On the thickness of the double layer in ionic liquids

In this study, we examined the thickness of the electrical double layer (EDL) in ionic liquids using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We focused on the BF4- anion adsorption from 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF4) ionic liquid on the Au(111) surface. At both DFT and MD levels, we evaluated the capacitance-potential dependence for the Helmholtz model of the interface. Using MD simulations, we also explored a more realistic, multilayer EDL model accounting for the ion layering. Concurrent analysis of the DFT and MD results provides a ground for thinking whether the electrical double layer in ionic liquids is one- or multi-ionic-layer thick

Graphene–ionic liquid interfacial potential drop from density functional theory-based molecular dynamics simulations

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising electrolytes for electrochemical applications due to their remarkable stability and high charge density. Molecular dynamics simulations are essential for a better understanding of the complex phenomena occurring at the electrode–IL interface. In this work, we have studied the interface between graphene and 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate IL by density functional theory-based molecular dynamics (DFT-MD) simulations at variable surface charge densities. We have disassembled the electrical double layer potential drop into two main components: one involving atomic charges and the other dipoles. The former component arises due to the reorganization of ionic liquid and the latter due to the electronic polarization of the surface. It is related to concepts hotly debated in the literature, such as the Thomas–Fermi screening length, effective surface charge plane, and quantum capacitance

Molecular dynamics simulation of the behaviour of water in nano-confined ionic liquid-water mixtures.

This work describes the behaviour of water molecules in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid under nanoconfinement, between graphene sheets. By means of molecular dynamics simulations, the adsorption of water molecules at the graphene surface is studied. A depletion of water molecules in the vicinity of the neutral and negatively charged graphene surfaces, and their adsorption at the positively charged surface are observed in line with the preferential hydration of the ionic liquid anions. The findings are appropriately described using a two-level statistical model. The confinement effect on the structure and dynamics of the mixtures is thoroughly analyzed using the density and the potential of mean force profiles, as well as by the vibrational densities of the states of water molecules near the graphene surface. The orientation of water molecules and the water-induced structural transitions in the layer closest to the graphene surface are also discussed.We acknowledge the supercomputing support from the EPSRC funded ARCHIE-WeSt HighPerformance Computer centre (www.archie-west.ac.uk, EPSRC grant no. EP/K000586/1) and the Galician Supercomputing Centre (CESGA). The financial support of the Estonian Materials Technology Program Project SLOKT12180T, Project of European Structure Funds SLOKT12026T, Estonian Institutional Research Project IUT20-013, Estonian Personal Research Project PUT1107, and Estonian Centres of Excellence in Science Project: High-technology Materials for Sustainable Development TK117 is highly appreciated. The financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness MAT2014-57943-C3-1-P and MAT2014- 57943-C3-3-P is gratefully acknowledged. Moreover, this work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (FIS2012-33126) and by the Xunta de Galicia (AGRUP2015/11). All these research projects were partially supported by FEDER. Funding from the European Union (COST Action CM 1206) and by the Galician Network on Ionic Liquids, REGALIs (CN 2014/015) is also acknowledged

Ionic liquids at electrified interfaces

Until recently, “room-temperature” (<100–150 °C) liquid-state electrochemistry was mostly electrochemistry of diluted electrolytes(1)–(4) where dissolved salt ions were surrounded by a considerable amount of solvent molecules. Highly concentrated liquid electrolytes were mostly considered in the narrow (albeit important) niche of high-temperature electrochemistry of molten inorganic salts(5-9) and in the even narrower niche of “first-generation” room temperature ionic liquids, RTILs (such as chloro-aluminates and alkylammonium nitrates).(10-14) The situation has changed dramatically in the 2000s after the discovery of new moisture- and temperature-stable RTILs.(15, 16) These days, the “later generation” RTILs attracted wide attention within the electrochemical community.(17-31) Indeed, RTILs, as a class of compounds, possess a unique combination of properties (high charge density, electrochemical stability, low/negligible volatility, tunable polarity, etc.) that make them very attractive substances from fundamental and application points of view.(32-38) Most importantly, they can mix with each other in “cocktails” of one’s choice to acquire the desired properties (e.g., wider temperature range of the liquid phase(39, 40)) and can serve as almost “universal” solvents.(37, 41, 42) It is worth noting here one of the advantages of RTILs as compared to their high-temperature molten salt (HTMS)(43) “sister-systems”.(44) In RTILs the dissolved molecules are not imbedded in a harsh high temperature environment which could be destructive for many classes of fragile (organic) molecules

