Issue 46, 2011

Probing the protic ionic liquid surface using X-ray reflectivity

Abstract

The structure of the free liquid surface of three protic ionic liquids, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), propylammonium nitrate (PAN), and ethylammonium formate (EAF), has been elucidated using X-ray reflectivity. The results show all three liquids have an extended interfacial region, spanning at least five ion pairs, which can be divided into two parts. Adjacent to the gas phase are aggregates consisting of multiple cations and anions. Below this are layers oriented parallel to the macroscopic surface that are alternately enriched and depleted in cation alkyl chains and polar domains of cation ammonium groups and their anions, gradually decaying to the isotropic sponge-like bulk structure. The most pronounced layering is observed for PAN, driven by strong solvophobic interactions, while reduced hydrogen bonding in EAF results in the least structured and least extensive interfacial region.

Graphical abstract: Probing the protic ionic liquid surface using X-ray reflectivity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Jul 2011
Accepted
27 Sep 2011
First published
17 Oct 2011

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 20828-20835

Probing the protic ionic liquid surface using X-ray reflectivity

D. Wakeham, A. Nelson, G. G. Warr and R. Atkin, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 20828 DOI: 10.1039/C1CP22351H

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