We report the results of an atomic force microscopy investigation of the morphological and structural properties of thin films of [C4mim][NTf2] ionic liquid on mica, amorphous silica, oxidised Si(110), and highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite. We show that [C4mim][NTf2] forms solid-like ordered structures on these surfaces at room temperature, with a vertical structural periodicity of 0.6 nm. Moreover, we analyse the contact angles of nano-scale [C4mim][NTf2] droplets on the different surfaces and show that they are sensitive to the chemical and morphological environment. Our findings highlight the potentialities of atomic force microscopy for the quantitative investigation of the interfacial properties of thin ionic liquid coatings. The results of this study suggest that at the liquid-solid interface, the structural properties of ionic liquids can be far more complex than those depicted so far, and indicate new fundamental investigations of the forces that drive supported ionic liquids through a liquid-to-solid-like transition.
Investigation of interfacial properties of supported [BMIM][NTf2] thin films by atomic force microscopy / S. Bovio, A. Podestà, P. Milani - In: Ionic liquids : from knowledge to application / [a cura di] N. V. Plechkova, R. D. Rogers, K. R. Seddon. - Washington, DC : American Chemical Society, 2009. - ISBN 978-0-8412-6997-2. - pp. 273-290 (( Intervento presentato al 236. convegno Ionic liquids : from knowledge to application : American Chemical Society national meeting tenutosi a Philadelphia, PA nel 2009 [10.1021/bk-2009-1030.ch019].
Investigation of interfacial properties of supported [BMIM][NTf2] thin films by atomic force microscopy
S. BovioPrimo
;A. PodestàSecondo
;P. MilaniUltimo
2009
Abstract
We report the results of an atomic force microscopy investigation of the morphological and structural properties of thin films of [C4mim][NTf2] ionic liquid on mica, amorphous silica, oxidised Si(110), and highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite. We show that [C4mim][NTf2] forms solid-like ordered structures on these surfaces at room temperature, with a vertical structural periodicity of 0.6 nm. Moreover, we analyse the contact angles of nano-scale [C4mim][NTf2] droplets on the different surfaces and show that they are sensitive to the chemical and morphological environment. Our findings highlight the potentialities of atomic force microscopy for the quantitative investigation of the interfacial properties of thin ionic liquid coatings. The results of this study suggest that at the liquid-solid interface, the structural properties of ionic liquids can be far more complex than those depicted so far, and indicate new fundamental investigations of the forces that drive supported ionic liquids through a liquid-to-solid-like transition.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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