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[Display omitted] Solar-driven interface evaporation is promising to alleviate the fresh water scarcity in an economical and sustainable way. However, most of currently reported photothermal conversion materials (PMs) are time-consuming costly, inefficient, or complex preparation process, which causes low utilization efficiency, and difficult to be practical for large-scale application. To solve this problem, a facile and green strategy for preparing hydrogel evaporator (SiO 2 -PILs/starch) by grafting poly(ionic liquid)s onto silica and doping it with starch is proposed. Benefiting from the broad solar absorption (ca. 91 %), strong hydrophilic, and superb salt tolerance and stain resistance of SiO 2 -PILs/starch. Under 1 sun irradiation, the SiO 2 -PILs/starch achieves a remarkable solar evaporation efficiency of 91.72 % in pure water and 81.45 % in 20 wt% NaCl solution, respectively. In particular, SiO 2 -PILs/starch exhibited outstanding long-term salt stability (8 h) and crystalline salt can be self-cleaned in the dark environment. It is worth noting that the prepared hydrogel also possesses a satisfied evaporation efficiency of 75.84 % in oily wastewater (3 wt% n -hexadecane solution) due to its excellent water retention. These properties of SiO 2 -PILs/starch may provide desperately needed solution for efficient desalination and guaranteed high applicability and durability in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) possessing attractive electrochemical performance are essentially required for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, a poly(imidazolium ionic liquid-co-ethylene oxide) (PILEO) is synthesized via a facile one-pot poly-Radziszewski reaction. The incorporated PILEO can reduce the crystallinity of the obtained SPEs, and hence facilitates lithium ion migration. It is demonstrated that the developed PILEO-60 SPE, without adding any plasticizers or inorganic fillers, exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 1.78 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 25 ℃ and a wide electrochemical stability window of 4.9 V (vs. Li/Li+). The assembled LFP/PILEO-60/Li cell possesses a high discharge capacity (140 mAh g−1 at 25 ℃), good cycling performance (90.3% of capacity retention after 100 cycles), and stable coulombic efficiency (99.7%). In combination with the industrially feasible synthetic procedure of PILEO, this work provides a facile and effective strategy for the fabrication of high-performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) were synthesized, characterized, and applied in breaking waterin-oil (W/O) emulsions. For that, tetraethylene glycol (TG) was treated with thionyl chloride, obtaining dialkyl chloride (TC). TC was reacted with diamines 1,5-diaminopentane (AP) and 1,11- diaminoundecane (AU), forming the corresponding polyamines, TC-AP and TC-AU. Following this, TC-AP and TC-AU were quaternized with acetic acid (AA), producing poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), TCAPPIL, and TCAU-PIL, respectively. Chemical structures, thermal stability, surface activity, aggregation size, and zeta potential measurements were investigated using several techniques. In addition, their performance in breaking (PB) W/O emulsions in different ratios was investigated. TCAP-PIL and TCAU-PIL exhibited high PB at all ratios, while their performance improved as the crude oil ratio decreased. Moreover, TCAU-PIL showed higher PB than TCAP-PIL, which may be linked to the increased hydrophobicity of TCAU-PIL due to increased methylene units in the diamine chain compared to TCAP-PIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to develop new and improved oil-water separation materials with high stability and reusability for the cleanup of oily environmental pollutants. Here, fluorinated poly(ionic liquid)s were synthesized and their structure and property were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. These fluorinated poly(ionic liquid)s were proposed as superhydrophobic coating on different metallic substrates through the combination of tethering fluorine groups in the PIL's cation and anion exchange, and the superhydrophobic coating showed compactly stacked morphology under scanning electron microscope. The results of surface wettability experiments indicated that nearly all the fabricated materials showed a water contact angle larger than 150°, which is devoted to superhydrophobic nature. Moreover, for longer alkyl chain ILs and materials with smaller pore sizes, the water contact angle can be increased. At the same time, the fabricated superhydrophobic material exhibits a relatively high oil phase permeate flux, benefiting from the loose fibrous structure. Take the PIL@SSM300 for instance, the permeate fluxes were reached as high as 374,370 L·m−2·h−1, 337,200 L·m−2·h−1 and 302,013 L·m−2·h−1 for petroleum ether, hexane and cyclohexane, respectively. Instead, water is effectively repelled from the superhydrophobic surface. These virtues make the fabricated superhydrophobic material an effective membrane for oil/water separation under gravity. The separation efficiency and water contact angle are nearly unaffected after at least 20 cycles, confirming the excellent robustness of the coatings. These efficient poly(ionic liquid)s-based superhydrophobic materials possessed the potential to be used for oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are promising candidates used as solid electrolytes because of their excellent electro-chemical properties and improved processability. Introducing light-sensitive groups to PILs appears as an attractive strategy for developing novel smart PIL-based electronic devices. In this work, a new photoresponsive PIL-based solid electrolyte was prepared by blending PILs containing coumarin groups (COU-PILs) with polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene. It was found that the ionic conductivity of COU-PIL solid electrolytes (COU-PIL SEs) can be reversibly modulated upon alternative 365 and 254 nm light irradiation. In particular, the COU-PIL SEs exhibit a highly reversible and repeatable manipulation of ionic conductivity with a maximum conductivity modulation of 95%. This reversible control over ionic conductivity is attributed to the photodimerization/photocleavage behavior of the coumarin groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli‐responsive nanoporous materials represent a newly emerging category of functional materials, for which instant and significant response behavior is strongly demanded but still challenging. Herein, a new kind of conjugated poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) synthesized via a simple one‐pot spontaneous nucleophilic substitution and polymerization between 4,4'‐vinylenedipyridine and propargyl bromide is reported. A nanoporous membrane actuator is further developed via ionic complexation between the current PIL and trimesic acid. The actuator carries a gradient density in the hydrophobicity content along the membrane cross‐section, which results in a fast response to moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides is a key catalytic procedure for CO2 utilization. Several metal-based catalysts with cocatalysts are developed for photo-driven CO2 cycloaddition, while facing difficulties in product purification and continuous reaction. Here, poly(ionic liquid)s are proposed as metal-free catalysts for photo-driven CO2 cycloaddition without cocatalysts. A series of poly(ionic liquid)s with donor-acceptor segments are fabricated and their photo-driven catalytic performance (conversion rate of 83.5% for glycidyl phenyl ether) outstrips (≈4.9 times) their thermal-driven catalytic performance (17.2%) at the same temperature. Mechanism studies confirm that photo-induced charge separation is promoted by the donor-acceptor segments and can accelerate the CO2 cycloaddition reaction. This work paves the way for the further use of poly(ionic liquid)s as catalysts in photo-driven CO2 cycloaddition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive linear poly(ionic liquid)s (PIL) were designed as carriers in drug delivery systems (DDS). Their synthesis was based on a monomeric ionic liquid (MIL) with a relevant pharmaceutical anion to create therapeutically functionalized monomers, which further can be used in the controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The presence of chloride counterions in the quaternary ammonium groups of choline MIL, e.g., [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethyl-ammonium chloride (ChMACl), was stimulated to undergo the anion exchange with p-aminosalicylate sodium salt (NaPAS) as the source of the pharmaceutical anion with antibacterial activity. The resultant [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium p-aminosalicylate (ChMAPAS) was copolymerized to attain the well-defined linear choline-based copolymers with various contents of PAS anions (24–42%), which were regulated by the initial ratio of ChMAPAS to MMA and conversion degree. The length of polymeric chains was evaluated by the total monomer conversion (31–66%) yielding degree of polymerization (DPn = 133–272). Depending on the polymer carrier composition, PAS anions were exchanged by 60–100% within 1 h, 80–100% within 4 h, and completely after 24 h by phosphate anions in PBS imitating a physiological fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from natural gas, and further utilization is an essential issue for greenhouse gas reduction. Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) assemble ILs unique properties, with those of polymers being versatile materials for CO2 capture from flue gas (CO2/N2) and natural gas (CO2/CH4). PILs based on polyurethanes obtained with different polyols and ILs cations were blended in different proportions aiming to improve PILs CO2 sorption capacity. Two different polyols structures (PC and PG) and ILs counter cations (imidazolium and phosphonium) were tested to evaluate how they influence PILs blends CO2 sorption performance. PILs and PILs blends were characterized by SEC, FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMTA, AFM, and CO2 sorption that were carried out using the pressure-decay technique. PILs blends presented good thermal stability and mechanical properties. PILs blend polyurethane backbones compositions can be tuned aiming to increase CO2 sorption capacity. As far as we know, all obtained PILs blends presented higher CO2 sorption capacity results compared with other Poly(ionic liquid)s reported in the literature. The best CO2 sorption result was obtained for PIL blend with imidazolium (PLIPC95-PG5-BMIM = 116.9 mgCO2/g at 303.15 K and 10 bar). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Poly[1-vinyl-3-benzyltriethylammonium proline ionic liquid] membranes was prepared. • The properties of PILMs were comprehensively investigated. • The PILMs-SPE-HPLC was developed for the determination of quercetin in tea. • Modelling of isotherm and kinetic adsorption was performed. A novel poly[1-vinyl-3-benzyltriethylammonium proline ionic liquid] membrane(PIL/PVDF membrane) were prepared through the blending poly[1-vinyl-3-benzyltriethylammonium proline ionic liquid](P[Pro][TEA])-poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) phase inversion method. A series of PIL/PVDF membrane characterization (NMR, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, and XPS) was performed. The properties of PIL/PVDF membrane (contact angle, water flux, mechanical properties, thermal stability,electric charge property, specific surface area and pore diameter) were evaluated. A solid phase extraction − high performance liquid chromatography (SPE-HPLC) method for separation/analysis of quercetin was developed. The factors affecting the adsorption and elution (time, dosage, pH etc.) were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the method has been successfully applied to the separation/analysis of quercetin in tea, and the recovery rates are satisfactory (86.4–106.0 %). The concentration factor of quercetin was 10. The adsorption capacity of PIL/PVDF membrane towards quercetin was 22.1 mg g−1. The extraction mechanism was preliminarily discussed. The established SPE-HPLC method was simple and reliable, which provided application prospects for extraction and detection of quercetin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hollow sphere structure of poly(ionic liquid)s (HPILs) was fabricated as nanoreactor. • HPILs nanoreactor efficiently enhanced the activity of metal catalysts and showed high selectivity of AA. • HPILs could storage and stabilize catalysts during reaction with high activity for 7 times. • HPILs could promote the generation of free radicals to enhance the reaction. • The reaction process of HPILs was theoretically calculated to verify high activity and selectivity. Hollow structure nanoreactors take advantage of catalyst loading and enhanced activity by shell construction. In this work, functionalized poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) with hollow spherical structures were synthesized by polymerization- and quaternization-based approaches. These hollow structure PILs (HPILs) could be controllable designed from IL monomer easily, giving HPILs various properties. In the subsequent selective oxidation of cyclohexane, the HPILs acting as nanoreactors could efficiently improve the activity of metal salt catalysts (CoCl 2) and displayed adjustable selectivity for cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol (KA) or adipic acid (AA) by different types of HPILs. In kinetic study, it follows first-order reaction kinetics which CoCl 2 /HPIL-C12 had a lower the activation energy of 29.1 kJ/mol. Importantly, these nanoreactors storing the catalysts could be recovered and reused more than 7 times without significant loss of activity. A theoretical model for the hollow spherical reactor was further established to support the advance of the HPILs reactor, which could also help to predict reaction process in other core-shell catalytic system. Due to controlled substrate transfer and enhanced radical generation in HPILs, the reaction process could be adjusted to enhance the conversion of cyclohexane and selective oxidation to AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) refer to a polymeric architecture with repeating ionic liquid species in each unit. They are attracting rapidly increasing interest because of their diverse structures and facial processability. Our group focused on the design and synthesis of PILs for various applications in the past decade, including polyelectrolytes, biomedical materials, and other related fields. In this review, we briefly summarized our recent studies on the application of PILs for energy and electronic devices, emphasizing the controllable synthesis and regulation of specific structures and functions. The unique properties and designable structures of PILs will inspire further investigation in an extensive variety of potential applications. What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group? Synthesis and application of poly(ionic liquid)s for various applications, including polyelectrolytes for energy devices, smart windows, as well as biomedical applications. How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers? About 15 years ago, I was attracted by the novel properties of ionic liquids, which encouraged me to engage in ionic liquids with polymer science. Keep curiosity, keep learning and hard‐working are very important. How do you supervise your students? I always encourage my students to innovate and enjoy their scientific research. I would like to see motivated and determined characters from my students. What is the most important personality for scientific research? I think the most important personality for scientific research is keeping curiosity, innovative spirit and persistence. How do you keep balance between research and family? Both research and family are important in my life. I work hard during working hours while spending time with my family as much as possible after work. Who influences you mostly in your life? My parents and Prof. Gi Xue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple preparation of inorganic reinforced poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) microcapsules by combining dispersion polymerization and confined cooling‐assisted phase separation self‐assembly is reported. Silane coupling agent‐modified PIL microbeads are first prepared by dispersion polymerization. Then, the microbeads are dissolved in a theta solvent composed of good solvent and non‐solvent to form hollow SiOx microcapsules at a relatively high temperature. Finally, the solution is cooled to induce the nucleation and growth of dissolved PIL chains on the inner and outer surface of hollow SiOx microcapsules to form inorganic reinforced microcapsules with asymmetric PIL/SiOx/PIL sandwich‐like shell. The morphology of microcapsules