Wetting sub-nanochannels via ionic hydration effect for improving charging dynamics

The ionic transport in sub-nanochannels plays a key role in energy storage,yet suffers from a high energy barrier.Wetting sub-nanochannels is crucial to accelerate ionic transport,but the introduction of water is challenging because of the hydrophobic extreme confinement.We propose wetting the channels by the exothermic hydration process of pre-intercalated ions,the effect of which varies distinctly with different ionic hydration structures and energies.Compared to the failed pre-intercalation of SO_(4)^(2-),HSO_(4)^(-) with weak hydration energy results in a marginal effect on the HOMO(Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital)level of water to avoid water splitting during the electrochemical intercalation.Meanwhile,the ability of water introduction is reserved by the initial incomplete dissociation state of HSO_(4)^(-),so the consequent exothermic reionization and hydration processes of the intercalated HSO_(4)^(-) promote the water introduction into sub-nanochannels,finally forming the stable confined water through hydrogen bonding with functional groups.The wetted channels exhibit a significantly enhanced ionic diffusion coef-ficient by~9.4 times.

Enhancing CO_(2) transport with plasma-functionalized ionic liquid membranes

The ionic liquid(IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate treated with radiofrequency plasma is proposed for functionalization and immobilization on polyethersulfone supports to form supported ionic liquid membranes for CO_(2) separation.The effects of treatment time and transmembrane pressure difference on CO_(2) permeance were evaluated.The best gas permeation performance was obtained with a treatment time of 10 min and the transmembrane pressure difference was 0.25 MPa.Characterization of the materials by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that the IL is grafted with carboxyl groups and deprotonated through plasma treatment.A preliminary mechanism for the plasma treatment and facilitated transport of CO_(2)has been proposed on this basis.

An ionic liquid-assisted strategy for enhanced anticorrosion of low-energy PEO coatings on magnesium–lithium alloy

A low-energy plasma electrolytic oxidation(LePEO)technique is developed to simultaneously improve energy efficiency and anti-corrosion.Ionic liquids(1-butyl-3-methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate(BmimBF_(4)))as sustainable corrosion inhibitors are chosen to investigate the corrosion inhibition behavior of ionic liquid(ILs)during the LePEO process for LA91 magnesium-lithium(Mg-Li)alloy.Results show that the ionic liquid BmimBF_(4)participates in the LePEO coating formation process,causing an increment in coating thickness and surface roughness.The low conductivity of the ionic liquid is responsible for the voltage and breakdown voltage increases during the LePEO with IL process(LePEO-IL).After adding BmimBF_(4),corrosion current density decreases from 1.159×10^(−4)A·cm^(−2)to 8.143×10^(−6)A·cm^(−2).The impedance modulus increases to 1.048×10^(4)Ω·cm^(−2)and neutral salt spray remains intact for 24 h.The superior corrosion resistance of the LePEO coating assisted by ionic liquid could be mainly attributed to its compact and thick barrier layer and physical absorption of ionic liquid.The ionic liquid-assisted LePEO technique provides a promising approach to reducing energy consumption and improving film performance.

Phosphotungstic acid ionic liquid for efficient photocatalytic desulfurization:Synthesis,application and mechanism

An efficient mass transfer process is a critical factor for regulating catalytic activity in a photocatalytic desulfurization system.Herein,a phosphotungstic acid(HPW)active center is successfully composited with a quaternary ammonium phosphotungstate-based hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride ionic liquid(CTAC-HPW)by the ion exchange method for the photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene sulfide.The keggin structure of HPW and highly mass transfer performance of organic cations synergistically enhanced the photocatalytic activity towards the effective convertion of dibenzothiophene(DBT)with the excitation of visible light.The deep desulfurization(<10 mg·kg^(-1))is attained within 30 min,and well stability is demonstrated within 25 cycles.Moreover,the CTAC-HPW photocatalyst projects well selectivity to interference from coexisting compounds such as olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons and universality of dibenzothiophenes,for example,4-methyldibenzothiophene(4-MDBT)and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene(4,6-DMDBT).Ultimately,a possible photocatalytic desulfurization mechanism is proposed according to the Gaschromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),proving that the final product is the corresponding sulfone.The trapping experiment and electron spin resonance(ESR)analysis confirmed that h^(+)and,COOH played critical roles in the oxidation process.The work offers a practicable strategy for efficiently converting DBT to DBTO_(2) with added value.

