A highly viscous imidazolium ionic liquid inside carbon nanotubes.
We report a combined experimental (X-ray diffraction) and theoretical (molecular dynamics, hybrid density functional theory) study of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C2C1MIM][Cl], inside carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We show that despite its huge viscosity [C2C1MIM][Cl] readily penetrates into 1-3 nm wide CNTs at slightly elevated temperatures (323-363 K). Molecular simulations were used to assign atom-atom peaks. Experimental and simulated structures of RTIL inside CNT and in bulk phase are in good agreement. We emphasize a special role of the CNT-chloride interactions in the successful adsorption of [C2C1MIM][Cl] on the inner sidewalls of 1-3 nm carbon nanotubes.
Graduate School of Science, Chiba University , 1-33 Yayoi, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
Tomonori
T
Ohba
Vitaly V
VV
Chaban
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000737:chemistry*; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D000838:Anions; D002712:Chlorides; D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen