Long Periodic Structure of a Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid by High-Pressure Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering and Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering: 1-Decyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride.

The Bragg reflections of 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C10 mim][Cl]), a room-temperature ionic liquid, are observed in a lowly scattered wavevector (q) region using high-pressure (HP) small-angle X-ray scattering methods. The HP crystal of [C10 mim][Cl] was characterized by an extremely long periodic structure. The peak position at the lowest q (1.4 nm-1 ) was different from that of the prepeak observed in the liquid state (2.3 nm-1 ). Simultaneously, Bragg reflections at high-q were detected using HP wide-angle X-ray scattering. The longest lattice constant was estimated to be 4.3 nm using structural analysis. The crystal structure of HP differed from that of the low-temperature (LT) crystal and the LT liquid crystal. With increasing pressure, Bragg reflections in the high-q component became much broader, and were accompanied by phase transition, although those in the low-q component were observed to be relatively sharp.

High-pressure glass formation of a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide homologues.

We investigated the stability of the liquid phase of a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([Cnmim][TFSI]) homologues with different alkyl chain lengths for 3 ≤ n ≤ 10 at room temperature. We found that all [Cnmim][TFSI] samples (n = 3-10) formed a glassy state when pressure was applied. Intriguingly, the glass transition pressure (pg) slightly increases up to n = 5, reaches a plateau at n ≧ 8, and increases again at n = 10. This is completely different from the high-pressure glass formation of [Cnmim][BF4], where the pg decreases as n increases. We discussed the local structural changes occurring in [Cnmim][TFSI] in view of the conformational changes of the cation and anion, and small-angle X-ray scattering data. It seems that [Cnmim][TFSI] is resistant to external pressure and retains its local liquid structure by conformational adjustments of the cation and anion.

Low-temperature and high-pressure phases of a room-temperature ionic liquid and polyiodides: 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide.

Using simultaneous small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) combined with DSC measurements, low-temperature (LT) solid phases of a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) and its mixtures were examined at ambient pressure. The considered RTIL was 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide ([C3mim][I]), and the mixtures could be expressed as [C3mim][Im]. Under high-pressure (HP), the crystallization of pure [C3mim][I] was suppressed, as a LT-amorphous form of pure [C3mim][I] was formed. In the mixed system, the HP crystallization of [C3mim][I3] occurred at 0.95 GPa of compression. In [C3mim][I3.66] as a non-stoichiometric system, complicated phase changes were observed. Upon compression, the edge of a sample container was crystallized. By further compression, a crystal-crystal phase transition was observed as a HP-crystal polymorph appeared. In the centre, HP amorphization was observed upon compression, whereas decompression crystallization was induced by decreasing the pressure. The HP complicated behaviors of non-stoichiometric [C3mim][I3.66] are caused by the excess of iodide/iodine.

Conformational adjustment for high-pressure glass formation of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

The conformational stability of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Cnmim][BF4], n = 3-8) under high pressure was investigated using Raman spectroscopy to reveal the preferential role of the alkyl-chain length (n) in high-pressure glass transition. To evaluate this, we determined the intensity ratio (r) and differences in the partial molar volume (ΔVtrans→gauche) between the whole trans and gauche conformers of the [Cnmim] cation using Raman intensities. Interestingly, both values were classified into a two alkyl-chain length region at the border of n = 5. The coulombic interaction (cation-anion interaction) for the conformational stability is the predominant factor below n = 5 (the cation-head portion: alkyl carbon number C < 5), and the alkyl-chain packing effect (cation-cation interaction) is the predominant factor above n = 5 (the cation-tail portion: C > 5). In combination with the conformational preference of the [Cnmim] cation under a high-pressure glassy state, the alkyl chain displays a preferential role, i.e., an increase in the gauche conformer of [Cnmim][BF4] adjusts to avoid crystallization (the conformational adjustment effect). In the presence of the coulombic interaction, the preferential role of the flexible alkyl chain is an important key to elucidate the mechanism of the complicated high-pressure phase transition behavior of ionic liquids.

Structure of a molecular liquid GeI4.

A molecular liquid GeI4 is a candidate that undergoes a pressure-induced liquid-to-liquid phase transition. This study establishes the reference structure of the low-pressure liquid phase. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements were carried out at several temperatures between the melting and the boiling points under ambient pressure. The molecule has regular tetrahedral symmetry, and the intramolecular Ge-I length of 2.51 Å is almost temperature-independent within the measured range. A reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) analysis is employed to find that the distribution of molecular centers remains self-similar against heating, and thus justifying the length-scaling method adopted in determining the density. The RMC analysis also reveals that the vertex-to-face orientation of the nearest molecules are not straightly aligned, but are inclined at about 20 degrees, thereby making the closest intermolecular I-I distance definitely shorter than the intramolecular one. The prepeak observed at ∼1 Å(-1) in the structural factor slightly shifts and increases in height with increasing temperature. The origin of the prepeak is clearly identified to be traces of the 111 diffraction peak in the crystalline state. The prepeak, assuming the residual spatial correlation between germanium sites in the densest direction, thus shifts toward lower wavenumbers with thermal expansion. The aspect that a relative reduction in molecular size associated with the volume expansion is responsible for the increase in the prepeak's height is confirmed by a simulation, in which the molecular size is changed.

Stability of the Liquid State of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquids under High Pressure at Room Temperature.

