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Elemental depth profiles of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([CnMIM][TFSI], n = 4, 6, 8) are measured using high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (HRBS). The profiles are compared with the results of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Both MD simulations and HRBS measurements show that the depth profiles deviate from the uniform stoichiometric composition in the surface region, showing preferential orientations of ions at the surface. TheMDsimulations qualitatively reproduce the observed HRBS profiles but the agreement is not satisfactory. The observed discrepancy is ascribed to the capillary waves. By taking account of the surface roughness induced by the capillary waves, the agreement becomes almost perfect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores an interconnection between timescales of dynamic heterogeneity (DH) in a neat ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF6]), and slow solvation of a dipolar solute, coumarin 153 (C153) in it at 298 K and 450 K. Molecular dynamics simulations employing realistic interaction potentials for both the IL and the solute have been performed. DH timescales have been obtained from non-Gaussian and new non-Gaussian (NNG) parameters, and four-point dynamic susceptibilities (χ4(k, t)) and overlap functions (Q(t)). Simulated ion displacement distributions exhibit pronounced deviations from Gaussian behaviour and develop bimodality in the timescale of structural relaxation, Τa, indicating ion hopping at long-time. DH timescales from x4(k, t) and Q(t) have been found to be longer than ΤNNG although Τα ≈ ΤNNG. Maximum cation jump length detected here corresponds to ~50% of the ion diameter and agrees well with experimental estimates. DH length-scale (f ) extracted from x4(k, t) spans about an ion diameter and shows correct temperature dependence. Our simulated solvation response functions for C153 in [Bmim][PF6] are tri-exponentials with fast time constants in good agreement with the available experimental and/or simulation data. The slow solvation rate at 298 K, however, is ~ 4 times slower than that found in experiments, although the same at 450 K corroborates well with simulation data at similar temperature from different sources. Importantly, our simulated slow solvation rates at these temperatures strongly correlate to longer DH timescales, suggesting DH as a source for the slow solvation at long-time in IL. Moreover, ion jumps at long-time suggests viscosity decoupling of long-time solvation rate in ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are stable liquids composed of anions and cations. 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium (EMIm, EMI) is a popular and important cation that produces thermally stable ILs with various anions. In this study two amide-type anions, bis(trifluoro-methanesulfonyl)amide [N(SO2CF3)2, TFSA, TFSI, NTf2, or Tf2N] and bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide [(N(SO2F)2, FSA, or FSI] were investigated by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. In addition to EMIm-TFSA and EMIm-FSA, lithium-salt-doped binary systems were prepared (EMIm-TFSA-Li and EMIm-FSA-Li). The spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) were measured by 1H, 19F, and 7Li NMR spectroscopy and the correlation times of 1H NMR, τc(EMIm) (8 × 10-10 to 3 × 10-11 s) for the librational molecular motion of EMIm and those of 7Li NMR, τc(Li) (5 × 10-9 to 2 × 10-10 s) for a lithium jump were evaluated in the temperature range between 253 and 353 K. We found that the bulk viscosity (η) versus τc(EMIm) and cation diffusion coefficient DEMIm versus the rate 1/τc(EMIm) have good relationships. Similarly, linear relations were obtained for the η versus τc(Li) and the lithium diffusion coefficient DLi versus the rate 1/τc(Li). The mean one-jump distances of Li were calculated from τc(Li) and DLi. The experimental values for the diffusion coefficients, ionic conductivity, viscosity, and density in our previous paper were analyzed by the Stokes-Einstein, Nernst-Einstein, and Stokes-Einstein-Debye equations for the neat and binary ILs to clarify the physicochemical properties and mobility of individual ions. The deviations from the classical equations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the equilibrium geometries, one-, two-, and three-photon absorption properties, and the transition nature of a series of Y-shaped molecules which possess an imidazole-thiazole core have been theoretically studied by using the parametrization model 3 and Zerner’s intermediate neglect of differential overlap methods. Our calculated results have confirmed the experimental findings that the investigated molecules are all promising multiphoton absorption materials and both the two-photon absorption and the three-photon absorption cross sections are seriatim increscent along with the increase of the electron-donor strength. The nonlinear optical phenomenon originates from the intramolecular charge transfer within the π-conjugated system. The calculated results indicate that the heterocyclic core increases the two- and three-photon absorption cross sections due to its π-excessive nature. So it can provide more free electrons to enlarge the charge transfer within the molecule system. In addition, the design of Y shape and the sulfonyl-based electron-accepting group play a part in the enhancement of multiphoton absorption. It is notable that molecules with heterocyclic core will provide favorable condition for multiphoton absorption applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Room temperature ionic liquids have been proposed as replacement solvents in a wide range of industrial separation processes. Here, we focus on the use of ionic liquids as solvents for the pharmaceutical compound lidocaine. We show that the solubility of lidocaine in seven common 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium based ionic liquids is greatly enhanced relative to water. The predicted solubility is greatest in [BMIM](+)[CH3CO2](-), which we find results from favorable hydrogen bonding between the lidocaine amine hydrogen and the [CH3CO2](-) oxygen, favorable electrostatic interactions between the lidocaine amide oxygen with the [BMIM](+) aromatic ring hydrogens, while lidocaine does not interfere with the association of [BMIM](+) with [CH3CO2](-). Additionally, by removing functional groups from the lidocaine scaffold while maintaining the important amide group, we found that as the van der Waals volume increases, solubility in [BMIM](+)[CH3CO2](-) relative to water increases.

