Ion Transport through a Water-Organic Solvent Liquid-Liquid Interface: A Simulation Study

Ion interactions and partitioning at the water-organic solvent interface and the solvation characteristics have been characterized by molecular dynamics simulations. More precisely, we study sodium cation transport through water-cyclohexane, water-1,2-dichloroethane, and water-pentanol interfaces, providing a systematic characterization of the ion interfacial behavior including barriers against entering the organic phase as well as characterization of the interfaces in the presence of the ions. We find a sodium depletion zone at the liquid-liquid interface and persistent hydration of the cation when entering the organic phase. The barrier against the cation entering the organic phase and ion hydration depend strongly on specific characteristics of the organic solvent. The strength of both barrier and hydration shell binding (persistence of the cation hydration) go with the polarity and the surface tension at the interface, that is, both decrease in order cyclohexane-water > 1,2-dichloroethane-water > pentanol-water. However, the size of the hydration shell measured in water molecules bound by the cation entering the less polar phase behaves oppositely, with the cation carrying most water to the pentanol phase and a much smaller in size, but very tightly bound water shell to cyclohexane. We discuss the implications of the observations for ion transport through the interface of immiscible or poorly miscible liquids and for materials of confined ion transport such as ion conduction membranes or biological ion channel activity.