Ionic Liquid-Enhanced Assembly of Nanomaterials for Highly Stable Flexible Transparent Electrodes

The controlled assembly of nanomaterials has demon-strated significant potential in advancing technological devices.However,achieving highly efficient and low-loss assembly technique for nanomate-rials,enabling the creation of hierarchical structures with distinctive func-tionalities,remains a formidable challenge.Here,we present a method for nanomaterial assembly enhanced by ionic liquids,which enables the fabrication of highly stable,flexible,and transparent electrodes featuring an organized layered structure.The utilization of hydrophobic and non-volatile ionic liquids facilitates the production of stable interfaces with water,effectively preventing the sedimentation of 1D/2D nanomaterials assembled at the interface.Furthermore,the interfacially assembled nanomaterial monolayer exhibits an alternate self-climbing behavior,enabling layer-by-layer transfer and the formation of a well-ordered MXene-wrapped silver nanowire network film.The resulting composite film not only demonstrates exceptional photoelectric performance with a sheet resistance of 9.4Ωsq^(-1) and 93%transmittance,but also showcases remarkable environmental stability and mechanical flexibility.Particularly noteworthy is its application in transparent electromagnetic interference shielding materials and triboelectric nanogenerator devices.This research introduces an innovative approach to manufacture and tailor functional devices based on ordered nanomaterials.

Ionic liquid derived electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting

Hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting is a promising strategy to generate green energy,which requires the development of efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction(HER and OER).Ionic liquids(ILs)or poly(ionic liquids)(PILs),containing heteroatoms,metal-based anions,and various structures,have been frequently involved as precursors to prepare electrocatalysts for water splitting.Moreover,ILs/PILs possess high conductivity,wide electrochemical windows,and high thermal and chemical stability,which can be directly applied in the electrocatalysis process with high durability.In this review,we focus on the studies of ILs/PILs-derived electrocatalysts for HER and OER,where ILs/PILs are applied as heteroatom dopants and metal precursors to prepare catalysts or are directly utilized as the electrocatalysts.Due to those attractive properties,IL/PIL-derived electrocatalysts exhibit excellent performance for electrochemical water splitting.All these accomplishments and developments are systematically summarized and thoughtfully discussed.Then,the overall perspectives for the current challenges and future developments of ILs/PILs-derived electrocatalysts are provided.

Ionic liquid-assisted preparation of hydroxyapatite and its catalytic performance for decarboxylation of itaconic acid

The synthesis of methacrylic acid from biomass-derived itaconic acid is a green route,for it can get rid of the dependence on fossil resource.In order to solve the problems on this route such as use of a preciousmetal catalyst and a corrosive homogeneous alkali,we prepared a series of hydroxyapatite catalysts by an ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal method and evaluated their catalytic performance.The results showed that the ionic liquid[Bmim]BF_(4) can affect the crystal growth of hydroxyapatite,provide fluoride ion for fluorination of hydroxyapatite,and adjust the surface acidity and basicity,morphology,textural properties,crystallinity,and composition of hydroxyapatite.The[Bmim]BF4 dosage and hydrothermal temperature can affect the fluoride ion concentration in the hydrothermal system,thus changing the degree of fluoridation of hydroxyapatite.High fluoride-ion concentration can lead to the formation of CaF_(2) and thus significantly decrease the catalytic performance of hydroxyapatite.The hydrothermal time mainly affects the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals on the c axis,leading to different catalytic performance.The suitable conditions for the preparation of this fluoridized hydroxyapatite are as follows:a mass ratio of[Bmim]BF4 to calcium salt=0.2:1,a hydrothermal time of 12 h,and a hydrothermal temperature of 130℃.A maximal methacrylic acid yield of 54.7%was obtained using the fluoridized hydroxyapatite under relatively mild reaction conditions(250℃ and 2 MPa of N_(2))in the absence of a precious-metal catalyst and a corrosive homogeneous alkali.

