. Loading of SBA-15 with VPO compounds was found to be accompanied by decreasing ²⁹Si MAS NMR signals of Q² (Si(2Si,2OH)) and Q³ (Si(3Si,1OH)) silicon species, which indicates coverage of the mesoporous support by the guest compounds. The ⁵¹V MAS NNR spectra of the activated VPO/SBA-15 catalysts consist of patterns typical for the α_II- and β-phases of vanadyl orthophosphate. In the ³¹P MAS NMR spectra of the activated VPO/SBA-15 catalysts, signals of β-, δ-, and α_II-VOPO₄ phases could be identified. Upon conversion of n-butane-¹³C₄, a strong decrease of the ³¹P MAS NMR signals characteristic for the δ-VOPO₄ phase occurred, while by ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy the formation of maleic anhydride, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide was observed. This finding supports the active role of the δ-VOPO₄ phase in the selective oxidation of n-butane on VPO/SBA-15 catalysts.     

Thermodynamic properties of some ionic liquids using a simple equation of state

In this work, we have used a simple equation of state (EoS) to predict the density and other thermodynamic properties such as isobaric expansion coefficient, α_P , isothermal compressibility, κ_T, and internal pressure, P_i, for nine ionic liquids including trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium chloride ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][Cl]), trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium acetate ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][Ac]), trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][NTf₂]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([bmim][NTf₂]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([hmim][NTf₂]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), 1-butyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([omim][BF₄]), 1-butyl-3-octylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([omim][PF₆]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) at different temperatures and pressures. A wide comparison with experimental and literature data has been made. The results show that this EoS can be used to reproduce and predict different thermodynamic properties of ionic liquids within experimental errors.     

离子液体阳离子在空气/[bmim][BF4]水溶液界面的取向和结构

采用和频振动光谱研究了空气/[bmim][BF₄]低浓度水溶液界面的取向结构. 研究发现,在体相浓度非常低时,丁基链具有较大的旁式扭曲,表明此时的取向比较无序;阳离子咪唑环则采取一个较小的取向角. 随着浓度的升高,阳离子咪唑环趋向平躺在界面. 由于链-链相互作用,此时丁基链的旁式扭曲也减小,说明界面分子的取向变得有序. 进一步研究发现,PPP和SPS光谱上甲基反对称的峰存在位移,表明界面丁基链上的甲基存在不同取向或具有不同的化学环境.结果有助于从微观层次理解水溶性离子液体和基于咪唑的表面活性剂在界面上的物理化学行为.     

Optical oxygen sensing materials based on a novel dirhenium(I) complex assembled in mesoporous silica

A new dirhenium(I) complex fac-[{Re(CO)₃(4,7-dinonadecyl-1,10-phenanthro -line)}₂ (4,4′-bipyridyl)] (trifluoromethanesulfonate)₂ (denoted as D-Re(I) ) is assembled in MCM-41 and SBA-15 type mesoporous silica support. The emission peaks of D-Re(I) in D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 are observed at 522 and 517 nm, respectively. Their long excited lifetimes, which are of the order of microseconds, indicate the presence of phosphorescence emission arising from the metal to ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition. The luminescence intensities of D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 decrease remarkably with increase in the oxygen concentration, meaning that they can be used as optical oxygen sensing materials based on luminescence quenching. The ratios I₀/I₁₀₀ of D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 are estimated to be 5.6 and 20.1, respectively. The obtained Stern-Volmer oxygen quenching plots of the mesoporous sensing materials could be fitted well to the two-site Demas model and Lehrer model.     

Novel room temperature ionic liquid for fluorescence enhancement of Eu and Tb

The newly prepared ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium benzoate, ([bmim][BA]), was found to enhance the fluorescence of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. The fluorescence enhancement resulted from a sensitization of the lanthanide fluorescence by the benzoate anion of the ionic liquid, [bmim][BA], and a reduction in the non-radiative channels in the non-aqueous environment provided by the ionic liquid. However, the fluorescence enhancement of the lanthanides in the ionic liquid was limited due to the operation of the inner filter effect, which resulted from the strong absorption of the benzoate. The inner filter effect was minimized by observing the Eu³⁺ fluorescence using a front face geometry and also by diluting the lanthanide-[bmim][BA] system, using another ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][Tf₂N]), as a solvent. In the case of Tb³⁺, the emission from the lanthanide was masked by the strong emission from the ionic liquid in the region 450-580 nm. The long lived Tb³⁺ emission was therefore observed using delayed gated detection, where an appropriate delay was used to discriminate against the short lived emission from the ionic liquid. The large fluorescence enhancement due to ligand sensitized fluorescence observed with [bmim][BA] diluted in [bmim][Tf₂N], leads to nanomolar detection of the lanthanides. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of an ionic liquid being employed for ligand sensitized fluorescence enhancement of lanthanides.     

