Deep eutectic solvents: A long-term approach to chemical synthesis and separation

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a relatively new class of combinations with significantly lower melting temperatures than their components. These solvents offer a lot of potential as low-cost, customizable solvents with a variety of configurable physicochemical features. Despite their potential, DESs currently lack a predictive understanding of the microscopic mechanisms governing their structure-property connections. Complex hydrogen bonding is thought to be responsible for the melting point depressions and physicochemical features of DESs. It is critical to research complex systems using both simulations and experiments to gain a better understanding of them. This study focuses on recent research efforts and elucidates the necessary steps needed to create a foundational framework for a better understanding of DESs. In this paper, we identify outstanding scientific concerns as well as prospective research areas that can move science closer to predictive models and fundamental knowledge of these solvents.