Restructuring of the electrical double layer in ionic liquids upon charging

We have investigated the electrical double layer (EDL) structure at an interface between ionic liquid (IL) and charged surface using molecular dynamics simulations. We show that for three different models of ILs the EDL restructuring, driven by surface charging, can be rationalized by the use of two parameters - renormalized surface charge (κ) and charge excess in the interfacial layers (λ). Analysis of the relationship between the λ and κ parameters provides new insights into mechanisms of over-screening and charge-driven structural transitions in the EDL in ionic liquids. We show that the restructuring of the EDL upon charging in all three studied systems has two characteristic regimes: (1) transition from the bulk-like (κIon=0) to the multilayer structure (κIon≈0.5) through the formation of an ionic bilayer of counter- and co-ions; and (2) transition from the multilayer (κIon≈0.5) to the crowded (κIon>1) structure through the formation of a monolayer of counter-ions at κIon=1

Poly(a)morphic portrait of the electrical double layer in ionic liquids

In this paper we present a unified view on charge-driven structural transitions in the electrical double layer in ionic liquids and summarise molecular-scale mechanisms of the ionic liquid structural response to the surface charge

Electrical double layer in ionic liquids : structural transitions from multilayer to monolayer structure at the interface

We have studied structural transitions in the electrical double layer of ionic liquids by molecular dynamics simulations. A model coarse grained room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with asymmetric sized ions confined between two oppositely charged walls has been used. The simulations have been performed at different temperatures and electrode charge density values. We found that for the studied charge densities the electrical double layer has a multilayered structure with multiple alternating layers of counter- and co-ions at the electrode-RTIL interface; however, at certain charge densities the alternating multilayer structure of the electrical double layer undergoes a structural transition to a surface-frozen monolayer of densely packed counter-ions (Moiré-like structure). At this point the dense ordered monolayer of counter-ions close to the electrode surface coexists with apparently non-structured RTIL further from the electrode. These findings might bring possible explanations to experimental observations of formation of Moiré-like structures in ionic liquids at electrified interfaces. Moreover, we report the formation of herring-bone interfacial structures at high surface charge densities, that appear as a result of superposition of two ordered monolayers of RTIL ions at the electrode-RTIL interface. Similar structures were observed experimentally; however, to the best of our knowledge they have not been modelled by simulations. We discuss the dependence of the electrical double layer structure in RTILs on the ion size and the surface charge density at the electrodes

Balance of the interfacial interactions of 4,4′-bipyridine at Bi(111) surface

The data from impedance spectroscopy, electrochemical in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), surface-enhanced infrared adsorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and density functional theory (DFT) were measured, combined and analysed to describe the 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-BP) adsorption at Bi(111) single crystal electrode from weakly acidified 0.5 M and 0.05 M Na 2SO4 aqueous solutions (pH ≈ 5.5÷6.0). The influence of electrode potential (E) on the adsorption kinetics of 4,4′-bipyridine on Bi(111) has been demonstrated. The capacitance pits in the differential capacitance versus E curve have been observed. The in situ STM data reveal two molecular patterns at different concentration of the supporting electrolyte. The stable adsorbate adlayer detectable by using the infrared spectroscopy method has been observed within E from -0.75 to -0.5 V (vs. Ag|AgCl sat. KCl). The results of DFT calculations and SEIRAS data have been used to establish the various possible orientations of the 4,4′-BP molecules at Bi(111) surface. The DFT investigation has been focused on the factors governing the self-assembly of 4,4′-BP, such as the intermolecular van der Walls attractions and interplay between the surface and the nanostructure lattices, both essential for the interfacial self-assembly

Screening of ion–graphene electrode interactions by ionic liquids : the effects of liquid structure

We have investigated the screening of solute ion–electrode interactions in two ionic liquids (1-butyl 3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF4] and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride [MMIm]Cl) by constructing free energy profiles for dissolved charged probes as a function of distance from a charged surface (graphene). The free energy profiles for three types of mutual interactions (surface and solute with opposite charges, solute and uncharged surface, and surface and solute with the same charges) differ from each other, but are remarkably similar in the two ionic liquids. They all show oscillations rather than the monotonic behavior predicted by Debye-type screening models. In both ionic liquids, there are high barriers impeding the motion of charged probes to the oppositely charged surface. We examined the local liquid structure around the probes and found that the free energy minima correspond to positions in which the solvation layers induced by the surface charge and the solvation shells around the probes enhance each other while barriers occur where they perturb each other