Ionic association and conductance of ionic liquids in dichloromethane at temperatures from 278.15 to 303.15 K

The electrical conductances of very dilute solutions of the ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [emim][BF₄] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF₄] in the low-permittivity solvent dichloromethane have been measured in the temperature range from 278.15 to 303.15 K at 5 K intervals. The data was analyzed assuming the possible presence of contact (CIP) and solvent-separated (SSIP) ion pairs in the solution on the basis of lcCM model to obtain ionic association constants, K _A, and the limiting molar conductivities, Λ_o, of these electrolytes. The examined ionic liquids are strongly associated in dichloromethane over the whole temperature range. From the temperature dependence of the limiting molar conductivities, the Eyring’s activation enthalpy of charge transport was determined. The thermodynamic functions such as Gibbs energy, entropy, and enthalpy of the process of ion pair formation were calculated from the temperature dependence of the association constants.     

High pressure Raman study on the local structure of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate

We have investigated the pressure-induced Raman spectral changes of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF₄]). We found that [emim][BF₄] did not crystallize up to 1.2 GPa. The Raman CH stretching spectra arising from the CH₃ groups of the ethyl-chain and the CH₃ group adjacent to the imidazolium-ring in [emim]⁺ cation largely changed against pressure. Moreover, the Raman intensity of the CH₂ (N) bending band arising from the alkyl-chain drastically changes with increasing pressure, but that of the imidazolium-ring in-plane bending band arising from the imidazolium-ring is independent of pressure. Our results show that the environment around the alkyl-chain of [emim][BF₄] is largely perturbed rather than that around the imidazolium-ring upon compression.     

Study on ethyl groups with two different orientations in [N(C2H5)4]2CuBr4

The crystal structure and phase transition temperature of [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CuBr₄ are studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); measurements revealed a tetragonal structure and the two phase transition temperatures T_C of 204 K and 255.5 K. The structural geometry near T_C is discussed in terms of the chemical shifts for ¹H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR. The two inequivalent ethyl groups are distinguishable by the ¹³C NMR spectrum. The molecular motions are discussed in terms of the spin–lattice relaxation times T_1ρ in the rotating frame for ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR. The T_1ρ results reveal that the ethyl groups undergo tumbling motion, and furthermore that the ethyl groups are highly mobile.     

Comparison of silver nanoparticles confined in nanoporous silica prepared by chemical synthesis and by ultra-short pulsed laser ablation in liquid

Hexagonally ordered mesoporous silica materials, MCM-41 and SBA-15, have been synthesized and loaded with Ag nanoparticles, utilizing both chemical synthesis and ultra-short pulsed laser ablation in liquid. In laser ablation, a silver target, immersed in aqueous suspension of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15, was irradiated by ultra-short laser pulses to generate silver nanoparticles. For comparison, samples of similar silver contents were prepared either by incorporating silver into the SBA-15 during a hydrothermal synthesis or by introducing silver in MCM-41 by template ion-exchange. Samples were characterized by XRD, N₂ physisorption, TEM and UV–vis spectroscopy. All preparations contained significant amount of 5–50 nm size silver agglomerates on the outer surface of the silica particles. The laser ablation process did not cause significant destruction of the SBA-15 structure and metallic silver (Ag⁰) nanoparticles were mainly generated. It is demonstrated that by laser ablation in aqueous silica suspension smaller and more uniform metallic silver particles can be produced and loaded on the surface of the silica support than by synthesis procedures. Catalytic properties of the samples have been tested in the total oxidation of toluene. Because of its favorable Ag dispersity, the Ag/SBA-15 catalyst, generated by the laser ablation method, had better catalytic stability and, relative to its Ag load, higher activity than the conventional Ag/SBA-15 preparations.     

吡啶离子液体与水混合体系中蒽醌-2-磺酸钠的激光闪光光解机理

利用激光闪光光解技术研究了蒽醌-2-磺酸钠(AQS)在吡啶离子液体N-丁基吡啶四氟硼酸盐([BPy][BF₄])与水(H₂O)混合体系中的光化学反应过程. 实验结果表明,AQS的激发三重态(³AQS^*) 会与H₂O快速反应,不断增加[BPy][BF₄]在混合体系中的体积比(V_IL),瞬态吸收光谱发生了很大变化. 510 nm附近的瞬态吸收带变化最大,在0< V_IL< 0.1时,吸光度会随着[BPy][BF₄]的增加而增加;而在V_IL>0.1时,吸光度则随着比例的增加而减小. 然而380 nm附近吸收带的吸光度却一直在增加. 通过拟合近似地得到了瞬态物种B和³AQS^*的表观动力学参数. 另外还讨论了³AQS^* 与阳离子之间的夺氢反应,通过对350~420 nm处光谱图的分析,推断出这一范围的瞬态吸收光谱是³AQS^*与AQSH^·的叠加谱. 在混合体系中,³AQS^*分别与H₂O和[BPy][BF₄]的反应是一对竞争反应. 还发现在高浓度的离子液体环境下,体系的整体反应速率会减弱.     

