Deposition of metal films on an ionic liquid as a basis for a lunar telescope

Carbon-Induced Changes in the Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Ionic Liquids on the Mesoscale

Thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) have gained significant attention due to their unique properties and broad applications. Extensive research has focused on studying the influence of ILs' chemical composition and substrate characteristics on the structure and morphology of IL films at the nano- and mesoscopic scales. This study explores the impact of carbon-coated surfaces on the morphology and wetting behavior of a series of alkylimidazolium-based ILs. Specifically, this work investigates the effect of carbon coating on the morphology and wetting behavior of short-chain ([C2C1im][NTf2] and [C2C1im][OTf]) and long-chain ([C8C1im][NTf2] and [C8C1im][OTf]) ILs deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO), silver (Ag), and gold (Au) substrates. A reproducible vapor deposition methodology was utilized for the deposition process. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphological and structural characteristics of the substrates and obtained IL films. The experimental data revealed that the IL films deposited on carbon-coated Au substrates showed minor changes in their morphology compared to that of the films deposited on clean Au surfaces. However, the presence of carbon coatings on the ITO and Ag surfaces led to significant morphological alterations in the IL films. Specifically, for short-chain ILs, the carbon film surface induced 2D growth of the IL film, followed by subsequent island growth. In contrast, for long-chain ILs deposited on carbon surfaces, layer-by-layer growth occurred without island formation, resulting in highly uniform and coalesced IL films. The extent of morphological changes observed in the IL films was found to be influenced by two crucial factors: the thickness of the carbon film on the substrate surface and the amount of IL deposition.

Time-resolved in situ nanoparticle size evolution during magnetron sputtering onto liquids

Despite extensive research since 1996, there are still open questions regarding the primary location of the nucleation process, the growth mechanism of the nanoparticles (NPs), and the influence of the liquid properties on the ultimate size of the NPs for the magnetron sputtering of metals onto liquids. Hence, for the first time to the authors' knowledge, the particle size evolution is in situ and in real-time examined during and after the sputtering of the silver atoms onto silicone oil, i.e., Sputtering onto Liquids (SoL) process. The particle size distribution (PSD) is measured via the Light Extinction Spectroscopy (LES) technique, and the deposition rate and stirring speed effects on the PSDs are analyzed. Based on De Brouckere mean diameters, the size evolution of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) over time is monitored. Ag NPs bigger than 20 nm are detected, and the PSDs are shown to be poly-disperse, which is also supported by the ex situ TEM measurements and in situ time-resolved absorption spectra. Moreover, it is shown that aggregation and growth of Ag NPs occur both at the plasma-liquid interface and inside the silicone oil during and after the magnetron sputtering. Despite the same amount of deposited silver, the growth kinetics of Ag NPs in silicone oil vary at different deposition rates. In particular, at higher deposition rates, larger NPs are formed. Stirring is seen to help disaggregate the particle lumps. Faster stirring does not substantially influence the final size but promotes the formation of smaller NPs (<20 nm). Also, low colloidal stability of Ag NPs in silicone oil is observed.

Fluidic shaping and in-situ measurement of liquid lenses in microgravity

In the absence of gravity, surface tension dominates over the behavior of liquids. While this often poses a challenge in adapting Earth-based technologies to space, it can also provide an opportunity for novel technologies that utilize its advantages. In particular, surface tension drives a liquid body to a constant-mean-curvature shape with extremely smooth surfaces, properties which are highly beneficial for optical components. We here present the design, implementation and analysis of parabolic flight experiments demonstrating the creation and in-situ measurement of optical lenses made entirely by shaping liquids in microgravity. We provide details of the two experimental systems designed to inject the precise amount of liquid within the short microgravity timeframe provided in a parabolic flight, while also measuring the resulting lens' characteristics in real-time using both resolution target-imaging and Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing. We successfully created more than 20 liquid lenses during the flights. We also present video recordings of the process, from the lenses' creation during microgravity and up until their collapse upon return to gravity. The work thus demonstrates the feasibility of creating and utilizing liquid-based optics in space.

