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A New Type of Supramolecular Fluid Based on H 2 O–Alkylammonium/Phosphonium Solutions
Author(s) -
LópezBueno Carlos,
HerrerosLucas Carlos,
SuárezRodríguez Manuel,
Bittermann Marius R.,
Amigo Alfredo,
Woutersen Sander,
GiménezLópez María,
Rivadulla Francisco
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202015800
Subject(s) - supramolecular chemistry , phosphonium , solvation , solvent , thermal diffusivity , relaxation (psychology) , chemistry , chemical physics , pulmonary surfactant , compressibility , molecule , chemical engineering , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , physics , engineering
Here we show that by adjusting the concentration of tetrabutyl ammonium and phosphonium salts in water (≈1.5–2.0 m), hydrophobic solvation triggers the formation of a unique, highly incompressible supramolecular liquid, with a dynamic structure similar to clathrates, involving essentially all H 2 O molecules of the solvent. Despite the increasing local order, the thermal diffusivity, and compressibility of these supramolecular liquids is strongly decreased with respect to bulk water due to slower relaxation dynamics. The results presented in this paper open an avenue to design a new family of supramolecular fluids, stable under atmospheric conditions, which can find important technological applications in energy storage and conversion.