This paper presents atomistic molecular dynamics simulation studies of lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonylimide (LiTFSI) in a blend of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMIm)-TFSI and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which is a promising electrolyte material for Li- and Li-ion batteries. Simulations of 100 ns were performed for temperatures between 303 K and 423 K, for a Li:ether oxygen ratio of 1:16, and for PEO chains with 26 EO repeating units. Li(+) coordination and transportation were studied in the ternary electrolyte system, i.e., PEO16LiTFSI⋅1.0 EMImTFSI, by applying three different force field models and are here compared to relevant simulation and experimental data. The force fields generated significantly different results, where a scaled charge model displayed the most reasonable comparisons with previous work and overall consistency. It is generally seen that the Li cations are primarily coordinated to polymer chains and less coupled to TFSI anion. The addition of EMImTFSI in the electrolyte system enhances Li diffusion, associated to the enhanced TFSI dynamics observed when increasing the overall TFSI anion concentration in the polymer matrix.

The vast majority of molecular dynamics simulations are based on nonpolarizable force fields with fixed partial charges for all atoms. The traditional way to obtain these charges are quantum-mechanical calculations performed prior to simulation. Unfortunately, the set of the partial charges heavily relies on the method and the basis set used. Therefore, investigations of the influence of charge variation on simulation data are necessary in order to validate various charge sets. This paper elucidates the consequences of different charge sets on the structure and dynamics of the ionic liquid: 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium dicyanoamide. The structural features seem to be more or less independent of the partial charge set pointing to a dominance of shape force as modeled by Lennard-Jones parameters. This can be seen in the radial distribution and orientational correlation functions. The role of electrostatic forces comes in when studying dynamical properties. Here, significant deviations between different charge sets can be observed. Overall, dynamics seems to be governed by viscosity. In fact, all dynamical parameters presented in this work can be converted from one charge set to another by viscosity scaling.

Mn(I) α-diimine carbonyl complexes have shown promise in the development of luminescent CO release materials (photoCORMs) for diagnostic and medical applications due to their ability to balance the energy of the low-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and metal-centered (MC) states. In this work, the excited state dynamics of [Mn(im)(CO)3(phen)]+ (im = imidazole; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) is investigated by means of wavepacket propagation on the potential energy surfaces associated with the 11 low-lying Sn singlet excited states within a vibronic coupling model in a (quasi)-diabatic representation including 16 nuclear degrees of freedom. The results show that the early time photophysics (<400 fs) is controlled by the interaction between two MC dissociative states, namely, S5 and S11, with the lowest S1–S3 MLCT bound states. In particular, the presence of S1/S5 and S2/S11 crossings within the diabatic picture along the Mn–COaxial dissociative coordinate (qMn–COaxial) favors a two-stepwise population of the dissociative states, at about 60–70 fs (S11) and 160–180 fs (S5), which reaches about 10% within 200 fs. The one-dimensional reduced densities associated with the dissociative states along qMn–COaxial as a function of time clearly point to concurrent primary processes, namely, CO release vs entrapping into the S1 and S2 potential wells of the lowest luminescent MLCT states within 400 fs, characteristics of luminescent photoCORM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid osmotic Monte Carlo simulations were performed to anticipate the tunability of the separation performance of the flexible Zeolitic Imidazole Framework-8 (ZIF-8) via the application of an external mechanical pressure. This synergistic combination of mechanical control of the pore aperture/cage dimension and guest adsorption was applied to the challenging hexane isomers separation processes of vital importance in the field of petrochemical industry. The application of a mechanical pressure above 1 GPa was predicted to boost the linear hexane/2-methylpentane and 2-methylpentane/2,3-dimethylbutane selectivity by 40% and 17%, respectively, as compared to the pristine ZIF-8. We further unraveled the microscopic origin of this optimized performance with an in-depth analysis of the critical interplay between the structural changes of the ZIF-8 framework and the conformational rearrangements of C6 isomers under mechanical pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first general excitation level implementation of the time-dependent vibrational coupled cluster (TDVCC) method introduced in a recent publication [J. Chem. Phys. 151, 154116 (2019)] is presented. The general framework developed for time-independent vibrational coupled cluster (VCC) calculations has been extended to the time-dependent context. This results in an efficient implementation of TDVCC with general coupling levels in the cluster operator and Hamiltonian. Thus, the convergence of the TDVCC[k] hierarchy toward the complete-space limit can be studied for any sum-of-product Hamiltonian. Furthermore, a scheme for including selected higher-order excitations for a subset of modes is introduced and studied numerically. Three different definitions of the TDVCC autocorrelation function (ACF) are introduced and analyzed in both theory and numerical experiments. Example calculations are presented for an array of systems including imidazole, formyl fluoride, formaldehyde, and a reduced-dimensionality bithiophene model. The results show that the TDVCC[k] hierarchy converges systematically toward the full-TDVCC limit and that the implementation allows accurate quantum-dynamics simulations of large systems to be performed. Specifically, the intramolecular vibrational-energy redistribution of the 21-dimensional imidazole molecule is studied in terms of the decay of the