Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jinli Qin, Zhaolu Wang, Jie Hu, Yuan Yuan, Ping Liu, Li Cheng, Zhengqing Kong, Ke Liu, Shouke Yan, Jianming Zhang
Summary: The study investigates the impact of ionic liquids (IL) on the liquid crystal self-assembly behavior of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Results demonstrate that CNCs modified with positively charged IL (CNC-IL) can form chiral nematic structures at lower concentrations, showing distinct assembly behavior compared to original CNCs.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yen-Ho Chu, Chien-Yuan Chen
Summary: Researchers have discovered NTf and NPf-based ZILs that exhibit LCST phase transitions in water and can be fine-tuned to have attractive T-c values. These ZILs are shown to mix with and separate from water triggered by temperature changes in a fully reversible process.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ivan Marin, Rosa I. Merino, Joaquin Barbera, Alberto Concellon, Jose L. Serrano
Summary: This article presents an easy and reliable method to functionalize pillar[n]arene macrocycles through electrostatic interactions. The resulting ionic pillar[n]arenes self-organize into liquid crystal phases with good proton-conducting properties and exhibit interesting encapsulation properties. Moreover, the presence of coumarin moieties in the chemical structure allows for light-responsive properties and photo-induced release of encapsulated molecules.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xiang Li, Shengchao Chai, Liang Zhai, Haikun Guo, Haibo He, Haibin Li, Lixin Wu, Haolong Li
Summary: This work reports the development of supramolecular ionic network electrolytes, which use polyoxometalate nanoclusters as supramolecular crosslinkers to solidify bola-type zwitterionic liquids. The resulting self-supporting electrolytes possess semi-solid features and exhibit a high proton conductivity at low humidity. Additionally, the electrolytes show mechanical behavior similar to covalent polymer materials.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sylwia Ciastek-Iskrzycka, Jacek Szczytko, Hirosato Monobe, Damian Pociecha, Marcin Jasinski, Piotr Kaszynski
Summary: A series of bent-core paramagnetic ionic liquid crystals containing the N-methylimidazolium group were prepared and their mesogenic, magnetic, and ion conductive properties were investigated. The ion pairs form fluid smectic phases above 100 degrees C, with ion conductivity ranging from 10(-5) to 10(-8) S cm(-1). Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed liquid-like molecular arrangement in the paramagnetic layers.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Guangran Shao, Yuan Liu, Rong Cao, Guang Han, Bing Yuan, Wangqing Zhang
Summary: Thermo-responsive block copolymers have attracted a lot of attention due to their mature synthesis technology, well-defined structure, controllable molecular weight, and easy implementation of their nano-assemblies in water through temperature regulation. Previous reviews have mainly focused on their biomedical applications, but these polymers also show promising potential in temperature-regulated adsorption and/or separation, nanoreactors for green organic synthesis, etc. This review summarizes the recent progress in thermo-responsive assembly in water and highlights the applications of five different thermo-responsive block copolymers beyond the biomedical field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yasuhiro Umebayashi, Jihae Han, Hikari Watanabe
Summary: This article introduces the study of electrolyte solutions in electrochemical devices and processes, ranging from dilute to concentrated solutions, inorganic molten salts, deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, and super-concentrated solutions. While empirical laws like the Walden rule and hydrodynamics like the Stokes rule are still useful for ionic conduction in solution, it is expected that new mechanisms, such as superionic conduction, will emerge in these unconventional electrolytes. The authors describe their recent results based on the local structure and speciation of ionic species in solution, with a focus on protons and lithium ions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guilherme L. P. Aydos, Graciane Marin, Guenter Ebeling, Francisco P. dos Santos, Barbara C. Leal, Rafael D. Zink, Brenda A. Vargas, Pedro Migowski, Rafael Stieler, Bruno B. de Araujo, Paulo Goncalves, Hubert K. Stassen, Leonardo dos Santos Pereira, Ana Paula Musse, Jairton Dupont
Summary: The covalent attachment of 3- or 4-hydroxy benzene to the 1,3-dimethylimidazolium cation results in zwitterions, which can chemisorb and physisorb carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions. These zwitterionic solutions have low enthalpy of absorption, high adsorption capacity, and can be recycled multiple times.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carla Rizzo, Ignazio Fiduccia, Silvestre Buscemi, Antonio Palumbo Piccionello, Andrea Pace, Ivana Pibiri
