From Single-Particle to Collective Dynamics in Supercooled Liquids

On the spectral shape of the structural relaxation in supercooled liquids

Structural relaxation in supercooled liquids is non-exponential. In susceptibility representation, χ″(ν), the spectral shape of the structural relaxation is observed as an asymmetrically broadened peak with a ν1 low- and ν-β high-frequency behavior. In this perspective article, we discuss common notions, recent results, and open questions regarding the spectral shape of the structural relaxation. In particular, we focus on the observation that a high-frequency behavior of ν-1/2 appears to be a generic feature in a broad range of supercooled liquids. Moreover, we review extensive evidence that contributions from orientational cross-correlations can lead to deviations from the generic spectral shape in certain substances, in particular in dielectric loss spectra. In addition, intramolecular dynamics can contribute significantly to the spectral shape in substances containing more complex and flexible molecules. Finally, we discuss the open questions regarding potential physical origins of the generic ν-1/2 behavior and the evolution of the spectral shape toward higher temperatures.

Dual Nature of Large and Anisotropic Glass-Forming Molecules in Terms of Debye-Stokes-Einstein Relation Revealed

The fundamental Debye-Stokes-Einstein (DSE) relation between rotational relaxation times and shear viscosity attracts longstanding research interest as one of the most important characteristics of many glass-forming liquids. Here, we provide strong evidence, missing so far, for the relevance of anisotropy for DSE-related behavior. Dielectric spectroscopy and shear viscosity measurements were employed to get insight into the decoupling between reorientation relaxation times and viscosity for anisotropic glass-formers with dipole moments oriented parallel or perpendicular to the long molecular axis. We found that in the case of large and anisotropic molecules, the breakdown of DSE relation depends on the component of anisotropic rotation contributing to the dielectric response. Specifically, for glass-formers with dipole moment perpendicular to the long molecular axis, the DSE relation was found to be valid throughout the supercooled regime. Contrary, a departure from the DSE predictions in the intermediate supercooled regime, was observed for glass-formers where only short-axes contributions were relevant in dielectric response. MD simulations revealed differences in the mechanism of short and long axes reorientations suggesting that for anisotropic objects, not the reorientation mechanism itself, but the aspect of anisotropic motion, is the key to understanding the behavior of these systems in the context of DSE relation.

Dipolar Order Controls Dielectric Response of Glass-Forming Liquids

The dielectric response of liquids reflects both reorientation of single molecular dipoles and collective modes, i.e., dipolar cross-correlations. A recent theory predicts the latter to produce an additional slow peak in the dielectric loss spectrum. Following this idea we argue that in supercooled liquids the high-frequency power law exponent of the dielectric loss β should be correlated with the degree of dipolar order, i.e., the Kirkwood correlation factor g_{K}. This notion is confirmed for 25 supercooled liquids. While our findings support recent theoretical work the results are shown to violate the earlier Kivelson-Madden theory.

Experimental examination of dipole-dipole cross-correlations by dielectric spectroscopy, depolarized dynamic light scattering, and computer simulations of molecular dynamics

The contribution of cross- and self-correlations to the dielectric and light-scattering spectra of supercooled polar glass formers has recently become a most challenging problem. Herein, we employ dielectric spectroscopy, depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS), and rheology to thoroughly examine the dynamics of van der Waals liquid 1,2-Diphenylvinylene. Carbonate (DVC), which is a polar counterpart of canonical glass former ortho-Terphenyl (OTP). We show that the light-scattering data correspond well with the dielectric permittivity function over a wide T range. This pattern is very different from the peaks' separation ω_{max}^{DDLS}/ω_{max}^{BDS}=3.7 reported recently for tributyl phosphate (TBP), despite the same dielectric characteristics of these two glass formers (β_{KWW}=0.75, Δɛ=20 for both TBP and DVC; KWW stands for Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts). This indicates different influence of orientational correlations in both methods for these two systems. We also show the results of the computer simulations of the model, polar molecules, which clearly indicate that the contribution of the cross-term to the correlation function probed in the DDLS experiment can be significant.

What is behind a gas stream scrubbing liquid? Monoethanolamine/water mixtures as seen by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy

High-quality dielectric data for monoethanolamine (MEA)/water mixtures covering the entire miscibility range are presented. For MEA concentrations c1 ≥ 1 M the obtained complex permittivity spectra, covering the frequency range from 0.05 to 89 GHz, are best described by a sum of four Debye relaxations. Modes at ∼3 GHz and ∼10 GHz are solute-specific. Whilst the first can be assigned to MEA aggregates, the second is a composite arising from "free" MEA dipoles with dynamically retarded water hydrating them. The relaxations at ∼18 GHz and ∼200 GHz essentially reflect the cooperative H-bond fluctuations of more-or-less unperturbed "bulk" water, albeit with minor solute contributions. Evaluation of the bulk-water amplitude reveals that in water-rich mixtures (c1 ≤ 3.5 M) Zt = 3.5 ± 0.2 H2O molecules hydrate a MEA molecule. Then Zt drops linearly, reaching zero for neat MEA. Supported by the literature, this concentration dependence suggests that only H2O molecules H-bonded to the NH2 and OH groups of MEA contribute to Zt. At concentrations beyond hydration shell overlap (c1 ≥ 3.5 M) these H-bonds are gradually eliminated, while new interactions with neighboring MEA molecules are formed. From the evaluation of the MEA-specific amplitudes we conclude that for c1 ≥ 2 M, including neat MEA, ∼35% of the solute molecules are in aggregates, where breaking the intermolecular NH⋯O hydrogen bond determines the dynamics.