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Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption capacities of several Prussian blue (PB) analogues have been studied using the state-of-the-art Rubotherm® sorption apparatus to obtain adsorption and desorption isotherms of these compounds up to 50bar. The analogues were prepared by simply reacting a [M(CN)6]3− (Molution with solutions of M2+ (Mo, Ni, Cu) metal ions. Characterization of the studied samples has been performed by using a combination of powder XRD, TGA, FTIR, and CHN elemental analysis. Adsorption capacities of PB analogues calculated with theoretical calculations, using Monte Carlo approach, have also been compared with the experimental study, and used to discuss the molecular mechanism of adsorption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A deep eutectic solvent was formed by considering the mixtures of tetrabutylammonium chloride and levulinic acid, and it is studied via a combined theoretical and experimental approach. Physicochemical properties were measured as a function of temperature, providing a macroscopic characterization of the fluid. Quantum chemistry and classical molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for the nanoscopic characterization, providing attention to the nature, extension, and dynamics of the hydrogen bonding network, which is at the root of the properties of the fluid. The reported study allows multiscale characterization of this fluid as an archetypical example of a natural, low-cost, and sustainable fluid., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

This study investigates the behavior of two different mixtures of monomers of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based battery binders, polyvinylpyrrolidone:polyvinylidene difluoride (PVP:PVDF) and polyvinylpyrrolidone:polyacrylic acid (PVP:PAA), at graphene and graphite interfaces using classical molecular dynamics simulations. The aim is to identify the best performing monomer binder blend and carbon-based material for the design of battery-optimized energy devices. The PVP:PAA monomer binder blend and graphite are found to have the best interaction energies, densification upon adsorption, and more ordered structure. The adsorption of both monomer binder blends is strongly guided by the higher affinity of PVP and PAA monomeric molecules for the surfaces compared to PVDF. The structure of adsorbed layers of PVP:PVDF monomer binder blend on graphene and graphite develops more quickly than PVP:PAA, indicating faster kinetics. This study complements a previous density functional theory study recently reported by our group and contributes to a better understanding of the nanoscopic features of relevant interfacial regions involving mixtures of monomers of PVP-based battery binders and different carbon-based materials. The effect of a blend of commonly used monomer binders on carbon-based materials is essential for obtaining tightly bound anode and cathode active materials in lithium-ion batteries, which is crucial for designing battery-optimized energy devices., (© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Chemical modifications of porous materials almost always result in loss of structural integrity, porosity, solubility, or stability. Previous attempts, so far, have not allowed any promising trend to unravel, perhaps because of the complexity of porous network frameworks. But the soluble porous polymers, the polymers of intrinsic microporosity, provide an excellent platform to develop a universal strategy for effective modification of functional groups for current demands in advanced applications. Here, we report complete transformation of PIM-1 nitriles into four previously inaccessible functional groups - ketones, alcohols, imines, and hydrazones - in a single step using volatile reagents and through a counter-intuitive non-solvent approach that enables surface area preservation. The modifications are simple, scalable, reproducible, and give record surface areas for modified PIM-1s despite at times having to pass up to two consecutive post-synthetic transformations. This unconventional dual-mode strategy offers valuable directions for chemical modification of porous materials., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), as well as many other kinds of small molecules, is of importance for industrial and sensing applications. Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based adsorbents are spotlighted for such applications. An essential for MOF adsorbent application is a simple and easy fabrication process, preferably from a cheap, sustainable, and environmentally friendly ligand. Herein, we fabricated a novel structural, thermally stable MOF with fluorescence properties, namely Zn [5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-5H-[1,3]-thiazolo [3,2-a]pyridine-3,7-dicarboxylic acid (TPDCA)] • dimethylformamide (DMF) •0.25 H 2 O (coded as QUF-001 MOF), in solvothermal conditions by using zinc nitrate as a source of metal ion and TPDCA as a ligand easy accessible from citric acid and cysteine. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and microscopic examination revealed the two-dimensional character of the formed MOF. Upon treatment of QUF-001 with organic solvents (such as methanol, isopropanol, chloroform, dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, hexane), interactions were observed and changes in fluorescence maxima as well as in the powder diffraction patterns were noticed, indicating the inclusion and intercalation of the solvents into the interlamellar space of the crystal structure of QUF-001. Furthermore, CO 2 and CH 4 molecule sorption properties for QUF-001 reached up to 1.6 mmol/g and 8.1 mmol/g, respectively, at 298 K and a pressure of 50 bars.

