The Effect of Implant Duration on CED Distribution

Intellectual Merits The aim of this proposal is to delineate the interfacial structure and properties of supported ionic liquid (SIL) film for the development of revolutionary heterogeneous /homogenous /enzymatic hybrid catalytic systems. SIL provides a medium for homogenous and enzymatic catalysts to function in a heterogeneous environment. Such hybrid catalytic system is the long-sought Holy Grail for catalysis scientists and chemical engineers because it combined the advantages of both heterogeneous and homogenous systems including mild condition, high selectivity, and ease of catalyst recycling and product separation, which will enable the implementation of new reaction pathways. Nevertheless, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the interfacial structure, wetting, and spreading of ionic liquid (IL) prevent the wider applications of ILs. ILs are not molecular liquids, or diluted electrolyte solutions that can be described by established theories. The IL Leaching from SIL reactor is the main problem in catalysis, which has not been solved because of these knowledge gaps. The P.I. has found that the SIL film changes into two phases – the IL layers phase on the solid surface, and the drop phase on top of the IL layer due to autophobic dewetting. This finding reveals that the IL structure determines the IL interfacial properties. The P.I. proposes a multi-disciplinary research plan to characterize IL structure and wetting at the liquid-solid interfaces, which aims to rationally develop hybrid SIL catalysis systems in terms of ion’s structure and interactions at nanometer scale. The central hypothesis is that the IL layer is a fluidic membrane and is the ideal place to incorporate catalysts. Three logically connected objectives are targeted to confirm this hypothesis. 1. Determine the fluidity of IL layer by monitoring the healing of an artificial scratch created on an IL layer using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which shows that the fluidic IL layer is capable of dissolving catalysts; 2. Quantify the IL loss with solvent incubation time using AFM topographic measurements. We speculate catalysts dissolved in IL layer have minimal leaching and would be desirable in real applications; 3. Establish a proof-of-principle catalytic system, which will demonstrate that the IL layer catalytic system is feasible. Broader Impacts The proposed research is expected to produce the first batch of data that describe IL’s static structure and dynamic behaviors such as spreading at nanometer scale, which would provide fundamental bench marks for further development of theories describing IL behaviors. ILs have been extensively developed for novel energy applications including fuel cells, super capacitors, catalysis medium, separation solvents, electronics components, and e-ink display. IL/solid interfaces exist in all these applications. Nevertheless, the molecular level structures of such interfaces have not been determined. Results from this work are expected to be transformative by revealing the structure-function-behavior relationship of representative ILs. Through the incorporated research and educational plan, the P.I. will develop a Nintendo WII remote based model SPM and use it to educate students to understand the research theme and the principle of SPM. In addition, our research outcomes and this SPM will be presented at the Kentucky Science Fair—a local, regional, and state-wide endeavor—for public education on surface science. The proposed project will support students to conduct research at Brookhaven National Laboratory and provide opportunities for under-represented students and high school students to present their research at national conferences, which will encourage them to pursue careers in science