ACF. Furthermore, the importance of product separability in the definition of the ACF is highlighted when studying non-interacting subsystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present work is to obtain accurate potential energy surfaces (PESs) for high-dimensional molecular systems with a small number of ab initio calculations in a system-agnostic way. We use probabilistic modeling based on Gaussian processes (GPs). We illustrate that it is possible to build an accurate GP model of a 51-dimensional PES based on 5000 randomly distributed ab initio calculations with a global accuracy of <0.2 kcal/mol. Our approach uses GP models with composite kernels designed to enhance the Bayesian information content and represents the global PES as a sum of a full-dimensional GP and several GP models for molecular fragments of lower dimensionality. We demonstrate the potency of these algorithms by constructing the global PES for the protonated imidazole dimer, a molecular system with 19 atoms. We illustrate that GP models thus constructed can extrapolate the PES from low energies (<10 000 cm−1), yielding a PES at high energies (>20 000 cm−1). This opens the prospect for new applications of GPs, such as mapping out phase transitions by extrapolation or accelerating Bayesian optimization, for high-dimensional physics and chemistry problems with a restricted number of inputs, i.e., for high-dimensional problems where obtaining training data is very difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deuterated imidazole (IM) molecules, dimers, and trimers formed in liquid helium nanodroplets are studied by the electrostatic beam deflection method. Monitoring the deflection profile of (IM)D+ provides a direct way to establish that it is the primary product of the ionization-induced fragmentation both of (IM)2 and (IM)3. The magnitude of the deflection determines the electric dipole moments of the parent clusters: nearly 9 D for the dimer and 14.5 D for the trimer. These very large dipole values confirm theoretical predictions and derive from a polar chain bonding arrangement of the heterocyclic imidazole molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkyl-methyl-imidazolium ionic liquidsCnmimX(n: alkyl-carbon number, X: anion) have short-range layer structures consisting of ionic and neutral (alkylchain) domains. To investigate the temperature dependences of the interlayer, interionic group, and inter-alkylchain correlations, we have measured the neutron diffraction (ND) of C16mimPF6, C9.5mimPF6, and C8mimPF6 in the temperature region from 4 K to 470 K. The quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) of C16mimPF6 was also measured to study the dynamics of each correlation. C16mimPF6 shows a first-order transition between the liquid (L) and liquid crystalline (LC) phases at Tc = 394 K. C8mimPF6 exhibits a glass transition at Tg = 200 K. C9.5mimPF6, which is a 1:3 mixture between C8mimPF6 and C10mimPF6, has both transitions at Tc = 225 K and Tg = 203 K. In the ND experiments, all samples exhibit three peaks corresponding to the correlations mentioned above. The widths of the interlayer peak at ca. 0.2 Å-1 changed drastically at the L-LC transitions, while the interionic peaks at ca. 1 Å-1 exhibited a small jump at Tc. The peak position and area of the three peaks did not change much at the transition. The structural changes were minimal at Tg. The QENS experiments demonstrated that the relaxation time of the interlayer motion increased tenfold at Tc, while those of other motions were monotonous in the whole temperature region. The structural and dynamical changes mentioned above are characteristic of the L-LC transition in imidazolium-based ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orientational dynamics and microscopic structures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids of varying hydrophilicity were investigated using optical heterodyne-detected optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE) spectroscopy and atomistic simulations. Hydrophilicity was tuned via anion selection, cation alkyl chain length, and the addition of a strong hydrogen bond donor on the cation (protic ionic liquid). In the hydrophobic samples, which saturate at relatively low water concentration, OHD-OKE data display Debye Stokes Einstein (DSE) behavior as a function of water concentration. The DSE behavior indicates that the microstructures of the hydrophobic ionic liquid/water mixtures do not fundamentally change as a function of water concentration. The hydrophilic samples have two regimes of different DSE behaviors demonstrating the presence of two structural regimes depending on water concentration. These experimental results indicate that in hydrophilic ionic liquid/water samples, significant structural changes occur to accommodate high water concentrations, while hydrophobic samples become water saturated because the restructuring of local ionic structures is unfavorable. Atomistic simulations show that the local ionic microstructures experience distinct changes in these hydrophilic ionic liquid/water binary samples because of the delicate interplay of intermolecular interactions among imidazolium cations, hydrophilic anions, and water molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a kinetic study of the water exchange on lanthanide ions in water/[1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium][trifluoromethylsufate] (water/[EMIm][OTf]). The results from 17O-NMR measurements show that the water-exchange rates in water/[EMIm][OTf] increase with decreasing size of the lanthanide ions. This trend forwater-exchange is similar to the previously reported trend inwater/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (water/[EMIm][EtSO4]) but opposite to that in water. To gain atomic-level insight into these water-exchange reactions, molecular dynamics simulations for lanthanide ions in water/[EMIm][OTf] have been performed using the atomic-multipole-optimizedenergetics-for-biomolecular-application polarizable force field. Our molecular dynamics simulations reproduce the experimental water-exchange rates in terms of the trend and provide possible explanations for the observed experimental behavior. The smaller lanthanide ions in water/[EMIm][OTf] undergo faster water exchange because the smaller lanthanide ions coordinate to the first shell [OTf] anions