Adaptive parabolic membrane mirrors for large deployable space telescopes

A key element for the development of extremely large telescopes in space or balloon-borne observatories will be a reduction in the areal weight of the primary mirror. Large membrane mirrors offer a very low areal weight but are difficult to manufacture with the optical quality needed for astronomical telescopes. This paper demonstrates a practical method to overcome this limitation. In a test chamber we have successfully grown optical quality parabolic membrane mirrors on a rotating liquid in a test chamber. These polymer mirror prototypes of up to 30 cm in diameter show a sufficiently low surface roughness and can be coated with reflective layers. By manipulating the parabolic shape locally using radiative adaptive optics methods, it is shown that imperfections or changes in the shape can be corrected. With only tiny local temperature changes induced by the radiation, many micrometers of stroke have been achieved. Scaling the method investigated to produce mirrors with diameters of many meters is possible using available technology. This approach opens the possibility to produce affordable extremely large primary mirrors for space telescopes. With the flexibility of the membrane material, this type of mirror can be compactly rolled up when stored in the launch vehicle, and then be deployed in space.

Composition control of alloy nanoparticles consisting of bulk-immiscible Au and Rh metals via an ionic liquid/metal sputtering technique for improving their electrocatalytic activity

AuRh bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully prepared by simultaneous sputtering of Au and Rh in a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) of N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium tetrafluoroborate (DEME-BF₄). Bimetallic AuRh alloy NPs of 1-2 nm in size were formed in the RTIL. The alloy composition was controllable by changing the surface areas of Au and Rh plates used as sputtering targets. Loading thus-obtained AuRh NPs on carbon black (CB) powders increased the size of AuRh NPs to ca. 2-8 nm, depending on the Au/Rh ratio. The electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of AuRh NP-loaded CB catalysts showed a volcano-type dependence on their composition, in which AuRh NPs with Au surface coverage of 62% exhibited the optimal ORR activity, the specific activity being ca. 5 times higher than that of pure Rh NPs.

Sputtering onto liquids: a critical review

Sputter deposition of atoms onto liquid substrates aims at producing colloidal dispersions of small monodisperse ultrapure nanoparticles (NPs). Since sputtering onto liquids combines the advantages of the physical vapor deposition technique and classical colloidal synthesis, the review contains chapters explaining the basics of (magnetron) sputter deposition and the formation of NPs in solution. This review article covers more than 132 papers published on this topic from 1996 to September 2021 and aims at providing a critical analysis of most of the reported data; we will address the influence of the sputtering parameters (sputter power, current, voltage, sputter time, working gas pressure, and the type of sputtering plasma) and host liquid properties (composition, temperature, viscosity, and surface tension) on the NP formation as well as a detailed overview of the properties and applications of the produced NPs.

Control of nanoparticles synthesized via vacuum sputter deposition onto liquids: a review

Sputter deposition onto a low volatile liquid matrix is a recently developed green synthesis method for metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). In this review, we introduce the synthesis method and highlight its unique features emerging from the combination of the sputter deposition and the ability of the liquid matrix to regulate particle growth. Then, manipulating the synthesis parameters to control the particle size, composition, morphology, and crystal structure of NPs is presented. Subsequently, we evaluate the key experimental factors governing the particle characteristics and the formation of monometallic and alloy NPs to provide overall directions and insights into the preparation of NPs with desired properties. Following that, the current understanding of the growth and formation mechanism of sputtered particles in liquid media, in particular, ionic liquids and liquid polymers, during and after sputtering is emphasized. Finally, we discuss the challenges that remain and share our perspectives on the future prospects of the synthesis method and the obtained NPs.

Metal Sulfide Nanoparticle Synthesis with Ionic Liquids - State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Metal sulfides are among the most promising materials for a wide variety of technologically relevant applications ranging from energy to environment and beyond. Incidentally, ionic liquids (ILs) have been among the top research subjects for the same applications and also for inorganic materials synthesis. As a result, the exploitation of the peculiar properties of ILs for metal sulfide synthesis could provide attractive new avenues for the generation of new, highly specific metal sulfides for numerous applications. This article therefore describes current developments in metal sulfide nanoparticle synthesis as exemplified by a number of highlight examples. Moreover, the article demonstrates how ILs have been used in metal sulfide synthesis and discusses the benefits of using ILs over more traditional approaches. Finally, the article demonstrates some technological challenges and how ILs could be used to further advance the production and specific property engineering of metal sulfide nanomaterials, again based on a number of selected examples.

