Editorial Board Supported by NSFC Honorary Editor General ZHOU GuangZhao (Zhou Guang Zhao) Editor General ZHU ZuoYan Institute of Hydrobiology, CAS, China Editor-in-Chief LI LeMin Peking University, China Associate Editor-in-Chief CAO Yong South China University of Technology, China TIAN ZhongQun Xiamen University, China CHEN HongYuan Nanjing University, China XUE Zi-Ling University of Tennessee, USA FENG ShouHua Jilin University, China YUAN Quan Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China LIN GuoQiang Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, CAS, China Members BAO XinHe LIAN TianQuan XIONG RenGen Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China Emory University, USA South East University, China BU XianHe LIANG WenPing XU ChunMing Nankai University, China National Natural Science Foundation of China, China University of Petroleum, China CHAI ZhiFang China YAM Vivian Wing-Wah Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS, China LIN JianHua University of Hong Kong, China CHAN Albert S C Peking University, China YAN DeYue Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China LIU GuoJun Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China CHEN Xian Queen’s University, Canada YANG Bai University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, USA LIU Jun O Jilin University, China CHEN XiaoMing Johns Hopkins Medicine Institute, USA YANG DongSheng Sun Yat-Sen University, China LU FengCai University of Kentucky, USA Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China CHEN Yi YANG PengYuan Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China NIE ShuMing Fudan University, China CUI ZhanFeng Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, USA YANG WeiTao Oxford University, UK Duke University, USA PAN CaiYuan DUAN Xue YANG XueMing Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China University of Science and Technology of China, China Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China FEI WeiYang YANG YuLiang Tsinghua University, China PU Lin University of Virginia, USA Fudan University, China FENG XiaoMing QIAO JinLiang YAO ShouZhuo Sichuan University, China SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Hunan University, China GAO ChangYou Industry, China YAO ZhuJun Zhejiang Universtiy, China SHAO YuanHua Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, CAS, GAO Song Peking University, China China Peking University, China SHEN ZhiQuan YOU XiaoZeng GUO ZiJian Zhejiang University, China Nanjing University, China Nanjing University, China SHUAI ZhiGang YU LuPing HAN BuXing Tsinghua University, China University of Chicago, USA Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China SUN LiCheng ZHANG HongJie HE MingYuan Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, CAS, Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, TANG Ben Zhong China SINOPEC, China Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, ZHANG JinSong HONG MaoChun China University of California, Riverside, USA Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of TIAN He ZHANG JinZhong Matter, CAS, China East China University of Science & Technology, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA China HUANG PeiQiang ZHANG John ZengHui Xiamen University, China TONG Liang New York University, USA HUANG Zhen Columbia University, USA Georgia State University，USA TUNG ChenHo ZHANG LiHe Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS, Peking University, China JIANG GuiBin China ZHANG Xi Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, WAN LiJun Tsinghua University, China CAS, China Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China ZHANG YuKui JIANG Long WANG MeiXiang Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, China Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China Institute of Chemistry, CAS, China ZHAO XinSheng JIAO Kui WANG ShiQing Peking University, China Qingdao University of Science and Technology, University of Akron, USA ZHAO YuFen China WANG ZhenGang Xiamen University, China JU HuangXian California Institute of Technology, USA ZHENG LanSun Nanjing University, China WANG ZhongLin Xiamen University, China KONG Wei Georgia Institute of Technology, USA ZHOU QiLin Oregon State University, USA WU YunDong Nankai University, China LI QianShu Hong Kong University of Scence & Technology, ZHU Tong South China National University, China China Peking University, China LI YaDong XIE ZuoWei ZHU Julian X Tsinghua University, China Chinese University of Hong Kong, China Université de Montréal, Canada Editorial Staff ZHU XiaoWen (Director) SONG GuanQun ZHANG XueMei SCIENCE CHINA Chemistry Contents Vol.55 No.8 August 2012 COVER Zinc has been widely used as anti-corrosive coatings in the electroplating industry. However, the conventional processes for preparing zinc coatings suffer from a series of inherent dis- advantages, such as hydrogen embrittlement, pollutant release and high energy consumption. There- fore, it’s necessary to develop high-efficiency and green electrolytes for the electrodeposition of zinc. In this work, it’s first found that the solubilities of ZnO in