Induced Microphase Separation in Hybrid Composite Polymer Electrolytes Based on Poly(acrylonitrile‐r‐butadienes) and Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Novel hybrid, composite polymer electrolytes (HCPEs) based on poly(acrylonitrile‐r‐butadiene) (PAN‐r‐PB), CN‐modified silica nanoparticles (CN‐MSNs), Li triflate, and ionic liquids (ILs) are synthesized. Using a combination of methods, it is demonstrated that these materials segregate into PAN‐rich and PB‐rich phases, the behavior of which changes depending on the IL type. The incorporation of ILs containing hexyl and octyl substituents at the imidazolium rings leads to a higher mobility of the PB‐rich phase and a decrease of the density of the neighboring PAN‐rich phase, allowing an improvement of the Li ion conductivity. However, with an increase of the substituent length from decyl to dodecyl, ordering of the hydrophobic tails in the PB‐rich phase leads to both stiffening of the latter and corresponding ordering of the ionic pairs of ILs, resulting in a decreased conductivity. The results of this work are broadly applicable for controlling the structure and properties of polymeric materials exhibiting microphase segregation.

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

“…The effect of the IL type on the phase‐separation of poly(acrylonitrile‐ r ‐butadiene) (PAN‐ r ‐PB), was studied to the preparation of gel‐like electrolytes. [ 134 ] The composites were prepared using CN‐modified silica nanoparticles to increase their compatibility with acrylonitrile, Li triflate and six different ILs ([BMIM][BF 4 ], [BMIM][TFo], [EMIM][Tfo], 1‐butyl‐4‐methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([4MBP][BF 4 ]), and 1‐butyl‐2,3‐dimethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMMIM][BF 4 ]). ILs containing hexyl or octyl substituents at the imidazolium rings produced higher mobility of PB‐rich phases and decrease the PAN‐rich phase content, improving the Li‐ion conductivity.…”

“…Even if the PB‐rich phase does not take part in Li‐ion conductance, after the incorporation of IL, it becomes more mobile, and the PAN‐rich phase is also more disordered, increasing the conductivity. [ 134 ] On the contrary, when decyl to dodecyl substituents was used, the hydrophobic tails of PB‐rich phase were ordered, and that produced stiffening of the phase, decreasing the conductivity. This strategy allows for the tuning of the properties of the composites by using different ILs and, thus, the prepared materials are promising for Li‐ion batteries.…”

“…This strategy allows for the tuning of the properties of the composites by using different ILs and, thus, the prepared materials are promising for Li‐ion batteries. [ 134 ]…”

Hybrid composite polymer electrolytes: ionic liquids as a magic bullet for the poly(ethylene glycol)–silica network

“…This is in contrast to HCPEs based on poly(acrylonitrile-r-butadiene) and the same ILs. 55 For all HCPEs based on PEGs of different molecular weights (Fig. 5), there is a minor conductivity increase when the IL1 amount increases from 10 to 30 or to 40 wt% (depending on the PEG molecular weight).…”

Synthesis and characterization of surface patterned nanoimprinted in1–xCrxP/P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposite films for solar cell application potential

“…Nanomaterials are revolutionizing the scientific world community because of their applications in the fields of energy, environment, communications, and medicine among others [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. As a consequence of the inimitable characteristics of these materials that ascend at nanoscale, unconventional technologies as well as enhancements in the prevailing technologies have been made doable [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have exposed an immense potential due to their versatile applications, such as bio-probes, field effect transistors, lasers, metal ion sensors, LEDs, and photovoltaic devices [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”