can be controlled by adjusting PIL concentration and cooling rate. The inorganic reinforced microcapsules show enhanced suspended stability and electroresponsive characteristic when used as the dispersed phase of smart suspensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ionic liquid)s nanofiber (PIL NF) membrane was derived from polyacrylonitrile by converting its cyano groups to imidazoline moieties via cyclization with ethylenediamine, followed by quaternization with 1-bromobutane. The novel PIL NF is further decorated with photocatalyst phosphotungstic acid PW12 via anion exchanging to give PW-PIL. The degradation rate of the novel supported photocatalyst towards methyl orange irradiated under visible light was found to be 98%. In addition, the nanofiber membrane morphology is beneficial for easy recycling, and 98% of original degradation rate was maintained after 5 cycles of photocatalysis degradation. This robust, efficient, and recyclable material offers a new approach for serving as catalyst supporter. The photocatalyst PW-PIL is reported for the first time. The inexpensive functional membrane is used to exploit the sun as a cheap and clean source of light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reported a simple and high‐yield evaporation‐assisted phase separation (EAPS) method to prepare poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) microbeads, in particular submicron microbeads. Irregular PIL powder or bulk is dissolved in a theta solvent composed of volatile good solvent and less volatile non‐solvent at room temperature, and then PIL microbeads are formed by evaporation of the solution at a temperature lower than the boiling point of volatile good solvent. The yield of microbeads, in particular, submicron microbeads, prepared by the EAPS method can reach 99%. The mechanism of microbead formation is studied by tracing the nucleation and growth process by the light transmittance. The key parameters to control the size and morphology of microbeads are investigated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the imidazole-based poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) synthesized by one step method has been applied for the enrichment and recovery of Re(VII), a nonradioactive surrogate of Tc(VII). The anions (Cl−) in the materials could be efficiently exchanged by ReO4− and TcO4− in a rather short time. The PILs-Cl-1 and PILs-Cl-2 before and after adsorption were characterized by BET, SEM, FT-IR and XPS. The adsorption performance of Re(VII) was investigated by batch and column experiments. By contrast, PILs-Cl-2 exhibited a better adsorption performance, and the adsorption capacity reached 94.92 mg/g for ReO4−. In the recovery experiment of TcO4−, the maximum recovery rate of PILs-Cl-2 for TcO4− was 99.9%. The excellent regenerative and recyclable performance of PILs-Cl-2 was also evaluated in the column experiment, which provided an important basis for practical application in industrial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of IL and DVB was adjusted to synthesize a series of poly(ionic liquid)s with a hierarchical pore structure and high solubility. The amide and hydroxyl functional groups, acting as dual hydrogen bond donors, worked with the bromine anion of the ionic liquids in the ring-opening reaction of propylene oxide. Furthermore, the introduction of amide also positively impacted CO 2 adsorption. Multiple active sites work efficiently and synergistically, showing good efficacy in CO 2 capture and conversion [Display omitted] • Poly(ionic liquid)s with dual hydrogen donor groups for efficient CO 2 conversion into cyclic carbonates. • The catalyst exhibiting comparable catalytic activity to the ionic liquid. • By adjusting the ratios of monomer, the catalysts with a hierarchical porous structure not only improve CO 2 adsorption but also facilitate the dispersion of the active sites in the polymer. • Combining DFT and in-situ FT-IR spectroscopy analysis discovers a plausible mechanism. CO 2 capture and conversion to high-value-added products is critical for the purposes of environmental preservation and carbon resource utilization. In this study, a novel class of porous poly(ionic liquid)s has been synthesized, incorporating dual hydrogen bond donors (amide and hydroxyl groups) and nucleophiles (Br-) as multiple effective active sites for the cycloaddition reaction between CO 2 and epoxides. The presence of dual hydrogen bond donors not only provides two active sites for synergistic catalysis with epoxides but also enhances the capacity for CO 2 adsorption. Comprehensive characterization has been conducted to elucidate the structural features and properties of these innovative materials. By regulating the ratio between ionic liquid monomer and divinylbenzene, a hierarchical porous structure favorable for the reaction was constructed, resulting in optimized catalytic activity comparable to that of bulk ionic liquid monomers. Furthermore, this catalyst exhibits remarkable structural stability with minimal activity loss even after five consecutive use cycles. Combining density functional theory calculations with in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, the catalytic mechanism was proposed that the dual hydrogen bond donors and Br- synergistically promote ring-opening reactions of epoxides, while amide groups serve as basic sites to enhance CO 2 adsorption during the reaction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homo-poly(ionic liquid) (HomoPIL) microsphere particles of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium][bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide] (P[MTMA][TFSI]) and poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium][hexafluorophosphate] (P[MTMA][PF 6 ]), as well as their corresponding copolymer microsphere particles obtained through copolymerization with hexyl methacrylate (HMA), were synthesized as electrorheological (ER) materials. The morphology and structure of these synthesized particles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and small-angle X-ray scattering spectra (SAXS). Electrorheological measurements were conducted for these polyelectrolyte-based suspensions at room temperature, revealing that the HMA composition has a different effect on the ER effect of the two poly(ionic liquid)s. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-modulated dielectric analysis (TMDA) were employed to investigate the effect of HMA composition on the glass transition temperature and interfacial polarization of these polyelectrolytes, suggesting that the incorporation of HMA affect the ER effect of PILs via changing the density of charge carriers and the counterion mobility. This study presents a potential approach for enhancing the electrorheological properties of poly(ionic liquid)s. [Display omitted] • Copolymer microspheres of poly(ionic liquid) incorporating with HMA were synthesized as ER particles. • The incorporation of HMA improves the ER effect of [TFSI]-typed linear PILs, but reduces it of [PF 6 ]-typed ones. • The flexible composition affects the ER effect of PILs via changing the mobility and concentration of counterions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Poly(ionic liquid)@poly(N-isopropylacrylaminde) microgels were prepared. • Mixed matrix membranes were fabricated using microgels and polyvinylidene. • fluoride. • These temperature-responsive membranes were verified by determining the water flux. • These membranes were suitable for the selective separation of citrus flavonoids. • A maximum separation selectivity of 81.66% was obtained by one-step separation. Herein, four novel poly(ionic liquid)@poly(N-isopropylacrylaminde) microgels were prepared and doped into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to fabricate eight temperature-responsive mixed matrix membranes (TRMs) for the efficient separation of natural citrus flavonoids, viz. naringin, neohesperidin, naringenin, and hesperetin. Dynamic light scattering of microgels in water at 20 and 50 ℃ confirmed their temperature-responsive properties. Water flux of TRMs at different temperatures proved their switchable response characteristic between 30 and 35 ℃. The mechanical property, pore size distribution, porosity, and specific surface area of these TRMs were measured. Moreover, the chemical structure, microstructure, hydrophobicity, thermostability, anti-fouling performance, and charge property were also confirmed for them. The M4 membrane exhibited a maximum