Bulk and Interfacial Nanostructure in Protic Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

摘要

Until recently, protic ionic liquids were thought to be structurally homogenous. However, small angle neutron scattering experiments using selectively deuteriated ethylammonium nitrate ([EtNH_3][NO_3]) and propylammonium nitrate ([PrNH_3][NO_3]) conclusively show that these ionic liquids are nanostructured in the bulk. Electrostatic and solvophobic interactions within the liquid lead to the formation of alternating polar and apolar layers. In this chapter, these results are described in detail, and the relationship between bulk structure and interfacial structure, determined using atomic force microscopy, is elucidated.