Modes of Interaction in Binary Blends of Hydrophobic Polyethers and Imidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquids

Caitlin L. Bentley, Malgorzata Chwatko, Bill K. Wheatle, Aaron A. Burkey, Alysha Helenic, Oscar Morales-Collazo, Venkat Ganesan, Nathaniel A. Lynd, Joan F. Brennecke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lower critical solution behavior in binary blends of hydrophobic polyethers with 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([hmim][Tf2N]) exhibited a difference in lower critical solution temperature (LCST) greater than 80 °C between structurally homologous poly(isopropyl glycidyl ether) (PiPGE) and poly(n-butyl glycidyl ether) (PnBGE). Replacement of the acidic hydrogen on the imidazolium ring with a methyl group (i.e., 2,3-dimethyl-1-hexyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([hmmim][Tf2N])) significantly reduced the LCST of both the PnBGE/ionic liquid (IL) mixture and the PiPGE/IL mixture. Differing degrees of hydrogen bonding between the polymer and the cation cannot alone explain the observed behavior. Similar hydrogen bonding between the [hmim]+ cation and both polymers from molecular dynamics simulations was consistent with this conclusion. However, stronger [hmim]+ cation tail/polymer alkyl side-chain interactions for PnBGE, with consequently stronger cation/anion interactions, point to solvophobic interactions as the basis for the large LCST difference between the PnBGE/[hmim][Tf2N] and PiPGE/[hmim][Tf2N] blends.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6519-6528
Number of pages10
JournalMacromolecules
Volume53
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 11 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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