separation selectivity of 81.66% at 20 ℃. Binding energy of G4 microgel to flavanone glycosides through H-bonding was greater than that of G4/flavanones. These TRMs, as a kind of novel separation materials, have the potential in the separation of various natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel PILs were constructed and synthesized as the catalyst's carrier. • Strong interaction between Au nanoparticles and N+, O on the PIL was confirmed by XPS. • Adding a small amount of alkali can achieve a high conversion of HMF and high selectivity to FDMC. • The possible reaction routes and mechanisms are proposed through ESP analysis. Although fossil fuels bring convenience to the production and life of people, they also cause numerous environmental problems. As a result of overexploitation, fossil fuels are gradually being depleted as a nonrenewable resource. Biomass is a green and renewable resource and has attracted people's attention. As a platform compound derived from renewable biomass, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is important for in-depth research. The oxidative esterification process from HMF to dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (FDMC) was achieved using a gold (Au) nanoparticle (NP) catalyst supported on poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs). The comprehensive characterization of the synthesized catalyst showed that the Au NPs were successfully loaded on PILs, and a strong interaction occurred between the catalyst support and the metal. In this work, 10 %Au/PILs-Cl-1 was used as the best catalyst. The conversion of HMF (C HMF) and the selectivity to FDMC (S FDMC) reached 95.08 % and 96.82 %, respectively, under the conditions of 120 °C, 1.5 MPa, 12 h, and 0.5 equiv. CH 3 ONa. In addition, cycling experiments indicated the stability and successfully recycling of 10 %Au/PILs-Cl-1 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and selective removal of dyes from polluted water by low cost, durable, sustainable, and reusable adsorptions remain challenges. In this study, a pyridinium and trifluoromethanesulfonate bifunctional poly(ionic liquid)s, named Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL was prepared by co-polymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4VP), divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (ST), followed by quaternization with 1-bromobutane and anion exchange with lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate. The resulting bifunctional Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL exhibited remarkable adsorption capacity (2192 mg g−1) and efficiency (within 10 min) for selective removal (>99.9%) of methyl orange (MO) from (mixed) dye solutions. The superior adsorption capacity and selectivity of Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL towards the removal of MO was attributed to the strong electrostatic interactions and π-π stacking interaction between the adsorbent and MO dye. Detailed kinetic studies, adsorption isotherms, and thermodynamic experiments revealed an endothermic monolayer chemical adsorption mechanism of MO on Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL, which is perfectly matched with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.999). Importantly, the Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL could be easily collected and regenerated for multiple repeated uses, highlighting its reusability. The exceptional adsorption capacity and selectivity towards anionic dyes make Py-CF 3 SO 3 -PIL a promising candidate for dye separation applications. Our findings will contribute to the rational design of functional poly(ionic liquid)s-based adsorbents for water purification. [Display omitted] • A bifunctional poly(ionic liquid) Py-CF3SO3-PIL was synthesized by co-polymerization, quaternization and anion exchange. • Py-CF3SO3-PIL displayed extremely high adsorption capacity for anionic dyes with excellent selectivity and reusability. • The excellent performance of Py-CF3SO3-PIL is attributed to strong electrostatic interaction and π-π interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Poly(ionic liquid)-based random copolymers (CPIL) with rigid-flexible segments are successfully synthesized. • The CPIL SPE retains high conductivity and anti-oxidative properties. • The soft segment in CPIL exhibits fast ion migrations due to large volume and more delocalized structure of TFSI-. • CPIL SPE delivers stable cycling performance in LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 and LiNi 0.9 Co 0.05 Mn 0.05 O 2 batteries. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) usually present low ionic conductivity and poor anti-oxidation resistance, which significantly restricts their applications in high-voltage lithium metal batteries. In this study, poly(ionic liquid)-based random copolymers (CPIL) with rigid-flexible segments are successfully synthesized using cross-liked copolymerization reactions by precisely adjusting the ratio of 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (VEIM-TFSI) soft segment to 1-vinyl-3-ethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (VEIM-PF 6) hard segment. The soft segment in CPIL exhibits fast ion migrations due to large volume and more delocalized structure of TFSI-, while the hard segment demonstrates high anti-oxidative property. As a result, SPEs fabricated with optimized CPIL exhibit an ionic conductivity of 1.06 × 10-4 S cm−1 and an electrochemical stability voltage of 4.5 V at 25 °C. The solid-state LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 /CPIL SPE/Li batteries exhibit an initial discharge capacity of 159.3 mAh g−1 and a superior capacity retention of 70.8 % after 600 cycles at 1 C. In addition, the enhanced electrochemical performance of LiNi 0.9 Co 0.05 Mn 0.05 O 2 and LiFePO 4 cells incorporating CPIL SPE also further substantiates the efficacy of CPIL SPE as a highly efficient solid-state electrolyte for high-performance batteries. This work has proved the efficiency of adjusting the ratio of ionic liquid monomer with different anions in designing novel PIL-based random copolymers, and as-prepared electrolyte is a promising candidate for practical application in solid-state lithium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, a one‐step synthetic route is reported toward free‐standing metal‐nanoparticle‐functionalized gradient porous polyelectrolyte membranes (PPMs). The membranes are produced by soaking a glass‐plate‐supported blend film that consists of a hydrophobic poly(ionic liquid) (PIL), poly(acrylic acid), and a metal salt, into an aqueous hydrazine solution. Upon diffusion of water and hydrazine molecules into the blend film, a phase separation process of the hydrophobic PIL and an ionic crosslinking reaction via interpolyelectrolyte complexation occur side by side to form the PPM. Simultaneously, due to the reductive nature of hydrazine, the metal salt inside the polymer blend film is reduced in situ by hydrazine into metal nanoparticles that anchor onto the PPM. The as‐obtained hybrid porous membrane is proven functional in the catalytic reduction of p‐nitrophenol. This one‐step method to grow metal nanoparticles and gradient porous membranes can simplify future fabrication processes of multifunctional PPMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient enrichment of trace polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in environmental waters remains challenging for environmental monitoring and analysis. Herein, a covalent organic frameworks-poly(ionic liquid)s hybrid material (COF-γ-PIL) is synthesized by threading poly(1-vinyl-3-methylimidazolium bis ((trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl) imide) into a vinyl-decorated COF via photopolymerization. The resultant hybrid retains the crystallinity and porosity of COF, thus offering adequate adsorption sites for the targets. PIL threaded in COF facilitates the synergistic capture of target molecules within the hybrid through multiple interactions, including Van der Waals forces, weak hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. As a proof of concept, COF-γ-PIL was utilized as the fiber coating for SPME of PBDEs in waters prior to their analysis via GC-MS. Excellent analytical results were achieved, with wide linearity (0.01–100 ng L−1), low limits of detection (0.0021–0.014 ng L−1), and satisfactory recoveries (78.6%−103.6%). The outstanding extraction performance can be ascribed to the extraordinary flexibility of the