Human habitats: prospects for infrastructure supporting astronomy from the Moon

There is strong interest in lunar exploration from governmental space agencies, private companies and the public. NASA is about to send humans to the lunar surface again within the next few years, and ESA has proposed the concept of the Moon Village, with the goal of a sustainable human presence and activity on the lunar surface. Although construction of the infrastructure for this permanent human settlement is envisaged for the end of this decade by many, there is no definite mission plan yet. While this may be unsatisfactory for the impatient, this fact actually carries great potential: this is the optimal time to develop a forward-looking science input and influence mission planning. Based on data from recent missions (SMART-1, Kaguya, Chang'E, Chandrayaan-1 and LRO) as well as simulation campaigns (e.g. ILEWG EuroMoonMars), we provide initial input on how astronomy could be incorporated into a future Moon Village, and how the presence of humans (and robots) on the Moon could help deploy and maintain astronomical hardware. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades'.

Plasma Processing of Low Vapor Pressure Liquids to Generate Functional Surfaces

The concept of depositing solid films on low-vapor pressure liquids is introduced and developed into a top-down approach to functionalize surfaces by attaching liquid polyethylene glycol (PEG). Solid-liquid gradients were formed by low-pressure plasma treatment yielding cross-linking and/or deposition of a plasma polymer film subsequently bound to a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) backing. The analysis via optical transmission spectroscopy (OTS), optical, confocal laser scanning (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as by water contact angle (WCA) measurements revealed correlations between optical appearance, chemical composition and surface properties of the resulting water absorbing, covalently bound PEG-functionalized surfaces. Requirements for plasma polymer film deposition on low-vapor pressure liquids and effective surface functionalization are defined. Namely, the thickness of the liquid PEG substrate was a crucial parameter for successful film growth and covalent attachment of PEG. The presented method is a practicable approach for the production of functional surfaces featuring long-lasting strong hydrophilic properties, making them predestined for non-fouling or low-friction applications.

Visible-light-driven CO2 reduction to formate with a system of water-soluble zinc porphyrin and formate dehydrogenase in ionic liquid/aqueous media

Visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction to formate with a system consisting of water-soluble zinc tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonate (ZnTPPS), formate dehydrogenase from Candida boidinii (CbFDH) and methylviologen (MV) in the presence of triethanolamine (TEOA) as an electron donor in an ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethyl phosphate ([EMlm][Me₂PO₄])/aqueous media was investigated. The catalytic activity of CbFDH for formate oxidation to CO₂ and CO₂ reduction to formate did not decrease significantly even in [EMlm][Me₂PO₄]/aqueous media, compared with that in aqueous media. The visible-light-driven MV reduction by the photosensitization of ZnTPPS in [EMlm][Me₂PO₄]/aqueous media proceeds more efficiently than in the aqueous media system. In the visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction to formate system of ZnTPPS, MV and CbFDH with [EMlm][Me₂PO₄]/aqueous media, moreover, the formate production concentration after 180 min decreased by only 20% as compared with the system in aqueous media.

Controlling the oxidation state of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles prepared by ionic liquid/metal sputtering to enhance plasmon-induced charge separation

Nanoparticles composed of molybdenum oxide, MoO_x, were successfully prepared by room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)/metal sputtering followed by heat treatment. Hydroxyl groups in RTIL molecules retarded the coalescence between MoO_x NPs during heat treatment at 473 K in air, while the oxidation state of Mo species in MoO_x nanoparticles (NPs) could be modified by changing the heat treatment time. An LSPR peak was observed at 840 nm in the near-IR region for MoO_x NPs of 55 nm or larger in size that were annealed in a hydroxyl-functionalized RTIL. Photoexcitation of the LSPR peak of MoO_x NPs induced electron transfer from NPs to ITO electrodes.

MoO_x NPs, prepared by sputtering Mo metal on a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) followed by heating in air, produced anodic photocurrents with the excitation of their LSPR peak.