Ionic liquid-based transparent membrane-coupled human lung epithelium-on-a-chip demonstrating PM0.5 pollution effect under breathing mechanostress

The plausibility of human exposure to particulate matter(PM)has witnessed an increase within the last several years.PM of different sizes has been discovered in the atmosphere given the role of dust transport in weather and climate composition.As a regulator,the lung epithelium orchestrates the innate response to local damage.Herein,we developed a lung epithelium-ona-chip platform consisting of easily moldable polydimethylsiloxane layers along with a thin,flexible,and transparent ionic liquid-based poly(hydroxyethyl)methacrylate gel membrane.The epithelium was formed through the culture of human lung epithelial cells(Calu-3)on this membrane.The mechanical stress at the air–liquid interface during inhalation/exhalation was recapitulated using an Arduino-based servo motor system,which applied a uniaxial tensile strength from the two sides of the chip with 10%strain and a frequency of 0.2 Hz.Subsequently,the administration of silica nanoparticles(PM0.5)with an average size of 463 nm to the on-chip platform under static,dynamic,and dynamic+mechanical stress(DMS)conditions demonstrated the effect of environmental pollutants on lung epithelium.The viability and release of lactate dehydrogenase were determined along with proinflammatory response through the quantification of tumor necrosis factor-α,which indicated alterations in the epithelium.

Impact of ethanol on the flotation efficiency of imidazolium ionic liquids as collectors:Insights from dynamic surface tension and solvation analysis

To conduct extensive research on the application of ionic liquids as collectors in mineral flotation,ethanol(EtOH)was used as a solvent to dissolve hydrophobic ionic liquids(ILs)to simplify the reagent regime.Interesting phenomena were observed in which EtOH exerted different effects on the flotation efficiency of two ILs with similar structures.When EtOH was used to dissolve 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride(C12[mim]Cl)and as a collector for pure quartz flotation tests at a concentration of 1×10^(−5)mol·L^(−1),quartz recovery increased from 23.77%to 77.91%compared with ILs dissolved in water.However,quartz recovery of 1-dodecyl-3-methylim-idazolium hexafluorophosphate(C12[mim]PF6)decreased from 60.45%to 24.52%under the same conditions.The conditional experi-ments under 1×10^(−5)mol·L^(−1)ILs for EtOH concentration and under 2vol%EtOH for ILs concentration confirmed this difference.After being affected by EtOH,the mixed ore flotation tests of quartz and hematite showed a decrease in the hematite concentrate grade and re-covery for the C12[mim]Cl collector,whereas the hematite concentrate grade and recovery for the C12[mim]PF6 collector increased.On the basis of these differences and observations of flotation foam,two-phase bubble observation tests were carried out.The EtOH promoted the foam height of two ILs during aeration.It accelerated static froth defoaming after aeration stopped,and the foam of C12[mim]PF6 de-foaming especially quickly.In the discussion of flotation tests and foam observation,an attempt was made to explain the reasons and mechanisms behind the diverse phenomena using the dynamic surface tension effect and solvation effect results from EtOH.The solva-tion effect was verified through Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),and Zeta potential tests.Al-though EtOH affects the adsorption of ILs on the ore surface during flotation negatively,it holds an positive value of inhibiting foam mer-ging during flotation aeration and accelerating the defoaming of static foam.And induce more robust secondary enrichment in the mixed ore flotation of the C12[mim]PF6 collector,facilitating effective mixed ore separation even under inhibitor-free conditions.

