Dynamics of type V menthol-thymol deep eutectic solvents: Do they reveal non-ideality?

Abstract

We have established a comprehensive study of the molecular dynamics of the menthol-thymol mixture, the prototype of the new class of type V deep eutectic solvents. Dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were combined to assess the dipolar relaxation and glassy dynamics over an extended range of timescales (10-6 – 102 s) and for eleven different compositions including the two pure constituents. Positive deviations from ideal mixing approximation were demonstrated for both the solvent dielectric strength and the glass transition. They support the idea that preferential H-bond interactions between unlike molecules induce structural rearrangements in the DES mixtures. Excellent glassforming capability of the DES mixtures was demonstrated for a broad range of compositions (xThymol = 0.4–0.7). In this case, the dipolar dynamics could be assessed from the normal liquid to the deeply supercooled state. Many salient parameters of the relaxation functions, including fragility, non-Debye character and rotation-translation decoupling point to the development of dynamic heterogeneities.