This paper studies the wetting properties of seven phosphonium cation-based ionic liquids: trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)

A novel organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) based on a quaternary ammonium cation and a tetrachloroferrate anion has been synthesized with the intention of combining the properties of the ionic plastic crystal and the magnetism originating from the iron incorporated in the anion. The thermal analysis of the obtained OIPC showed a solid-solid phase transition below room temperature and a high melting point above 220 °C, indicating their plastic crystalline behaviour over a wide temperature range, as well as thermal stability up to approximately 200 °C. The magnetization measurements show the presence of three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering below 4 K. The results from electrochemical characterization display a solid-state ionic conduction sufficiently high and stable (between 10(-2.7) and 10(-3.6) S cm(-1) from 20 to 180 °C) for electrochemical applications.

The wetting and corrosion behavior of three bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-based ionic liquids: 1-Dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) ]/TiN resulted as the best IL-surface combination for a good wettability, due to the higher dispersion of the charge on the large size cation in this IL and the higher values of total and polar component of the surface free energy for this coating. Finally, SEM-EDS analysis determined that [N 1888 ][NTf 2 ]/ZrN was the best option in order to avoid corrosion problems. The evaporation of water, present as impurity in the ionic liquids, was found the main reason because of corrosion did not occur in the tests carried out at 100 ºC.

Thermal degradation of five phosphonium cation-based ionic liquids ([P 66614 outperforming the other ones in both pyrolytic and oxidising conditions. Although the thermal degradation mechanism is affected by atmospheric conditions, the degradation trend remains practically constant. As the dynamic methodology usually overestimates the long-term thermal stability, an isoconversional methodology is better for predicting the long-term thermal stability of these ionic liquids in order to be used as base oil or additive in lubricants formulation. Finally, the model-free methodology can predict at lower costs the ILs performance in isothermal conditions. Highlights• Weakly coordinating anions provoke good thermal stability of ILs.• • Isoconversional methods are better than dynamic ones for long-term thermal studies.• Activation energy behavior at low conversions is related to a single reaction.• Model-free methodology can predict the ILs performance in isothermal conditions.

The Atacama desert in Chile is one of the driest and most lifeless environments on Earth. It rains possibly once a decade. NASA examined these soils as a model for the Martian environment by comparing their degradation activity with Martian soil and looking for “the dry limit of life”. The existence of heterotrophic bacteria in Atacama soil was demonstrated by DNA extraction and by the isolation of microorganisms. So far, however, no data have been available about the metabolic activities in these soils due to the limitations of the existing methodologies when applied to desert soils. Calorimetry was used to obtain information on the metabolic and thermal properties of eleven soil samples collected at different sites in the Atacama desert. Differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal calorimetry were employed to determine the pyrolysis properties of the carbon‐containing matter and to measure biomass and microbial metabolism. They were compared to other soil properties such as total carbon and nitrogen, carbon to nitrogen ratio and pH. There was measurable organic matter in nine of the eleven samples and the heat of pyrolysis of those soils was correlated to the carbon content. In five of the eleven samples no biomass could be detected and the existence of basal microbial metabolism could not be established because all samples showed endothermic activity, probably from inorganic reactions with water. Six samples showed microbial activation after the addition of glucose. Carbon content, nitrogen content and the microbial activity after glucose amendment were correlated to the altitude and to the average minimum temperature of the sampling sites calculated from meteorological data. The detectable microbial metabolism was more dissipative with increasing altitude and decreasing temperature.

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Two-dimensional zinc phosphate NH4Zn2(PO4)(HPO4) (), via ammonia vapor interaction at room temperature, transforms to a one-dimensional novel compound NH4Zn(NH3)PO4 (). By ammonia desorption (in air at room temperature) transforms to NH4ZnPO4 () with a well-known ABW-zeolitic topology. The crystal structure of was solved ab initio using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data (monoclinic, P21/a, a = 16.5227(2) Å, b = 6.21780(8) Å, c = 5.24317(6) Å, β = 91.000(2)°, Z = 4). The structures of three compounds include extra-framework ammonium cations to the 4-fold coordinated zinc (ZnO4 tetrahedra for and , and ZnO3N tetrahedra for ) and phosphorus (PO4 tetrahedra) with bi-, mono- or three-dimensional linkages, respectively for , or . To our knowledge, the process described here constitutes the first example of dimensionality change in the solid phase promoted by a solid-gas interaction at room temperature in metal phosphates.

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