Static magnetic field alters properties of confined alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids

Ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) and propylammonium nitrate (PAN) ionic liquids confined between polar glass plates and exposed to a strong magnetic field of 9.4 T demonstrate gradually slowing diffusivity, a process that can be reversed by removing the sample from the magnetic field. The process can be described well by the Avrami equation, which is typical for autocatalytic (particularly, nucleation controlled) processes. The transition can be stopped by freezing the sample. Cooling and heating investigations showed differences in the freezing and melting behavior of the sample depending on whether it had been exposed to the magnetic field. After exposure to the magnetic field, the sample demonstrated decrease in the 1H NMR signal of residual water. 1H NMR spectroscopy with presaturation demonstrates that the most probable mechanism of the decrease of the bulk water signal is adsorption of water on polar surfaces of glass plates. Generally, our findings confirm our previous suggestion that alteration of the dynamic properties of confined alkylammonium nitrate ionic liquids exposed to a magnetic field is related to the alteration of real physical-chemical phases.