imidazolium chloride-based ionic liquids are remarkably enhanced by the addition of urea. Shining, dense and well adherent zinc coatings with good purity were electrodeposited from 0.6 M solution of ZnO in 1:1 [Amim]Cl/urea at 323.2−343.2 K. Unlike conventional methods, the deposition process is environmentally friendly, low energy consumption and easy to handle at mild conditions. It’s expected that the solutions of ZnO in imidaz- olium chloride/urea have the potential to replace the traditional electrolytes for low-temperature zinc electroplating and synthesis of functional zinc materials (see the article by ZHENG Yong, DONG Kun, WANG Qian, ZHANG SuoJiang, ZHANG QinQin, LU XingMei on page 15871597). SPECIAL ISSUE: Ionic Liquid and Green Chemistry Preface: An International Look at Ionic Liquids ROGERS Robin D., ZHANG SuoJiang & WANG JianJi Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1475–1477 REVIEWS The preparation of supported ionic liquids (SILs) and their application in rare metals separation ZHU LiLi, GUO Lin, ZHANG ZhenJiang, CHEN Ji & ZHANG ShaoMin Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1479–1487 Cyano-containing ionic liquids for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from an aromatic/aliphatic mixture MEINDERSMA G. Wytze & DE HAAN André B. Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1488–1499 © Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012 chem.scichina.com www.springerlink.com ii Ionic liquids: Efficient solvent and medium for the transformation of renewable lignocellulose LONG JinXing, LI XueHui, WANG LeFu & ZHANG Ning Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1500–1508 ARTICLES The physicochemical properties of some imidazolium-based ionic liquids and their binary mixtures NING Hui, HOU MinQiang, MEI QingQing, LIU YuanHui, YANG DeZhong & HAN BuXing Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1509–1518 Liquid-liquid interfacial tension of equilibrated mixtures of ionic liquids and hydrocarbons RODRÍGUEZ Héctor, ARCE Alberto & SOTO Ana Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1519–1524 Structure-property relationships in ILs: A study of the alkyl chain length dependence in vaporisation enthalpies of pyridinium based ionic liquids ZAITSAU Dzmitry H., YERMALAYEU Andrei V., EMEL’YANENKO Vladimir N., VEREVKIN Sergey P., WELZ-BIERMANN Urs & SCHUBERT Thomas Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1525–1531 iii Sweet ionic liquids-cyclamates: Synthesis, properties, and application as feeding deterrents PERNAK Juliusz, WASIŃSKI Krzysztof, PRACZYK Tadeusz, NAWROT Jan, CIENIECKA-ROSŁONKIEWICZ Anna, WALKIEWICZ Filip & MATERNA Katarzyna Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1532–1541 Chlorogallate(III) ionic liquids: Synthesis, acidity determination and their catalytic performances for isobutane alkylation XING XueQi, ZHAO GuoYing & CUI JianZhong Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1542–1547 Computational studies of the structure and cation-anion interactions in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate ionic liquid HE HongYan, ZHENG YanZhen, CHEN Hui, ZHANG XiaoChun, YAO XiaoQian & ZHANG SuoJiang Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1548–1556 Understanding the interactions between tris(pentafluoroethyl)-trifluorophosphate-based ionic liquid and small molecules from molecular dynamics simulation ZHANG XiaoChun, LIU ZhiPing & LIU XiaoMin Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1557–1565 iv CO2 capture through halogen bonding: A theoretical perspective LI HaiYing, LU YunXiang, ZHU Xiang, PENG ChangJun, HU Jun, LIU HongLai & HU Ying Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1566–1572 All-atom and united-atom simulations of guanidinium-based ionic liquids LIU XiaoMin, ZHANG XiaoChun, ZHOU GuoHui, YAO XiaoQian & ZHANG SuoJiang Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1573–1579 Ionic liquid assisted synthesis of flowerlike Cu2O micro-nanocrystals ZHAO Yang, GUO LiPing, SUN Xin & WANG JianJi Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1580–1586 v Electrodeposition of zinc coatings from the solutions of zinc oxide in imidazolium chloride/urea mixtures ZHENG Yong, DONG Kun, WANG Qian, ZHANG SuoJiang, ZHANG QinQin & LU XingMei Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1587–1597 Conversion coatings of Mg-alloy AZ91D using trihexyl(tetradecyl) phosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ionic liquid HOWLETT P. C., GRAMET S., LIN J., EFTHIMIADIS J., CHEN X. B., BIRBILIS N. & FORSYTH M. Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1598–1607 Composite electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and binary ionic liquids for dye-sensitized solar cells YU YingHao, JIANG Peng, WANG FuRong, WANG LeFu & LI XueHui Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1608–1613 Iron catalyzed Michael addition: Chloroferrate ionic liquids as efficient catalysts under microwave conditions VASILOIU Maria, GAERTNER Peter & BICA Katharina Sci China Chem, 2012, 55(8): 1614–1619 vi Zinc-assisted synthesis of imidazolium-tetrazolate bi-heterocyclic zwitterions with variable