Thermodynamic Framework for Water in Deep Eutectic Solvents and Ionic Liquids

Prado, Desiree Mae; Gonzaga, Aaron Niño; Burda, Clemens

doi:10.1002/cphc.202500510

Thermodynamic Framework for Water in Deep Eutectic Solvents and Ionic Liquids

Journal Article · Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 EST 2025 · ChemPhysChem

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202500510· OSTI ID:3026696

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Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)

Water is widely recognized as critical to the tunability and electrochemical stability of nonaqueous solvents such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and ionic liquids (ILs). Traditionally, the water content of these solvents has been controlled by either drying or adding small amounts of water to control their bulk properties to meet specific application requirements. The total water content by itself, does not provide sufficient information about the chemical reactivity and molecular interactions within DES– and IL–water mixtures. In this concept article, water activity is highlighted as a thermodynamically more rigorous descriptor to quantify the influence of the co‐solvent water on DES– and IL–water mixtures. Water activity relates measurable physical properties, such as vapor pressure, density, viscosity, electrochemical stability, and conductivity of DESs and ILs to the underlying molecular interactions between their components. Furthermore, water activity of DESs and ILs correlates with changes in local solvent structures and thermodynamic excess properties, including excess molar volume, enthalpy, and Gibbs energy.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0019409

OSTI ID:: 3026696

Journal Information:: ChemPhysChem, Journal Name: ChemPhysChem Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 27; ISSN 1439-4235; ISSN 1439-7641

Publisher:: ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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