Lithium silicates have attracted great attention in recent years due to their potential use as high-temperature (450-700 °C) sorbents for CO 2 capture. Lithium orthosilicate (Li 4 SiO 4 ) can theoretically adsorb CO 2 in amounts up to 0.36 g CO 2 per g Li 4 SiO 4 . The development of new Li 4 SiO 4 -based sorbents is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the mechanisms ruling CO 2 adsorption on Li 4 SiO 4 , especially for eutectic mixtures. In this work, the structural, electronic, thermodynamic and CO 2 capture properties of monoclinic phases of Li 4 SiO 4 and a binary (Li 3 NaSiO 4 ) eutectic mixture are investigated using density functional theory. The properties of the bulk crystal phases as well as of the relevant surfaces are analysed. Likewise, the results for CO 2 -lithium silicates indicate that CO 2 is strongly adsorbed on the oxygen sites of both sorbents through chemisorption, causing an alteration not only in the chemical structure and atomic charges of the gas, as reflected by both the angles and bond distances as well as atomic charges, but also in the cell parameters of the Li 4 SiO 4 and Li 3 NaSiO 4 systems, especially in Li 4 SiO 4 (001) and Li 3 NaSiO 4 (010) surfaces. The results confirm strong adsorption of CO 2 molecules on all the considered surfaces and materials followed by CO 2 activation as inferred from CO 2 bending, bond elongation and surface to CO 2 charge transfer, indicating CO 2 chemisorption for all cases. The Li 4 SiO 4 and Li 3 NaSiO 4 surfaces may be proposed as suitable sorbents for CO 2 capture in wide temperature ranges.

The effect of water on the properties of an archetypical type III deep eutectic solvent [choline chloride : ethyleneglycol (1:2)] is analyzed using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in the 0 to 60 wt. % water content range. The properties of the mixed fluids are studied considering nanostructuring, intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonding), the energy of interactions, dynamic properties, and domain analysis. The reported results confirm that the change in the properties of the studied deep eutectic solvent is largely dependent on the amount of water. The competing effect of water molecules for the available hydrogen bonding sites determines the evolution of the properties upon water sorption. The main structural features of the considered deep eutectic were maintained even for large water contents; thus, its hydrophilicity could be used for tuning fluid physicochemical properties.

Type V natural deep eutectic solvents considering menthol, thymol, and levulinic acids are studied considering a combined experimental and theoretical approach to develop a multiscale characterization of these fluids with particular attention to intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonding) and their relationships with macroscopic behavior. Density, viscosity, refraction index, and thermal conductivity were measured as a function of temperature, providing a thermophysical characterization of the fluids. Quantum chemistry was applied to characterize hydrogen bonding in minimal molecular clusters, allowing us to quantify interaction strength, topology (according to atoms in a molecule theory), and electronic properties. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were also performed, allowing us to characterize bulk liquid phases at the nanoscopic level, analyzing the fluid's structuring, void distribution, and dynamics. The reported results allowed us to infer nano-macro relationships, which are required for the proper design of these green solvents and their application for different technologies.

Type V natural deep eutectic solvents based on monoterpenoids (cineole, carvone, menthol, and thymol) are studied using a combined experimental and molecular modeling approach. The reported physicochemical properties showed low viscous fluids whose properties were characterized as a function of temperature. The theoretical study combining quantum chemistry and classical molecular dynamics simulations provided a nanoscopic characterization of the fluids, particularly for the hydrogen bonding network and its relationship with the macroscopic properties. The considered fluids constitute a suitable type of solvents considering their properties, cost, origin, and sustainability in different technological applications and sow the possibility of developing type V NADES from different types of molecules, especially in the terpenoid family of compounds.

