Co-organisation of ionic liquids with amphiphilic diethanolamines: construction of 3D continuous ionic nanochannels through the induction of liquid–crystalline bicontinuous cubic phases

Abstract

Three-dimensionally continuous ionic nanochannels have been developed by imidazolium-based ionic liquids and amphiphilic molecules having a diethanolamine moiety. Co-organisation of these two components into liquid-crystalline bicontinuous cubic phases leads to the formation of the 3D nanochannels. The induction of bicontinuous cubic phases is observed for the combination of an ionic liquid, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide, and a diethanolamine derivative, N-{3-[N 0 , N 0 -bis(2-hydroxyethyl) aminopropyl]}-3,4-didodecyloxy benzoylamide. Compatibility enhanced by intermolecular interactions between the imidazoliums and the diethanolamine moiety plays an important role for the co-organisation of the two components. The three-dimensionally continuous ionic nanochannels function as efficient transportation pathways for ions. The material design using bicontinuous cubic liquid-crystalline structures will offer an opportunity for the development in the field of nanochannel material science.

Functional Liquid Crystals towards the Next Generation of Materials

“…[5,9] LC materials that can be categorized between thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals have been used as functional materials. [113,205,206] Fore xample,m ixtures Figure 10. Preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid materials from colloidal LC suspension of chitin whiskers.…”

“…Reviews of ionic liquids and wedge-shaped molecules having diol moieties form stable columnar phases. [206,207] These materials show ion conductivities higher than the corresponding imidazolium-based covalently bonded molecules.I nt his case,t he imidazolium-based ionic liquids can be regarded as one component of functional binary mixtures for thermotropic liquid crystals or as just isotropic solvents for lyotropic liquid crystals.M oreover,c arbon-based liquid crystals, [208,209] liquid crystals with colloidal particles [210] and fibrous aggregates [163] are attracting attention. Liquid crystal materials that do not conform to the conventional classification will be developed, and enhanced or new functions will be achieved for these anisotropic materials.…”

A Comprehensive Study on Lyotropic Liquid–Crystalline Behavior of an Amphiphile in 20 Kinds of Amino Acid Ionic Liquids

“…Asian J. [17,18] We believe that the presentr esult may be an important advance for opening up the development of QL Cm aterials with built-in ILs. [20][21][22][23][24] They have been studied for transporting materials [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] and size-selective separation membranes.…”

“…[18] [C4mim][AA] were mixed with amphiphile 1 at varying molar ratios. Their thermal properties were examined by differential scanning calorimetry measurement.…”

Cubosomes from hierarchical self-assembly of poly(ionic liquid) block copolymers

“…The chemical structures of the PAA- b -PIL allow the presence of multiple interactions in the self-assembling process, including hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds (electrostatic interactions), hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions. The hydrogen bonding between carboxyl group and the imidazolium ring play an important role in the self-assembly process, as revealed in some previously reported cases69707172737475. The interionic interaction of the pendant ionic groups has been shown to be one of the major parameters for the generation of cubic liquid crystalline structure76.…”