Relaxation processes in room temperature ionic liquids: the case of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate

A detailed investigation on the nature of the relaxation processes occurring in a typical room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), namely, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]), is reported. The study was conducted using both elastic and inelastic neutron scattering over a wide temperature range from 10 to 400 K, accessing the dynamic features of both the liquid and glassy amorphous states. In this study, the inelastic fixed energy scan technique has been applied for the first time to this class of materials. Using this technique, the existence of two relaxation processes below the glass transition and a further diffusive process occurring above the glass-liquid transition are observed. The low temperature processes are associated with methyl group rotation and butyl chain relaxation in the glassy state and have been modeled in terms of two Debye-like, Arrhenius activated processes. The high temperature process has been modeled in terms of a Kohlraush-Williams-Watts relaxation, with a distinct Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman temperature dependence. These results provide novel information that will be useful in rationalizing the observed structural and dynamical behavior of RTILs in the amorphous state.     

Structural organization and phase behaviour of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate: an high pressure Raman spectroscopy study

The complexity of the phase diagram of a representative room temperature ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF(6)]) is explored by means of Raman spectroscopy at high pressure (up to 1000 MPa) and high temperature (from room temperature to 100 °C) conditions. The first experimental evidence of the existence of a second crystalline phase for this salt at high pressure conditions is provided. By comparing the low frequency vibrational bands for the liquid state and the two observed crystalline phases, we confirm the scenario that considers the crystal polymorphism in this class of materials as a consequence of the rotational isomerism of the butyl chain. Furthermore the pressure dependence of other vibrational bands indicates the existence of a structural rearrangement across p≈ 50 MPa at ambient temperature.     

Nonaqueous microemulsion-containing ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] as polar microenvironment

The phase behavior of toluene/Triton X-100 (TX-100)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate([bmim][PF6]) was studied. It was demonstrated that the single-phase microemulsion area covered about 75% of the phase diagram at 25 °C. Electrical conductivities of the system with different w ([bmim][PF6]-to-TX-100 molar ratio) values were determined, and the results were used to locate the sub-regions of the single-phase microemulsion. The results showed that a transform from [bmim][PF6]-in-oil ([bmim][PF6]/O) microstructure via a bicontinuous region to an oil-in-[bmim][PF6] (O/[bmim][PF6]) microstructure occurred with the increase of Φ (weight fraction of TX-100 and [bmim][PF6] in the system). The aggregate size of the reverse microemulsions of [bmim][PF6]/O was determined using small-angle X-ray scattering. The results showed that the size of the reverse microemulsions depended markedly on the w values.     

离子液体[bmim][PF6]与[moemim][PF6]结构微不均匀性以及微粘度的光谱探测

室温离子液体由于其极低的蒸汽压、比较好的热稳定性和化学稳定性、良好的分子结构与性能的可设计性等优点,作为一种新型的环境友好溶剂在很多领域有着广泛的应用.对于离子液体的微观结构和微观性能的研究是设计新型离子液体以及扩展离子液体应用的关键.本文通过荧光探针分子香豆素153(C153)的转动动力学和对微观环境敏感的荧光探针分子1, 3-二(1-芘基)丙烷(BPP)的稳态荧光光谱,探测和表征了烷基取代的离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐([bmim][PF₆])和与其具有相似结构的醚键官能化的离子液体1-甲氧基乙基-3-甲基咪唑六氟磷酸盐([moemim][PF₆])的微观结构和微粘度. C153探针分子在离子液体[bmim][PF₆]中的转动过程具有快、慢两个组分表明离子液体[bmim][PF₆]内部存在松散和紧密的两种结构微区;而C153探针分子在离子液体[moemim][PF₆]中的转动动力学只存在一种过程,说明醚键的引入使得[moemim][PF₆]内部趋于一种类型的微环境.通过C153探针分子的转动时间研究发现,醚键官能化的离子液体[moemim][PF₆]的微粘度小于烷基链取代的离子液体[bmim][PF₆],同时通过BPP探针分子的二聚体激基复合物(excimer)与单体(monomer)荧光发射强度的比值(I_E/I_M)研究也证明这一结果.醚键的引入使得离子液体[moemim][PF₆]相对于离子液体[bmim][PF₆],侧链的极性更大、柔顺性更好,同时醚键有可能作为氢键的受体与阳离子形成氢键从而削弱离子液体中阴、阳离子间的相互作用,使得离子液体[moemim][PF₆]的微观环境比离子液体[bmim][PF₆]更为均一,同时具有更小的微粘度.     

