Confined Ionic Liquids:
We conducted a combined neutron scattering and computer simulation study of liquids embedded into solid porous matrices. The liquids studied were ionic liquids (IL), benzene and cyclohexane, which are similar but have different shape and aromaticity. For the solids we considered metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and mesoporous silica. IL simulations were inconclusive. In the case of benzene and cyclohexane, the latter appeared to form a glassy layer next to the walls, while the former is much more fluid.
Porous Liquids:
We designed, synthesised and characterised a series of liquids composed of hollow cage-like molecules. These are the first synthesized free-flowing liquids with permanent porosity (PL). Experiment showed an 8-fold increase in solubility of methane. A one-step, multi-gram scale-up route for highly soluble ‘scrambled’ porous cages prepared from a mixture of commercially available reagents was demonstrated. A combination of theory, calculations and computational experiments allowed us to screen the properties of these PLs and propose useful modifications, which were then taken to synthesis and characterization.
Dye-sensitized solar cells:
We studied structural and dynamical properties of a room temperature ionic liquid (IL) solvating a dye molecule adsorbed on titania, a model for dye-sensitized solar cells. We showed that changing the treatment of the electronic structure led to modifications of the geometry of the IL in the vicinity of the dye. At this interface, these combine in ways that are subtle, with important electronic and vibrational effects. We also modelled the charge transport process in the crystal and the liquid phase of an IL, showing that diffusion happens through a combination of I2 transfer and triiodide diffusion. The rate-determining step was an I2 transfer in a twisted geometry.
Heat storage:
We investigated the thermal conductivity (TC) of the graphene-water system to assess the effect of nanoparticle inclusion. Experiments show an enhancement of TC that disappears with the addition of a surfactant. Continuum simulations of graphene in water and paraffin wax, with and without surfactant, were conducted with COMSOL. These studies showed an average TC enhancement of 25%, which does not explain the experimental 100%. This requires introducing a semi-solid layer of TC larger than water. Our studies suggest that nanofluids may not be too useful for heat storage.
Biomimetic membranes:
We studied the opening of transmembrane pores in a variety of biological membranes in the presence of electric fields. We elucidated the origin of the capacitance of a free-standing membrane and proposed a test of accuracy for capacitance-based phenomenological models to predict the energetics of electroporation. We investigated the transport of ionic peptides (CPP) across a membrane, and found that CPP translocation is facilitated by transmembrane potential. We then investigated the mechanism by which CPP-functionalized cargos cross a lipid bilayer.
Mechanochemical reactions:
We studied collisions and indentations between an aspirin and a meloxicam cluster with the aim of understanding the first step in the co-crystallization process via mechanochemical synthesis. This was done with no solvent and with a small amount of chloroform. The simulations showed the mixing of the two nanocrystals in which, after after retraction, part of the meloxicam molecules remain attached to the aspirin nanocrystal and vice versa. Nothing different happens in the presence of chloroform, which probably plays a more important role in the re-crystallization process.
Training:
A community of about 30 researchers was assembled. The cohort of ESR was trained in computer modelling and non-technical professional skills. Particular attention was paid to the insertion of the ESR in the job market. Five PhD students finished and are now in employment. A CECAM-IRL workshop was organized (28 participants, 11 invited speakers, 2 from industry).
Outreach:
Two videos in Spanish were commissioned by UNCUYO for their TV channel. A video illustrating RISE initiatives was commissioned by InterTradeIreland. Prof. S. James and Prof. M. Del Pópolo were interviewed by several media to discuss the discovery of the first “porous liquids”, as reported in the Nature paper “Liquids with permanent porosity”. Dr Ferguson was interviewed for Chemistry World in relation to the Mechanochemistry paper.