Understanding the Behavior of Monocationic and Dicationic Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids through Resonance Energy-Transfer Studies

The present work has been undertaken with an objective to understand the differences in the local structural organization of imidazolium-based monocationic ionic liquids (MILs) and dicationic ionic liquids (DILs) through resonance energy-transfer (RET) studies. In this study, a neat IL is used as a donor and a charged species rhodamine 6G (R6G) is used as an acceptor unit because of the fact that they satisfy the spectroscopic criteria that are needed for an RET event to take place. Additionally, R6G, being a charged species, is expected to facilitate the electrostatic interactions with the ILs which are also charged. Specifically, two imidazolium-based germinal DILs and their monocationic counterparts are used for the present investigations. Additionally, the studies are carried out in some selected MILs where the lengths of the alkyl side chains are kept unchanged for MILs and DILs. Interestingly, the present data reveal that the RET interaction is more favorable for DILs than for MILs, even though the DILs are relatively bulkier than their monocationic counterparts. More interestingly, the RET interaction is also found to be more favorable for DILs than for MILs, where the length of the alkyl group is kept fixed for MILs and DILs. The result of the present study delineates that the alkyl chain length on the cation is not the sole factor contributing to the RET outcomes for DILs and MILs but the local structure of DILs also contributes significantly to the same. The current investigation clearly indicates that DILs have a more compact local structure than that of MILs. Essentially, the current study highlights that a cost-effective, noninvasive technique such as RET is quite effective in capturing the differences in the nanostructural organization of MILs and DILs.

Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids and Biomembranes: Setting the Stage for Applications in Pharmacology, Biomedicine, and Bionanotechnology

Empirical evidence and conceptual elaboration reveal and rationalize the remarkable affinity of organic ionic liquids for biomembranes. Cations of the so-called room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), in particular, are readily absorbed into the lipid fraction of biomembranes, causing a variety of observable biological effects, including generic cytotoxicity, broad antibacterial potential, and anticancer activity. Chemical physics analysis of model systems made of phospholipid bilayers, RTIL ions, and water confirm and partially explain this evidence, quantifying the mild destabilizing effect of RTILs on the structural, dynamic, and thermodynamic properties of lipids in biomembranes. Our Feature Article presents a brief introduction to these systems and to their roles in biophysics and biotechnology, summarizing recent experimental and computational results on their properties. More importantly, it highlights the many developments in pharmacology, biomedicine, and bionanotechnology expected from the current research effort on this topic. To anticipate future developments, we speculate on (i) potential applications of (magnetic) RTILs to affect and control the rheology of cells and biological tissues, of great relevance for diagnostics and (ii) the use of RTILs to improve the durability, reliability, and output of biomimetic photovoltaic devices.

Dynamic wetting of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on gold and glass

Experimental data and theoretical fitting for ionic liquid wetting on application-relevant substrates.

Unique orientations and rotational dynamics of a 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid at the gas–liquid interface: the effects of the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions

Two-stage rotational motions of the interfacial [BMIM]⁺ cations are essentially determined by both hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Probing the tricationic ionic liquid/vacuum interface: insights from molecular dynamics simulations

The surface properties of three symmetric linear tricationic ionic liquids (LTILs) with the common anion, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([NTf₂]⁻), were studied using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation and identification of the truly interfacial molecules (ITIM) analysis.

Matrix Sputtering Method: A Novel Physical Approach for Photoluminescent Noble Metal Nanoclusters

