Influence of water content on thermophysical properties of aqueous glyceline solutions predicted by molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract

Molecular simulations allow the prediction of a large variety of thermophysical properties for complex mixtures based on one underlying model, i.e. the force field. In the present work static and dynamic properties of aqueous 1:2 choline chloride:glycerol mixtures are computed by molecular dynamics simulations with the aim to report robust simulation protocols that allow for a thorough evaluation of the molecular model with regard to experimental data. In particular for the shear viscosity a rather strong dependence of the results on the simulation method can be found. The simulations do not only provide quantitative data but also insight into the effect of water on the microscopic structure of the fluid. The isobaric thermal expansivity shows a transition from DES-like to water-like behavior beyond a water mole fraction of 0.75. Moreover, inconsistencies in experimental datasets are identified. Molecular dynamics simulations serve as a powerful tool to support the decision for one or the other data set in case of contradictory experimental data.