Structure and dynamics of the protic ionic liquid monomethylammonium nitrate ([CH3NH3][NO3]) from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract

The dynamics of the protic ionic liquid monomethylammonium nitrate is investigated by Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics simulations. On average, 1.8 of 3 possible hydrogen bond contacts are formed. Therefore, one hydrogen bond acceptor and one donor site in each ion pair of monomethylammonium nitrate remains free, which is similar to water. Furthermore, like water, monomethylammonium nitrate exhibits a fast fluctuating hydrogen bond network. The comparable hydrogen bond network and dynamics of both liquids might explain the similar impact on reactivity and selectivity found for chemical reactions. However, the hydrogen bond network of monomethylammonium nitrate and water show some structural differences. While the hydrogen bonds in water arrange in parallel fashion, the hydrogen bonds of monomethylammonium nitrate prefer angles of 0 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees. The ion dynamics of monomethylammonium nitrate indicate that at about 85% of the ion pairs are still connected after 14.5 ps. A closer inspection of the first solvation shell dynamics of one cation reveals that after 11 ps the current ion pair conformation is independent of the initial ion pair conformation because the ion pairs lose their information of the initial ion pair conformation much faster than the time needed to escape from their solvent cage. The ion dynamics of monomethylammonium nitrate can be described by the following model: There are ions rattling in long living cages which are formed by long living ion pairs.