Solute-solvent interaction in ionic liquids

• Grant number: 12/23162-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: January 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Rômulo Augusto Ando
• Grantee: Julio Roberto Pereira Lemes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ionic liquids are by definition salts with melting points lower than 100oC. The growing interest in such materials comes from the fact that these liquids are potential substitutes of conventional organic solvents in several processes. It is explained essentially to properties as high chemical and thermal stability, wide electrochemical window, and extremely low vapor pressure, which avoids evaporation losses. One of the characteristics of ionic liquids that distinguishes them from conventional solvents is the existence of polar and nonpolar microdomains, responsible for the distinct molecular interactions, depending on the nature of the chemical species dissolved in such medium. Several spectroscopic techniques have been used to investigate the solute-solvent interactions in ionic liquids. The present project aims the systematic study of different molecular probes in ionic liquids (IL), by means of electronic (UV-Vis), vibrational (Raman and Infrared), especially resonance Raman spectroscopy. The main goal is the understanding of the molecular factors that govern the solute-solvent interactions and how the microdomains affect the solubility of such species in this medium.(AU)