d-Poly(e-caprolactone) (530)/siloxane biohybrid films doped with protic ionic liquids

abstract

Organic/inorganic biohybrids composed of poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL(530)) (where 530 represents the average molecular weight of the chains in gmol(-1)) chains covalently bonded to a siloxane network via urethane linkages and incorporating protic ionic liquids (PILs) were investigated. The materials (H-P1L(x), where H represents the host hybrid matrix and X is the ratio, in %, of the mass of PIL per mass of organic precursor) were doped with two different concentrations of N-ethylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EIm] (TfO]) and N-butylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BIm][TfO]). The samples were processed as essentially amorphous and transparent films, thermally stable up to at least 200 degrees C. The highest ionic conductivity value (4.3 x 10(-5) S cm(-1)) was measured for H-[Elm] [TfO] (16.4) at 105 degrees C. This work emphasizes that Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) measurements are mandatory for the morphological characterization of IL-based electrolytes. In the case of the most concentrated [BIm] [TfO]-doped hybrid studied this technique enabled the detection of segregated silica-rich circular micro-sized regions formed as a result of the hydrophobic interactions established between the bulky butyl chains of the [BIm](+) cation and the PCL(530) chains of the host matrix.

keywords

BRONSTED ACID-BASE; FUEL-CELL ELECTROLYTES; ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES; MEMBRANES; COMPLEXES

subject category

Chemistry; Electrochemistry

authors

Fernandes, M; Cardoso, MA; Rodrigues, LC; Silva, MM; Ferreira, RAS; Carlos, LD; Nunes, SC; Bermudez, VD

Groups

G2 - Photonic, Electronic and Magnetic Materials

Projects

Luminescent electrochromic devices incorporating organic/inorganic (bio)hybrid electrolytes (LUMECD)

UnirCell - Sistema combinado de célula de combustível/ electrolisador para fornecimento eficiente de enregia renovável: dos materiais ao dispositivo (SAICTPAC/0032/2015)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UID/CTM/50011/2013)

acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Funds by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and by FEDER funds through the POCI - COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation in Axis I - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (FCT Ref. UID/QUI/00616/2013, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491, FCT Ref. UID/Multi/00709/2013, and LUMECD (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016884 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/0956/2014) and UniRCell (SAICTPAC/0032/2015 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422) projects). This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. M. Fernandes, L.C. Rodrigues and M. A. Cardoso acknowledge FCT for grants (SFRH/BPD/78919/2011, SFRH/BPD/93697/2013 and SFRH/BD/118466/2016 respectively). S. C. Nunes acknowledges FCT for a Post-PhD Fellowship of LUMECD project.