active fraction on linear polymers threaded in COF, which facilitates collaborative capture for target molecules, as revealed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. This work uncovers the microscopic mechanism for PBDEs capturing and provides new insights into the design of functionalized COF hybrids. As a type of persistent organic pollutants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are widely distributed in the environment. Due to their close connection to health problems, the efficiently analysis of PBDEs at ultra-trace level in real sample matrices is of great significance for environmental and food safety. Herein, a novel covalently composited hybrid (COF-γ-PIL) was synthesized via photo-initiated copolymerization strategy, and employed as a SPME coating for capturing PBDEs from environmental waters prior to GC-MS analysis. The coupling method demonstrated excellent sensitivity and reliability, making it a promising tool for rapidly analyzing and monitoring PBDEs in the environment [Display omitted] • Threading PIL into COF to fabricate a COF-γ-PIL hybrid via photo-initiated copolymerization. • COF-γ-PIL exhibits concurrent characteristics of porosity, flexibility, and stability. • COF-γ-PIL based SPME is coupled to GC-MS for ultra-trace analysis of PBDEs in waters. • Adsorption mechanism involves hydrophobic effect, π-π stacking, van der Waals forces, and weak hydrogen bonding interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The low-cost and acid-stable PILs were designed to recover gold from e-waste. • The PILs exhibited excellent adsorption capacity and rapid equilibrium time. • The PILs achieved remarkable selectivity to Au(III) in actual CPUs leachate. • A satisfactory reusability of more than 8 cycles was realized. • An economical and feasible flow chart of gold recovery from e-waste was provided. Recycling gold from e-waste is not only beneficial to environmental protection, but also to resource sustainability. However, it remains a great challenge due to the limitations of high cost, lengthy balance process and the interference of coexisting metals. Herein, a family of low-cost, nitrogen-rich content and acid-stable imidazolium-based poly(ionic liquid)s, designated as P(nDVB-mVBIMCl)s, were synthesized for recovery of gold from e-waste. The obtained P(2DVB-8VBIMCl)s achieves outstanding adsorption capacity (820.5 mg·g−1) and rapid equilibrium time (15 min) and satisfactory reusability (more than 8 cycles). XPS, EDS and ion chromatography revealed that the excellent adsorption performance was attributed to synergistic effect of ion exchange and chemical reduction. In addition, the P(2DVB-8VBIMCl)s showed excellent selectivity for gold in actual e-waste leaching solution, exhibited satisfactory selectivity coefficient for Fe3+ (1.46 × 104) and Ni2+ (1.12 × 104), obtaining 23.4 karat high-purity gold after calcination. In addition, the P(2DVB-8VBIMCl)s shows its good economic feasibility. Overall, this work provides a feasible adsorbent, which becomes a promising candidate for industrial gold recovery from e-waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing ideal adsorbents for moving phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions remains a challenge. Herein, novel poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) of PIL-Ba-x and PIL-An-5 were prepared via Friedel–Crafts alkylation using benzyl alcohol and aniline auxiliary cross-linking agents, respectively, for the adsorption of m -cresol in the aqueous phase. The specific surface areas and pore volumes of the synthesized PILs can be adjusted by pre-polymerization time, thereby realizing the regulation of the adsorption property of m -cresol. Results showed that the adsorption kinetics of PILs conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics and reached adsorption equilibrium within 6 min. Their adsorption thermodynamics conformed to the Langmuir models. Based on the fitting data of the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of m -cresol by PIL-Ba-5 can reach 228 mg/g. Moreover, the mechanism analysis showed that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and π–π interaction promoted the adsorption of m -cresol by PIL-Ba. After the adsorption of m -cresol was separated by anhydrous ethanol, the adsorbent was recovered at least five times, and the removal efficiency was stable. [Display omitted] • Novel PILs with high specific surface areas were synthesized for adsorbing m -cresol. • The adsorption performance of PILs can be regulated by the pre-polymerization time. • The maximum adsorption capacity of the prepared PIL is 228 mg/g. • The prepared PIL-Ba-5 can quickly reach adsorption equilibrium within 6 min. • The adsorption effect of PIL remains at a high level after five cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A poly(ionic liquid)s binder can provide stable performance of high-voltage composite cathodes based on lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 or NCA), up to 4.5 V (vs. Li+/Li0) at 50 °C for an electrode with high areal capacity up to 1.6 mAh cm−2. A reversible capacity of more than 150 mAh g−1 in an all-solid-state device using a highly concentrated poly(ionic liquid)s-based composite polymer electrolyte is achieved with high-capacity retention on cycling. Characterization of the composite electrode and polymer electrolyte post-cycling using scanning electron microscopy confirms stable behaviour with only small volume changes evident. This report thus demonstrates these solid polymer electrolytes as promising for high energy density high-voltage all-solid-state lithium (Li) batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) plays an important role in nearly all living cells. In this study, SOD imprinted poly(ionic liquid)s (SIPILs) were prepared on the surface of the bare Au electrode modified with nano‐palladium and nano‐gold (Au/nPd/nAu/SIPILs). SIPILs was synthesized with 1‐vinyl‐3‐propyl imidazole sulfonate ionic liquids as functional monomers via electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (eATRP) catalyzed by SOD. The Au/nPd/nAu/SIPILs was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy‐dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Au/nPd/nAu/SIPILs was also used as an electrochemical sensor to determine SOD by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Under the optimal conditions, the detection range of SOD was from 1.0×10−8 to 1.0×102 mg L−1 with a limit of detection of 8.90×10−9 mg L−1 (S/N=3). Compared with other methods, the sensor based on SIPILs had the broader linear range and lower detection limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micrometer‐sized poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) particles with an anionic side chain, poly(1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium 3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate) (poly([Bmim][SPMT])), are successfully prepared by dispersion polymerization at 60 °C in ethanol/ethyl acetate (2/8, w/w) with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a stabilizer. However, the obtained particles do not maintain the particulate state during drying at room temperature due to poly([Bmim][SPMT])'s low glass‐transition temperature, below room temperature. In order to prevent coalescence and maintain particle shape, a cross‐linking monomer is added after the nucleation stage of dispersion polymerization. Moreover, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) demonstrates cation exchange between the obtained particles and metal cations (Ag+). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of poly(ionic liquid)s-supported N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes (Poly(NHC-Ag/IL)s), poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) and poly(N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes) (Poly(NHC-Ag)s) were prepared through radical co-polymerization of N-vinylimidazolium ionic liquids, NHC-Ag monomers and divinylbenzene, respectively. These polymers were applied to catalyze the cycloaddition reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides without any co-catalyst. Poly(NHC-Ag/IL)s exhibited higher activities than the corresponding PILs and Poly(NHC-Ag)s, which was attributed to the synergistic effect of NHC-Ag and bromide. Furthermore, Poly(NHC-Ag/IL)s could be easily recycled five times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Multi-functional poly(ionic liquid)s-supported N-heterocyclic carbene silver complexes (Poly(NHC-Ag/IL)s) were synthesized by radical co-polymerization of N-vinylimidazolium ionic liquids, NHC-Ag monomers and DVB. Poly(NHC-Ag/IL)s exhibited high activities for cycloaddition reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides due to their multi-functional groups including Lewis acidic silver and a bromine anion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Organosilanes functionalized azobenzene for the first time to obtain a new photo-responsive monomer. • Smart photo-responsive sandwich like poly(ionic liquid)s catalysts were prepared. • The resulting catalyst-stabilized Pickering emulsion breaks rapidly under UV light. • The Pickering emulsion showed outstanding activity in transesterification and could be recycled 8 times. Smart photo-responsive nanospheres azo-p(St-TMGILs)-OEt with sandwich like structure were prepared by introducing alkaline ionic liquids (TMG ILs) and a pioneering photo-responsive monomer (azo-TEPIC) on the surface of polystyrene microspheres by one-pot soap-free emulsion polymerization with free radical polymerization. Then the as-prepared nanoparticles were used as interfacial catalysts for constructing Pickering emulsions, wherein, azo-TEPIC was first obtained by using organosilane to functionalize azobenzene. Pickering emulsions can be reversibly switched between emulsification and breakage by alternate exposure to UV and visible light. The Pickering emulsion was used for the transesterification of soybean oil and ethanol to produce biodiesel and was found to give yields above 97% under mild reaction conditions with superior cycling stability of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from classic polyelectrolytes, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) bearing hydrophobic counterions show high electrorheological (ER) effect in dry state. This opens a way to develop new generation of anhydrous polyelectrolyte ER fluids. However, PILs with linear backbone are limited in practical applications due to low glass transition temperature. Crosslinking is an effective method to overcome this problem but the structure-property relationship in crosslinked PIL ER system is not fully understood. Herein, a family of self-crosslinked poly(bis-vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonylimide))-based PILs with different length of alkyl spacer (P[C n DVIM][TFSI]) were synthesized. The influence of alkyl spacer length on ER effect was studied and the influence mechanism was analyzed by combination of rheology, dielectric spectroscopy and X-ray scattering measurements. It shows that as alkyl spacer length increases, the ER effect increases but the working temperature range becomes narrow. This is related to the fact that the length variation of alkyl spacer alters the mesh size of crosslinking network of P[C n DVIM][TFSI], which further influences the transport dynamic of mobile counterions and ion motion-induced interfacial polarization. Self-crosslinked poly(ionic liquid) particles with different length of alkyl spacer are synthesized, which show increased ER effect but narrowed working temperature range with increasing alkyl spacer length because increasing the mesh size of crosslinking network decreases the potential energy barrier for ion transport and ion motion-induced interfacial polarization but easily causes current leakage at high temperature. Image 1 • Self-crosslinked PILs with different length of alkyl spacer are synthesized. • As spacer length increases, ER effect of PILs increases but working temperature range becomes narrow. • Spacer length influence is because mesh size of crosslinking network influences ion transport and interfacial polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesise a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and develop a procedure that allows the phase transfer of graphene oxides (GO) from water to organic solvent, retaining graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) phase in various organic solvents, especially non-polar organic solvents. PIL ([PEP-MIM]DBS) is exploited in this procedure as a noncovalent functional material that is capable of transporting GO from aqueous to non-polar organic phase. PILs can decorate GO noncovalently and keep GO nano-sheets exfoliated in solid-state PILs/GO hybrids, which can well redisperse in organic solvents without any agglomeration. This expands the number of known solvents which can support GOLC phase to dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and a number of other non-polar organic solvents, many of which were not known to afford GOLC phase prior to this report, such as dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane and tetrachloroethane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Polyoxometallate based mesoporous poly(ionic liquid) was partially carbonized. • Partial carbonization strengthened the acid and oxidation property. • Target catalyst was highly active in the synthesis of DFF from carbohydrates. • High yield and TON was achieved in a one-pot and one-step reaction. • Various carbohydrates were effectively converted into DFF. Abstract A promising atom-effective heterogeneous catalyst derived from the partial carbonization of polyoxometalate based mesoporous poly(ionic liquid) was constructed for the direct (one-pot and one-step) conversion of carbohydrates into 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). The carbon precursor was synthesized through the free radical copolymerization of carboxylic acid functional ionic liquid and divinyl benzene, followed by the ion-exchange with heteropolyacid H 5 PMo 10 V 2 O 40 to introduce heteropolyanions. Partial carbonization dramatically enhanced the acid and oxidation properties, rendering the greatly strengthened activity in both the degradation of fructose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and oxidation of HMF into DFF. As a result, the catalyst exhibited remarkable performance in the direct synthesis of DFF from fructose in a one-pot and one-step reaction, offering a high yield of 87.3% and a maximum turnover number (TON) of 77.7. The catalyst was facilely recovered and reused without apparent deactivation. The one-pot and one-step conversion of glucose into DFF reached the highest yield of 51.2% so far. Other carbohydrates such as inulin and sucrose were also effectively transformed into DFF, displaying good substrate compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report the synthesis of 3-, 4-, and 6-arm star poly(vinylbenzyl methylimidazolium chloride) via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with a core-first approach, which results in uniform number and length of polymer arms. The effect of initial radical initiator concentration and number of functional groups per multifunctional RAFT agent on polymerization reaction kinetics was systematically investigated. Increasing the initial radical initiator concentration resulted in faster monomer conversion, while decreasing the number of functional groups per multifunctional RAFT agent resulted in a decrease in the initial rate retardation in reaction kinetics. This work demonstrates a facile method for synthesizing ion-containing star polymers, specifically star poly(ionic liquids) or star PILs, with uniform number and length of polymer arms, where star PILs may be a promising new material for electrochemical energy devices due to property enhancements associated with their star polymer architecture. