The smallest amphiphiles: Nanostructure in protic room-temperature ionic liquids with short alkyl groups

Rob Atkin, Gregory G. Warr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

346 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) are low-melting-point organic salts that, until recently, were thought to have homogeneous microstructure. In this work, we investigate nanoscale segregation of short (<C4) alkyl chain ILs using propylammonium nitrate (PAN) and ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). Structure peaks at q = 0.54 Å-1 for PAN and at q = 0.66 Å-1 for EAN, corresponding to Bragg spacings (D* = 2π/qmax) of 11.6 and 9,7 Å respectively, provide the first experimental evidence of nanoscale heterogeneity for ILs with alkyl chains less than C4. The observation that these ILs are not optically birefringent and the fits obtained suggest a disordered, locally smectic or sponge-like structure. Solvophobic interaction between alkyl groups is the most important factor for the production of nanoscale heterogeneities, but electrostatic and hydrogen bonding attractions between the amine nitrogen and the nitrate anion will also play a role.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4164-4166
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry B
Volume112
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Apr 2008
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The smallest amphiphiles: Nanostructure in protic room-temperature ionic liquids with short alkyl groups'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this