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Localized relaxational dynamics of succinonitrile
journal contribution
posted on 2009-08-20, 00:00 authored by L van Eijck, A Best, S Long, F Fernandez-Alonso, D MacFarlane, Maria ForsythMaria Forsyth, G KearleySuccinonitrile (N≡C—CH2—CH2—C≡N) is a good ionic conductor, when doped with an ionic compound, at room temperature, where it is in its plastic crystalline phase (Long et al. Solid State Ionics 2003, 161, 105; Alarco et al. Nat. Mater. 2004, 3, 476). We report on the relaxational dynamics of the plastic phase near the two first-order phase transitions and on the effect of dissolving a salt in the plastic matrix by quasi-elastic neutron scattering. At 240 K, the three observed relaxations are localized and we can describe their dynamics (τ ≈ 1.7, 17, and 140 ps) to a certain extent from a model using a single molecule that was proposed by Bée et al. allowing for all conformations in its unit cell (space group IM3M). The extent of the localized motion as observed is however larger than that predicted by the model and suggests that the isomerization of succinonitrile is correlated with a jump to the nearest neighbor site in the unit cell. The salt containing system is known to be a good ionic conductor, and our results show that the effect of the ions on the succinonitrile matrix is homogeneous. Because the isomerizations and rotations are governed by intermolecular interactions, the dissolved ions have an effect over an extended range. Due to the addition of the salt, the dynamics of one of the components (τ ≈ 17 ps) shows more diffusive character at 300 K. The calculated upper limit of the corresponding diffusion constant of succinonitrile in the electrolyte is a factor 30 higher than what is reported for the ions. Our results suggest that the succinonitrile diffusion is caused by nearest neighbor jumps that are localized on the observed length and time scales.
History
Journal
Journal of physical chemistry Part C : nanomaterials and interfacesVolume
113Issue
33Pagination
15007 - 15013Publisher
American Chemical SocietyLocation
Washington, D.C.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1932-7447eISSN
1932-7455Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2009, American Chemical SocietyUsage metrics
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