posted on 2015-07-22, 11:20authored byC. D'Agostino, L. F. Gladden, M. D. Mantle, Andrew P. Abbott, Essa I. Ahmed, Azhar Y. M. Al-Murshedi, Robert C. Harris
Pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR has been used to probe self-diffusion of molecular and ionic species in aqueous mixtures of choline chloride (ChCl) based deep eutectic solvents (DESs), in order to elucidate the effect of water on motion and inter-molecular interactions between the different species in the mixtures, namely the Ch+ cation and hydrogen bond donor (HBD). The results reveal an interesting and complex behaviour of such mixtures at a molecular level. In general, it is observed that the hydroxyl protons (1H) of Ch+ and the hydrogen bond donor have diffusion coefficients significantly different from those measured for their parent molecules when water is added. This indicates a clear and significant change in inter-molecular interactions. In aqueous Ethaline, the hydroxyl species of Ch+ and HBD show a stronger interaction with water as water is added to the system. In the case of Glyceline, water has little effect on both hydroxyl proton diffusion of Ch+ and HBD. In Reline, it is likely that water allows the formation of small amounts of ammonium hydroxide. The most surprising observation is from the self-diffusion of water, which is considerably higher that expected from a homogeneous liquid. This leads to the conclusion that Reline and Glyceline form mixtures that are inhomogeneous at a microscopic level despite the hydrophilicity of the salt and HBD. This work shows that PFG NMR is a powerful tool to elucidate both molecular dynamics and inter-molecular interactions in complex liquid mixtures, such as the aqueous DES mixtures.
Funding
Carmine D’Agostino would like to acknowledge Wolfson College, Cambridge, for
supporting his research activities. The authors would also like to thank Salahaddin
University (EIA) and the University of Kufa (AYMA) for funding studentships.
History
Citation
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2015, 17 (23), pp. 15297-15304 (8)
Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING/Department of Chemistry