Effect of cation alkyl chain length on surface forces and physical properties in deep eutectic solvents

Zhengfei Chen, Michael Ludwig, Gregory G. Warr, Rob Atkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

93 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been prepared from mixtures of alkyl ammonium bromide salts (ethylammonium bromide, propylammonium bromide and butylammonium bromide) and glycerol at a 1: 2 M ratio. These DESs reveal the effect of cation alkyl chain length on interfacial structure at mica (a model anionic) surface. As the cation chain length is increased it becomes more amphiphilic and solvophobic, leading to stronger association of alkyl chains, as revealed by atomic force microscope force curve measurements. The effect of increasing cation alkyl chain length on phase transition and thermal decomposition temperatures, density, refractive index, viscosity, ionic and thermal conductivity and air liquid surface tension are also probed. Combined, these studies reveal the length of the cation alkyl chain weakly affects composition dependent properties (e.g. density, refractive index, thermal conduction, etc.) but has a stronger effect where intermolecular (ionic) forces play a role, such as on viscosity, and on surface tension and interfacial structure. To the authors knowledge, this is the first report of amphiphilic nanostructure in DESs and the first systematic study of the effect of cation alkyl chain length on physical properties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)373-379
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume494
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2017
Externally publishedYes

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