Ionic-Liquid Surface Structure: Informing Applications through Dynamical Measurements

蒂莫西·K·明顿教授(蒙大拿州立大学)是由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制计划和刺激竞争研究的实验计划(EPSCoR)支持的，作为美英联合调查小组的首席研究员，他们代表了离子液体(ILS)和液晶材料的化学合成和催化应用方面的成熟专业知识的独特组合(约翰·M·斯莱特里博士和邓肯·W·布鲁斯教授；英国约克)，使用激光进行散射动力学的实验测量(肯尼思·G·麦肯德里克教授和马修·L·科斯滕博士；(英国Heriot-Watt)或分子束散射(Minton)方法以及气液相互作用的理论模型(美国西北大学George C.Schatz教授)。英国的研究人员得到了工程和物理科学研究理事会颁发的平行拨款的支持，沙茨教授是一名没有资金的合作者。这项建议旨在加强对离子液体表面结构的基本了解，并将这种新的见解与离子液体的关键可持续应用联系起来。原子和分子在液体表面的非弹性和反应性散射将被开发为一种新的、具有化学特异性的分析探针。基于激光光解、激光光谱探测和分子束散射的两种截然不同和互补的实验方法将被寻求。基于激光的方法与一系列样品的表面成分的高通量筛选很好地匹配，而分子束散射将提供关于选定液体的表面结构的额外信息。结合起来，他们将探索定制合成的高纯度ILS的表面分离程度，这是公认的实用价值。将产生的基本新见解最有可能通过其在设计和优化用于许多环境友好型应用的IL材料方面的使能作用而被用于社会效益。最直接的影响将是涉及通过气液界面传输的过程，包括各种形式的催化。参与其中的学生和博士后将接受不同的现代研究方法培训。他们将有充分的机会发展更广泛的、可转让的技能，并享受国际交流的文化好处，使他们能够为未来的增长或高科技公司的创建做出贡献。将通过创建一个新网站和相关的YouTube频道，积极促进外联工作。这些新的资源将促进拟议的关于ILS的研究成果及其普遍的更广泛应用。可下载的对象将适用于教程和其他教学工具，目的是丰富研究人员、教师、学生和普通公众。

Prof. Timothy K. Minton (Montana State University) is supported by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms Program of the Division of Chemistry and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) as the Principal Investigator of joint USA-UK team of investigators who represent a unique combination of established expertise in the chemical synthesis and catalytic applications of ionic liquids (ILs) and liquid-crystalline materials (Dr. John M. Slattery and Prof. Duncan W. Bruce; York, UK), experimental measurements of scattering dynamics using laser-based (Prof. Kenneth G. McKendrick and Dr. Matthew L. Costen; Heriot-Watt, UK) or molecular-beam scattering (Minton) methods, and theoretical modeling of gas-liquid interactions (Prof. George C. Schatz; Northwestern, USA). The UK researchers are supported through a parallel grant issued by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and Prof. Schatz is an unfunded collaborator. This proposal aims to enhance the fundamental understanding of IL surface structure and to relate this new insight to key sustainable applications of ILs. Inelastic and reactive scattering of atoms and molecules from liquid surfaces will be developed as a new, chemically specific analytical probe. Two distinct and complementary experimental approaches will be pursued, based on laser-photolysis, laser-spectroscopic probing and molecular-beam scattering. The laser-based method is well matched to higher-throughput screening of surface composition of a range of samples, while molecular-beam scattering will provide additional information on surface structure for selected liquids. In combination, they will probe the degree of surface segregation in custom-synthesized, high-purity ILs of recognized practical interest. The fundamental new insight that will be generated is most likely to be exploited for societal benefit through its enabling role in the design and optimization of IL materials for numerous environmentally friendly applications. The most direct impact will be on processes involving transport through the gas-liquid interface, including various forms of catalysis. The students and post-docs involved will receive diverse training in modern research methods. They will have ample opportunities to develop broader, transferable skills and enjoy the cultural benefits of international exchange, equipping them to contribute to the future growth or creation of high-technology companies. Outreach will be actively promoted through the creation of a new website and associated YouTube channels. These new resources will promote both the results of the proposed research on ILs and their broader uses in general. Downloadable objects will be suitable for tutorials and other teaching tools, with the goal of enriching researchers, teachers, students, and the lay public.