Effects of imidazolium-based ionic liquids on the isobaric vapor–liquid equilibria of methanol+dimethyl carbonate azeotropic systems

The separation of methanol(MeOH)and dimethyl carbonate(DMC)is important but difficult due to the formation of an azeotropic mixture.In this work,isobaric vapor–liquid equilibrium(VLE)data for the ternary systems containing different imidazolium–based ionic liquids(ILs),i.e.MeOH+DMC+1-butyl-3-methy-limidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide([Bmim][Tf2N]),MeOH+DMC+1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide([Emim][Tf2N]),and MeOH+DMC+1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate([Emim][PF6])were measured at 101.3 kPa.The mole fraction of IL was varied from0.05 to 0.20.The experimental data were correlated with the NRTL and Wilson equations,respectively.The results show that imidazolium-based ILs were beneficial to improve the relative volatility of MeOH to DMC,and[Bmim][Tf2 N]showed a much more excellent performance on the activity coefficient of MeOH.The interaction energies of system components were calculated using Gaussian program,and the effects of cation and anion on the separation coefficient of the azeotropic system were discussed.

Insight into the behavior at the hygroscopicity and interface of the hydrophobic imidazolium-based ionic liquids

How to completely remove the water from ionic liquids(ILs)is difficult for researchers because of the hygroscopicity of ILs.In order to study the hygroscopicity of ILs,two kinds of ILs,1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate([Bmim][PF6])and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)([Bmim][NTf_(2)])were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations.Although[Bmim][PF6]and[Bmim][NTf_(2)]are hydrophobic,both of the ILs could absorb water molecules from the vapor.In this work,the process of absorbing water from the vapor phase was studied,and the water molecules could disperse into the IL.Aggregation was observed with increasing the water concentration.Although the absorbed water increases obviously,the amount of free water and small cluster in the ILs does not change significantly and always stays at a certain level.The amount of free water and small cluster in[Bmim][PF6]is more than that in[Bmim][NTf_(2)],which is consistent with their hydrophobicity.In addition,the liquid-vacuum and liquid–liquid interfaces of the ILs were simulated and analyzed in detail.The number density distribution and angle distribution indicated that[Bmim]+cations arrangement regularly at the IL-vacuum interface.The butyl chain point to the vacuum,while the imidazlium ring is close to the IL phase region and perpendicular to the interface.While at the IL-water interface,the cations and anions are disordered.

Unraveling Passivation Mechanism of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids on Inorganic Perovskite to Achieve Near-Record-Efficiency CsPbI_(2)Br Solar Cells

The application of ionic liquids in perovskite has attracted wide-spread attention for its astounding performance improvement of perovskite solar cells(PSCs).However,the detailed mechanisms behind the improvement remain mysterious.Herein,a series of imidazolium-based ionic liquids(IILs)with different cations and anions is systematically investigated to elucidate the passivation mechanism of IILs on inorganic perovskites.It is found that IILs display the following advantages:(1)They form ionic bonds with Cs^(+)and Pb^(2+)cations on the surface and at the grain boundaries of perovskite films,which could effectively heal/reduce the Cs^(+)/I−vacancies and Pb-related defects;(2)They serve as a bridge between the perovskite and the hole-transport-layer for effective charge extraction and transfer;and(3)They increase the hydrophobicity of the perovskite surface to further improve the stability of the CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs.The combination of the above effects results in suppressed non-radiative recombination loss in CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs and an impressive power conversion efficiency of 17.02%.Additionally,the CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs with IILs surface modification exhibited improved ambient and light illumination stability.Our results provide guidance for an indepth understanding of the passivation mechanism of IILs in inorganic perovskites.

Effect of methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids on vapor–liquid equilibrium behavior of tert-butyl alcohol + water azeotropic mixture at 101.3 kPa

Three ionic liquids(ILs),1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromine([EMIM]Br),1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromine([BMIM]Br),and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromine([HMIM]Br),were used as the solvent for separation of {tert-butyl alcohol(TBA)+ water} azeotrope.Vapor–liquid equilibrium(VLE)data for {TBA + water + IL}ternary systems were measured at 101.3 k Pa.The results indicate that all the three ILs produce an obvious effect on the VLE behavior of {TBA + water} system and eliminate the azeotropy in the whole concentration range.[EMIM]Br is the best solvent for the separation of {TBA + water} system by extractive distillation among the three ILs.The experimental VLE data for the ternary systems are correlated with the NRTL model equation with good correlations.Explanations are given with activity coefficients of water and TBA,and the experimental VLE-temperature data for {TBA or water + IL} binary systems.