more tightly, resulting in a stronger screening effect for the second-shell water. The screening effect weakens the interaction of the lanthanide ions with the second-shell water molecules, facilitating the dissociation of water from the second-shell and subsequent association of water molecules from the outer solvation shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of 2D layered perovskites A2PbI4 and BPbI4, with A and B mono- and divalent ammonium and imidazolium cations, have been modeled with different theoretical methods. The periodic structures have been optimized (both in monoclinic and in triclinic systems, corresponding to eclipsed and staggered arrangements of the inorganic layers) at the DFT level, with hybrid functionals, Gaussiantype orbitals and dispersion energy corrections. With the same methods, the various contributions to the solid stabilization energy have been discussed, separating electrostatic and dispersion energies, organic-organic intralayer interactions and H-bonding effects, when applicable. Then the electronic band gaps have been computed with plane waves, at the DFT level with scalar and full relativistic potentials, and including the correlation energy through the GW approximation. Spin orbit coupling and GW effects have been combined in an additive scheme, validated by comparing the computed gap with well known experimental and theoretical results for a model system. Finally, various contributions to the computed band gaps have been discussed on some of the studied systems, by varying some geometrical parameters and by substituting one cation in another's place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relaxation processes for imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) were investigated by means of an incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering technique. In order to clarify the cation and anion effects on the relaxation processes, ten samples were measured. For all of the samples, we found three relaxations at around 1 ps, 10 ps, and 100 ps-10 ns, each corresponding to the alkyl reorientation, the relaxation related to the imidazolium ring, and the ionic diffusion. The activation energy (Ea) for the alkyl relaxation is insensitive to both anion and alkyl chain lengths. On the other hand, for the imidazolium relaxation and the ionic diffusion processes, Ea increases as the anion size decreases but is almost independent of the alkyl chain length. This indicates that the ionic diffusion and imidazolium relaxation are governed by the Coulombic interaction between the core parts of the cations (imidazolium ring) and the anions. This is consistent with the fact that the imidazolium-based ILs have nanometer scale structures consisting of ionic and neutral (alkyl chain) domains. It is also found that there is a clear correlation between the ionic diffusion and viscosity, indicating that the ionic diffusion is mainly associated with the glass transition which is one of the characteristics of imidazolium-based ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermally chargeable capacitor containing a binary solution of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide in acetonitrile is electrically charged by applying a temperature gradient to two ideally polarisable electrodes. The corresponding thermoelectric coefficient is -1.7 mV/K for platinum foil electrodes and -0.3 mV/K for nanoporous carbon electrodes. Stored electrical energy is extracted by discharging the capacitor through a resistor. The measured capacitance of the electrode/ionic-liquid interface is 5 μF for each platinum electrode while it becomes four orders of magnitude larger, ≈36 mF, for a single nanoporous carbon electrode. Reproducibility of the effect through repeated charging-discharging cycles under a steady-state temperature gradient demonstrates the robustness of the electrical charging process at the liquid/electrode interface. The acceleration of the charging by convective flows is also observed. This offers the possibility to convert waste-heat into electric energy without exchanging electrons between ions and electrodes, in contrast to what occurs in most thermogalvanic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typical ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium nitrate (EMIM-NO3), was examined by molecular dynamics simulations of an all-atomistic model to show the characteristics of networks of cages and/or bonds in the course of vitrification of this fragile glass-former. The system shows changes of dynamics at two characteristic temperatures, TB (or Tc) and the glass transition temperature Tg, found in other fragile glass forming liquids [K. L. Ngai and J. Habasaki, J. Chem. Phys. 141, 114502 (2014)]. On decreasing temperature, the number of neighboring cation-anion pairs, NB, within the first minimum of the pair correlation function, g(r)min, increases. On crossing TB (>Tg), the system volume and diffusion coefficient both show changes in temperature dependence, and as usual at Tg. The glass transition temperature, Tg, is characterized by the saturation of the total number of "bonds," NB and the corresponding decrease in degree of freedom, F = [(3N - 6) - NB], of the system consisting of N particles. Similar behavior holds for the other ion-ion pairs. Therefore, as an alternative, the dynamics of glass transition can be interpreted conceptually by rigidity percolation. Before saturation occurring at Tg, the number of bonds shows a remarkable change at around TB. This temperature is associated with the disappearance of the loosely packed coordination polyhedra of anions around cation (or vice versa), related to the loss of geometrical freedom of the polyhedra, fg, of each coordination polyhedron, which can be defined by fg = [(3NV - 6) - Nb]. Here, 3Nv is the degree of freedom of NV vertices of the polyhedron, and Nb is number of fictive bonds. The packing of polyhedra is characterized by the soft percolation of cages, which allows further changes with decreasing temperature. The power spectrum of displacement of the central ion in the cage is found to be correlated with the fluctuation of Nb of cation-cation (or anion-anion) pairs in the polyhedron, although the effect from the coordination shells beyond the neighboring ions is not negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have carried out nonlinear