Elucidating the Properties of Graphene–Deep Eutectic Solvents Interface

The properties of five deep eutectic solvents prepared based on the selection of choline chloride ionic liquid as hydrogen bond acceptor, which are mixed with several hydrogen bond donors with selected molecular features, were studied theoretically at graphene interfaces via both density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics methods. Molecular structuring at the interfaces, angular orientation, densification, and dynamic properties were analyzed upon adsorption on the graphene surface and when the deep eutectic solvents were confined between two graphene sheets and analyzed in terms of the role of the type of hydrogen bond donor for each solvent. Likewise, the behavior of deep eutectic solvent nanodroplets on graphene was simulated leading to the calculation of contact angles and nanowetting with further studies considering the effect of an external electric field on nanodroplet properties.