Radiation Stability of Cations in Ionic Liquids. 2. Improved Radiation Resistance through Charge Delocalization in 1-Benzylpyridinium

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation on the Extractive Mass Transfer of Eu3+ Ions Using Novel Amide Ligands in 1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide

Novel amide ligands in the ionic liquid (1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) were utilized for the liquid-liquid biphasic mass transfer of Eu3+ ions from aqueous acidic waste solution. The cation exchange mechanism was found to be operative with the formation of [Eu(NO3)2L3]+ species (L = 4-chloro-N-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)picolinamide). However, the presence of an inner-sphere water molecule was revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The viscosity-induced slower kinetics was evidenced during mass transfer, which was improved by increasing temperature. The process was exothermic in nature. The improvement in the kinetics of extractive mass transfer at higher temperatures is evinced by a reduction in the distribution ratio value. The spontaneity of the reaction was evidenced through the negative Gibbs free energy value, whereas the process enhances the entropy of the system, probably by releasing water molecules at least partially during complexation. The structures of bare ligands and complexes have been optimized by using DFT calculations. A high value of complexation energy, solvation energy, and associated enthalpy and free energy change reveal the efficacy in binding Eu with O and N donor atoms. In addition, natural population analysis, atoms-in-molecules analysis, and energy decomposition analysis have been employed to explore the nature of bonding existing in Eu-O and Eu-N bonds.

Degradation of Organic Cations under Alkaline Conditions

Understanding the degradation mechanisms of organic cations under basic conditions is extremely important for the development of durable alkaline energy conversion devices. Cations are key functional groups in alkaline anion exchange membranes (AAEMs), and AAEMs are critical components to conduct hydroxide anions in alkaline fuel cells. Previously, we have established a standard protocol to evaluate cation alkaline stability within KOH/CD₃OH solution at 80 °C. Herein, we are using the protocol to compare 26 model compounds, including benzylammonium, tetraalkylammonium, spirocyclicammonium, imidazolium, benzimidazolium, triazolium, pyridinium, guanidinium, and phosphonium cations. The goal is not only to evaluate their degradation rate, but also to identify their degradation pathways and lead to the advancement of cations with improved alkaline stabilities.

Pulse Radiolysis and Computational Studies on a Pyrrolidinium Dicyanamide Ionic Liquid: Detection of the Dimer Radical Anion

A pulse radiolysis study on pyrrolidinium cation based ionic liquids is presented herein. Time-resolved absorption spectra for 1-methyl-1-propylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide (DCA) at 500 ns after the electron pulse show broad absorption bands at wavelengths below 440 nm and at 640 nm. In pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (NTf₂) and tris(perfluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP) ILs, the transient absorption below 440 nm is much weaker. The absorption at 500 ns, which increases with wavelength from 500 nm to beyond 800 nm, was assigned to the tail of the solvated electron NIR absorption spectrum, since it disappears in the presence of N₂O. In the DCA IL, the presence of a reducing species was confirmed by the formation of pyrene radical anion. The difference in the transient species in the case of the DCA IL compared to other two ILs should be due to the anion, with cations being similar. In pseudohalide ILs such as DCA, radicals are formed by direct hole trapping by the anion (X^- + h⁺ → X^•), followed by addition to the parent anion. Prediction of the UV/vis absorption spectra of the dimer radical anion by computational calculation supports the experimental results. The oxidizing efficiency of (DCA)₂^•- and its reduction potential ( E_{(DCA)2^•-/(2DCA^-)}) have been determined.

Thermal, electrochemical and radiolytic stabilities of ionic liquids

Ionic liquids show instability when exposed to high temperature, to high voltage as electrolytes, or under irradiation.

The AHA Moment: Assessment of the Redox Stability of Ionic Liquids Based on Aromatic Heterocyclic Anions (AHAs) for Nuclear Separations and Electric Energy Storage