Summary: The synthesis and thermotropic behavior of certain di-alkyloxy-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate salts with a seven-carbon atom perfluoroalkyl chain on the cation were investigated. The fluorinated salts exhibited typical liquid crystalline behavior, with a 1,2,4-triazole core and varying lengths of alkyl chains on the phenyl ring. The mesomorphic properties of these salts were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. The results showed the presence of a monotropic, columnar, liquid crystalline phase in the tested salts, with an increased temperature mesophase range and the presence of two enantiotropic mesophases observed with the increase in alkyl chain length on the phenyl ring.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuntao Tang, Peng Cao, Wangbo Li, Mengting He, Zhifeng Dai, Yubing Xiong
Summary: The study demonstrated that the sizes of PIL microgels could be well-tuned through the feeding ratio of IL monomers to the cross-linker; Fc-anchored PIL microgels were found to be electrochemically active and could respond reversibly to the redox stimulus; An enhanced peak current could be achieved when PIL microgel-supported Fc groups were complexed with 8-CD dimer.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chia-Wei Chang, Chia-Ti Wu, Yu-Liang Lin, Lin-Ruei Lee, Huan-Wei Lin, Bhaskarchand Gautam, Yu-Hsuan Tseng, Chih-Wei Liao, Chun-Ting Chang, Jiun-Tai Chen
Summary: This study investigates the photo-regulated electrical conductivities of PIL films using [C(3)mim-MA]-[TFSI], azobisisobutyronitrile, and poly-(ethyleneglycol) dimethacrylate as an ionic liquid monomer, an initiator, and a crosslinker, respectively. The results show that stretchable and photo-responsive conductive PIL-SP films can be fabricated, which can be reversibly converted to PIL-merocyanine films under UV and visible light illuminations. This study expands the applications of PIL materials.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Julius A. Knoller, Robert Forschner, Wolfgang Frey, Johannes Lang, Angelika Baro, Anna Zens, Yann Molard, Frank Giesselmann, Birgit Claasen, Sabine Laschat
Summary: By synthesizing flavylium triflates with different thioether substitutions, the effects of thioethers on self-assembly and electronic properties were investigated. Experimental results showed that thioether substitutions on the B ring altered the linear optical properties in solution.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiuyu Xu, Mohan Hou, Lifang Wang, Xuepeng Zhang, Lifang Liu
Summary: This study utilizes starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dual-network hydrogel as a substrate to improve the internal compatibility of hydrogels. The hydrogel exhibits high mechanical properties, anti-freezing, anti-bacterial, and electrical conductivity. The assembled hydrogel sensor effectively detects external stimulations and demonstrates high sensitivity and stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gongyue Huang, Luca Porcarelli, Yan Liang, Maria Forsyth, Haijin Zhu
Summary: The study found that the composite with TFSI anion exhibited the best ion conductivity, while a synergistic effect was observed for the composite with both TFSI and OTf mixed anion, resulting in significantly enhanced ionic conductivity reaching 1.47 mS/cm. This work demonstrates the potential of using a combination of TFSI and OTf anions as an effective strategy for improving ionic conductivity in proton-exchange membranes.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manish Kumar Dinker, Kan Zhao, Zhengxing Dai, Lifeng Ding, Xiao-Qin Liu, Lin-Bing Sun
Summary: A new type of photoresponsive porous ionic liquid (PPIL) has been reported, which has controllable adsorption capacity through light irradiation, showing potential applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Long Su, Xinpei Gao, Alessandro Mariani, Xu Liu, Stefano Passerini, Yanan Gao, Liqiang Zheng
Summary: Ionic liquids show promise as designer solvents for multivalent electrolytes, with the ability to modulate solvate species interactions. Research on the molecular mechanisms and impact of ion clusters on electrolyte properties is lacking compared to ion pairs. Studies indicate that ion clusters can effectively suppress ion agglomeration in Mg electrolytes, leading to improved Coulombic efficiency for the reversible Mg deposition/stripping process. This highlights the importance of microstructural and dynamical heterogeneities in the rational design of enhanced multivalent electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Yu, Fengjin Xie, Yanan Gao, Xinpei Gao, Liqiang Zheng
Summary: Organic hydrogel, as a new building material, has great potential in artificial skin research. This versatile material exhibits excellent environment adaptability, good conductivity, high stretchability, and self-healing efficiency, making it suitable for flexible sensors that can effectively detect and discriminate various human activities and maintain functionalities in extremely cold conditions.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hui Hou, Alessandro Mariani, Yanpeng Suo, Xinpei Gao, Juergen Giffin, Christian Rodenbuecher, Stefano Passerini, Carsten Korte