Interactions and dynamics in ionic liquids

Precise dielectric spectra have been determined at 25 degrees C over the exceptionally broad frequency range of 0.1 相似文献   

Morphology of poly(ethylene oxide) dissolved in a room temperature ionic liquid: a small angle neutron scattering study

Solutions of deuterated poly(ethylene oxide) (d-PEO) in 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), a prototype room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), have been studied at room temperature over a range of polymer concentrations, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), characterizing the conformation of PEO dissolved in RTILs. [bmim][BF4] behaves as a good solvent for d-PEO, which organizes in this solvent in non entangled random coils. These findings will help in optimizing the designing of microemulsions in these potentially environmentally friendly solvents.     

Insights into the structure and dynamics of a room-temperature ionic liquid: ab initio molecular dynamics simulation studies of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) and the [bmim][PF6]-CO2 mixture

Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) studies have been carried out on liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) and its mixture with CO2 using the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) method. Results from AIMD and empirical potential molecular dynamics (MD) have been compared and were found to differ in some respects. With a strong resemblance to the crystal, the AIMD simulated neat liquid exhibits many cation-anion hydrogen bonds, a feature that is almost absent in the MD results. The anions were observed to be strongly polarized in the condensed phase. The addition of CO2 increased the probability of this hydrogen bond formation. CO2 molecules in the vicinity of the ions of [bmim][PF6] exhibit larger deviations from linearity in their instantaneous configurations. The polar environment of the liquid induces a dipole moment in CO2, lifting the degeneracy of its bending mode. The calculated splitting in the vibrational mode compares well with infrared spectroscopic data. The solvation of CO2 in [bmim][PF6] is primarily facilitated by the anion, as seen from the radial and spatial distribution functions. CO2 molecules were found to be aligned tangential to the PF6 spheres with their most probable location being the octahedral voids of the anion. The structural data obtained from AIMD simulations can serve as a benchmark to refine interaction potentials for this important room-temperature ionic liquid.     

Simulation of the surface structure of butylmethylimidazolium ionic liquids

Molecular dynamics simulations of the liquid/vacuum surfaces of the room temperature ionic liquids [bmim][PF(6)], [bmim][BF(4)] and [bmim][Cl] have been carried out at various temperatures. The surfaces are structured with a top monolayer containing oriented cations and anions. The butyl side chains tend to face the vacuum and the methyl side chains the liquid. However, as the butyl chains are not densely packed, both anions and rings are visible from the vacuum phase. The effects of temperature and the anion on the degree of cation orientation is small, but the potential drop from the vacuum to the interior of the liquid is greater for liquids with smaller anions. We compare the simulation results with a range of experimental observations and suggest that neutron reflection from samples with protiated butyl groups would be a sensitive probe of the structure.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of heme proteins entrapped in agarose hydrogel films in room-temperature ionic liquids

The electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of a number of heme proteins entrapped in agarose hydrogel films in the room-temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) have been investigated. UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy show that the heme proteins retain their native structure in agarose film. The uniform distribution of hemoglobin in agarose-dimethylformamide film was demonstrated by atomic force microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry shows that direct electron transfer between the heme proteins and glassy carbon electrode is quasi-reversible in [bmim][PF(6)]. The redox potentials for hemoglobin, myoglobin, horseradish peroxidase, cytochrome c, and catalase were found to be more negative than those in aqueous solution. The charge-transfer coefficient and the apparent electron-transfer rate constant for these heme proteins in [bmim][PF(6)] were calculated from the peak-to-peak separation as a function of scan rate. The heme proteins catalyze the electroreduction of trichloroacetic acid and tert-butyl hydroperoxide in [bmim][PF(6)]. The kinetic parameter I(max) (maximum current at saturation concentration of substrate) and the apparent K(m) (Michaelis-Menten constant) for the electrocatalytic reactions were evaluated.     