Because of their extended conjugated bond network, aromatic compounds generally have higher redox stability than less saturated compounds. We conjectured that ionic liquids (ILs) consisting of aromatic heterocyclic anions (AHAs) may exhibit improved radiation and electrochemical stability. Such properties are important in applications of these ILs as diluents in radionuclide separations and electrolytes in the electric energy storage devices. In this study, we systematically examine the redox chemistry of the AHAs. Three classes of these anions have been studied: (i) simple 5-atom ring AHAs, such as the pyrazolide and triazolides, (ii) AHAs containing an adjacent benzene ring, and (iii) AHAs containing electron-withdrawing groups that were introduced to reduce their basicity and interaction with metal ions. It is shown that fragmentation in the reduced and oxidized states of these AHAs does not generally occur, and the two main products, respectively, are the H atom adduct and the imidyl radical. The latter species occurs either as an N σ-radical or as an N π-radical, depending on the length of the N-N bond, and the state that is stabilized in the solid matrix is frequently different from that having the lowest energy in the gas phase. In some instances, the formation of the sandwich π-stack dimer radical anions has been observed. For trifluoromethylated anions, H adduct formation did not occur; instead, there was facile loss of fluoride from their fluorinated groups. The latter can be problematic in nuclear separations, but beneficial in batteries. Overall, our study suggests that AHA-based ILs are viable candidates for use as radiation-exposed diluents and electrolytes.

Significance of weak interactions in imidazolium picrate ionic liquids: spectroscopic and theoretical studies for molecular level understanding

The effects of interionic hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions on the physical properties of a new series of picrate anion based ionic liquids (ILs) have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The existence of aromatic (C2-HO) and aliphatic (C7-HO-N22 and C6-HO-N20) hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions in these ILs has been observed using various spectroscopic techniques. The aromatic and aliphatic C-HO hydrogen bonding interactions are found to have a crucial role in binding the imidazolium cation and picrate anion together. However, the π-π stacking interactions between two successive layers are found to play a decisive role in tight packing in ILs leading to differences in physical properties. The drastic difference in the melting points of the methyl and propyl derivatives (mmimPic and pmimPic respectively) have been found to be primarily due to the difference in the strength and varieties of π-π stacking interactions. While in mmimPic, several different types of π-π stacking interactions between the aromatic rings (such as picrate-picrate, picrate-imidazole and imidazolium-imidazolium cation rings) are observed, only one type of π-π stacking interaction (picrate-picrate rings) is found to exist in the pmimPic IL. NMR spectroscopic studies reveal that the interaction of these ILs with solvent molecules is different and depends on the dielectric constant of the solvent. While an ion solvation model explains the solvation in high dielectric solvents, an ion-pair solvation model is found to be more appropriate for low dielectric constant solvents. The enhanced stability of these investigated picrate ILs compared with that of inorganic picrate salts under high doses of γ radiation clearly indicates the importance of weak interionic interactions in ILs, and also opens up the possibility of the application of picrate ILs as prospective diluents in nuclear separation for advanced fuel cycling process.

Charge Trapping in Photovoltaically Active Perovskites and Related Halogenoplumbate Compounds

Halogenoplumbate perovskites (MeNH3PbX3, where X is I and/or Br) have emerged as promising solar panel materials. Their limiting photovoltaic efficiency depends on charge localization and trapping processes that are presently insufficiently understood. We demonstrate that in halogenoplumbate materials the holes are trapped by organic cations (that deprotonate from their oxidized state) and Pb(2+) cations (as Pb(3+) centers), whereas the electrons are trapped by several Pb(2+) cations, forming diamagnetic lead clusters that also serve as color centers. In some cases, paramagnetic variants of these clusters can be observed. We suggest that charge separation in the halogenoplumbates resembles latent image formation in silver halide photography. Electron and hole trapping by lead clusters in extended dislocations in the bulk may be responsible for accumulation of trapped charge observed in this photovoltaic material.

Towards understanding the color change of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide during gamma irradiation: an experimental and theoretical study

The radiation-induced color change of [BMIm][NTf₂] originates from the formation of double bonds in cations and various associated species containing [BMIm-H₂][NTf₂].

Radiation stability of cations in ionic liquids. 4. Task-specific antioxidant cations for nuclear separations and photolithography

Three families of "task-specific" antioxidant organic cations that include designated sites to facilitate deprotonation following electronic excitation and ionization have been introduced. The deprotonation from the excited state is reversible, leading to minimal damage of the cation, whereas the deprotonation from the oxidized cation yields persistent aroxyl and trityl radicals. This protection improves radiation stability of ionic compounds in 2.5 MeV electron beam radiolysis. Apart from the use of such cations as structural components of room temperature ionic liquid (IL) diluents for nuclear separations, their ionic compounds involving bases of superacids are well suited for use as chemically amplified acid generator resists in electron beam lithography and extreme ultraviolet photolithography.