Noble metal nanoclusters are believed to be the transition between single metal atoms, which show distinct optical properties, and metal nanoparticles, which show characteristic plasmon absorbance. The interesting properties of these materials emerge when the particle size is well below 2 nm, such as photoluminescence, which has potential application particularly in biomedical fields. These photoluminescent ultrasmall nanoclusters are typically produced by chemical reduction, which limits their practical application because of the inherent toxicity of the reagents used in this method. Thus, alternative strategies are sought, particularly in terms of physical approaches, which are known as "greener alternatives," to produce high-purity materials at high yields. Thus, a new approach using the sputtering technique was developed. This method was initially used to produce thin films using solid substrates; now it can be applied even with liquid substrates such as ionic liquids or polyethylene glycol as long as these liquids have a low vapor pressure. This revolutionary development has opened up new areas of research, particularly for the synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles with dimensions below 10 nm. We are among the first to apply the sputtering technique to the physical synthesis of photoluminescent noble metal nanoclusters. Although typical sputtering systems have relied on the effect of surface composition and viscosity of the liquid matrix on controlling particle diameters, which only resulted in diameters ca. 3-10 nm, that were all plasmonic, our new approach introduced thiol molecules as stabilizers inspired from chemical methods. In the chemical syntheses of metal nanoparticles, controlling the concentration ratio between metal ions and stabilizing reagents is a possible means of systematic size control. However, it was not clear whether this would be applicable in a sputtering system. Our latest results showed that we were able to generically produce a variety of photoluminescent monometallic nanoclusters of Au, Ag, and Cu, all of which showed stable emission in both solution and solid form via our matrix sputtering method with the induction of cationic-, neutral-, and anionic-charged thiol ligands. We also succeeded in synthesizing photoluminescent bimetallic Au-Ag nanoclusters that showed tunable emission within the UV-NIR region by controlling the composition of the atomic ratio by a double-target sputtering technique. Most importantly, we have revealed the formation mechanism of these unique photoluminescent nanoclusters by sputtering, which had relatively larger diameters (ca. 1-3 nm) as determined using TEM and stronger emission quantum yield (max. 16.1%) as compared to typical photoluminescent nanoclusters prepared by chemical means. We believe the high tunability of sputtering systems presented here has significant advantages for creating novel photoluminescent nanoclusters as a complementary strategy to common chemical methods. This Account highlights our journey toward understanding the photophysical properties and formation mechanism of photoluminescent noble metal nanoclusters via the sputtering method, a novel strategy that will contribute widely to the body of scientific knowledge of metal nanoparticles and nanoclusters.

Surface Charge-Induced Efficient Recovery of Ionic Liquids from Aqueous Phase

Ionic liquids (ILs), which consist of pure cations and anions, are widely used in diverse applications and regarded as one of the best choices of "green solvents." However, the lack of effective green methods for recovering ILs and the safety issues caused by entering environment severely hinder the application of ILs in the green chemistry. Here, we show that rationally tuning the surface charge of a poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PtBA)-coated porous mesh can selectively let ILs pass through, thus providing an efficient and convenient strategy to recover ILs. The surface charge of the porous mesh can be precisely controlled by regulating the hydrolysis degree of the chemically grafted PtBA coating. PtBA-coated porous mesh with a proper surface charge can be tuned to be IL-philic for a specific IL but hydrophobic, and thus can be applied to recover various kinds of ILs from the aqueous phase. This study offers a new platform for the development of functional membranes for efficient recovery of ILs.

Smart Fluid Systems: The Advent of Autonomous Liquid Robotics

Organic, inorganic or hybrid devices in the liquid state, kept in a fixed volume by surface tension or by a confining membrane that protects them from a harsh environment, could be used as biologically inspired autonomous robotic systems with unique capabilities. They could change shape according to a specific exogenous command or by means of a fully integrated adaptive system, and provide an innovative solution for many future applications, such as space exploration in extreme or otherwise challenging environments, post-disaster search and rescue in ground applications, compliant wearable devices, and even in the medical field for in vivo applications. This perspective provides an initial assessment of existing capabilities that could be leveraged to pursue the topic of "Smart Fluid Systems" or "Liquid Engineered Systems".

Influence of the alkyl side-chain length on the ultrafast vibrational dynamics of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (CnmimNTf2) ionic liquids

