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Title: Surface Nanocrystallization of an Ionic Liquid

Abstract

Surface crystallization at the vapor-liquid interface of the ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) is observed in synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies. Sharp Bragg reflections emerge in grazing-angle x-ray diffraction patterns 37 C above the bulk melting temperature, indicating the presence of a long-range ordered phase at the surface in coexistence with the bulk parent liquid. The unique structure of the vapor-liquid interface where butyl chains attached to the cations are expelled to the vapor side facilitates interionic electrostatic interactions that lead to the crystallization. Our results demonstrate the complexity of ionic-liquid structure with their tendency to spontaneously phase separate into nanodomains with finite correlation lengths in coexistence with the liquid phase. By virtue of interfacial boundary conditions, these nanodomains grow laterally to form quasi-two-dimensional crystals.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Iowa State
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Org.:
FOREIGNDOE - BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES
OSTI Identifier:
1035703
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Phys. Rev. Lett.
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 108; Journal Issue: (5) ; 02, 2012; Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; BOUNDARY CONDITIONS; BRAGG REFLECTION; CATIONS; CHAINS; CRYSTALLIZATION; ELECTROSTATICS; MELTING; MOLTEN SALTS; SYNCHROTRONS; X-RAY DIFFRACTION

Citation Formats

Jeon, Yoonnam, Vaknin, David, Bu, Wei, Sung, Jaeho, Ouchi, Yukio, Sung, Woongmo, Kim, Doseok, Nagoya), and Sogang). Surface Nanocrystallization of an Ionic Liquid. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.055502.
Jeon, Yoonnam, Vaknin, David, Bu, Wei, Sung, Jaeho, Ouchi, Yukio, Sung, Woongmo, Kim, Doseok, Nagoya), & Sogang). Surface Nanocrystallization of an Ionic Liquid. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.055502
Jeon, Yoonnam, Vaknin, David, Bu, Wei, Sung, Jaeho, Ouchi, Yukio, Sung, Woongmo, Kim, Doseok, Nagoya), and Sogang). 2012. "Surface Nanocrystallization of an Ionic Liquid". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.055502.
@article{osti_1035703,
title = {Surface Nanocrystallization of an Ionic Liquid},
author = {Jeon, Yoonnam and Vaknin, David and Bu, Wei and Sung, Jaeho and Ouchi, Yukio and Sung, Woongmo and Kim, Doseok and Nagoya) and Sogang)},
abstractNote = {Surface crystallization at the vapor-liquid interface of the ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) is observed in synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies. Sharp Bragg reflections emerge in grazing-angle x-ray diffraction patterns 37 C above the bulk melting temperature, indicating the presence of a long-range ordered phase at the surface in coexistence with the bulk parent liquid. The unique structure of the vapor-liquid interface where butyl chains attached to the cations are expelled to the vapor side facilitates interionic electrostatic interactions that lead to the crystallization. Our results demonstrate the complexity of ionic-liquid structure with their tendency to spontaneously phase separate into nanodomains with finite correlation lengths in coexistence with the liquid phase. By virtue of interfacial boundary conditions, these nanodomains grow laterally to form quasi-two-dimensional crystals.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.055502},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1035703}, journal = {Phys. Rev. Lett.},
issn = {0031-9007},
number = (5) ; 02, 2012,
volume = 108,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Mon Mar 26 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}