Pairing of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium and tetrafluoroborate ions in n-pentanol
arXiv:1208.4752 · doi:10.1063/1.4764296
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations are obtained and analyzed to study pairing of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium and tetrafluoroborate ions in n-pentanol, in particular by evaluating the potential-of-mean-force between counter ions. The present molecular model and simulation accurately predicts the dissociation constant Kd in comparison to experiment, and thus the behavior and magnitudes for the ion-pair pmf at molecular distances, even though the dielectric constant of the simulated solvent differs from the experimental value by about 30%. A naive dielectric model does not capture molecule structural effects such as multiple conformations and binding geometries of the Hmim+ and BF4- ion-pairs. Mobilities identify multiple time-scale effects in the autocorrelation of the random forces on the ions, and specifically a slow, exponential time-decay of those long-ranged forces associated here with dielectric friction effects.
5 pages, 7 figures. V2: Figs. 4 & 7 redrawn for better visual clarity with log-scales. No change in results. In press J. Chem. Phys. 2012