In this work, the suitability of imidazolium-based ionic liquid solvents is investigated for the dissolution and regeneration of silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk. Within an ionic liquid the anion plays a larger role in dictating the ultimate solubility of the silk. The dissolution of the silk in the ionic liquid is confirmed using wide-angle X-ray scattering. The dissolved silk is also processed into 100 mum-thick, two-dimensional films, and the structure of these films is examined. The rinse solvent, acetonitrile or methanol, has a profound impact on both the topography of the films and the secondary structure of the silk protein. The image depicts a silkworm cocoon dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and then regenerated as a film with birefringence.

The crystal structure of 1 -ethyl-3-methylimidatolium (EMI+) hexafluorophosphate consists of interionic interactions dominated by cation-anion coulombic forces with minimal hydrogen bonding and serves as a model for EMI+ room temperature molten salts containing weakly complexing anions.

The reductive and oxidative intercalation of ions into graphite from room-temperature and low temperature molten salts is demonstrated. For this investigation, the molten salts use 1 -ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI +) or 1,2-dimethyl-3-propylimidazolium (DMPI +) as the cation and AICI4, BF~, PF6, CF3SO~, or C6H5CO~ as the anion. In a two-electrode battery configuration, the molten salt electrolyte provides both the cation and anion which are intercalated into the graphite anode and cathode, respectively. A cell employing a (DMPI)(AICI4) electrolyte and two graphite rod electrodes achieved an open-circuit voltage of 3.5 V and a cycling efficiency of 85%.

Well‐dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT)/polystyrene nanocomposites have been prepared via melt extrusion, using trialkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate‐compatibilized MWNTs. Quantification of the improvement is realized via transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy image analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier‐transform infrared and X‐ray diffraction analysis show evidence for a π‐cation, nanotube–imidazolium interaction and the conversion from an interdigitated bilayer, for the imidazolium salt, to an ordered lamellar structure, for the imidazolium on the surface of the MWNTs.

Natural fiber welded (NFW) yarns embedded with porous carbon ­materials are described for applications as electrodes in textile electrochemical capacitors. With this fabrication technique, many kinds of carbons can be embedded into cellulose based yarns and subsequently knitted into full ­fabrics on industrial knitting machines. Yarns welded with carbon and ­stainless steel have device capacitances as high as 37 mF cm‐1, one of the highest reported values for carbon‐based yarns. The versatility of this ­technique to weld any commercially available cellulose yarn with any ­micro‐ or nanocarbon means properties can be tuned for specific applications. Most importantly, it is found that despite having full flexibility, increased strength, and good electrochemical performance, not all of the electrode yarns are ­suitable for knitting. Therefore, it is recommended that all works reporting on fiber/yarn capacitors for wearables attempt processing into full fabrics.