Structure and dynamics of ionic liquid crystals

离子液晶(ILCs)结合了离子液体的特殊性质和传统热致液晶的各向异性。作为长程有序液体电解质，它们代表了一类非常有前途的新材料。就像已经在第一个项目阶段一样，我们项目的总体目标是为分子理解离子液晶及其结构和动力学提供良好的基础，并在此基础上识别和评估与应用相关的离子液晶。在对离子型LC的分子理解方面，第一个项目阶段提供了有趣的新方面，将在第二个资助期进行研究。具体地说，它们是(I)离子液晶各向同性相中存在令人惊讶的强烈的预跃迁效应，(Ii)离子特有效应的相关性，这可能被Hofmeister系列系统化，以及(Iii)离子液晶与溶致液晶之间的关系。利用将要合成的新的ILCs系列，其中各自Hofmeister系列的单价阴离子和阳离子是系统地变化的，对第二个资助阶段的研究应该澄清，从溶致液晶(填充参数)、离子间相互作用(Hofmeister系列)或转变前现象等更一般的概念可以在多大程度上系统化和理解离子型LC的性质和相行为。除了对离子LC的分子理解之外，离子LC的应用相关方面将在第二个供资阶段受到更多关注。为此计划的研究主要针对ILC的电化学应用，特别是H+和Li+离子在热致和可能的溶致ILC相中的输运性质，以及ILC中离子电荷输运的各向异性。这些研究的结果应该可以对ILCs作为电池和(中温)燃料电池中热和电化学稳定的电解液的潜在应用进行第一次评估。

Ionic Liquid Crystals (ILCs) combine the extraordinary properties of ionic liquids with the anisotropy of conventional thermotropic liquid crystals. Being long-range ordered liquid electrolytes, they represent an extremely promising new class of materials. Like already in the first project phase, the general goal of our project is to provide a sound basis for the molecular understanding of ionic LCs, their structures and dynamics, and to identify and evaluate application-relevant aspects of ionic LCs on this basis. In terms of the molecular understanding of ionic LCs, the first project phase provided interesting new aspects that will be pursued in the second funding period. Specifically, these are (i) the existence of surprisingly strong pre-transition effects in the isotropic phase of ionic LCs, (ii) the relevance of ion-specific effects, which may be systematized by the Hofmeister series, and (iii) the relationship between ILCs and lyotropic liquid crystals. Using new series of ILCs to be synthesized, in which monovalent anions and cations of the respective Hofmeister series are systematically varied, the investigations of the second funding phase should clarify to what extent the properties and phase behaviour of ionic LCs can be systematized and understood by more general concepts from the fields of lyotropic liquid crystals (packing parameters), interionic interactions (Hofmeister series) or pre-transition phenomena. In addition to the molecular understanding of ionic LCs, application-relevant aspects of ionic LCs will receive increased attention in the second funding phase. The investigations planned for this purpose are primarily aimed at electrochemical applications of ILCs, in particular the transport properties of H+ and Li+ ions in thermotropic and possibly lyotropic ILC phases as well as the anisotropy of ionic charge transport in ILCs. The results of these investigations should allow a first evaluation of potential applications of ILCs as thermally and electrochemically stable electrolytes in batteries and (medium temperature) fuel cells.