Advanced Materials Based on Polymers and Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) are ambient temperature molten salts, which have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique properties. In this contribution, we review advanced materials composed of ILs and polymers for the basis of a new design protocol to fabricate novel materials. As electrolytes for electrochemical devices, cross-linked polymers containing ILs (ion gels) are endowed with functional properties inherited from ILs and mechanical consistency derived from polymers. To create such materials, micro-phase separation of block copolymers and colloidal arrays in the ILs are utilized. Based on the molecular design of task-specific ILs, the resultant ion gels are applicable as electrolytes for actuator, fuel cell, and secondary battery applications. Thermo- and photo-responsive polymers in ILs are also highlighted, whereby such stimuli elicit changes in the solubility of the self-assembly of block copolymers and colloidal arrays in the ILs. Further, thermo- and photo-reversible changes in the self-assembled structure can be exploited to demonstrate sol-gel transitions and fabricate photo-healable materials.

Ionic Liquid–Polymer Composites: A New Platform for Multifunctional Applications

“…The main advantage is related to a large variety of ILs, which allows tuning materials responses to a large variety of external environmental stimuli, such as electrical and magnetic fields, heat, or light, among others, [ 17 ] based on the vast array of IL functional characteristics. [ 18 ] The material functionality is a result of the selection of the IL and its properties (e.g., size of cation/anion, viscosity, conductivity, density, and molecular weight) and the polymer type. Furthermore, the interplay between the selected IL charges (cations and anions) with the polymer chains, also plays an essential role in the composite properties.…”

Charge Transport and Phase Behavior of Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid Crystals from Fully Atomistic Simulations

“…These properties can be further controlled when liquid crystal ordering is incorporated. As one example, smectic ionic liquid crystals used in battery electrolytes permit directionally-dependent ionic conductivity, much as is seen in block copolymer electrolytes [ 29 ].…”

Imidazolium ionic liquids as fracture toughening agents in DGEBA-TETA epoxy resin

“…Ionic liquids (IL) are organic salts that have a maximum melting point of 100 � C, and many of them are liquid at room temperature [10][11][12]. IL such as 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide are latent curing agents for epoxy, and their reactivity as curing agents has been related to their thermal decomposition temperatures [13,14].…”