Correlation of nonexponentiality with dynamic heterogeneity from four-point dynamic susceptibility χ4(t) and its approximation χT(t)

Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on the Magnitude of Dynamically Correlated Molecules and Dynamical Crossover in Alkyltriethylammonium-Based Ionic Liquids

This study explores the impact of alkyl chain length on dynamic heterogeneity and dynamic crossover in alkyltriethylammonium-based ionic liquids ([TEA-R][TFSI]) with varying alkyl chain lengths (R = C6, C8, and C10). Using differential scanning calorimetry and broadband dielectric spectroscopy, we observed that these ionic liquids are excellent glassformers with notable ionic conductivity at room temperature. Furthermore, the number of dynamically correlated molecules at the glass transition temperature, reflecting the dynamic heterogeneity, is exceptionally small for TEA-R ILs and becomes more reduced with longer alkyl chains. Moreover, the temperature dependence of conductivity requires two Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann equations with distinct sets of fitting parameters for an accurate description. The crossover temperature Tb, indicating the transition to complex dynamics, increases with the alkyl chain length.

Magnitude of Dynamically Correlated Molecules as an Indicator for a Dynamical Crossover in Ionic Liquids

In this work, we show how the structure and intermolecular interactions affect the dynamic heterogeneity of aprotic ionic liquids. Using calorimetric data for 30 ionic samples, we examine the influence of the strength of van der Waals and Coulombic interactions on dynamic heterogeneity. We show that the dynamic length scale of spatially heterogeneous dynamics decreases significantly with decreasing intermolecular distances. Additionally, we assume that the magnitude of the number of dynamically correlated molecules at the liquid-glass transition temperature can be treated as an indicator for a dynamical crossover.

The impact of chemical structure on the formation of the medium-range order and dynamical properties of selected antifungal APIs

In this paper, we have analyzed structural, thermal, and dynamical properties of four azole antifungals: itraconazole (ITZ), posaconazole (POS), terconazole (TER) and ketoconazole (KET), differing mainly in the length of the rod-like backbone and slightly in side groups. Our investigations clearly demonstrated that the changes in the chemical structure result in a different ability to form the medium-range order (MRO) and variation in thermal and dynamical properties of these pharmaceuticals. Direct comparison of the diffractograms collected for glassy and crystalline materials indicated that the MRO observed in the former phases is related to maintaining the local molecular arrangement of the crystal structure. Moreover, it was shown that once the MRO-related diffraction peaks appear, additional mobility (δ- or α' relaxation), slower than the structural (α)-process, is also detected in dielectric spectra. This new mode is connected to the motions within supramolecular nanoaggregates. Detailed analysis of dielectric and calorimetric data also revealed that the variation in the internal structure and MRO of the examined pharmaceuticals have an impact on the glass transition temperature (Tg) shape of the α-process, isobaric fragility, molecular dynamics in the glassy state and number of dynamically correlated molecules. These findings could be helpful in an understanding the influence of different types of intermolecular MRO on the properties of substances having a similar chemical backbone.

Dynamic Properties of Supercooled Chlorinated Biphenyls

A study of the dynamics of a series of biphenyl compounds having varying chlorine levels was carried out. Increasing the chlorine content increases the glass transition temperature and makes the dynamics substantially more sensitive to density changes. Nonetheless, in the vicinity of their respective glass transitions, the different liquids display very similar extents of dynamic correlation and dynamic heterogeneity. The slight narrowing of the relaxation peak with increasing chlorine follows the general trend of the effect of increasing molecular polarity. This relationship between the peak breadth and dipole moment was reproduced in molecular dynamics simulations of a simplified model of the Aroclor molecule.

