Synthesis of Porous Polyurea with Room‐Temperature Ionic Liquids via Interfacial Polymerization

Abstract

Summary: Polyurea with exotic porous structures has been synthesized by the interfacial polymerization between hexane and a series of 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium room‐temperature ionic liquids (ILs). Scanning electron microscopy micrographs of the polyurea show a macroporous morphology of aggregated polymer particles with sizes around 200 nm and pore sizes between 100 to 500 nm. The geometry of the polymer particles and the pore size vary with the ILs employed. X‐Ray diffraction shows ionic‐liquid‐induced suppression of 3D crystalline order in the polyurea products. The microstructures of the polymer together with the FT‐IR results suggest that the observed exotic polymer morphology originates from interactions between the ionic liquid and the polymer.

Ionic Liquids as Solvents and/or Catalysts in Polymerization

“…FT-IR studies suggest the surface interactions between ILs and polyurea, which are responsible for the formation of macroporous polyureas [108]. The direct polycondensation of glycolic acid in imidazoliumbased ILs at 200-240 C afforded only poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) oligomers due to evaporation of glycolic acid at this temperature.…”

Macro‐ and Mesoporous Polymers Synthesized by a CO2‐in‐Ionic Liquid Emulsion‐Templating Route

“…The macropore size distribution curve of the PAM shows a pore size distribution centered at 3.4 mm (Figure 2 A), which is consistent with that observed from the SEM images. [13] The release of the IL after polymerization generates excess macropores, which may correspond to the pores with sizes in the hundreds of nanometers range, as shown in the SEM images ( Figure 1). It is very interesting that the porosity degree of PAM is considerably higher than the volume fraction of CO 2 in the emulsion (65 vol % internal phase).…”

“…[6] The removal of the droplet phase is simple because CO 2 can revert to the gaseous state upon depressurization. [13] Herein, we propose for the first time a CO 2 -in-IL emulsion templating route for the synthesis of porous polymers. [8] The CO 2 -inwater emulsion allows the production of hydrophilic polymers with porous structure.…”

“…[10] ILs have been widely utilized as promising media in different fields, such as chemical reactions, [11] including polymerization. [13] Herein, we propose for the first time a CO 2 -in-IL emulsion templating route for the synthesis of porous polymers. [13] Herein, we propose for the first time a CO 2 -in-IL emulsion templating route for the synthesis of porous polymers.…”

Ionic Liquids in Photopolymerizable Holographic Materials

“…Higher yields [40], high enzyme activity [41], high conductivity polymers [42], etc., have been reported. Ionic liquids have been used as plasticizers of various kinds of polymers [43][44], as templates for porous polymer synthesis [45][46], and as key components in new classes of polymer gels [47][48][49]. Polymerizable ionic liquids were used to synthesize ionic liquid co-polymers for the applications in ion-conductive polymer film [50], nanostructured liquid crystalline hydrogel [51], or microwave-absorbing polymer composite [52], etc.…”