To understand the stability of the liquid phase of ionic liquids under high pressure, we investigated the phase behavior of a series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Cnmim][BF4]) homologues with different alkyl chain lengths for 2 ≤ n ≤ 8 up to ∼7 GPa at room temperature. The ionic liquids exhibited complicated phase behavior, which was likely due to the conformational flexibility in the alkyl chain. The present results reveal that [Cnmim][BF4] falls into superpressed state around 2-3 GPa range upon compression with an implication of multiple phase or structural transitions to ∼7 GPa. Remarkably, a characteristic nanostructural organization in ionic liquids largely diminishes at the superpressed state. The behaviors of imidazolium-based ionic liquids can be classified into, at least, three patterns: (1) pressure-induced crystallization, (2) superpressurization upon compression, and (3) decompression-induced crystallization from the superpressurized glass. Interestingly, the high-pressure phase behavior was relevant to the glass transition behavior at low temperatures and ambient pressure. As n increases, the glass transition pressure (pg) decreases (from 2.8 GPa to ∼2 GPa), and the glass transition temperature increases. The results indicate that the p-T range of the liquid phase is regulated by the alkyl chain length of [Cnmim][BF4] homologues.

Pressure-induced frustration-frustration process in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, a room-temperature ionic liquid.

We have found that the room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) reveals outstanding pressure-induced phase changes from a liquid state to a crystal polymorph and finally to a glass form upon compression by up to 8 GPa. The RTIL is 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C4mim][PF6], which offers the opportunity to investigate a variety of fluctuations in one system and can be completely recovered without dissociation or polymerization, even after decompression. Similar to charge frustration, spin ice-like frustration, and geometric frustration in high potential spintronics/multiferroic materials, the RTIL frustrations are classified into charge (scalar), orientation (vector), and coordination number (topology). Degrees of freedom at each state of [C4mim][PF6] are described by charge balancing, molecular orientational order/disorder, molecular conformations of the C4mim(+) cation, and the coordination number. Here, we show a novel "conformation glass" induced by high pressure.

Superpressing of a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

We have investigated the phase behavior of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF4]) at 298 K under high pressure conditions. We found that [emim][BF4] can be superpressed without crystallization up to ∼7 GPa. We propose that [emim][BF4] behaves as a superpressurized glass above 2.8 GPa. In view of the results, the environment around the alkyl-chain (C6 and C7-C8) of [emim][BF4] is largely perturbed rather than that around the imidazolium-ring in the superpressed state. We also discussed the results in view of the conformational isomerism of [emim](+) cation. Remarkably, as an alternative to pressure-induced crystallization, we have found that such a metastable liquid shows crystal polymorphism around 2.0 and 1.0 GPa upon decompression. The behavior is in contrast with the earlier results of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]).

Decompression-induced crystal polymorphism in a room-temperature ionic liquid, N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium tetrafluoroborate.

We explore the phase behavior of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) compressed under high pressure to determine whether they crystallize or hold a liquid state. RTILs have attractive supercooling properties compared with ordinary molecular liquids, which easily become a glassy state without crystallizing at ambient pressure. Thus, phase behavior under extreme stress, such as pressure, might yield interesting results. Here, we show that N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl) ammonium tetrafluoroborate ([DEME][BF4]) could be crystallized upon compression, but it usually formed a superpressed liquid. Alternatively, unusual crystallization could be induced by releasing the pressure on the superpressed liquid. Notably, crystal polymorphism was observed in the decompression process. These facts along with visual observations indicate the possibility of [DEME][BF4] serving as a superpressurized glass. Our findings may facilitate the development of a new range of applications for RTILs that have undergone high-pressure recrystallization.

Communication: probable scenario of the liquid-liquid phase transition of SnI4.

We have shown from in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements that there are two thermodynamically stable liquid forms of SnI(4), depending on the pressure. Based on the liquid-liquid critical point scenario, our recent measurements suggest that the second critical point, if it exists, may be located in a region close to the point at which the melting curve of the crystalline phase abruptly breaks. This region is, unlike that of water, experimentally accessible with relative ease.

Polyamorphism in tin tetraiodide.

The discovery of a first-order phase transition in fluid phosphorus aroused renewed interest in polyamorphism in liquids with a locally tetrahedral molecular structure. We have performed in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements on tin tetraiodide, which consists of SnI(4) tetrahedral molecules at ambient pressure, and established that the liquid forms existing above and below 1.5 GPa, where the slope of the melting curve of the solid phase changes abruptly, have different structures. This discovery offers evidence of thermodynamically stable polyamorphism in general compounds as well as in elements. A possible phase diagram that includes the two amorphous states already found is proposed based on the pseudobinary regular solution model. The vertex-to-face orientation between the nearest molecules plays a key role in the transition from the low-pressure to the high-pressure liquid phase.

Synchrotron x-ray studies of molecular liquid SnI4.

Synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements were performed on liquid SnI4 up to a scattering vector of 25 A(-1), utilizing a horizontal two-axis diffractometer installed at the SPring-8 bending magnet beam line BL04B2 in Japan. An effective method based on the maximum entropy method was devised to transform the measured total structure factor to the reduced radial distribution function. The reliability of the density estimation is discussed.

Determination of low-pressure crystalline--liquid phase boundary of SnI(4).

The location of the liquidus in the low-pressure crystalline phase of SnI(4) was determined utilizing in situ x-ray diffraction measurements under pressures up to approximately 3.5 GPa. The liquidus is not well fitted to a monotonically increasing curve such as Simon's equation, but breaks near 1.5 GPa and then becomes almost flat. The results are compared to those from molecular dynamics simulations. Ways to improve the model potential adopted in the simulations are discussed.