ion conductivity measurements on the supercooled ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide[C6mim][NTf2] by applying ac electric fields with amplitudes up to about 200 kV/cm. At these field amplitudes, 3ω and 5ω harmonic components in the current response were detected, and the higher-order conductivity coefficients σ¹3,σ³3,σ³5, and σ55 were determined. The frequency and temperature dependence of these conductivity coefficients was analyzed in detail. The most important findings were the following: (i) The third-order spectra σ¹3 and σ³3 exhibit very similar values in the dc plateau regime but differ considerably in the dispersive regime. The same was observed for the fifth order spectra σ³5 and σ55. (ii) In the dispersive regime, the third-order spectra display a minimum, while the fifth-order spectra display a maximum. (iii) The frequencies of these minima and maxima are thermally activated with the same activation energy as the low-field dc conductivity σ1,dc, whereas the dc values of the higher-order conductivity coefficients, σ3,dc and σ5,dc, are characterized by lower activation energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We clarify the role of the critical imidazolium C(2)H position (the central C between N atoms in the heterocycle) in the assembly motif of the [EMIM][BF4] ionic liquid by analyzing the vibrational spectra of the bare EMIM+ ion as well as that of the cationic [EMIM]2[BF4]+ (EMIM+ = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, C6H11N2+) cluster. Vibrational spectra of the cold, mass-selected ions are obtained using cryogenic ion vibrational predissociation of weakly bound D2 molecules formed in a 10 K ion trap. The C(2)H behavior is isolated by following the evolution of key vibrational features when the C(2) hydrogen, the proposed binding location of the anion to the imidazolium ring, is replaced by either deuterium or a methyl group (i.e., in the EMMIM+ analogue). Strong features in the ring CH stretching region of the bare ion are traced to Fermi resonances with overtones of lower frequency modes. Upon incorporation into the EMIM+ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ BF4− ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ EMIM+ ternary complex, the C(2)H oscillator strength is dramatically increased, accounting for the much more complicated patterns derived from the EMIM+ ring CH stretches in the light isotopomer, which are strongly suppressed in the deuterated analogue. Further changes in the spectra that occur when the C(2)H is replaced by a methyl group are consistent with BF4− attachment directly to the imidazolium ring in an arrangement that maximizes the electrostatic interaction between the molecular ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polarization effects on the structure and dynamics of ionic liquids are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Four different ionic liquids were simulated, formed by the anions Cl- and PF6 -, treated as single fixed charge sites, and the 1-n-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations (1-ethyl and 1-butyl-), which are polarizable. The partial charge fluctuation of the cations is provided by the electronegativity equalization model (EEM) and a complete parameter set for the cations electronegativity (χ) and hardness (J) is presented. Results obtained from a non-polarizable model for the cations are also reported for comparison. Relative to the fixed charged model, the equilibrium structure of the first solvation shell around the imidazolium cations shows that inclusion of EEM polarization forces brings cations closer to each other and that anions are preferentially distributed above and below the plane of the imidazolium ring. The polarizable model yields faster translational and reorientational dynamics than the fixed charges model in the rotational-diffusion regime. In this sense, the polarizable model dynamics is in better agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface structures of binary mixtures of imidazolium-based ionic liquids having a common anion (bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([TFSI]), namely [C2MIM]1-x[C10MIM]x[TFSI] (x = 0.5 and 0.1), are studied using high-resolution Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (HRBS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS). Although both measurements show surface segregation of [C10MIM] the degrees of the segregation are different. The surface fraction xsurf of [C10MIM] is estimated to be 0.6 ± 0.05 and 0.18 ± 0.02 by HRBS for x = 0.5 and 0.1, respectively. On the other hand, TOF-SIMS indicates much stronger surface segregation, namely xsurf = 0.83 ± 0.03 and 0.42 ± 0.04 for x = 0.5 and 0.1, respectively. The observed discrepancy can be attributed to the difference in the probing depth between HRBS and TOF-SIMS. The observed surface segregation can be roughly explained in terms of surface tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present molecular-level insight into the liquid/gas interface of two chiral room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) derived from 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim][Br]); namely, (R)-1-butyl-3-(3-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)imidazolium bromide (hydroxypropyl) and 1-butyl-3-[(1R)-nopyl]imidazolium bromide (nopyl). We use our currently developed force field which was validated against the experimental bulk density, heat of vaporization, and surface tension of [bmim][Br]. The force field for the RTILs adopts the Chemistry at Harvard Molecular Mechanics (CHARMM) parameters for the intramolecular and repulsion-dispersion interactions along with the reduced partial atomic charges based on ab initio calculations. The net charges of the ions are around ±0.8e, which mimic the anion to cation charge transfer and many-body effects. Molecular dynamics simulations in the slab geometry combined with the intrinsic interface analysis are employed to provide a detailed description of the RTIL/gas interface in terms of the structural and dynamic properties of the interfacial, sub-interfacial, and central layers at a temperature of 300 K. The focus is on the comparison of the liquid/gas interface for the chiral RTILs with the interface for parent [bmim][Br]. The structure of the interface is elucidated by evaluating the surface roughness, intrinsic