Machine learning models for the density and heat capacity of ionic liquid-water binary mixtures

Ionic liquids(ILs),because of the advantages of low volatility,good thermal stability,high gas solubility and easy recovery,can be regarded as the green substitute for traditional solvent.However,the high viscosity and synthesis cost limits their application,the hybrid solvent which combining ILs together with others especially water can solve this problem.Compared with the pure IL systems,the study of the ILs-H_(2)O binary system is rare,and the experimental data of corresponding thermodynamic properties(such as density,heat capacity,etc.)are less.Moreover,it is also difficult to obtain all the data through experiments.Therefore,this work establishes a predicted model on ILs-water binary systems based on the group contribution(GC)method.Three different machine learning algorithms(ANN,XGBoost,LightBGM)are applied to fit the density and heat capacity of ILs-water binary systems.And then the three models are compared by two index of MAE and R^(2).The results show that the ANN-GC model has the best prediction effect on the density and heat capacity of ionic liquid-water mixed system.Furthermore,the Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)method is harnessed to scrutinize the significance of each structure and parameter within the ANN-GC model in relation to prediction outcomes.The results reveal that system components(XIL)within the ILs-H_(2)O binary system exert the most substantial influence on density,while for the heat capacity,the substituents on the cation exhibit the greatest impact.This study not only introduces a robust prediction model for the density and heat capacity properties of IL-H_(2)O binary mixtures but also provides insight into the influence of mixture features on its density and heat capacity.

Highly selective extraction of aromatics from aliphatics by using metal chloride-based ionic liquids

The separation of aromatics from aliphatics is essential for achieving maximum exploitation of oil resources in the petrochemical industry.In this study,a series of metal chloride-based ionic liquids were prepared and their performances in the separation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene(tetralin)/dodecane and tetralin/decalin systems were studied.Among these ionic liquids,1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate([EMIM][FeCl_(4)])with the highest selectivity was used as the extractant.Density functional theory calculations showed that[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]interacted more strongly with tetralin than with dodecane and decalin.Energy decomposition analysis of[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]-tetralin indicated that electrostatics and dispersion played essential roles,and induction cannot be neglected.The van der Waals forces was a main effect in[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]-tetralin by independent gradient model analysis.The tetralin distribution coefficient and selectivity were 0.8 and 110,respectively,with 10%(mol)tetralin in the initial tetralin/dodecane system,and 0.67 and 19.5,respectively,with 10%(mol)tetralin in the initial tetralin/decalin system.The selectivity increased with decreasing alkyl chain length of the extractant.The influence of the extraction temperature,extractant dosage,and initial concentrations of the system components on the separation performance were studied.Recycling experiments showed that the regenerated[EMIM][FeCl_(4)]could be used repeatedly.

Effects of ionic liquids on the vapor-liquid equilibrium of 1,3,5-trioxane-water system at 101.3 kPa

Increasing the 1,3,5-trioxane(TOX) concentration in the equilibrated vapor phase of TOX-H_(2)O system has been recognized as a challenge for the azeotrope. Ionic liquids(ILs) were used to improve the relative volatility of TOX to H_(2)O and destroy the azeotrope in the TOX-H2O system. The vapor-liquid equilibrium of TOX-H2O system at 101.3 kPa was studied with the addition of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate, respectively. The results showed that the volatility of TOX increased with the increase in IL dosage. And the volatility of water decreased with the increase in IL dosage. The relative volatility of TOX to H_(2)O was improved with the increase in ILs dosage. The azeotrope could be destroyed with an IL mole fraction of about 0.10. A non-random two-liquid(NRTL) model was successfully used to correlate the experimental data. The interaction parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data with the model. The results indicated that a strong interaction existed between ILs and water. The strong interaction improved the volatility of TOX and inhibited the volatility of water, and then intensified the relative volatility of TOX to H_(2)O. The results showed that an ILs with strong polarity and hydrophilicity may be a potential additive to improve the TOX concentration in the equilibrated vapor phase.

