This overview aims to summarize the existing potential of “Ionogels” as a platform to develop stimuli responsive materials. Ionogels are a class of materials that contain an Ionic Liquid (IL) confined within a polymer matrix. Recently defined as “a solid interconnected network spreading throughout a liquid phase”, the ionogel therefore combines the properties of both its solid and liquid components. ILs are low melting salts that exist as liquids composed entirely of cations and anions at or around 100 °C. Important physical properties of these liquids such as viscosity, density, melting point and conductivity can be altered to suit a purpose by choice of the cation/anion. Here we provide an overview to highlight the literature thus far, detailing the encapsulation of IL and responsive materials within these polymeric structures. Exciting applications in the areas of optical and electrochemical sensing, solid state electrolytes and actuating materials shall be discussed.
This work describes the synthesis and characteristics of a novel electrochromic ionic liquid (IL) based on a phosphonium core tethered to a viologen moiety. When integrated into a solid-state electrochromic platform, the viologen modified IL behaved as both the electrolyte and the electrochromic material. Platform fabrication was achieved through in situ photo-polymerization and encapsulation of this novel IL within a hybrid sol–gel. Important parameters of the platform performance, including its coloration efficiency, switching kinetics, and optical properties were characterised using UV–vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry in tandem. The electrochromic platform exhibits a coloration efficiency of 10.72 cm2 C–1 and a varied optical output as a function of the incident current. Despite the rather viscous nature of the material, the platform exhibited approximately 2 orders of magnitude faster switching kinetics (221 s to reach 95 % absorbance) when compared to previously reported electrochromic ILs (18 000 s).
In this paper, we describe a new type of polymer membrane-based reference electrode (RE) based on ionic liquids (ILs), in both liquid-contact (LCRE) and solid-contact reference electrode (SCRE) forms. The ILs used were bis(-trifluoromethane sulfonyl)amid with 1-alkyl-3-methyl-imidazolium as well as phosphonium and ammonium cations. In addition to their charge stabilisation role, it was found that the ILs also functioned as effective plasticizers in the PVC matrix. The LCREs and SCREs were prepared using the same design as their corresponding indicator electrodes. LCREs were prepared by casting in glass rings while SCREs were prepared on platforms made using screenprinting technology, with poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5 diyl) (POT) as the intermediate polymer. After potentiometric characterization of the response mechanism, the practical performance of the REs was studied using potentiometric titrations (Pb 2 + and pH), and characterised using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. All results were compared via parallel experiments in which the novel RE was substituted by a conventional double junction Ag/ AgCl reference electrode. The mechanism of response is most likely based on a limited degree of partitioning of IL ions into the sample thereby defining aquo-membrane interfacial potential. Despite their simple nature and construction, the REs showed excellent signal stability, and performed well in the analytical experiments. The identical mode of fabrication to that of the equivalent indicator (or Ion-Selective Electrode, ISE) will facilitate mass-production of both indicator and reference electrode using the same fabrication line, the only difference being the final capping membrane composition.
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