atomic density profiles, and orientation ordering of the cations. The dynamics of the ions at the interfacial region is characterized by computing the survival probability, and normal and lateral self-diffusion coefficients in the layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computational approach is developed to quantitatively study the solvation thermodynamics of amino acid analogues in ionic liquids via molecular simulation. The solvation thermodynamics of amino acid analogues in ionic liquids is important for an understanding of protein-ionic liquid interactions, shedding insight into the structure and solubility of proteins, and the activity of enzymes in ionic liquids. This information is additionally key to developing novel extraction processes. As a result of the challenge of quantitatively describing the solvation behavior of ionic liquids, a key outcome of the present study is the development of a 'hydrophobicity' scale to quantitatively describe the amino acid analogues. The scale allows one to separate the results of both the hydrophobic and hydrophillic analogues, simplifying an understanding of the observed trends. Equipped with the proposed hydrophobicity scale, one needs only perform conventional solvation free energy calculations of the amino acid analogues in the ionic liquids of interest. The necessary simulation tools are available in most open-source simulation software, facilitating the adoption of this approach by the simulation community at large. We have studied the case of varying the cation alkyl-chain length of a 1-n-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation paired with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion. The findings suggest that a judicious selection of both the cation and anion could potentially lead to a solvent for which the amino acid analogues have an affinity far greater than that for both water and a non-polar reference solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotational dynamics of benzene and water in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride are studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and NMR T1 measurements. MD trajectories based on an effective potential are used to calculate the 2H NMR relaxation time, T1 via Fourier transform of the relevant rotational time correlation function, C2R(t). To compensate for the lack of polarization in the standard fixed-charge modeling of the IL, an effective ionic charge, which is smaller than the elementary charge is employed. The simulation results are in closest agreement with NMR experiments with respect to the temperature and Larmor frequency dependencies of T1 when an effective charge of ±0.5e is used for the anion and the cation, respectively. The computed C2R(t) of both solutes shows a bi-modal nature, comprised of an initial non-diffusive ps relaxation plus a long-time ns tail extending to the diffusive regime. Due to the latter component, the solute dynamics is not under the motional narrowing condition with respect to the prevalent Larmor frequency. It is shown that the diffusive tail of the C2R(t) is most important to understand frequency and temperature dependencies of T1 in ILs. On the other hand, the effect of the initial ps relaxation is an increase of T1 by a constant factor. This is equivalent to an 'effective' reduction of the quadrupolar coupling constant (QCC). Thus, in the NMR T1 analysis, the rotational time correlation function can be modeled analytically in the form of aexp (-t/τ) (Lipari-Szabo model), where the constant a, the Lipari-Szabo factor, contains the integrated contribution of the short-time relaxation and τ represents the relaxation time of the exponential (diffusive) tail. The Debye model is a special case of the Lipari-Szabo model with a = 1, and turns out to be inappropriate to represent benzene and water dynamics in ILs since a is as small as 0.1. The use of the Debye model would result in an underestimation of the QCC by a factor of 2-3 as a compensation for the neglect of the Lipari-Szabo factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been used to unveil the bromide ion local coordination structure in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [Cnmim]Br ionic liquids (ILs) with different alkyl chains. The XAS spectrum of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide has been found to be different from those of the other members of the series, from the butyl to the decyl derivatives, that have all identical XAS spectra. This result indicates that starting from 1-buthyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide the local molecular arrangement around the bromide anion is the same independently from the length of the alkyl chain, and that the imidazolium head groups in the liquid ILs with long alkyl chains assume locally the same orientation as in the [C4mim]Br crystal. With this study we show that the XAS technique is an effective direct tool for unveiling the local structural arrangements around selected atoms in ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed the heat capacity, neutron diffraction, and neutron quasielastic scattering measurements of an ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C8mimCl). The heat capacity data revealed that C8mimCl exhibits a glass transition with a large heat capacity jump at Tg = 214 K, which is lower than Tg of C4mimCl with a shorter alkyl-chain. In the neutron diffraction measurement for a deuterated analogue, d-C8mimCl, the peaks associated with the inter-domain, inter-ionic, and inter-alkyl-chain correlations appeared at (3, 11, and 14) nm-1, respectively. The temperature dependence of these peaks indicates that the packing of the alkyl-chains becomes more compact and the domains become more vivid and larger as decreasing temperature. The quasielastic neutron scattering measurements using neutron spin echo and time-of-flight type instruments demonstrated that C8mimCl has faster relaxations probably owing to the alkyl-group and a slower relaxation owing to the ions. The latter relaxation, which is related to the glass transition, is of non-exponential as in the α relaxation of glass-forming molecular liquids. The relaxation of domains could not be observed in the present experiment but should have relaxation times longer than 100 ns. This is the first report to clarify temperature dependence