Bacterial Cellulose/Zwitterionic Dual-network Porous Gel Polymer Electrolytes with High Ionic Conductivity

Bacterial cellulose(BC)was innovatively combined with zwitterionic copolymer acrylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylic acid ester[P(AM-co-SBMA)]to build a dual-network porous structure gel polymer electrolytes(GPEs)with high ionic conductivity.The dual network structure BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)gels were formed by a simple one-step polymerization method.The results show that ionic conductivity of BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs at the room temperature are 3.2×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M H_(2)SO_(4),4.5×10^(-2) S/cm@4 M KOH,and 3.6×10^(-2) S/cm@1 M NaCl,respectively.Using active carbon(AC)as the electrodes,BC/P(AM-co-SBMA)GPEs as both separator and electrolyte matrix,and 4 M KOH as the electrolyte,a symmetric solid supercapacitors(SSC)(AC-GPE-KOH)was assembled and testified.The specific capacitance of AC electrode is 173 F/g and remains 95.0%of the initial value after 5000 cycles and 86.2%after 10,000 cycles.

A Review on Soft Ionic Touch Point Sensors

A touch sensor is an essential component in meeting the growing demand for human-machine interfaces.These sensors have been developed in wearable,attachable,and even implantable forms to acquire a wide range of information from humans.To be applied to the human body,sensors are required to be biocompatible and not restrict the natural movement of the body.Ionic materials are a promising candidate for soft touch sensors due to their outstanding properties,which include high stretchability,transparency,ionic conductivity,and biocompatibility.Here,this review discusses the unique features of soft ionic touch point sensors,focusing on the ionic material and its key role in the sensor.The touch sensing mechanisms include piezocapacitive,piezoresistive,surface capacitive,piezoelectric,and triboelectric and triboresistive sensing.This review analyzes the implementation hurdles and future research directions of the soft ionic touch sensors for their transformative potential.

Interfacial friction induced capillary flow within nanofiber-supported ionic liquid droplets

As global economic growth increases,the demand for energy sources boosts.While fossil fuels have traditionally satisfied this demand,their environmental influence and limited reserves require alternatives.Fossil fuel combustion contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions,with a pressing need to halve these emissions by 2030 and target net-zero by 2050.Renewable energy sources,contributing currently to 29%of global electricity,are viewed as promising substitutes.With wind energy's potential,Zheng's team developed a novel method to harness even low wind speeds using well-aligned nanofibers and an innovative“drop wind generator”.This system,combining moisture-saturated ionic liquid 3-Methyl-1-octylimidazolium chloride with specific nanofiber arrays,exploits wind-inducedflows for energy conversion.This study highlights the vast untapped potential of low-speed wind as a sustainable energy source potentially for electronics.

Ionically Imprinting-Based Copper(Ⅱ)Label-Free Detection for Preventing Hearing Loss

Copper is a microelement with important physiological functions in the body.However,the excess copper ion(Cu^(2+))may cause severe health problems,such as hair cell apoptosis and the resultant hearing loss.Therefore,the assay of Cu^(2+)is important.We integrate ionic imprinting technology(IIT)and structurally colored hydrogel beads to prepare chitosan-based ionically imprinted hydrogel beads(IIHBs)as a low-cost and high-specificity platform for Cu^(2+)detection.The IIHBs have a macroporous microstructure,uniform size,vivid structural color,and magnetic responsiveness.When incubated in solution,IIHBs recognize Cu^(2+)and exhibit a reflective peak change,thereby achieving label-free detection.In addition,benefiting from the IIT,the IIHBs display good specificity and selectivity and have an imprinting factor of 19.14 at 100μmol·L^(-1).These features indicated that the developed IIHBs are promising candidates for Cu^(2+)detection,particularly for the prevention of hearing loss.