Correlation between quasielastic Raman scattering and configurational entropy in an ionic liquid

Low-frequency (5-200 cm(-1)) Raman spectra are reported for the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim]PF(6), in glassy, supercooled liquid, and normal liquid phases (77-330 K). Raman spectra of [bmim]PF(6) agree with previous results obtained by optical Kerr effect spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation. Both the superposition model and the coupling model give reasonable fit to low-frequency Raman spectra of [bmim]PF(6). The configurational entropy of [bmim]PF(6) has been evaluated as a function of temperature using recently reported data of heat capacity. The calculated configurational entropy is inserted in the Adam-Gibbs theory for supercooled liquids, giving a good fit to non-Arrhenius behavior of viscosity and diffusive process, with the latter revealed by a recent neutron scattering investigation of [bmim]PF(6). There is a remarkable linear dependence between intensity of quasielastic Raman scattering and configurational entropy from 77 K up to the melting point of [bmim]PF(6). This correlation offers insight into the nature of dynamical processes probed by low-frequency Raman spectra of ionic liquids.     

Investigation of confined ionic liquid in nanostructured materials by a combination of SANS, contrast-matching SANS, and nitrogen adsorption

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), contrast-matching SANS, and nitrogen adsorption have been utilized to investigate the confined ionic liquid (IL) [bmim][PF(6)] phase in ordered mesoporous silica MCM-41 and SBA-15. The results suggest that the pores of SBA-15 are completely filled with IL whereas a small fraction of the pore volume, the pore "core", of MCM-41 is empty. The contrast-matching SANS measurements confirm the enhanced solubility of water in IL. In addition, they provide strong evidence that water does not enter the empty pore core of MCM-41, possibly because of the preferred orientation of the IL molecules in the adsorbed layer.     

Nanostructural organization and anion effects on the temperature dependence of the optical Kerr effect spectra of ionic liquids

The intermolecular spectra of three imidazolium ionic liquids were studied as a function of temperature by the use of optical heterodyne-detected Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy. The ionic liquids comprise the 1,3-pentylmethylimidazolium cation ([C(5)mim]+), and the anions, bromide (Br-), hexafluorophosphate (PF(6)-), and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NTf(2)-). Whereas the optical Kerr effect (OKE) spectrum of [C(5)mim][NTf(2)] is temperature-dependent, the OKE spectra of [C(5)mim]Br and [C(5)mim][PF6] are temperature-independent. These results are surprising in light of the fact that the bulk densities of these room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are temperature-dependent. The temperature independence of the OKE spectra and the temperature dependence of the bulk density in [C(5)mim]Br and [C(5)mim][PF(6)] suggest that there are inhomogeneities in the densities of these liquids. The existence of density inhomogeneities is consistent with recent molecular dynamics simulations that show RTILs to be nanostructurally organized with nonpolar regions arising from clustering of the alkyl chains and ionic networks arising from charge ordering of the anions and imidazolium rings of the cations. Differences in the temperature dependences of the OKE spectra are rationalized on the basis of the degree of charge ordering in the polar regions of the RTILs.     

Effect of water and organic solvents on the ionic dissociation of ionic liquids

The effect of water and several organic solvents on the density, viscosity, and conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]), 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), and 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([bmim][CF3CO2]) was studied at 298.15 K in wide composition ranges. The density, viscosity, and conductivity of the three neat ILs were also determined at various temperatures. Upon the basis of the molar conductivity of the mixtures and that of the neat ILs of the same viscosity, the degree of dissociation of ILs in the solutions was investigated. It can be deduced that the organic solvents enhance the ionic association of the ILs, the effect depending on the solvent dielectric constant, while water promotes dissociation significantly due to its high dielectric constant and its ability to form strong hydrogen bonds with the anions of the ILs.     

Multiprobe spectroscopic evidence for "hyperpolarity" within 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate mixtures with tetraethylene glycol