of the hierarchical structure and relaxations simultaneously for a typical ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we have characterized a ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl- sulfonyl)imide containing ternary nonaqueous microemulsion ([Emim][Tf2N]//TX-100/cyclo- hexane). The phase behavior and dynamic light scattering study show that the [Emim][Tf2N]/TX-100/cyclohexane three component system can form microemulsion with [Emim][Tf2N] as polar core at suitable condition. We have investigated photoinduced electron transfer (PET) using dimethyl aniline as electron donor and several Coumarin dyes as electron acceptor molecules at two different R values (R = [ionic liquid]/[surfactant]) to observe how the dynamics of the PET rate is affected in this type of confined microenvironment compared to that of the PET dynamics in neat ionic liquid and other pure solvent media. The plot of observed kq values with the free energy change (ΔG0) for electron transfer reaction shows an apparent inversion in the observed rate as predicted by the Marcus theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, rheology, and pulsed field gradient–nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR) are combined to study glassy dynamics and charge transport in a homologous series of imidazole-based liquids with systematic variation of the alkyl chain length. The dielectric spectra are interpreted in terms of dipolar relaxation and a conductivity contribution. By applying the Einstein, Einstein–Smoluchowski, and Stokes–Einstein relations, translational diffusion coefficients—in quantitative agreement with PFG NMR measurements—are obtained. With increasing alkyl chain length, it is observed that the viscosity increases, whereas the structural α-relaxation rate decreases, in accordance with Maxwell’s relation. Between the rate ωe of electrical relaxation and the rate ωα of the structural α-relaxation, scaling is observed over more than six decades with a decoupling index of about 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fragmentation dynamics of imidazole molecules following excitation at 193.3 nm and at many wavelengths in the range of 210<=λphot<=240 nm have been investigated by H Rydberg atom photofragment translational spectroscopy. Long wavelength excitation within this range results in population of the 1 1A″(1πσ*) excited state, but the 2 1A′←X 1A′(π*←π) transition becomes the dominant absorption once λphot<=220 nm. The measured energy disposals show parallels with those found in recent studies of the UV photolysis of pyrrole [Cronin et al., Phys Chem. Chem. Phys. 6, 5031 (2004)]. The total kinetic energy release (TKER) spectra display a “fast” feature, centred at TKER ∼9200 cm-1. The analysis of the structure evident in the fast feature reveals the selective population of specific in-plane stretching vibrational levels of the imidazolyl cofragment; these fragments are deduced to carry only modest amounts of rotational excitation. Comparison with calculated normal mode vibrational frequencies allows the assignment of the populated levels and a precise determination of the N–H bond strength in imidazole: D0=33 240±40 cm-1. The observed energy disposal can be rationalized using Franck-Condon arguments, assuming that the potential energy surface (PES) for the 1 1A″(1πσ*) state has a topology similar to that of the corresponding 1πσ* state of pyrrole. As in pyrrole, photoexcitation populates skeletal motions in the S1 state (in-plane motions in the present case) that are only weakly coupled to the N–H dissociation coordinate and thus map through into the corresponding product vibrations. A second, “slow” feature is increasingly evident in TKER spectra recorded at shorter λphot. This component, which exhibits no recoil anisotropy, is attributed to H atoms formed by the “statistical” decay of highly vibrationally excited ground state molecules. The form of the TKER spectra observed at short λphot is rationalized by assuming two possible decay routes for imidazole molecules excited to the 2 1A′(1ππ*) state. One involves fast 2 1A′(1ππ*)[functional_relationship]1 1A″(1πσ*) radiationless transfer and subsequent fragmentation on the 1 1A′(1πσ*) PES, yielding fast H atoms (and imidazolyl cofragments)—reminiscent of behavior seen at longer excitation wavelengths where the 1 1A″(1πσ*) PES is accessed directly. The second is assumed to involve radiationless transfer to the ground state, most probably by successive 2 1A′[functional_relationship]1 1A″[functional_relationship]X 1A′ couplings, mediated by conical intersections between the relevant PESs and the subsequent unimolecular decay of the resulting highly vibrationally excited ground state molecules yielding slow H atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coherent control algorithm is applied to obtain complex-shaped infrared laser pulses for the selective vibrational excitation of carbon monoxide at the active site of carbonmonoxyhemoglobin, modeled by the six-coordinated iron-porphyrin-imidazole-CO complex. The influence of the distal histidine is taken into account by an additional imidazole molecule. Density-functional theory is employed to calculate a multidimensional ground-state potential energy surface, and the vibrational dynamics as well as the laser interaction is described by quantum wave-packet calculations. At each instant in time, the optimal electric field is calculated and used for the subsequent quantum dynamics. The results presented show that the control scheme is applicable to complex systems and that it yields laser pulses with complex time-frequency structures, which, nevertheless, have a clear physical interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometry optimizations are performed at the DFT/B3LYP/6-311+G* level. Four intriguing coupling modes, totally eight stable structures are found in the potential energy surfaces of the water-assisted coupling of imidazole dimer radical cation. In these isomers, the water molecules are embedded between two imidazole moieties, and the oxygen atom is tridentate or quadridentate, respectively. The distinct redshifts of the vibrational frequencies of the O–H...N and N–H...O type H bonds indicate the strong interaction of two imidazole rings of respective isomer. Inspection of the highest occupied molecular orbital predicts the alterations of