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A general method is presented to calculate from first principles the full set of third-order elastic constants of a material of arbitrary symmetry. The method here illustrated relies on a plane-wave density functional theory scheme to calculate the Cauchy stress and the numerical differentiation of the second Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor to evaluate the elastic constants. It is shown that finite difference formulas lead to a cancellation of the finite basis set errors, whereas simple solutions are proposed to eliminate numerical errors arising from the use of Fourier interpolation techniques. Applications to diamond, silicon, aluminum, magnesium, graphene, and a graphane conformer give results in excellent agreement with both experiments and previous calculations based on fitting energy density curves, demonstrating both the accuracy and generality of our new methodology to investigate nonlinear elastic behaviors of materials.

Multinuclear ((1)H, (2)H, and (19)F) magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques as functions of temperature and pressure were applied to the study of selectively deuterated 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (EMIM TFSA) ionic liquid isotopologues and related ionic liquids. For EMIM TFSA, temperature-dependent (2)H T1 data indicate stronger electric field gradients in the alkyl chain region compared to the imidazolium ring. Most significantly, the pressure dependences of the EMIM and TFSA self-diffusion coefficients revealed that the displacements of the cations and anions are independent, with diffusion of the TFSA anions being slowed much more by increasing pressure than for the EMIM cations, as shown by their respective activation volumes (28.8 ± 2.5 cm(3)/mol for TFSA vs 14.6 ± 1.3 cm(3)/mol for EMIM). Increasing pressure may lower the mobility of the TFSA anion by hindering its interconversion between trans and cis conformers, a process that is coupled to diffusion according to published molecular dynamics simulations. Measured activation volumes (ΔV(‡)) for ion self-diffusion in EMIM bis(fluoromethylsulfonyl)amide and EMIM tetrafluoroborate support this hypothesis. In addition, (2)H T1 data suggest increased ordering with increasing pressure, with two T1 regimes observed for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues between 0.1-100 and 100-250 MPa, respectively. The activation volumes for T1 were 21 and 25 cm(3)/mol (0-100 MPa) and 11 and 12 cm(3)/mol (100-250 MPa) for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues, respectively.

Variable temperature ionic conductivity, viscosity and 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation times, linewidths and chemical shifts measurements were determined for various concentrations of aqueous ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) and vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) over the temperature range of 20–100 °C. Concentration ranges of 0.05–2 M and 0.05–0.2 M were investigated for VOSO4 and NH4VO3 respectively in 2 M H2SO4. Results show ion and proton transport processes that are mediated strongly by increasing solution viscosity, especially in the case of VOSO4. Activation energies calculated from ionic conductivity and solution viscosity show greater energy being needed for translational ion dynamics with increasing concentration for both solutions. Additionally, data suggest that with greater metal ion concentration ion association is more prevalent for the vanadyl ion. The differences between the transport capabilities of the two solution are discussed in terms of the 1H NMR, ionic conductivity and viscosity data.

A comprehensive study of multi-nuclear (1H, 2H, and 19F) magnetic resonance self-diffusion coefficients (D) and spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) was done as functions of both temperature and pressure on selectively deuterated 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (EMIM TFSA) ionic liquid isotopologues and related ionic liquids. While variable temperature studies provided useful insight, pressure dependent studies were more elucidating as discussed below. First, stronger electric field gradients were indicated in the alkyl chain region compared to the imidazolium ring of EMIM TFSA as determined from variable temperature 2H T1. Second and most significantly, variable pressure measurements of the EMIM and TFSA diffusion revealed independent motions for the cations and anions, with that of the TFSA anions being slowed much more by increasing pressure than for the EMIM cations. Activation volumes were determined from the pressure dependent D data and values of 28.8 ± 2.5 cm3/mol and 14.6 ± 1.3 cm3/mol were obtained for TFSA and EMIM respectively. Typically, smaller activation volumes support less restriction in motion. One possible explanation for this difference in behavior between EMIM and TFSA is that increasing pressure limits the conformational mobility of the TFSA. Third, variable pressure 2H T1 data shows two T1 regimes, for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues between 0.1-100 and 100-250 MPa respectively. These two regimes could represent dissimilar arrangements for the EMIM cation. Activation volumes determined from the pressure dependent 2H T1 data were 21 and 25 (0-100 MPa) and 11 and 12 (100-250 MPa) cm3/mol for the MD3 and D2 isotopologues, respectively. These and other details will be discussed.

The need for improved energy storage capability in supercapacitors has prompted the use of ionic liquids as alternatives to acetonitrile based solvents. Despite the advantages of supercapacitors, their use in transportation is not favorable because of the deterioration of organic solvents with increasing temperatures and their high vapor pressures. We report here on the synthesis and characterization of ionic liquids optimized for use in supercapacitors. The cations were designed to bear ether substituents which are known to lower the viscosity of ILs. ILs and binary mixtures of ILs based on pyrrolidinium, imidazolium and dicationic ammonium cations bearing ether substituents and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide [NTf2 -] anions have been synthesized, purified and characterized. The halide salts were synthesized by reaction of the amine with 2-bromoethylethylether. They were then converted to the NTf2 salts after purification. The structures of the salts were confirmed using H-1 and C-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The dicationic ILs were used as the solutes in the binary IL mixyures. The binary IL mixtures have been analyzed for their transport properties using NMR. The work at BNL was supported by the BNL Office of Educational Programs and the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences under contract # DE-AC02-98CH10886.