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of uniform 3-, 4-, and 6-arm star poly(ionic liquid)s via RAFT. • Increasing radical initiator concentration increases star-star coupling. • Increased formation of linear polymer chains with higher arm number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Imidazolium‐based ionic liquids have the ability to undergo a variety of chemical reactions through an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) intermediate, which has expanded the chemical toolbox for new applications. Despite their uses and exploration, the carbene‐forming properties and applications of their polymeric congeners, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), is still underdeveloped. Herein, we explore the NHC‐forming properties of a theophylline‐derived PIL for nanogel synthesis. Using silver oxide as both the carbene‐forming reagent and cross‐linker, nanogels containing individually stabilized ions can be created with different sizes and morphology, including large “galaxy‐like” superstructures. Using high‐resolution TEM techniques, we directly observed the sub‐nanometer structure of these constructs. These features combined exemplify the unique chemistry of poly‐NHCs for single‐metal‐ion‐stabilization nanogel design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile route for grafting poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) on to the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was demonstrated via Diels-Alder (DA) “click” reaction. Firstly, block copolymers of poly(chloromethylstyrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PCMA) were prepared by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The anhydride units in the copolymer were functionalized with furfuryl amine and then the chloromethyl groups were subsequently tailored with 1-methylimidazole, which afforded imidazolium-based PILs bearing pendent furan moieties. The PILs chains were covalently anchored to the surface of MWNTs, affording PILs/MWNTs by the DA reaction in water under ultrasound assistance. The obtained hybrid materials were characterized by TGA, FT-IR, and TEM analysis. The PILs/MWNTs could be well dispersed in water and organic solvents for several months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different from classic water activated polyelectrolytes, poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) bearing hydrophobic counterions show high electrorheological (ER) response in dry state. This offers opportunity for practical applications of polyelectrolyte-based ER materials in wide temperature region. For guiding the design of PIL-based ER materials with improved performance, understanding the structure-property relationship is very important. In this paper, a series of poly( p -vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium)-based PIL particles with different counteranions ([PVBTMA][X]) were synthesized with the goal of understanding the role of mobile counterions on ER response of PILs. To exclude particle shape effect, the PIL series were controlled to be monodisperse spheres with a similar diameter via microwave-assisted dispersion polymerization. Under electric fields, the ER response of PIL particles when dispersed in insulating oil was investigated by temperature-modulated rheological test. It showed that the ER response of PILs depends on the type of counteranions. The order of magnitude of ER response of PILs with different counteranion is trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO − ) > tetrafluoroborates (BF 4 − ) > bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonylimide) (TFSI − ) > hexafluorophosphates (PF 6 − ). The mechanism behind the influence of counterion type on ER response was analysed by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. It demonstrated that the influence of counteranion type on ER response may be related to the variation of size and plasticization effect of counteranions that has altered the transport dynamic of mobile counterions and ion motion-induced interfacial polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric ionic liquids or poly(ionic liquid)s combine unique properties of ionic liquids with macromolecular characteristics. One of the spotlights of review was to identify potential areas of poly(ionic liquid)s. Due to unique combination of polymer and counterions, poly(ionic liquid)s possess tunable properties to be employed in range of advanced applications. Poly(ionic liquid)s composites have claimed relevance in energy storage/production and catalysis. In biosensors, poly(ionic liquid)s were employed to fabricate enzyme electrodes. Moreover, stimuli-responsive copolymers were used to form multi-responsive poly(ionic liquid)s. Separation membranes have been reported for gas separation/storage/transport. A significant use of poly(ionic liquid)s was found as solid-state electrolyte. In fuel cell, poly(ionic liquid)s-based electrolyte membranes were employed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We used inherently conducting polyaniline as a core to develop a type of poly(ionic liquid)s-capsulated polyaniline composite particles in order to both overcome the surface charged character of pure poly(ionic liquid)s particles prepared by post ion-exchange procedure, and enhance electrorheological (ER) effect. The structure was characterized by different techniques and the electrorheological suspension was prepared by dispersing the composite particles in silicone oil. Under electric fields, the electrorheological properties of the suspensions of poly(ionic liquid)s-capsulated polyaniline composite particles were measured and compared with their single forms. It is demonstrated that the composite particles have distinctly enhanced electrorheological effect compared with the pure poly(ionic liquid)s and polyaniline particles under electric stimuli. At 4 kV/mm of electric field, the yield stress of the suspension of poly(ionic liquid)s-capsulated polyaniline composite particles in silicone oil is about 2.3 kPa, which is twice as high as 1.2 kPa stress of the suspension of poly(ionic liquid) particles and 2.5 times as high as 0.9 kPa stress of the suspension of polyaniline particles. By using dielectric spectroscopy, microscopic observation, and oscillation rheology, we studied the origin of this enhanced electrorheological effect. The results indicated that wrapping polyaniline into poly(ionic liquid)s could partly suppress the positively charged surface state of poly(ionic liquid)s particles prepared by post ion-exchange procedure and improve the column-like electrorheological structure. This suppression should be responsible for the enhanced electrorheological effect of poly(ionic liquid)s-capsulated polyaniline composite particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) modified polyethersulfone membranes were fabricated via an in-situ cross-linking copolymerization method. Due to the positive charge and ion-exchange properties of the PILs, the membranes showed anion species and strength responsive behaviors. The morphologies and chemical compositions of the membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The anion species and strength responsive properties were investigated by measuring the fluxes of the membranes with various anion species and concentrations of salt solutions. The anion strength response of the membranes was positive, and the responsive coefficient of the membranes (the ratio of the salt water flux to pure water flux) could reach 26 times when responded to the stimulus of NaCl aqueous solution; the cation species and concentrations had barely influence on the responsive behavior. Meanwhile, the membranes were responded to both anion species (including PF 6 − , BF 4 − and SCN - ) and their strength: the pure water fluxes and the morphologies of the modified membranes changed associated with different types of anions, and the membranes after ion-exchanging also showed obvious anion strength responsive behaviors to the corresponding salt solutions. The facile design of anion-responsive membranes via in-situ cross-linking polymerization opens up a new route to fabricate “intelligent” membranes for ion-recognizable chemical/biomedical separations and purifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to graphene often results in an irreversible agglomeration and hence suppressing its effective surface available for energy storage. In this work, GO was solvothermally reduced in the presence of imidazolium-based poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) of poly(1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) to produce a PIL-modified reduced GO (PIL-rGO) composite. The integration of PILs with rGO is capable of preventing the restacking of rGO sheets, and hence, providing a large electrolyte ion-accessible surface and an abundant interior space for charge storage by enlarging the interlayer spacing in PIL-rGO. The PIL-rGO composite was then used as the supercapacitor electrode associated with a compatible IL of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as the electrolyte. The PIL herein improves the interface wettability between the electrode and electrolyte, and the IL electrolyte enables a wide potential window as well. Specific capacitances correspond to 196 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, 160 F/g at 2 A/g, and 144.8 F/g at a scan rate of 60 mV/s, which are much higher than those (104 F/g at 2 A/g, and 48.1 F/g at 60 mV/s) of pure rGO. The capacitance retention is as