Terpene-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) formed by using carvone as the hydrogen bond acceptor and a series of organic acids including tartaric, succinic, malic, and lactic acids as hydrogen bond donors are studied using a combination of molecular simulation methods. Density functional theory was used to study small molecular clusters and the topological characterization of the intermolecular forces using the atoms-in-a-molecule approach. Close-range interactions between the optimized carvone bases eutectic solvents between carbon dioxide have been studied for potential utilization of these solvents for gas capture purposes. Furthermore, COSMO-RS calculations have been carried out for the carbon dioxide solubilization performance of NADES compounds and to obtain s-profiles to infer the polarity and H-bond forming ability of the studied solvents. On the other hand, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to analyze the bulk liquid properties and their relationship with relevant macroscopic properties (e.g., density or thermal expansion). Last but not least, relevant toxicity properties of the studied systems were predicted and reported in this work. The reported results provide the characterization of environmentally friendly NADES and show the suitability of carvone for advanced applications as carbon dioxide solubilizers.

Deep eutectic solvents based on cineole as hydrogen bond acceptors and organic acids (succinic, malic, and lactic) as hydrogen bond donors are studied using a theoretical approach. The nature, strength, and extension of hydrogen bonding are analyzed, thus quantifying this prevailing interaction and its role in the fluid properties. Density functional theory was used to study small molecular clusters, and the topological characterization of the intermolecular forces was carried out using atoms in a molecule theory. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were considered to study nanoscopic bulk liquid properties and their relationship with relevant macroscopic properties such as density or thermal expansion. The reported results provide the characterization of environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvents and show the suitability of cineole for developing these sustainable materials.

The properties of carbon, boron nitride, silicon, germanium, and molybdenum disulfide nanotubes in reline (cholinium chloride + urea) deep eutectic solvents were studied by using classical molecular dynamics simulations. These nanotubes + reline nanofluids provide a suitable platform for the development of sustainable thermal engineering applications. The reported results lead to the characterization of nanotube solvation and reline layering around the nanotube surfaces as well as the behavior of reline upon confinement inside the considered nanotube cavities. Changes in reline hydrogen bonding in the presence of the nanotubes are also analyzed and related with the development of stable nanotube dispersions, thus showing reline as a suitable vehicle for nanotubes.

The solvation and solubilization of selected anesthetic active pharmaceutical ingredients (bupivacaine, prilocaine, and procaine) in arginine-based deep eutectic solvents are studied using a theoretical approach considering quantum chemistry and classical molecular dynamics. The intermolecular forces between the anesthetics and the solvent are characterized, with particular attention to hydrogen bonding, in terms of strength, topological properties, interaction mechanism, structuring, and dynamic properties of solvation shells. The reported results show the nanoscopic properties that confirm these solvents as suitable materials for anesthetics drug delivery in the liquid phase.

The behavior of reline (choline chloride mixed with urea at a 1-to-2 mole ratio) deep eutectic solvent at the interfaces of 2D nanomaterials was studied by using molecular simulation methods. Graphene, boron nitride, silicene, germanene, and molybdenum disulfide were studied for considering the most relevant features of available 2D nanomaterials. The reline-nanomaterial interactions were analyzed, and the mechanism of reline adsorption with the properties at the interfaces was studied. Likewise, the behavior of the deep eutectic solvent upon confinement between parallel nanosheets was considered as a model of properties when placed in slit nanopores. The results provide a nanoscopic vision of the adsorption and confinement of reline regarding 2D nanomaterials, thus advancing the development of new materials based on deep eutectics.

A systematic research work on the rational design of task specific Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) has been carried out via density functional theory (DFT) in order to increase knowledge on the key interaction parameters related to efficient SO 2 capture by DES at a molecular level. A total of 11 different DES structures, for which high SO 2 affinity and solubility is expected, have been selected in this work. SO 2 interactions in selected DES were investigated in detail through DFT simulations and this work has generated a valuable set of information about required factors at the molecular level to provide high SO 2 solubility in DES, which is crucial for enhancing the current efficiency of the SO 2 capture process and replacing the current state of the art with environmentally friendly solvents and eventually implementing these materials in the chemical industry. Results that were obtained from DFT calculations were used to deduce the details of the type and the intensity of the interaction between DES and SO 2 molecules at various interaction sites as well as to quantify short-range interactions by using various methods such as quantum theory of atoms in a molecule (QTAIM), electrostatic potentials (ESP) and reduced density gradients (RDG). Systematic research on the molecular interaction characterization between DES structures and SO 2 molecule increases our knowledge on the rational design of task-specific DES.

