Preparation And Characterization Of Nanocomposites Based On Polymeric Ionic Liquids

In recent years, polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) have attracted significant interestbecause of its excellent mechanical stability, ionic conductivity, processability andcontrollability. PILs have the advantage over traditional ionic liquids in new ionicliquid applications which require properties like improved processability andmechanical stability, and this new generation of smart polymers has already foundapplications in a vast array of fields. The promising applications of PILs involvepolymeric electrolytes, ion conductors, carbon dioxide absorbents, microwaveabsorbing materials, stabilizing agent, carbon precursors, and many more. Therefore,the study of the nanocomposite based on PILs is very important.In this dissertation, different nanocomposites including hollow polystyrenic ionicliquids (PS-ILs) nanospheres, polymer brush grafted PILs nanospheres and polymerbrush grafted mesoporous silica, have been successfully synthesized and totallystudied.The thesis is composed of the following four chapters:In the first chapter, PILs are classified and the properties and synthesis method ofeach type of PILs are introduced. Moreover, the application of PILs as organicdispersions, nanocomposites, electrochemistry, sorbents and separation aresummarized. In addition, atom transfer radical polymerization is also introduced andthe ideas of this thesis are advanced.In the second chapter, using VBIm-Cl as a monomer, CuBr as the catalyst, Bipyas the ligand, Bis as cross linker, and water/methanol as the solvent, the SiO2/PS-ILsnanospheres were prepared via aqueous surface-initiated ATRP at ambienttemperature. Finally, the silica templates were removed by HF etching to produce thehollow PS-ILs nanospheres. The average particle size of the hollow nanospheres isaround250nm and a shell thickness of ca.25nm. The hollow PS-ILs nanosphereshave excellent thermal stability and will be applied as nanoreactors.In the third chapter, the preservation of active end groups on the SiO2/PS-ILsnanospheres that can be further used for block copolymer formation, PDMAEMAbrushes were grafted on the PILs nanospheres. Kinetic studies revealed that the polymerization of VBIm-Cl monomer on initiator-coated silica nanoparticles inaqueous was living/controlled. FTIR spectra, XPS analysis, TEM, thermal analysisresult indicate that DMAEMA is polymerized on the PILs nanospheres successfully.In the fourth chapter, the initiator is firstly grafted on the surface of mesoporoussilica and then the ATRP of DMAEMA is proceed, consequently PDMAEMA brush isgrafted on the initiator-coated mesoporous silica. TEM result indicatesPDMAEMA-grafted mesoporous silica is monodisperse. FTIR spectra, XPS analysis,thermal analysis result indicate that DMAEMA monomer is polymerized on themesoporous silica successfully.