Solvent processable polyfluorene ionomers with pendant imidazolium groups were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized polymeric membranes are transparent, flexible, and mechanically strong and exhibit hydroxide ion conductivity above 10 −2 S/cm at room temperature. The membranes are soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as DMSO and DMF, while insoluble in water and aqueous methanol. The solubility properties of polyfluorene ionomers enable the use for not only alkaline anion-exchange membrane but also ionomer electrode material. 1 H NMR and hydroxide ion conductivity measurements demonstrated an excellent chemical stability of the synthesized polyfluorene ionomers in high-pH solution at elevated temperatures. The results of the study suggest a feasible approach for the synthesis and practical applications of alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AEMs).

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Ionic liquids are organic salts with melting points generally below 100 °C. They are attracting wide attention and are used as electrolytes in electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells, lithium‐ion batteries, dye‐sensitized solar cells, supercapacitors and light‐emitting electrochemical cells, due to their negligible vapor pressure, high ionic conductivity and wide electrochemical window. This perspective article highlights the applications of ionic liquid‐ or poly(ionic liquid)‐based electrolytes in fuel cells, dye‐sensitized solar cells and supercapacitors. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

ESI-MS and molecular dynamic calculations reveal that in the presence of K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+), uracil, thymine and their homologues form self-assembled quintet structures that are stabilized by hydrogen bonding and ion dipole interactions.

Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) mass spectrometry has been implemented on a commercial ion-trap mass spectrometer and used to optimize mass spectrometric conditions for DNA nucleobases: adenine, cytosine, thymine, and guanine. Experimental parameters including spray voltage, distance between mass spectrometer inlet and the sampled spot, and nebulizing gas inlet pressure were optimized. Cluster ions including some magic number clusters of nucleobases were observed for the first time using DESI mass spectrometry. The formation of the cluster species was found to vary with the nucleobases, acidification of the spray solvent, and the deposited sample amount. All the experimental results can be explained well using a liquid film model based on the two-step droplet pick-up mechanism. It is further suggested that solubility of the analytes in the spray solvent is an important factor to consider for their studies by using DESI.