A hybrid, potentially green solvent system composed of tetraethylene glycol (TEG) and the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) was investigated across all mole fractions with regard to the solvent properties of the mixture. For this purpose, a suite of absorbance- and fluorescence-based solvatochromic probes were utilized to explore solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions existing within the [bmim][PF(6)] + TEG system. These studies revealed an interesting and unusual synergistic solvent effect. In particular, a remarkable "hyperpolarity" was observed in which the E(T) value, comprising dipolarity/polarizability and hydrogen bond donor (HBD) acidity contributions, at intermediate mole fractions of the binary mixture well exceeded that of the most polar pure component (i.e., [bmim][PF(6)]). Independently determined dipolarity/polarizability (pi*) and HBD acidity (alpha) Kamlet-Taft values for the [bmim][PF(6)] + TEG mixtures were also observed to be anomalously high at intermediate mole fractions, whereas hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) basicities (beta values) were much more in line with the ideal arithmetic values predicted on a mole fraction basis. Two well-established fluorescent polarity probes (pyrene and pyrene-1-carboxaldehyde) further illustrated notable hyperpolarity within [bmim][PF(6)] + TEG mixtures. Moreover, the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of the molecular rotor rhodamine 6G and the excimer-to-monomer fluorescence ratio exhibited by the fluidity probe 1,3-bis-(1-pyrenyl)propane demonstrated that solute rotation and microfluidity within the [bmim][PF(6)] + TEG mixture were significantly reduced compared with expectations based on simple solvent mixing. A solvent ordering via formation of HBD/HBA complexes involving the C-2 proton of the [bmim(+)] cation and oxygen atoms of TEG, as well as interactions between [PF(6)(-)] and the terminal hydroxyl groups of TEG, is proposed to account for the observed behavior. Further spectroscopic evidence of strong intersolvent interactions occurring within the [bmim][PF(6)] + TEG mixture was provided, inter alia, by substantial frequency shifts in the [PF(6)(-)] asymmetric stretching mode observed in the infrared spectra as TEG was incrementally added to [bmim][PF(6)]. Overall, our observations contribute to a growing literature advocating the notion that ionic liquids and certain organic solvents form ordered, nanostructured, or microsegregated phases upon mixing.     

Use of 8-sulfonamidoquinoline derivatives as chelate extraction reagents in ionic liquid extraction system

Possible use of 8-sulfonamidoquinoline derivatives as chelate extraction reagents for solvent extraction of several divalent metal cations using an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) as extraction phase was investigated as fundamental approach to develop novel extraction reagents for ionic liquid extraction system. The studied reagents were able to be used as extractants for the metal cations in the [bmim][PF(6)] extraction system. Furthermore, their extractability in the [bmim][PF(6)] system was superior to that in chloroform system. Most of the extracted species were (hydrated) neutral complexes, whereas, in use of the derivative having trifluoromethyl group, Cd(2+) was extracted as anionic complex accompanied with anion-exchange process.     

Thermodynamic modeling of the phase behavior of binary systems of ionic liquids and carbon dioxide with the group contribution equation of state

The group contribution equation of state (GC-EOS) was applied to predict the phase behavior of binary systems of ionic liquids of the homologous families 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and tetrafluoroborate with CO2. Pure group parameters for the new ionic liquid functional groups [-mim][PF6] and [-mim][BF4] and interaction parameters between these groups and the paraffin (CH3, CH2) and CO2 groups were estimated. The GC-EOS extended with the new parameters was applied to predict high-pressure phase equilibria in binary mixtures of the ionic liquids [emim][PF6], [bmim][PF6], [hmim][PF6], [bmim][BF4], [hmim][BF4], and [omim][BF4] with CO2. The agreement between experimental and predicted bubble point data for the ionic liquids was excellent for pressures up to 20 MPa, and even for pressures up to about 100 MPa, the agreement was good. The results show the capability of the GC-EOS to describe phase equilibria of systems consisting of ionic liquids.     

Study of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids:Temperature-dependent Fluorescence and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The steady-state fluorescence spectra and molecular dynamics simulations were explored to investigate the temperature dependent organization in some imidazolium ionic liquids:1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluo-rophosphate([bmim][PF6]),1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate([emim][EtSO4]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimida-zolium tetrafluoroborate([bmim][BF4]).The pure room temperature ionic liquids(ILs) exhibit a large red shift at more than an excitation wavelength of around 340 nm,which demonstrates the hetero...     