Interaction of bovine serum albumi with two alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids investigated by microcalorimetry and circular dichroism

The interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with two alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF4) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF6), in buffer solutions at pH 7.0 were investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and circular dichroism (CD). CD spectra showed that the two ionic liquids changed the secondary structure of BSA. Data process was based on the supposition that there were several independent types of binding sites on each BSA molecule for the two ligand molecules. The results obtained by using this supposition combined with Langmuir adsorption model showed that there were two types of such binding sites. One was the high affinity binding site, and the other was the low affinity binding site. The binding constants, changes in enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy for the two types of binding were obtained, which showed that the two types of binding were driven by a favorable entropy increase. Furthermore, for either the ionic liquids, the number of the high affinity binding sites is much smaller than that of the low affinity ones. These results were interpreted with the molecular structure of BSA and the different substituent groups on imidazole ring of the two ionic liquid molecules.

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.

Solvent effects on Diels-Alder reaction in ionic liquids:A reaction density functional study

Extensive experimental studies have been performed on the Diels-Alder(DA)reactions in ionic liquids(ILs),which demonstrate that the IL environment can significantly influence the reaction rates and selectivity.However,the underlying microscopic mechanism remains ambiguous.In this work,the multiscale reaction density functional theory is applied to explore the effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate([BMIM][PF_(6)])solvent on the reaction of cyclopentadiene(CP)with acrolein,methyl acrylate,or acrylonitrile.By analyzing the free energy landscape during the reaction,it is found that the polarization effect has a relatively small influence,while the solvation effect makes both the activation free energy and reaction free energy decrease.In addition,the rearrangement of local solvent structure shows that the cation spatial distribution responds more evidently to the reaction than the anion,and this indicates that the cation plays a dominant role in the solvation effect and so as to affect the reaction rates and selectivity of the DA reactions.

Ionic liquids as the effective technology for enhancing transdermal drug delivery: Design principles, roles, mechanisms, and future challenges

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proven to be an effective technology for enhancing drug transdermal absorption. However, due to the unique structural components of ILs, the design of efficient ILs and elucidation of action mechanisms remain to be explored. In this review, basic design principles of ideal ILs for transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) are discussed considering melting point, skin permeability, and toxicity, which depend on the molar ratios, types, functional groups of ions and inter-ionic interactions. Secondly, the contributions of ILs to the development of TDDS through different roles are described: as novel skin penetration enhancers for enhancing transdermal absorption of drugs;as novel solvents for improving the solubility of drugs in carriers;as novel active pharmaceutical ingredients (API-ILs) for regulating skin permeability, solubility, release, and pharmacokinetic behaviors of drugs;and as novel polymers for the development of smart medical materials. Moreover, diverse action mechanisms, mainly including the interactions among ILs, drugs, polymers, and skin components, are summarized. Finally, future challenges related to ILs are discussed, including underlying quantitative structure-activity relationships, complex interaction forces between anions, drugs, polymers and skin microenvironment, long-term stability, and in vivo safety issues. In summary, this article will promote the development of TDDS based on ILs.

Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids as an Anticorrosive Agent for Completion Fluid Design

Most of the onshore and offshore oil and gas reservoirs are facing operational challenges due to high temperature and high salinity, thus requiring advanced techniques for realizing the ex- pected oil recovery with the use of specially designed chemicals. During oil and gas well development, completion fluids, which are solids-free liquids, are used to complete an oil or gas well. Completion flu- ids consisting of brines are primarily used for oil and gas well stabilization and are corrosive in nature. There is a need to develop additives to be added with completion fluids to address the corrosive nature. The present investigation involved the usage of two imidazolium ionic liquids （ILs） as corrosion inhibi- tors for mild steel in various completion brine （CaCI2, HCOOCs and ZnBr2） fluids. The study was per- formed using various techniques, such as, potentiodynamic polarization, weight loss measurements and exposure studies. All the above techniques showed promising results which indicated that the ILs as corrosion inhibitors used were of the mixed-type following both physisorption and chemisorption over the mild steel surface. Among the two inhibitors studied here, l-octyl-3-methyl imidazolium chlo- ride （[OMIM]^＋[CI]^-） with longer alkyl chain exhibited better inhibition efficiency and much lesser cor- rosion rate than 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride （[BMIM]^＋[Ci]^-） with a shorter alkyl chain. The results obtained from various methodologies indicate that ionic liquids can be explored to develop anti-corrosive completion fluids suitable for oil and gas reservoirs.