The solvation of lidocaine in three newly designed deep eutectic solvents is studied using combined experimental and theoretical methods that include density functional theory and molecular dynamics methods. The intermolecular forces between lidocaine and the hydrogen bond acceptors and hydrogen bond donors of the deep eutectic solvents were analysed regarding the type and the strength of inter- and intra-molecular bonding. The structure, composition and properties of the lidocaine solvation shells are analysed together with the possible lidocaine-clustering around the studied deep eutectic solvents and their constituent molecules. Furthermore, the changes in the solvent structures upon lidocaine solubilization are also studied. Natural product-based eutectic solvents showed considerably high solvation of lidocaine in all three deep eutectics based on the strong solute-solvent intermolecular interactions accompanied by a slight volume expansion and minor solvent structural changes. These non-toxic and almost null-volatile therapeutic deep eutectic solvents can be considered as suitable solubilization media for developing pharmaceutical applications and they can be considered as effective drug delivery vehicles for active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the transport of CO 2 , H 2 S and CH 4 molecules across environmentally friendly choline-benzoate and choline-lactate ionic liquids (ILs). The permeability coefficients of the considered molecules are calculated using the free energy and diffusion rate profiles. Both systems show the largest resistance to CH 4 , whereas more than 5 orders of magnitude larger permeability coefficients are obtained for the other two gas molecules. The CO 2 /CH 4 and H 2 S/CH 4 selectivity was estimated to be more than 10 4 and 10 5 , respectively. These results indicate the great potential of the considered ILs for greenhouse gas control.

The solvation of lidocaine in two selected deep eutectic solvents is studied using density functional theory and molecular dynamics methods. The intermolecular forces between lidocaine and the involved molecules are analysed in terms of van der Waals and hydrogen bond interactions. The structure, composition and properties of the lidocaine solvation shells are analysed together with the possible lidocaine clustering. The changes in the solvent structures upon lidocaine solution are also studied. The reported results show that the effective solvation of lidocaine in deep eutectics is because of strong solute-solvent intermolecular interactions accompanied by a slight volume expansion and minor solvent structural changes, thus confirming deep eutectics as suitable media for developing pharmaceutical applications.

Ionic liquid mixtures containing amino acid anions are studied at the microscopic level using molecular dynamics simulations. The analysis of relevant features such as intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonding), molecular level arrangements, and properties of solvation spheres, allowed inferring the structuring of the studied mixtures. The effects of mixture compositions and the number of cations and anions were analysed in detail. The reported results showed even distribution of anions around cations. The absence of microheterogeneities and low deviations from ideality are due to the similar mechanism of interaction between the considered anions and cations. Likewise, the most relevant features are produced by the development of hydrogen bonding between the amino acid carboxylate group and hydrogen bond donor sites in the cations.

The properties of diglyme + CO 2 systems were analyzed through density functional theory and molecular dynamics methods with the objective of inferring the microscopic properties of CO 2 capture by glyme-based solvents and the effect of ether group regarding solvents affinity toward CO 2 . Calculations of diglyme + CO 2 molecular clusters using density functional theory allowed accurate quantification and characterization of short-range intermolecular forces between these molecules, whereas the molecular dynamics simulation of diglyme + CO 2 liquid mixtures, for different CO 2 contents, were the means to infer the properties and dynamics of bulk liquid phases upon CO 2 absorption. Likewise, liquid diglyme + CO 2 gas interfaces were also studied using molecular dynamics methods to examine the kinetics of CO 2 capture, adsorption at the gas-liquid interface, and the mechanism of interface crossing, which is of pivotal importance for the design of CO 2 capturing units.

