title: Correlated/non-correlated ion dynamics of charge-neutral ion couples: the origin of ionicity in ionic liquids.
abstract: Proton/fluoride spin-lattice (T1) nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) measurements of 1-butyl-3-methyl-1H-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C4mim][PF6], have been carried out using high field spectrometers and a fast-field-cycling instrument at proton Larmor frequencies ranging from 10 kHz to 40 MHz, at different temperatures. The NMRD profiles are interpreted by means of a simple relaxation model based on the inter- and intra-ionic dipole-dipole relaxation mechanism. Using an atomic molecular-ion dynamic simulation at 323 K the relevant spin dipole-dipole (DD) correlation functions are calculated. The results indicate that the NMRD profiles can be rationalized using intra- and inter-ionic spin DD interactions, however, anions are mainly modulated by ionic reorientation because of temporary correlations with cations, where modulation by translational diffusion plays a minor role. Reorientational dynamics of charge-neutral ion couples (i.e. [C4mim][PF6]) and [C4mim]+ions are in the nano-second (ns) time range whereas the reorientation of [PF6]-is characterized by a reorientational correlation time in the pico-second (ps) regime. Based on the NMRD profiles we conclude that the main relaxation mechanism for [PF6]-is due to fast internal reorientational motion, a partially averaged F-F intra- and F-H inter-ionic DD coupling as the anion resides in close proximity to its temporary oppositely charged cation partner. The F-T1-NMRD data display a ns dispersion which is interpreted as being due to correlated reorientational modulations resulting from the H-containing charge-neutral ion couple [C4mim][PF6]. The analysis of ionicity is based on the free anion fraction, f, and it increases with temperature with f → 1 at the highest temperatures investigated. The fraction is obtained from the H-F NMRD profiles as correlated-non-correlated dynamics of the ions. The analysis of T1relaxation rates of C, H, F and P at high fields cannot generally give the fraction of ions but is consistent with the interpretation based on the NMRD profiles with relaxation contributions due to DD-intra and -inter, CSA-intra (and -inter for C), including spin rotation for P. The investigation has led to a description of the mechanics governing ion transport in the title ionic liquid via identification of transient correlated/non-correlated ion dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Driver
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laaksonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: T
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4442-6367
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sparrman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3393-7257
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Umea University, SE 90187 Umea, Sweden. Per-Olof.Westlund@umu.se Gordon.Driver@umu.se.
authors.forename: P-O
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9277-4534
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Westlund