Engineering of hollow polymeric nanosphere-supported imidazolium-based ionic liquids with enhanced antimicrobial activities

The design of stable,efficient and processable bactericidal materials represents a significant challenge for combating multidrugresistant bacteria in a variety of engineering fields.Herein,we report a facile strategy for the preparation of hollow polymeric nanosphere(HPN)-supported imidazolium-based ionic liquids(denoted as HPN-ILs)with superior antimicrobial activities.HPNILs were tailored by moderate Friedel−Crafts polymerization followed by the sequential covalent bonding of imidazole and bromoalkene.The resultant HPN-ILs have uniform hollow spherical morphology,an adequate surface area,and excellent physicochemical stability.Furthermore,they are highly active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and exhibit typical time/dosage-dependent antibacterial activities.The rational combination of porous HPNs and antibacterial ILs to generate an all-in-one entity may open new avenues for the design and fabrication of efficient bacteriostatic agents.Moreover,HPN-ILs have good biocompatibility and can also be loaded onto diverse matrices,and thus could extend their practical bactericidal application in the potential biomedical-active field.

The physicochemical properties of some imidazolium-based ionic liquids and their binary mixtures

The density, viscosity and conductivity of ionic liquids (ILs), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([omim][BF4]), 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([omim][Cl]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim] BF4]), 1-hexyl- 3-methylimidazolium chloride ([hmim][Cl]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([hmim][PF6]), and the [omim][BF4] + [omim][Cl], [hmim][BF4] + [hmim][Cl], and [hmim][PF6] + [hmim][Cl] binary mixtures were studied at dif- ferent temperatures. It was demonstrated that the densities of both the neat ILs and their mixtures varied linearly with temper- ature. The density sensitivity of a binary mixture is between those of the two components. The excess molar volumes (VE) of [hmim][BF4] + [hmim][Cl] and [hmim][PF6] + [hmim][Cl] mixtures are positive in the whole composition range. For [omim][BF4] + [omim][Cl], the VE is also positive in the [omim][Cl]-rich region, but is negative in the [omim][BF4]-rich re- gion. The viscosity or conductivity of a mixture is in the intermediate of those of the two neat ILs. For all the neat ILs and the binary mixtures studied, the order of conductivity is opposite to that of the viscosity. The Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) equations can be used to fit the viscosity and conductivity of all the neat ILs and the binary mixtures. The neat ILs and their mixtures obey the Fractional Walden Rule very well, and the values of the Walden slopes are all smaller than unit, indicating obvious ion associations in the neat ILs and the binary mixtures.

Measurement of activity coefficients at infinite dilution for hydrocarbons in imidazolium-based ionic liquids and QSPR model

The separations of olefin/paraffin,aromatic/aliphatic hydrocarbons or olefin isomers using ionic liquids instead of volatile solvents have interested many researchers.Activity coefficientsγ∞at infinite dilution of a solute in ionic liquid are generally used in the selection of solvents for extraction or extractive distillation.In fact,the measurement ofγ∞by gas-liquid chromatography is a speedy and cost-saving method.Activity coefficients at infinite dilution of hydrocarbon solutes,such as alkanes,hexenes,alkylben-zenes,styrene,in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluorobo-rate([AMIM][BF4])and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate([BMIM][PF6]),1-isobutenyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate([MPMIM][BF4])and[MPMIM][BF4]-AgBF4 have been determined by gas-liquid chromatography using ionic liquids as stationary phase.The measurements were carried out at different temperatures from 298 to 318 K.The separating effects of these ionic liquids for alkanes/hexane,aliphatic hydrocarbons/benzene and hexene isomers have been discussed.The hydrophobic parameter,dipole element,frontier molecular orbital energy gap and hydration energy of these hydrocarbons were calculated with the PM3 semi-empirical quantum chemistry method.The quantitative relations among the computed structure para-meters and activity coefficients at infinite dilution were also developed.The experimental activity coefficient data are consistent with the correlated and predicted results using QSPR models.

