Computational chemistry

Eutectic system

Chemistry

Scattering

Materials science

Ethylene glycol

Chemical physics

Physics

Solvation

Ionic liquid

Crystallography

Neutron scattering

Organic chemistry

Optics

Catalysis

Hydrogen bond

Solvent

Molecule

Molecular dynamics

Choline chloride

Deep eutectic solvent

Microstructure

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B

A range of techniques including physical property measurements, neutron scattering experiments, ab initio molecular dynamics, and classical molecular dynamics simulations are used to probe the structural, thermodynamic, and transport properties of a deep eutectic solvent comprised of a 1:2 molar ratio of choline chloride and ethylene glycol. This mixture, known as Ethaline, has many desirable properties for use in a range of applications, and therefore, understanding its liquid structure and transport properties is of interest. Simulation results are able to capture experimental densities, diffusivities, viscosities, and structure factors extremely well. The solvation environment is dynamic and dominated by different hydrogen bonding interactions. Dynamic heterogeneities resulting from hydrogen bonding interactions are quantified. Rotational dynamics of molecular dipole moments of choline and ethylene glycol are computed and found to exhibit a fast and slow mode.

Liquid Structure and Transport Properties of the Deep Eutectic Solvent Ethaline