Morphology of Poly(ethylene oxide) Dissolved in a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid:  A Small Angle Neutron Scattering Study

Abstract

Solutions of deuterated poly(ethylene oxide) (d-PEO) in 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), a prototype room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), have been studied at room temperature over a range of polymer concentrations, using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), characterizing the conformation of PEO dissolved in RTILs. [bmim][BF4] behaves as a good solvent for d-PEO, which organizes in this solvent in non entangled random coils. These findings will help in optimizing the designing of microemulsions in these potentially environmentally friendly solvents.

Structural effects of polyethers and ionic liquids in their binary mixtures on lower critical solution temperature liquid-liquid phase separation

“…It has previously been reported, on the basis of a molecular dynamics simulation and a small-angle neutron scattering measurement, that PEO is compatible with certain ILs. 51,52 Block copolymers containing PEO segments and IL-incompatible segments, which form micelles in ILs, have been studied and successfully utilized for micellar shuttles at the IL/water interfaces and in thermoreversible ion-gel formation. [53][54][55][56][57][58] As shown in Table 3, polyethers other than PEO, such as PGME, PEEGE, PEGE and PPO, exhibit LCST phase separation in these ILs.…”

Foam Films Obtained with Ionic Liquid

“…However, [EMIM] [BF 4 ] must interact with PEO chains and stabilize the two-dimensionally self-assembled structure. [19,30] The selection of ionic liquid was important. to 4 ] was suitable for other surfactants.…”

Foam Films Obtained with Ionic Liquid

“…However, [EMIM] [BF 4 ] must interact with PEO chains and stabilize the two-dimensionally self-assembled structure. [19,30] The selection of ionic liquid was important. 4 ] was suitable for other surfactants.…”

“…In the present study, Newton black films of a triblock copolymer were readily obtained by using [EMIM] [BF 4 ]. The strong interaction between PEO and the imidazolium cation [19,30] may generate an attractive force to make two polymer layers close together. 4 ].…”

“…[17,18] However, they can dissolve various surfactants, which give molecular assemblies as seen in water. For example, imidazolium-type ionic liquids are good solvents for polyethylene oxide (PEO), [19] and PEO-based surfactants form micelles, [20][21][22] vesicles, [23] lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases, [24,25] and microemulsions with alkanes [26] 4 ] slowly and continuously drains through the wires twisted at the bottom of the frame. Figure 1 a-c shows photographs taken after 5, 30, and 50 min, respectively.…”