Revealing Entropy Effects in Deep Eutectic Mixtures with Neutron Spectroscopy

What is it about?

In this study we explored how molecules behave and interact in a special kind of liquid mixture called a deep eutectic solvent (DES), made from urea and ammonium salts. These mixtures are promising for green chemistry but can behave in surprising ways. Using a technique called neutron scattering and computer simulations, we looked closely at how the molecules vibrate and organize themselves. We also used a clever trick—replacing hydrogen in urea with a heavier version called deuterium—to separate and better understand the behavior of each ingredient in the mixture.

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Photo by Chris Stein on Unsplash

Photo by Chris Stein on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We discovered that the shape of the salt molecules—whether they are symmetrical or not—has a strong effect on how urea molecules arrange themselves. This helps explain why some mixtures stay liquid longer than expected and how disorder plays a key role in their properties.