Pulse radiolysis studies of functionally substituted imidazolium-based ionic liquids

The reactions of imidazolium-based ionic liquids having different substituent groups on the ring with hydrated electrons (eaq-),hydroxyl radicals (·OH),and sulfate anion radicals (SO4·-) were investigated using nanosecond pulse radiolysis techniques.The spectra of these ionic liquids on reaction with eaq-all exhibited a similar peak at about 320 nm,and a typical peak for eaq-in aqueous ionic liquid solutions.The reaction rate constants for 1,3-disubstituted imidazolium-based ionic liquid hexafluorophosphates (BMIPF 6) with eaq-were deduced to be 10 10 L mol-1s-1,however the values were lower for trisubstituted ionic liquids.For example,the rate constant for 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMMIBF 4) was 5.5×10 9 L mol-1s-1.Imidazolium-based ionic liquids reacted with hydroxyl radicals via adducts to produce a mixture of isomeric OH adducts,and the pk a value of the OH adducts was deduced to be 8.4±0.4 for 1-butyl-3-methylimdazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF 4).Moreover,imidazolium cations were also oxidized by SO4·-to produce bivalent cation radicals,which exhibit a peak at 320 nm,and these rate constants are of the same order of magnitude,i.e.,10 9 L mol-1s-1,except that for 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimdazolium tetrafluoroborate with SO4·-(k=2.8×10 8 L mol-1 s-1).Theoretical calculations were carried out to estimate the structures of the products of reduction by eaq- and the results were related to the experimental data.

Novel Designed PEG-Dicationic Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids as Effective Plasticizers for Sustainable Polylactide

A series of novel polyethylene glycol-dicationic imidazolium-based ionic liquids(mPEG-ILs)were synthesized by facile quaternization reaction from various elaborately designed di-imidazoles and PEG,which were then studied as green plasticizers for sustainable polylactide(PLA)material.

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids as additives to preserve the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein fluorescent activity

Fluorescent Proteins(FP)can be applied as biomarkers and biosensors in the industrial and medical fields,but their large-scale use,especially for new industrial applications,is limited due to their low stability.Hence,the discovery of additives capable of preserving the activity of FP at room temperature and under stress conditions can help to expand and facilitate their commercial use.With this goal,we evaluated the application of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride-based([C_(n)mim]Cl)ionic liquids(ILs)as additives to preserve the activity of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein(EGFP)at different storage times and under unfavorable conditions.All[C_(n)mim]Cl solutions(at 0.100 mol L^(-1))were able to preserve EGFP fluorescence for longer than the phosphatesaline buffer(PBS)and NaCl solutions,increasing its fluorescence manifestation from 1 to 3 months.[C_(n)mim]Cl with shorter to medium cationic alkyl chains were the most effective in preserving EGFP fluorescence.[C_(n)mim]Cl also protected EGFP activity in the presence of the surfactant SDS,the acid guanidine hydrochloride,and H_(2)O_(2).Therefore,[C_(n)mim]Cl can be added to aqueous solutions to preserve EGFP fluorescence activity at room temperature for longer storage times and to reduce the negative impact of denaturing agents on EGFP.Therefore,there is a massive potential for the application of ILs as additives to preserve FP in the long-term without refrigeration and under unfavorable conditions,and this is fundamental to enable expansion of FP in industrial and commercial applications.

Effects of anions and alkyl chain length of imidazolium-based ionic liquids at the Au(111)surface on interfacial structure:a first-principles study

The interfacial structure and adsorption mechanism of imidazolium-based ionic liquids(ILs)on Au(111)surface were investigated via first-principles calculation.Electron density analysis and Bader charge analysis were used to explore the electronic structure of Au(111)-ILs interface.Computations show that the alkyl chain length and anions play a significant role in designing Au(111)-ILs interfacial structure.On the one hand,the stability of interface and adsorption energy tend to be enhanced as the alkyl chain length increases.It attributes to the methylene group of alkyl chain which could easily anchor on the gold interface.On the other hand,the difference in anions makes the adsorption behavior quite different.The adsorption energy follows the order:[C_(n)mim][Br]>[C_(n)mim][Cl]>[Cnmim][TFSA]>[C_(n)mim][OAc]>[C_(n)mim][PF6]>[C_(n)mim][BF_(4)].The nonfluorinated ILs(containing Br,Cl,and O atoms of anions)always have a drastic charge transfer among gold-ILs interface.However,the larger van der Waals(vdWs)volumes of the fluorinated anions have a more diffused electron density which lead to the relatively weak interaction.To sum up,a detailed and systematic investigation of the variation of anions and alkyl chain length of ILs which will affect the interfacial structure is fully studied.The above study could be helpful to understand electrode-electrolyte microscopic interface and design of functional materials for energy storage.

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-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.

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.

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.