the geometry structures on oxidation and reduction. The low barrier of the fragment rotation demonstrates that the isomerization processes by experiencing the distinct transition states are easy to fulfill, especially for those with O–H...N and C–H...O H bonds. Both the energy difference of the 0°-cis and 180°-trans orientation and the barriers of the fragment rotation are lowered by the water assisting. The range of the zero point vibrational energy correction indicates that the influence on the complexes with N–H...O and O–H...N H bonds (0.13–0.17 kcal/mol) is more significant than those with O–H...N and C–H...O H bonds (±0.03 kcal/mol). The dissociation energies of these isomers indicate that the charges transfer easily through water in the dissociation process and then are distributed mainly over the imidazole ring connecting with water molecule. The isomer with proton transfer between imidazole fragments is the most stable one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have probed under high pressure the C–H hydrogen bonds formed by N,N′-disubstituted imidazolium ions having PF6- and Br- counterions. High-pressure infrared spectral profiles, x-ray crystallographic analysis, and ab initio calculations allow us to make a vibrational assignment of these compounds. The appearance of a signal for the free-NH unit (or weakly bonded N–H...F unit) in the infrared spectrum of the PF6- salt indicates that conventional N–H...O and N–H...N hydrogen bonds do not fully dominate the packing. It is likely that the charge-enhanced C2–H...F interactions, combined with other weak hydrogen bonds, disturb the formation of N–H hydrogen bonds in the PF6- salt. This finding is consistent with the pressure-dependent results, which reveal that the C2–H...F interaction is enhanced upon increasing the pressure. In contrast to the PF6- salt, the imidazolium C–H bonds of the Br- salt have low sensitivity to high pressure. This finding suggests that the hydrogen bonding patterns are determined by the relative hydrogen bond acceptor strengths of the Br- and PF6- ions. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the potential energy surface for the proton transfer in 8-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Cartesian reaction surface Hamiltonian for the title reaction; Modeling of the motion of the proton in the plane of pyridine and imidazole rings; Degrees of freedom of the molecular scaffold.

Results are presented from ab initio CI calculations on several low-lying singlet and triplet states of imidazole. The lowest triplet state is predicted to be the 1 3A’ state, having essentially valencelike π-π* character. The lowest singlet state is a Rydberg state representing the π-R3s excitation. Results are also presented for several states of the cation including some shake-up states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent three-pulse photon echo peak shift (3PEPS) measurements [M. Muramatsu, Y. Nagasawa, and H. Miyasaka, J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 3886 (2011)] with several room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have revealed multi-exponential dynamics with ultrafast solvation timescale in the range, 20 < τ1/fs < 250, for both imidazolium and phosphonium RTILs. This is striking for two reasons: (i) the timescale is much faster than those reported by the dynamic Stokes shift (DSS) experiments [S. Arzhantsev, H. Jin, G. A. Baker, and M. Maroncelli, J. Phys. Chem. B 111, 4978 (2007)] and (ii) sub-hundered femtosecond solvation response in phosphonium ionic liquids is reported for the first time. Here, we present a mode coupling theory based calculation where such ultrafast solvation in 3PEPS measurements has been visualized to originate from the nearest neighbour solute-solvent interaction. Consideration of Lennard-Jones interaction for the nearest neighbour solute-solvent non-dipolar interaction leads to biphasic dynamics with a predicted ultrafast time constant in the ∼100-250 fs range, followed by a slower one similar to that reported by the 3PEPS measurements. In addition, the calculated fast time constants and amplitudes are found to be in general agreement with those from computer simulations. Different microscopic mechanisms for ultrafast solvation response measured by the 3PEPS and DSS experiments have been proposed and relative contributions of the collective and nearest neighbour solvent modes investigated. Relation between the single particle rotation and ultrafast polar solvation in these RTILs has been explored. Our analyses suggest 3PEPS and DSS experiments are probably sensitive to different components of the total solvation energy relaxation of a laser-excited dye in a given ionic liquid. Several predictions have also been made, which may be re-examined via suitable experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decomposition of three imidazole based model energetic systems (2-nitroimidazole, 4-nitroimidazole, and 1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole) is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The initial decomposition mechanism for these three nitroimidazoles is explored with nanosecond energy resolved spectroscopy, and quantum chemical theory at the complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) level. The NO molecule is observed as an initial decomposition product from these three nitroimidazoles subsequent to UV excitation. A unique, excitation wavelength independent dissociation channel is observed for these three nitroimidazoles that generates the NO product with a rotationally cold (∼50 K) and a vibrationally mildly hot (∼800 K) distribution. Potential energy surface calculations at the CASSCF/6-31G(d) level of theory illustrate that conical intersections play an important and essential role in the decomposition mechanism. Electronically excited S2 nitroimidazole molecules relax to the S1 state through the (S2/S1)CI conical intersection, and undergo a nitro-nitrite isomerization to generate the NO product from the S1 potential energy surface. Nevertheless, NO2 elimination and nitro-nitrite isomerization are expected to be competitive reaction mechanisms for the decomposition of these molecules on the ground state potential energy surface from the Franck-Condon equilibrium geometry through thermal dissociation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]