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Dynamic Heterogeneities in Liquid Mixtures Confined in Nanopores
Ramona Mhanna1,2, Pierre Catrou1, Sujeet Dutta1
1Institute of Physics of Rennes, CNRS-University of Rennes 1, UMR 6251, F-35042 Rennes, France.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B
|March 29, 2020
Summary
Binary liquid mixtures show nanosegregation in nanochannels. Molecular dynamics reveal decoupled motion, indicating segregated dynamic heterogeneities due to confinement-induced phase separation.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Binary liquid mixtures can exhibit nanoscale segregation even when macroscopically miscible.
- Geometrical nanoconfinement can amplify this nanosegregation, leading to unique properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular dynamics of tert-butanol (TBA)-toluene (TOL) mixtures confined in silica nanochannels.
- To understand the impact of nanoconfinement on the phase behavior and dynamics of binary liquid mixtures.
Main Methods:
- Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments.
- Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
- Selective isotopic H/D labeling for distinguishing molecular motion.
Main Results:
- Decoupling of molecular motion for tert-butanol and toluene was observed.
- This decoupling indicates spatially segregated dynamic heterogeneities.
- The observed behavior is linked to confinement-induced core-shell nanophase separation.
Conclusions:
- Nanoconfinement in silica channels induces nanophase separation in TBA-TOL mixtures.
- This phase separation leads to distinct molecular dynamics for each component.
- The findings provide insights into the complex behavior of confined liquids.