Rotational dynamics of water and benzene controlled by anion field in ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and hexafluorophosphate

The rotational correlation time (tau(2R)) is determined for D(2)O (polar) and C(6)D(6) (apolar) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim][Cl]) and hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) by measuring (2)H (D) nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice relaxation time (T(1)) in the temperature range from -20 to 110 degrees C. The tau(2R) ratio of water to benzene (tau(WB)) was used as a measure of solute-solvent attraction. tau(WB) is 0.73 and 0.52 in [bmim][Cl] and [bmim][PF(6)], respectively, whereas the molecular volume ratio is as small as 0.11. The slowdown of the water dynamics compared to the benzene dynamics in ionic liquids is interpreted by the Coulombic attractive interaction between the polar water molecule and the anion. As for the anion effect, the rotational dynamics of water solvated by Cl(-) is slower than that solvated by PF(6) (-), whereas the rotational dynamics of benzene is similar in the two ionic liquids. This is interpreted as an indication of the stronger solvation by the anion with a larger surface charge density. The slowdown of the water dynamics via Coulombic solvation is actually significant only at water concentrations lower than approximately 9 mol dm(-3) at room temperature, and it is indistinguishable at temperatures above approximately 100 degrees C. The quadrupolar coupling constants determined for D(2)O and C(6)D(6) in the ionic liquids were smaller by a factor of 2-3 than those in the pure liquid state.     

Interaction of ionic liquid with water in ternary microemulsions (Triton X-100/water/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) probed by solvent and rotational relaxation of coumarin 153 and coumarin 151

The interaction of ionic liquid with water in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6])/Triton X-100 (TX-100)/H2O ternary microemulsions, i.e., "[bmim][PF6]-in-water" microregions of the microemulsions, has been studied by the dynamics of solvent and rotational relaxation of coumarin 153 (C-153) and coumarin 151 (C-151). The variation of the time constants of solvent relaxation of C-153 is very small with an increase in the [bmim][PF6]/TX-100 ratio (R). The rotational relaxation time of C-153 also remains unchanged in all micremulsions of different R values. The invariance of solvation and rotational relaxation times of C-153 indicates that the position of C-153 remains unaltered with an increase in R and probably the probe is located at the interfacial region of [bmim][PF6] and TX-100 in the microemulsions. On the other hand, in the case of C-151, with an increase in R the fast component of the solvation time gradually increases and the slow component gradually decreases, although the change in solvation time is small in comparison to that of microemulsions containing common polar solvents such as water, methanol, acetonitrile, etc. The rotational relaxation time of C-151 increases with an increase in R. This indicates that with an increase in the [bmim][PF6] content the number of C-151 molecules in the core of the microemulsions gradually increases. In general, the solvent relaxation time is retarded in this room temperature ionic liquid/water-containing microemulsion compared to that of a neat solvent, although retardation is very small compared to that of the solvent relaxation time of the conventional solvent in the core of the microemulsions.     

Unusual solvatochromism within 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate + poly(ethylene glycol) mixtures

Hybrid "green" solvent systems composed of room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) and poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) may have enormous future potential. Solvatochromic absorbance probe behavior is used to assess the physicochemical properties of the mixture composed of IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF(6)]) and PEG (average molecular weights of 200, 400, 600, and 1500) at ambient conditions. Lowest energy intramolecular charge-transfer absorbance maxima of a betaine dye, i.e., E(T)(N), indicates the dipolarity/polarizability and/or hydrogen-bond donating (HBD) acidity of the [bmim][PF 6] + PEG mixtures to be even higher than that of neat [bmim][PF(6)], the solution component with higher dipolarity/polarizability and/or HBD acidity. Dipolarity/polarizability (pi*) obtained separately from the electronic absorbance response of probe N, N-diethyl-4-nitroaniline shows a trend similar to E(T)(N ) thus confirming the unusually high dipolarity/polarizability of the [bmim][PF(6)] + PEG mixtures. Similar to E(T)(N ) and pi*, the HBD acidity (alpha) of [bmim][PF(6)] + PEG mixtures is also observed to be anomalously high. Contrary to what is observed for E(T)(N ), pi*, and alpha, the hydrogen-bond accepting (HBA) basicity (beta) of the [bmim][PF(6)] + PEG mixtures is observed to be lower than that predicted from ideal additive behavior indicating diminished HBA basicity of the mixture as compared to its neat components. A four-parameter simplified combined nearly ideal binary solvent/Redlich-Kister (CNIBS/R-K) equation is shown to satisfactorily predict the solvatochromic parameters within [bmim][PF(6)] + PEG mixtures. It is demonstrated that [bmim][PF(6)] + PEG mixtures possess physicochemical properties that are superior to those of either the neat IL or the neat PEG.