Fluorescent Double Network Hydrogels with Ionic Responsiveness and High Mechanical Properties for Visual Detection

We developed a fluorescent double network hydrogel with ionic responsiveness and high mechanical properties for visual detection.The nanocomposite hydrogel of laponite and polyacrylamide serves as the first network,while the ionic cross-linked hydrogel of terbium ions and sodium alginate serves as the second network.The double-network structure,the introduction of nanoparticles and the reversible ionic crosslinked interactions confer high mechanical properties to the hydrogel.Terbium ions are not only used as the ionic cross-linked points,but also used as green emitters to endow hydrogels with fluorescent properties.On the basis of the “antenna effect” of terbium ions and the ion exchange interaction,the fluorescence of the hydrogels can make selective responses to various ions(such as organic acid radical ions,transition metal ions) in aqueous solutions,which enables a convenient strategy for visual detection toward ions.Consequently,the fluorescent double network hydrogel fabricated in this study is promising for use in the field of visual sensor detection.

Design of dual-functional protic porous ionic liquids for boosting selective extractive desulfurization

Porous ionic liquids have demonstrated excellent performance in the field of separation,attributed to their high specific surface area and efficient mass transfer.Herein,task-specific protic porous ionic liquids(PPILs)were prepared by employing a novel one-step coupling neutralization reaction strategy for extractive desulfurization.The single-extraction efficiency of PPILs reached 75.0%for dibenzothiophene.Moreover,adding aromatic hydrocarbon interferents resulted in a slight decrease in the extraction efficiency of PPILs(from 45.2%to 37.3%,37.9%,and 33.5%),indicating the excellent extraction selectivity of PPILs.The experimental measurements and density functional theory calculations reveal that the surface channels of porous structures can selectively capture dibenzothiophene by the stronger electrophilicity(Eint(HS surface channel/DBT)=-39.8 kcal mol^(-1)),and the multiple extraction sites of ion pairs can effectively enrich and transport dibenzothiophene from the oil phase into PPILs throughπ...π,C-H...πand hydrogen bonds interactions.Furthermore,this straightforward synthetic strategy can be employed in preparing porous liquids,offering new possibilities for synthesizing PPILs with tailored functionalities.

Direct observation of ordered-disordered structural transition of MoS_(2)-confined ionic liquids

Ionic liquids(ILs)are an emerging class of media of fundamental importance for chemical engineering,especially due to their interaction with solid surfaces.Here,we explore the growth phenomenon of surface-confined ILs and reveal a peculiar structural transition behavior from order to disorder above a threshold thickness.This behavior can be explained by the variation of interfacial forces with increasing distance from the solid surface.Direct structural observation of different ILs highlights the influence of the ionic structure on the growth process.Notably,the length of the alkyl chain in the cation is found to be a determining factor for the ordering trend.Also,the thermal stability of surface-confined ILs is investigated in depth by controlling annealing treatments.It is found that the ordered monolayer ILs exhibit high robustness against high temperatures.Our findings provide new perspectives on the properties of surface-confined ILs and open up potential avenues for manipulating the structures of nanometer-thick IL films for various applications.

Experimental study of the effect of gas discharge on ionic liquid electrospray

Ionic liquid electrospray(ILE) in an atmospheric environment is often accompanied by the gas discharge phenomenon. It interferes with the normal operation of the electrospray and the measurement of experimental parameters. In this study, electrospray experiments were conducted on the ionic liquid EMI-BF4. The observations revealed that the operating modes of the ionic liquid depend on the voltage polarity at high voltages. Additionally, a correspondence between the operating mode of ILE and the current signal in the circuit was established. The shape of the liquid cone formed at the needle tip bore a striking resemblance to the plume of corona discharge, suggesting that the motion trajectory of electrons influenced the curvature of the liquid cone. Steamer theory provided a clear explanation for the change in curvature as the voltage increased.