The binary liquid mixtures of glycol ethers (glymes) + 1-alkanol were characterized from the microscopic and macroscopic viewpoints through a combined experimental and theoretical study. Structuring, dynamics, and intermolecular forces were determined using density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics methods. The macroscopic behavior was studied though the measurement of relevant physicochemical properties and Raman IR studies. The changes in intermolecular forces with mixture composition, temperature, and the effects from the types of glymes as well as 1-alkanols were considered. Hydrogen bonding in the mixed fluids, its changes upon mixing, and mixture composition showed a large effect on fluids' structure and determined most of the fluids' properties together with the presence of hydrophobic domains from long 1-alkanols.

The properties of five deep eutectic solvents prepared based on the selection of choline chloride ionic liquid as hydrogen bond acceptor, which are mixed with several hydrogen bond donors with selected molecular features, were studied theoretically at graphene interfaces via both density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics methods. Molecular structuring at the interfaces, angular orientation, densification, and dynamic properties were analyzed upon adsorption on the graphene surface and when the deep eutectic solvents were confined between two graphene sheets and analyzed in terms of the role of the type of hydrogen bond donor for each solvent. Likewise, the behavior of deep eutectic solvent nanodroplets on graphene was simulated leading to the calculation of contact angles and nanowetting with further studies considering the effect of an external electric field on nanodroplet properties.

Density functional theory (DFT) methods were used to analyze the mechanism of interaction between acidic gases and ionic liquids based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation coupled with five different anions. Single ion pairs and ionic clusters containing six ion pairs were used to model the interactions of the ionic liquids with acidic gas molecules. The properties of the systems were analyzed based on geometric properties, interaction energies and Bader's theory. The cluster approach gives a more accurate representation of the behavior of ions and gases in the bulk liquid phase, and despite computational challenges, the cluster approach allows us to quantify interactions beyond short range ones used in the single ion pair-acidic gas model commonly applied in the literature. The results reported herein point out efficient simultaneous capturing of both gases especially for ionic liquids containing the acetate anion.

The properties of selected deep eutectic solvents (DESs) comprising choline chloride as a hydrogen bond acceptor and several types of hydrogen bond donors under static and dynamic external electric fields (EEFs) have been studied in this work using classical molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of field intensities under static conditions and of field frequencies under dynamic conditions were simulated. The response of the fluids to the external fields was analyzed from the changes in dipolar arrangements, intermolecular interaction energies, nanoscopic arrangements, and molecular diffusion. These results show for the very first time the nonequilibrium behavior of DESs under EEFs.

Organic compounds, such as covalent organic framework, metal-organic frameworks, and covalent organic polymers have been under investigation to replace the well-known amine-based solvent sorption technology of CO2 and introduce the most efficient and economical material for CO2 capture and storage. Various organic polymers having different function groups have been under investigation both for low and high pressure CO2 capture. However, search for a promising material to overcome the issues of lower selectivity, less capturing capacity, lower mass transfer coefficient and instability in materials performance at high pressure and various temperatures is still ongoing process. Herein, we report synthesis of six covalent organic polymers (COPs) and their CO2, N2, and CH4 adsorption performances at low and high pressures up to 200 bar. All the presented COPs materials were characterized by using elemental analysis method, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. Physical properties of the materials such as surface areas, pore volume and pore size were determined through BET analysis at 77 K. All the materials were tested for CO2, CH4, and N2 adsorption using state of the art equipment, magnetic suspension balance (MSB). Results indicated that, amide based material i.e. COP-33 has the largest pore volume of 0.2 cm(2)/g which can capture up to the maximum of 1.44 mmol/g CO2 at room temperature and at pressure of 10 bar. However, at higher pressure of 200 bar and 308 K ester-based compound, that is, COP-35 adsorb as large as 144 mmol/g, which is the largest gas capturing capacity of any COPs material obtained so far. Importantly, single gas measurement based selectivity of COP-33 was comparatively better than all other COPs materials at all condition. Nevertheless, overall performance of COP-35 rate of adsorption and heat of adsorption has indicated that this material can be considered for further exploration as efficient and cheaply available solid sorbent material for CO2 capture and separation.