high as 80.7% after 1000 charge-discharge cycles at a discharge current density of 2 A/g. The interfacial charge-transfer resistance of the PIL-rGO electrode (4.6 Ω) is also much lower than that of the rGO electrode (18.7 Ω). Such graphene-base electrodes may promise a candidate for high performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly swellable, dual-responsive hydrogels, consisting of thermo-responsive poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and redox-responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) based poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) are formed by photo-polymerization. PFS chains bearing cross-linkable vinylimidazolium (VIm) side groups are copolymerized with NIPAM in aqueous solutions under ultraviolet light (λ = 365 nm) in the presence of a photoinitiator. The PFS-PILs serve as a macro-cross-linker and also provide redox responsiveness. The swelling ratio, morphology, and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the hydrogels are studied as a function of the PNIPAM/PFS ratio. The value of the LCST is dependent on the choice of the counterion of the PIL and the PNIPAM/PFS ratio. The hydrogel is employed as a reducing environment for the in situ fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), forming AuNP-hydrogel composites. The localized surface plasmon resonance peak of the as-synthesized Au nanoparticles inside the hydrogel could be tuned by altering the temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight types of cationic glycidyl triazole polymers (GTPs) are prepared from combinations of four quaternary ammonium cationic units (pyrrolidinium, piperidinium, morpholinium, and N, N-diethyl-substituted ammonium) and two N-alkyl substituents (methyl and ethyl groups). These poly(ionic liquid)s are prepared using Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction between the alkyne derivatives of ionic liquids and glycidyl azide polymer. The ionic conductivity is characterized by impedance measurement. The ionic conductivity depends on the type of the cationic unit, but the type of the N-alkyl substituent shows little influence on the ionic conductivity. The order of the cationic units that afford high ionic conductivity is as follows: pyrrolidinium > N,N-diethyl-substituted ammonium > piperidinium > morpholinium. The highest anhydrous ionic conductivity obtained in this study is 9.8 × 10−6 S cm−1 at 30 °C for the GTPs with the 1-methylpyrrolidinium unit. Based on electrode polarization analysis, the conducting ion (carrier) concentration and mobility are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first mass spectrometric analysis of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) containing weakly coordinating anions introduced by a fast, simple, and quantitative postmodification method on the example of the hydrophilic, well-defined poly(vinylbenzylpyridinium chloride) p([VBPy]Cl) species, analyzed with an in-source collision induced dissociation-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) protocol. Using the MS approach allows for the precise structural elucidation of ion-exchanged p([VBPy]Cl) utilizing AgX (X = NO3−, CF3CO2−, BF4−) salts. The anion exchange is shown to be quantitative - without observing residual chlorinated PIL - on rapid time scales, using only filtration as a standard procedure during sample preparation. In addition, the influence of weakly coordinating anions on the ionization behavior of PILs is studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional polymer additives have a substantial impact on synthetic inorganic chemistry, but critical shortcomings remain; for example, low solubility in organic solvents and potential thermodynamic aggregates. Poly(ionic liquid)s have now been used as efficient additives that enable a high level control of bismuth sulfide crystals with significant size and morphological diversities. The bismuth sulfides exhibit tunable band structure as a result of the quantum size effects. Moreover, poly(ionic liquid)s are able to couple with as-synthesized bismuth sulfides chemically and endow a modified surface electronic structure, which allows resultant products to possess outstanding electrocatalytic performance for water oxidation, although its commercial counterpart is catalytically inert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of poly(ionic liquid) microcapsules from liquid marbles (3–20 μL) with additional magnetic properties is described. These microcapsules show excellent oil‐absorption properties and selectivity versus water, together with easy manipulation for oil capture and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Ten types of cationic glycidyl triazole polymers (GTPs) are prepared from combinations of five alkyl-imidazolium units (methyl-, ethyl-, n-propyl-, iso-propyl-, and n-butyl-imidazoliums) and two spacers [di- and tri(ethylene glycol)s]. Since these poly(ionic liquid)s are prepared from the same sample of glycidyl azide polymer by postfunctionalization method, they have the same degree of polymerization. Therefore, the structure-property relationship can be discussed without influence of molecular weight difference. The samples are characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ionic conductivity data are obtained by impedance measurements. The GTPs with the tri(ethylene glycol) spacer and ethyl- and n-butyl-imidazolium units afford the highest anhydrous conductivity of 1.5 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30 °C. Based on electrode polarization (EP) analysis, we calculate the conducting ion (carrier) concentration and mobility. We discuss the effect of the spacer and N-alkyl tail structures on the ionic conductivity using the data obtained by EP analysis and X-ray diffraction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2896-2906 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monodisperse poly(ionic liquid) particles with a styrenic backbone and different size of quaternary ammonium/fluorinated imide ion parts were synthesized by microwave-assisted dispersion polymerization for use as high-performance anhydrous polyelectrolyte-based smart electrorheological materials. The morphology and structure of particles were characterized by SEM, NMR, FT-IR, and TGA. The electrorheological effect of poly(ionic liquid) particles in silicone oil was investigated by rheometer under electric fields. It showed that, different from classic polyelectrolytes, the poly(ionic liquid) particles possess strong electrorheological effect in dry state and the electrorheological effect depends on the size of cation/anion parts. The poly(ionic liquid) particles having smaller cation/anion parts possess stronger electrorheological effect. Dielectric analysis indicated that the local ion motion-induced interfacial polarization is responsible for the strong electrorheological effect of poly(ionic liquid) particles and the dependence of electrorheological effect on the size of cation/anion is related to the change of interfacial polarizability with the size of cation/anion parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To extensively explore the influence of anion structure on the physical properties of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) a series of PILs having main-chain 1,2,3-triazolium cations was synthesized via copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC) followed by N-alkylation with iodomethane and anion metathesis with different metal salts, that is, Li(CF3SO2)2N, Li(CF3CF2SO2)2N, K(FSO2)2N, K(CF3SO2)N(CN), Ag(CN)2N, and sodium 4,5-dicyano-1,2,3-triazolate. To isolate the effect of anion on physical properties of PILs, a common iodide precursor was used to maintain constant the average degree of polymerization ( DPn) and chain dispersity. Detailed structure/properties relationship analyses demonstrated a lack of correlation between anion chemical structure, ionic conductivity, and glass transition temperatures. Among synthesized series, the PIL derivative having bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide counter anion showed the best compromise in performance: low glass transition temperature ( Tg = −68 °C), high thermal stability ( Tonset = 340 °C) and superior ionic conductivity ( σDC = 8.5 × 10− 6 S/cm at 30 °C), which makes it an interesting candidate for various key modern electrochemical applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2191-2199 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]