Recent developments in the experimental investigations of relaxations in pharmaceuticals by dielectric techniques at ambient and elevated pressure

In recent years, there is a growing interest in improving the physicochemical stability of amorphous pharmaceutical solids due to their very promising applications to manufacture medicines characterized by a better water solubility, and consequently by a higher dissolution rate than those of their crystalline counterparts. In this review article, we show that the molecular mobility investigated both in the supercooled liquid and glassy states is the crucial factor required to understand molecular mechanisms that govern the physical stability of amorphous drugs. We demonstrate that pharmaceuticals can be thoroughly examined by means of the broadband dielectric spectroscopy, which is a very useful experimental technique to explore different relaxation processes and crystallization kinetics as well. Such studies conducted in the wide temperature and pressure ranges provide data needed in searching correlations between properties of molecular dynamics and crystallization process, which are aimed at developing effective and efficient methods for stabilizing amorphous drugs.

Ionic liquids and their bases: Striking differences in the dynamic heterogeneity near the glass transition

Ionic liquids (ILs) constitute an active field of research due to their important applications. A challenge for these investigations is to explore properties of ILs near the glass transition temperature Tg, which still require our better understanding. To shed a new light on the issues, we measured ILs and their base counterparts using the temperature modulated calorimetry. We performed a comparative analysis of the dynamic heterogeneity at Tg for bases and their salts with a simple monoatomic anion (Cl(-)). Each pair of ionic and non-ionic liquids is characterized by nearly the same chemical structure but their intermolecular interactions are completely different. We found that the size of the dynamic heterogeneity of ILs near Tg is considerably smaller than that established for their dipolar counterparts. Further results obtained for several other ILs near Tg additionally strengthen the conclusion about the relatively small size of the dynamic heterogeneity of molecular systems dominated by electrostatic interactions. Our finding opens up new perspectives on designing different material properties depending on intermolecular interaction types.

Dynamic correlations and heterogeneity in the primary and secondary relaxations of a model molecular liquid

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on a series of Lennard-Jones binary mixtures of rigid, asymmetric, dumbbell-shaped molecules. Below an onset temperature, the rotational and translational dynamics split into the slow structural α relaxation and a higher-frequency Johari-Goldstein β relaxation. Both processes are dynamically heterogeneous, having broad distributions of relaxation times. However, only the α relaxation shows strong dynamic correlations; correlations at the β time scale are weak, in particular for molecules having shorter bonds. Despite the close connection between the two processes, we find no correlation between the α and β relaxation times of individual molecules; that is, a molecule exhibiting slow β motion does not necessarily undergo slow α dynamics and likewise for fast molecules. However, the single-molecule α relaxation times do correlate with both the α and β relaxation strengths.

Note: Effects of adding a viscosity-increasing 2 nm-size molecule on dielectric relaxation features and the dynamic heterogeneity view

To investigate the extent to which dynamic heterogeneity determines the relaxation features, we studied the effect of adding a viscosity-increasing, ∼2 nm size polyhederal oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) molecule on dielectric relaxation. Addition of POSS increased the relaxation time of the α-process, τ(m,α), and decreased the non-exponential response parameter, β, which is compatible with the dynamic heterogeneity view. But β varied monotonically with the composition, and there was little variation of β with the temperature, which seems incompatible with that view. Effects of adding nm-size particles in simulations may reveal how the size of dynamically heterogeneous regions affects τ(m,α) and β.

Evidence and characterization of dynamic heterogeneity in binary mixtures of phosphoric acid and benzimidazole

We report here anomalous diffusions of components in mixtures of monomer of polybenzimidazole, i.e., 2-phenyl-1H,1'H-5,5'-bibenzo[d]imidazole (BI) and phosphoric acid (PA) from molecular dynamics simulations. We have observed initial drop and further increase in self-diffusion constant for both monomer molecule (BI) and PA with gradual increase in PA concentration. The origin of such anomalous diffusion is identified in this work, which happens to be the presence of dynamic heterogeneity in each component of the binary mixture. We characterized microscopic picture of dynamical heterogeneity by finding correlation between dynamical heterogeneity and structural arrangement among the components of the binary system. Different types of H-bonding arrangements in the BI-PA systems at different concentration of PA are observed. The stability of the H-bonded network consisting of different types of H-bonds between BI and PA in the system has been studied by calculating the lifetime of various H-bonds. The results indicate that there are fast and slow moving PA molecules in the mixtures because of coexistence of different types of hydrogen bonds among the components of the mixture.