Probing the vibrational dynamics of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (C_nmimNTf₂) ionic liquids (ILs) using femtosecond time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs-CARS) has indicated the ultrafast vibrational energy transfer between counter ions which is governed by interionic interactions and facilitated by hydrogen bonds. In this study, fs-CARS is used to investigate the ultrafast dynamics of the vibrational modes of the C_nmimNTf₂ ILs with n = 6, 8, 10, and 12 in a spectral region, which involves the imidazolium ring and the alkyl side-chain vibrations. The vibrational Raman modes with wavenumbers around 1418 cm^-1 are excited through the CARS process and the ultrafast time evolution of the consequently excited vibrational modes is monitored. The investigation of the life times of the fs-CARS transient signals indicates that the time scale of the dynamics becomes much faster when the alkyl side-chain length of the C_nmimNTf₂ is longer than n = 8. This observation suggests an increase in the hydrogen bonding interactions due to the nano-structuring of the ionic liquids, which became evident with an increasing length of the alkyl side-chain. This behavior is also found in molecular dynamics simulations. There, an increase of the oxygen density around the C(2)-H moiety of the imidazolium ring, which is the predominant site for hydrogen bond formation, is observed. In other words, the longer the alkyl side-chain, the more reorganization of the ionic liquid into polar and non-polar domains occurs and the higher the probability of finding interionic hydrogen bonds at the C(2)-H position becomes.

A smart surface with switchable wettability by an ionic liquid

Smart control of surface wettability by ionic liquids (ILs) is significant for designing IL-related intelligent materials and devices. Herein, we present mixed molecular brushes comprised of poly(phenylethyl methacrylate) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PPhEtMA-co-PFDMS) grafted surfaces that are capable of dynamically regulating 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIm][NTf₂]) wettability. ¹H NMR and quartz crystal microbalance characterization demonstrate that the wettability changes result from a temperature-dominated cation-π interaction between [EMIm][NTf₂] and PPhEtMA-co-PFDMS brushes.

Quantum Chemical Methods for the Prediction of Energetic, Physical, and Spectroscopic Properties of Ionic Liquids

The accurate prediction of physicochemical properties of condensed systems is a longstanding goal of theoretical (quantum) chemistry. Ionic liquids comprising entirely of ions provide a unique challenge in this respect due to the diverse chemical nature of available ions and the complex interplay of intermolecular interactions among them, thus resulting in the wide variability of physicochemical properties, such as thermodynamic, transport, and spectroscopic properties. It is well understood that intermolecular forces are directly linked to physicochemical properties of condensed systems, and therefore, an understanding of this relationship would greatly aid in the design and synthesis of functionalized materials with tailored properties for an application at hand. This review aims to give an overview of how electronic structure properties obtained from quantum chemical methods such as interaction/binding energy and its fundamental components, dipole moment, polarizability, and orbital energies, can help shed light on the energetic, physical, and spectroscopic properties of semi-Coulomb systems such as ionic liquids. Particular emphasis is given to the prediction of their thermodynamic, transport, spectroscopic, and solubilizing properties.

Probing the microscopic structural organization of neat ionic liquids (ILs) and ionic liquid-based gels through resonance energy transfer (RET) studies

With the aim to understand the role of the ionic constituents of ionic liquids (ILs) in their structural organization, resonance energy transfer (RET) studies between ionic liquids (donor) and rhodamine 6G (acceptor) have been investigated.

Life-Cycle Perspectives on Aquatic Ecotoxicity of Common Ionic Liquids

This study compares the aquatic ecotoxicity impacts of production- and use-phase release of five common ionic liquids (ILs). Integrating toxicity data, physical properties, and fate and transport parameters with the USEtox model, we report, for the first time, the freshwater ecotoxicity characterization factors for [Bmim](+)[Br](-), [Bmim](+)[Cl], [Bmim](+)[BF4](-), [Bmim](+)[PF6](-), and [BPy](+)[Cl](-) as 624, 748, 823, 927, and 1768 CTUe/kg, respectively. IL Production life cycle inventories were modeled and utilized to estimate their production-side ecotoxicity impacts. Literature on environmental aspects of ILs propagates either their green characteristics (no air emissions and high recyclability) or their nongreen aspects due to toxicity concerns of their release to water. This study adds a third dimension by showing that the upstream ecotoxicity impacts of producing ILs could outweigh the potential ecotoxicity impacts of direct release during use. Furthermore, for the studied ILs, an average of 83% of ecotoxicity impacts associated with their production can be linked to chemicals and materials released during the upstream synthesis steps, while only 17% of ecotoxicity impacts relate to life-cycle energy consumption. The findings underscore the need to develop sustainable synthesis routes, tight control over chemical releases during production, and careful selection of precursor materials and production processes.

