Correlated ion transport and the gel phase in room temperature ionic liquids
File(s)JPCL_RTIL.pdf (982.61 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
McEldrew, Michael
Goodwin, Zachary AH
Zhao, Hongbo
Bazant, Martin Z
Kornyshev, Alexei A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Here we present a theory of ion aggregation and gelation of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). Based on it, we investigate the effect of ion aggregation on correlated ion transport—ionic conductivity and transference numbers—obtaining closed-form expressions for these quantities. The theory depends on the maximum number of associations a cation and anion can form and the strength of their association. To validate the presented theory, we perform molecular dynamics simulations on several RTILs and a range of temperatures for one RTIL. The simulations indicate the formation of large clusters, even percolating through the system under certain circumstances, thus forming a gel, with the theory accurately describing the obtained cluster distributions in all cases. However, based on the strength and lifetime of associations in the simulated RTILs, we expect free ions to dominate ionic conductivity despite the presence of clusters, and we do not expect the percolating cluster to trigger structural arrest in the RTIL.
Date Issued
2021-03-18
Date Acceptance
2021-03-01
Citation
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Biophysical Chemistry, Biomaterials, Liquids, and Soft Matter, 2021, 125 (10), pp.2677-2689
ISSN
1520-5207
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
2677
End Page
2689
Journal / Book Title
The Journal of Physical Chemistry B: Biophysical Chemistry, Biomaterials, Liquids, and Soft Matter
Volume
125
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2021 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c09050
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000631402000020&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EPSRC (EP/L015579/1)
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Physical
Chemistry
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-03-09