Pressure-induced crystallization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

We have investigated the pressure-induced crystallization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) associated with the conformational changes of [bmim]⁺ by Raman spectroscopy. [bmim]⁺ has trans-trans and gauche-trans (GT) conformers of the butyl side chain at ambient pressure. Our result revealed that liquid to solid-phase transition occurs at 0.2–0.4 GPa region, where the GT conformer becomes dominant. We found that the GT dominant state continues up to 4 GPa.     

Preparation, characterization, and luminescence properties of novel hybrid material containing europium(III) complex covalently bonded to MCM-41

In this paper, a novel luminescent organic-inorganic hybrid material containing covalently bonded ternary europium complex in mesoporous silica MCM-41 has been successfully prepared by co-condensation of tetrethoxysilane (TEOS) and the modified ligand 2-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phen-3-(triethoxysilyl)propylcarbamate (PIP-Si) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant as template. PIP-Si containing 1,10-phenanthroline covalently grafted to 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate is used not only as a precursor but also as the second ligand for Eu(TTA)₃·2H₂O (TTA: 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetate) complex to prepare a novel functionalized mesoporous material. The resulted mesoporous composite materials, which demonstrate strong characteristic emission lines of Eu³⁺⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4), were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), small-angle X-ray diffraction, excited-state decay analysis. Emission intensity of the Eu(III) complex covalently linked to MCM-41 (Eu-MCM-41) increases with the increasing irradiation time, demonstrating better photostability compared with both pure Eu(III) complex and physically incorporated sample.     

Condensation process of alcohol molecules on mesoporous silica MCM-41 and SBA-15 and fumed silica: a spin-probe ESR study

A few alcoholic solutions of di-tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN), a spin probe, at a high concentration were condensed on several silica materials, such as MCM-41, two types of SBA-15, and fumed silica, at various amounts in vacuum. At a very low solution dose the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum is that of an immobilized nitroxide radical. With increasing solution dose, the spectrum is gradually sharpened and a well-separated three-line spectrum is observed at the dose that is estimated to fill the surface with a monomolecular layer. Thus, the DTBN molecule can make rapid tumbling motion on this solvent layer. With a further increase in the solution dose the ESR spectrum is modified in different ways from system to system: the line width increases approximately linearly with respect to the solution dose for the SBA-15 and fumed silica systems, but it remains almost constant for the MCM-41 system until the solution dose exceeds the total volume of a nanochannel. The line width increase with respect to the solution dose is small for the SBA-15 system but large for the fumed silica system. These results have been interpreted geometrically with the structures of these silica materials and a condensation model for the alcohols on these surfaces. In relation to the present results, a model of the collective molecular flow of the alcohol solutions through the nanochannel of MCM-41 is given.     

Post-treatment of mesoporous material with high temperature for synthesis super-microporous materials with enhanced hydrothermal stability

Super-microporous silicon material with high hydrothermal stability denoted as MCM-48-T has been prepared from mesoporous MCM-48 by high temperature treatment. The structural and chemical property of MCM-48-T has been characterized by variety of techniques such as small-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and ²⁹Si MAS NMR, etc. The results showed that Si-OH groups are forced to condense by the treatment of high temperature and the pore size of MCM-48-T is around 1.03 nm in the super-microporous range. Besides, the ratio of Q⁴/Q³ increases considerably. Compared with the original material (MCM-48), the hydrothermal stability of MCM-48-T has significantly enhanced.     

Surface segregation in binary mixtures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids

Surface composition of binary mixtures of room-temperature ionic liquids has been investigated using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry at room temperature over a wide composition range. The imidazolium cations with longer aliphatic groups tend to segregate to the surface, and a bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion (Tf₂N^?) is enriched at the surface relative to hexafluorophosphate (PF₆^?). The surface of an equimolar mixture of Li[Tf₂N] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) has a nominal composition of [bmim][Tf₂N] because of surface segregation and ligand exchange. The surface segregation of cations and anions is likely to result from alignment of specific ligand-exchanged molecules at the topmost surface layer to exclude more hydrophobic part of the molecules.     

Fabrication and performances of an optical sensor system constructed by a novel Cu(I) complex embedded on silica matrix

In this paper, a novel diamine ligand of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-5-p-tolyl-1.3.4-oxadiazole (PTO) and its corresponding Cu(I) complex of [Cu(PTO)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ with triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) as the auxiliary ligand are synthesized. Single crystal analysis confirms its identity. Its photophysical properties, including UV–vis absorption, emission spectrum, and luminescence decay dynamics, are measured and studied. The room temperature luminescence is a yellow one with long excited state lifetime of 64.4 μs under pure nitrogen atmosphere. Combined with density functional calculation on the cation of the Cu(I) complex, the yellow emission is assigned as a phosphorescent character of metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer, whose excited state is expected to be sensitive towards molecular oxygen. [Cu(PTO)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ is then doped into a silica supporting matrix of MCM-41 to construct an oxygen-sensitive probe of [Cu(PTO)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄/MCM-41, which shows a maximum sensitivity (luminescence intensity in O₂ medium/intensity in N₂ medium) of 5.95 towards oxygen with short response time of 10 s. This sensing system shows a good photodurability upon continuous excitation radiation.