Cooperativity length scale in nanocomposites: interfacial and confinement effects

Interfacial and confinement effects on the evolution of cooperativity on approaching the glass transition have been studied in poly(propylenecoethylene) functionalized with diethylmaleate, polyethylene 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol and their nanocomposites with montmorillonite. A small increase of the structural dynamic cooperativity, a weak alteration of the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation frequency, and no changes in the glass transition temperature observed in poly(propylenecoethylene)-based samples can be rationalized in terms of interfacial interactions between polymer and exfoliated clay. On the other hand, confinement of polymer chains in the galleries of clay (intercalated nanocomposite) produces a strong reduction of cooperativity, of the temperature dependence of the characteristic relaxation frequency, and of the glass transition temperature in polyethylene 1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol samples. Finally, by investigating the temperature dependence of a generalized fragility and of cooperativity, we evidenced that fragility of glass formers is determined not only by cooperativity.

Effect of temperature and density fluctuations on the spatially heterogeneous dynamics of glass-forming Van der Waals liquids under high pressure

In this Letter, we show how temperature and density fluctuations affect the spatially heterogeneous dynamics at ambient and elevated pressures. By using high-pressure experimental data for van der Waals liquids, we examine contributions of the temperature and density fluctuations to the dynamics heterogeneity. We show that the dynamic heterogeneity decreases significantly with increasing pressure at a constant structural relaxation time (isochronal condition), while the broadening of the relaxation spectrum remains constant. This observation questions the relationship between spectral broadening and dynamic heterogeneity.

Quantifying the Structural Dynamics of Pharmaceuticals in the Glassy State

Structural dynamics in the glassy state of two protic ionic liquids, carvedilol phosphate and procaine hydrochloride, were characterized from analysis of changes in the conductivity relaxation times during physical aging. The obtained relaxation times, having a magnitude exceeding feasible experimental time scales and thus not directly measurable, are consistent with published data from a method that relies on the presence of a secondary relaxation. We also observe a narrowing of the relaxation dispersion, specific to higher frequencies, that is a consequence of the heterogeneous dynamics of deeply supercooled materials.

The importance of the activation volume for the description of the molecular dynamics of glass-forming liquids

High pressure dielectric measurements were carried out on hydrogen bonded d-glucose and two van der Waals peracetyl saccharides, i.e. α pentaacetyl glucose and α octaacetyl maltose. In this study we found that after removing H bonds, the molecular dynamics of both modified saccharides is very sensitive to pressure, as reflected by a large value of the pressure coefficient of the glass transition temperature, equal to 270 K GPa(-1) and 280 K GPa(-1) for α pentaacetyl glucose and α octaacetyl maltose, respectively. On the other hand, dT(g)/dP for d-glucose is much lower, equal to 67 K GPa(-1). Our result confirms the general rule that the hydrogen bonding glass-forming liquids exhibit much lower values of dT(g)/dP compared to the van der Waals systems. Additionally, on the basis of results reported herein and also recent literature data for polyalcohols, we point out that the activation volume correlates fairly well with the molecular volume in the case of hydrogen bonding liquids. On the other hand, much larger values of the activation volumes at T(g) with respect to the molecular volumes were found for both peracetyl saccharides.

Comparing dynamic correlation lengths from an approximation to the four-point dynamic susceptibility and from the picosecond vibrational dynamics

Recently an alternative approach to the determination of dynamic correlation lengths ξ for supercooled liquids, based on the properties of the slow (picosecond) vibrational dynamics, was carried out [Hong, Novikov, and Sokolov, Phys. Rev. E 83, 061508 (2011)]. Although these vibrational measurements are typically conducted well below the glass transition temperature, the liquid is frozen at T(g), whereby structural correlations, density variations, etc., manifested at low temperatures as spatial fluctuations of local elastic constants, can be related to a dynamic heterogeneity length scale for the liquid state. We compare ξ from this method to values calculated using an approximation to the four-point dynamic susceptibility. For 26 different materials we find good correlation between the two measures; moreover, the pressure dependences are consistent within the large experimental error. However, ξ from Boson peak measurements above T(g) have a different, and unrealistic, temperature dependence.