Self-healing gold mirrors and filters at liquid-liquid interfaces

The optical and morphological properties of lustrous metal self-healing liquid-like nanofilms were systematically studied for different applications (e.g., optical mirrors or filters). These nanofilms were formed by a one-step self-assembly methodology of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at immiscible water-oil interfaces, previously reported by our group. We investigated a host of experimental variables and herein report their influence on the optical properties of nanofilms: AuNP mean diameter, interfacial AuNP surface coverage, nature of the organic solvent, and nature of the lipophilic organic molecule that caps the AuNPs in the interfacial nanofilm. To probe the interfacial gold nanofilms we used in situ (UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and optical microscopy) as well as ex situ (SEM and TEM of interfacial gold nanofilms transferred to silicon substrates) techniques. The interfacial AuNP surface coverage strongly influenced the morphology of the interfacial nanofilms, and in turn their maximum reflectance and absorbance. We observed three distinct morphological regimes; (i) smooth 2D monolayers of "floating islands" of AuNPs at low surface coverages, (ii) a mixed 2D/3D regime with the beginnings of 3D nanostructures consisting of small piles of adsorbed AuNPs even under sub-full-monolayer conditions and, finally, (iii) a 3D regime characterised by the 2D full-monolayer being covered in significant piles of adsorbed AuNPs. A maximal value of reflectance reached 58% in comparison with a solid gold mirror, when 38 nm mean diameter AuNPs were used at a water-nitrobenzene interface. Meanwhile, interfacial gold nanofilms prepared with 12 nm mean diameter AuNPs exhibited the highest extinction intensities at ca. 690 nm and absorbance around 90% of the incident light, making them an attractive candidate for filtering applications. Furthermore, the interparticle spacing, and resulting interparticle plasmon coupling derived optical properties, varied significantly on replacing tetrathiafulvalene with neocuproine as the AuNP capping ligand in the nanofilm. These interfacial nanofilms formed with neocuproine and 38 nm mean diameter AuNPs, at monolayer surface coverages and above, were black due to aggregation and broadband absorbance.

Understanding the hydrogen bonds in ionic liquids and their roles in properties and reactions

Ionic liquids (ILs) have many potential applications in the chemical industry. In order to understand ILs, their molecular details have been extensively investigated. Intuitively, electrostatic forces are solely important in ILs. However, experiments and calculations have provided strong evidence for the existence of H-bonds in ILs and their roles in the properties and applications of ILs. As a structure-directing force, H-bonds are responsible for ionic pairing, stacking and self-assembling. Their geometric structure, interaction energy and electronic configuration in the ion-pairs of imidazolium-based ILs and protic ionic liquids (PILs) show a great number of differences compared to conventional H-bonds. In particular, their cooperation with electrostatic, dispersion and π interactions embodies the physical nature of H-bonds in ILs, which anomalously influences their properties, leading to a decrease in their melting points and viscosities and thus fluidizing them. Using ILs as catalysts and solvents, many reactions can be activated by the presence of H-bonds, which reduce the reaction barriers and stabilize the transition states. In the dissolution of lignocellulosic biomass by ILs, H-bonds exhibit a most important role in disrupting the H-bonding network of cellulose and controlling microscopic ordering into domains. In this article, a critical review is presented regarding the structural features of H-bonds in ILs and PILs, the correlation between H-bonds and the properties of ILs, and the roles of H-bonds in typical reactions.

Growth behavior of gold nanoparticles synthesized in unsaturated fatty acids by vacuum evaporation methods

Physical vapor evaporation of metals on low vapor pressure liquids is a simple and clean method to synthesize nanoparticles and thin films, though only little work has been conducted so far. Here, gold nanoparticles were synthesized by vacuum evaporation (VE) methods in ricinoleic acid and oleic acid, two typical unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). The two solvents formed black aggregates after deposition and then shrunk and finally disappeared with the progress of time. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, nanoparticles in ricinoleic acids formed aggregates and then dispersed by time, while in oleic acid big aggregates were not observed in all timescales. From TEM images and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, the mean size of the nanoparticles was about 4 nm in both ricinoleic and oleic acids. UV-Vis spectra were also taken as a function of time and the results were consistent with the growth behavior presumed by TEM images. Air exposure had an influence on the behavior of the sample triggering the nanoparticle formation in both solvents. From control experiments, we discovered that oxygen gas triggered the phenomenon and nanoparticles function as a catalyst for the oxidation of the UFAs. It stimulates the phenomenon and in ricinoleic acid, specifically, electrons are transferred from riconleic acid to the gold nanoparticles, enhancing the surface potential of the nanoparticles and the repulsive force between their electronic double layers.

