On the coupling between ionic conduction and dipolar relaxation in deep eutectic solvents: Influence of hydration and glassy dynamics.

We have studied the ionic conductivity and the dipolar reorientational dynamics of aqueous solutions of a prototypical deep eutectic solvent (DES), ethaline, by dielectric spectroscopy in a broad range of frequencies (MHz-Hz) and for temperatures ranging from 128 to 283 K. The fraction of water in the DES was varied systematically to cover different regimes, starting from the pure DES and its water-in-DES mixtures to the diluted electrolyte solutions. Depending on these parameters, different physical states were examined, including low viscosity liquid, supercooled viscous liquid, amorphous solid, and freeze-concentrated solution.

Dynamics of water confined in mesopores with variable surface interaction.

We have investigated the dynamics of liquid water confined in mesostructured porous silica (MCM-41) and periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) by incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering experiments. The effect of tuning the water/surface interaction from hydrophilic to more hydrophobic on the water mobility, while keeping the pore size in the range 3.5 nm-4.

Do Deep Eutectic Solvents Form Uniform Mixtures Beyond Molecular Microheterogeneities?

We have performed small-angle neutron scattering in a momentum transfer range (0.05 < < 0.5 Å) to study long-range order and concentration fluctuations in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and their aqueous solutions.

Extension and Limits of Cryoscopy for Nanoconfined Solutions.

This work investigates the phase behavior of aqueous solutions of glycerol confined in MCM-41 and SBA-15 nanoporous matrixes by calorimetry. Limitations due to overfilling and eutectic freezing are prevented by the absence of an external liquid reservoir and by the glass-forming property of glycerol. Consequently, the stability of nanoconfined ice in equilibrium with aqueous solutions is studied over a wide range of compositions.