A very convenient one-step synthesis to cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles by conventional radical copolymerization without the addition of stabilizers or surfactants was explored. Moreover, these nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability, activity and selectivity in the cycloaddition reaction of CO(2) to epoxides and could be separated from the products easily and reused.

A gel for all seasons: Thermosensitive nanogels based on highly cross-linked poly(ionic liquid)s (CLPNs) were prepared in one step by the copolymerization of imidazolium-based monomers with cross-linkers in selective solvents. Reversible nanogel-macrogel transitions of CLPNs in methanol could be achieved by changing the temperature.

A solar actuator is fabricated by incorporating sunlight-responsive azobenzene into agarose and the sunlight-induced motion is utilized for electricity generation.

The development of novel materials for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is of great importance in resource utilization and environmental preservation. In this study, imidazolium‐based ionic liquids (ILs) with symmetrical ester and hydroxyl groups were prepared, and their corresponding polymer were synthesized by melt condensation polymerization. The structure and properties of the poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatograph, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the CO2 sorption behavior of the IL monomers and PILs were studied at a low pressure (648.4 mmHg CO2) and under a temperature of 25°C using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The CO2 sorption capacity of 1,3‐bis(2‐hydroxyl ethyl)‐imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([HHIm]PF6, 10 mol%) was the highest among all the IL monomers and PILs studied. This capacity is also much higher than those reflected of previously reported ILs. Moreover, the sorption equilibrium of [HHIm]PF6 was achieved within a short time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Highly cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles were prepared via novel one-step synthesis by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and the ionic liquid, 1-vinyl-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxyl ethyl) imidazolium chloride ([VMIm]Cl). The results indicated that nanoparticles with the average size of about 350 nm could be obtained conveniently through the cross-linking copolymerization. The nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform Infrared, thermo gravimetric analysis, element analysis, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Moreover, the cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles were highly active and selective catalysts for the cycloaddition reaction of carbon dioxide to epoxides. The influences of reaction time, reaction temperature, CO 2 pressure, and amount of catalyst on yield of the products were investigated. The results revealed that cyclic carbonates with high yield (98.4%) and selectivity (100%) could be produced on the condition of 0.1 g catalyst, 5 MPa CO 2 , 160 C and 12 h. In addition, the nanocatalysts could be easily recovered by filtration, and reused several times with only slight loss of catalytic activity.

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