Macroscopic properties and structuring at the molecular level of dialkylcarbonate + 1-alkanol mixed fluids have been studied as a function of alkyl chain lengths in 1-alkanol and dialkylcarbonate, mixture composition, and temperature. A combined experimental and computational approach was considered for studying the relationships between the nanoscopic structure of the mixed fluids; nature, extension, and organization of hydrogen bonding; and physicochemical properties. Thermodynamics characterization, using excess and mixing properties, are related with the strength and characteristics of intermolecular forces. Classic molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemistry calculations provide a detailed picture of the mixed fluids' structuring and dynamic behavior.

Flavonols are a class of natural compounds with potential biological and pharmacological applications. They are also natural pigments responsible for the diversity of colors in plants. Flavonols offer the possibility of tuning their features through chemical functionalization as well as the presence of an aromatic backbone, which could lead to non-covalent interactions with different nanostructures or aromatic molecules. In this work, a protocol based on ONIOM (QM/QM) calculations to investigate the structural features (binding energies, intermolecular interactions) of flavonols interacting with the surface of several carbon nanostructures (such as graphene, fullerene C60 and carbon nanotubes) is developed. The confinement of flavonols inside carbon nanotubes has also been studied. Three flavonols, galangin, quercetin and myricetin, as well as pristine flavone were selected. Special attention has also been paid to the changes in UV/Vis features of flavonols due to the interaction with carbon nanostructures. Our results point out that π-stacking interactions are the driving force for the adsorption onto carbon nanostructures as well as for the confinement inside carbon nanotubes. Likewise, UV/Vis features of flavonols could be fine-tuned through the interaction with suitable carbon nanostructures.

A requirement for exploiting most of the unique properties of boron-nitride (BN) nanosheets is their isolation from the bulk material. A rational design of task-specific ionic liquids (ILs) through DFT simulations is reported in this work. The applied computational protocol allowed the screening of large IL families, which was carried out bearing in mind the achievement of strong π-π stacking between the anions and BN nanosheets as well as a negative charge transfer from the anion to the surface. The selected ionic liquids yielded strong interaction energies with BN nanosheets and high charge transfer values, while the main features of the ionic liquid are not affected in the presence of nanosheets. DFT simulations provided a detailed picture of the interaction mechanism and useful structure-property relationships in the search of a new ionic liquid for BN exfoliation.

For the first time, this work reports an analysis of the performance of Density Functional methods for studying acid gas capture (CO2 and SO2) by ionic liquids (ILs). The considered functionals were selected as representatives of the available families: pure GGA (PBE and BLYP), hybrid (PBE0 and B3LYP), hybrid meta-GGA (M06, M06-2X and M06-HF), long range corrected (LC-PBEPBE, CAM-B3LYP, ωB97X) and dispersion corrected (PBE-D2, B3LYP-D2 and ωB97XD). Likewise, HF and MP2 were also applied. Binding energies of cation-anion interacting pairs as well as IL-CO2 and IL-SO2 systems were calculated for a set of 54 ILs and compared against MP2/aug-cc-pvDZ. Unlike previously reported DFT benchmarks on ILs, which calculated binding energies through single point calculations on fixed geometries, properties in this work were calculated for geometries optimized at each theoretical level. DFT functionals that are suitable for describing ion-ion and ion-gas interactions were identified, considering both Coulombic forces and dispersion interactions. The reported results allowed us to infer relationships to the rational design of ILs for acid gas capture.

Beyond carbon allotropes, other nanostructures such as fullerene B80 are attracting a growing interest due to their potential applications. The use of new materials based on fullerene B80 is still in a premature stage; however many of these applications would require the use of B80 in solution. This paper reports an unprecedented density functional theory (DFT) analysis on the interaction mechanism between B80 and two choline-based ionic liquids as a first insight for the fullerene B80 solvation by ionic liquids. The analysis of properties such as binding energies, charge distributions or intermolecular interactions shed light on the main features, which should govern interaction between ionic liquids and fullerene B80. In addition, the optimization of systems composed by six ionic pairs around a fullerene B80 has supplied some information about the first solvation shell at the molecular level. As a summary, this paper provides the first insights in the rational design of ionic liquids with suitable properties for the solvation of B80.