Wettability by Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) have become particularly attractive recently because they have demonstrated themselves to be important construction units in the broad fields of chemistry and materials science, from catalysis and synthesis to analysis and electrochemistry, from functional fluids to clean energy, from nanotechnology to functional materials. One of the greatest issues that determines the performance of ILs is the wettability of correlated surfaces. In this concept article, the key developments and issues in IL wettability are surveyed, including the electrowetting of ILs in gas-liquid-solid systems and liquid-liquid-solid systems, ILs as useful probe fluids, the superwettability of Ils, and future directions in IL wettability. This should generate extensive interest in the field and encourage more scientists to engage in this area to tackle its scientific challenges.

Ionic liquids: the view from Mount Improbable

The ionic liquid literature has grown at a remarkable rate since 1998, making it increasingly difficult to assess the important research directions and the underlying, fundamental understanding of ionic liquids.

Importance of liquid fragility for energy applications of ionic liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts that are liquid close to room temperature. Their possible applications are numerous, e.g., as solvents for green chemistry, in various electrochemical devices, and even for such "exotic" purposes as spinning-liquid mirrors for lunar telescopes. Here we concentrate on their use for new advancements in energy-storage and -conversion devices: Batteries, supercapacitors or fuel cells using ILs as electrolytes could be important building blocks for the sustainable energy supply of tomorrow. Interestingly, ILs show glassy freezing and the universal, but until now only poorly understood dynamic properties of glassy matter, dominate many of their physical properties. We show that the conductivity of ILs, an essential figure of merit for any electrochemical application, depends in a systematic way not only on their glass temperature but also on the so-called fragility, characterizing the non-canonical super-Arrhenius temperature dependence of their ionic mobility.

Aqueous Brønsted-Lowry Chemistry of Ionic Liquid Ions

Ionic liquids have become commonplace materials found in research laboratories the world over, and are increasingly utilised in studies featuring water as co-solvent. It is reported herein that proton activities, aH (+) , originating from auto-protolysis of H2O molecules, are significantly altered in mixtures with common ionic liquids comprised of Cl(-), [HSO4 ](-), [CH3SO4 ](-), [CH3COO](-), [BF4](-), relative to pure water. paH (+) values, recorded in partially aqueous media as -log(aH (+)), are observed over a wide range (∼0-13) as a result of hydrolysis (or acid dissociation) of liquid salt ions to their associated parent molecules (or conjugate bases). Brønsted-Lowry acid-base character of ionic liquid ions observed is rooted in equilibria known to govern the highly developed aqueous chemistry of classical organic and inorganic salts, as their well-known aqueous pKs dictate. Classical salt behaviour observed for both protic and aprotic ions in the presence of water suggests appropriate attention need be given to relevant chemical systems in order to exploit, or avoid, the nature of the medium formed.

Fabricating surfaces with tunable wettability and adhesion by ionic liquids in a wide range

A series of surfaces that can either be fully wetted or non-wetted by three kinds of ionic liquids (ILs) are successfully designed by rationally controlling surface chemistries and structures. Meanwhile, the adhesion forces between these surfaces and the ILs can also be effectively modulated in a wide range. This fundamental research will greatly promote the development of IL-based materials in practical applications.

Single-step preparation of two-dimensionally organized gold particles via ionic liquid/metal sputter deposition

Sputter deposition of Au onto an ionic liquid with a hydroxyl-functionalized cation produces a uniform monoparticle film on the liquid surface. The size of nanoparticles is controlled by the sputtering conditions.

The constitutive behavior of ammonium ionic liquids: a physiochemical approach

A huge number of possible molecular variants often forms a puzzle about their identity and integrity to processes, which can be resolved by adopting a concrete selection procedure of significance.