Molecular dynamics simulations are performed
on ionic liquid (IL) 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate.
The calculated densities, diffusion coefficients, and
electrical conductivities are in very good agreement with the
experiment. While the Nernst?Einstein equation largely
overestimates the electrical conductivities compared to
experiment, its correction for the joint translation of
counterions substantially improves its accuracy. Taking into
account the role of correlated motions of ions, expressed in
terms of the collective mean-squared-displacement, predicts
electrical conductivities in close agreement with the experiment.
An examination of different dynamical processes shows that three types of motions occur in this IL. Short relaxation times
(<1 ps) and low activation energies (?4 kJ mol?1) are associated with local structural properties such as hydrogen bonding. The
second class, such as structural relaxation of hydrogen bonds, has longer relaxation times (a few ten picoseconds) and higher
activation energies (?10 kJ mol?1). The slowest motions (relaxation times of a few ten nanoseconds and activation energies of
?35 kJ mol?1) belong to the correlated motions of counterions. Ion-pairing, diffusion, and electrical conductivity belong to this
third class. Closeness of the relaxation times and activation energies of the third class processes reveal that exchange of
counterions in an ion’s solvation shell governs the macroscopic dynamic properties of IL.