Structure, Organization, and Heterogeneity of Water-Containing Deep Eutectic Solvents

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Aug 10;144(31):14170-14180. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c04169. Epub 2022 Jul 27.

Abstract

The spectroscopy and structural dynamics of a deep eutectic mixture (KSCN/acetamide) with varying water content is investigated from 2D IR (with the C-N stretch vibration of the SCN- anions as the reporter) and THz spectroscopy. Molecular dynamics simulations correctly describe the nontrivial dependence of both spectroscopic signatures depending on water content. For the 2D IR spectra, the MD simulations relate the steep increase in the cross-relaxation rate at high water content to the parallel alignment of packed SCN- anions. Conversely, the nonlinear increase of the THz absorption with increasing water content is mainly attributed to the formation of larger water clusters. The results demonstrate that a combination of structure-sensitive spectroscopies and molecular dynamics simulations provides molecular-level insights into the emergence of heterogeneity of such mixtures by modulating their composition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Deep Eutectic Solvents*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared
  • Vibration
  • Water* / chemistry

Substances

  • Deep Eutectic Solvents
  • Solvents
  • Water