Summary: This study investigates the physical and electrochemical properties of stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric protic ionic liquids (PILs). The nonstoichiometric PILs show superior oxygen reduction reaction kinetics and oxygen permeation ability compared to concentrated phosphoric acid. Membranes with PILs as the conductive electrolyte exhibit promising properties in terms of thermal stability and conductivity.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peng Tian, Zhiting Ai, Hui Hu, Ming Wang, Yaling Li, Xinpei Gao, Jiaying Qian, Xiaofang Su, Songtao Xiao, Huanjun Xu, Fei Lu, Yanan Gao
Summary: In this study, three electron-rich porous organic polymers (POPs) were constructed and demonstrated to have high iodine capture capacity, good retention behavior, and recycling capability.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Muyun Huang, Lu Li, Zhiting Ai, Xinpei Gao, Jiaying Qian, Huanjun Xu, Xiaofang Su, Jifeng Wu, Yanan Gao
Summary: In this work, a simple ice-templating strategy was proposed to fabricate a porous pure polypyrrole hydrogel with a desirable nanostructure, offering ultrahigh conductivity and good mechanical strength for advanced energy storage applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinming Xu, Long Su, Fei Lu, Zuobing Yin, Yanan Gao, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: This work investigates the impact of anion size and symmetry on the coordination and dynamics of lithium ions (Li+) in ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes through molecular dynamics simulations. The study finds that the formation of Li+ aggregates enhances Li+ transport in concentrated IL electrolytes, and asymmetric anions exhibit superior performance compared to symmetric anions. Additionally, dual-anion based electrolytes show faster Li+ diffusion coefficients than mono-anion based electrolytes due to the synergistic effect between mixed anions. The research highlights the role of anion structures and synergism in the design of concentrated IL-based electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenzhuo Xu, Xinpei Gao, Liqiang Zheng, Fei Lu
Summary: This study modulated the aqueous phase behavior of ionic liquids by changing the cis-trans structure of the anion, demonstrating UCST and LCST phenomena. The proposed mechanism highlighted the main factors responsible for these phenomena. This phase behavior combines chemical equilibrium in a solution with the microstructure of the molecule, helpful for constructing new chemical dynamic equilibria.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaling Li, Xinpei Gao, Ming Wang, Yanan Gao, Donglin Jiang
Summary: This study presents a novel approach to efficiently absorb low-frequency electromagnetic waves using covalent organic frameworks, achieving exceptional absorption efficiency by synthesizing pyrene frameworks and incorporating them into thin films.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fengjin Xie, Fei Lu, Chongzhong Liu, Ye Tian, Yanan Gao, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: The combination of membrane separation technology and hydrometallurgy provides new possibilities for recovering lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries. In this study, positively charged poly(ionic liquid) membranes with liquid crystalline structures were prepared and their ion separation capacity was investigated. The bicontinuous cubic liquid crystal structure exhibited high selectivity and flux for lithium ions, outperforming other topological structures. The preservation of liquid crystal structures also improved the water management capacity and mechanical strength of the membranes.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanan Zhang, Fei Lu, Yang Yu, Long Su, Yanan Gao, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: Ionic liquid/water mixtures with tunable lower critical solution temperature behavior have significant implications for liquid-liquid phase separation and purification. By adding different types of amphiphiles, the phase separation temperature of the ionic liquid solution can be regulated. Zwitterionic additives increase the phase separation temperature, while anionic additives decrease it. The amphiphile-regulated system can selectively separate different types of amino acids.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Long Su, Fei Lu, Xu Liu, Chunting Wang, Yanan Gao, Stefano Passerini, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) with unique microstructures enable the hopping diffusion of Li+ through anion ligand layers, resulting in high transference number and fast diffusion of Li+. The anion coordinated with multiple Li+ undergoes defluorination reactions and contributes to the formation of a stable and robust LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, enhancing cycling stability. These insights highlight the correlation between electrolyte microstructure and properties, providing guidance for the design of improved electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Long Su, Fei Lu, Yanrui Li, Xia Li, Liangdan Chen, Yanan Gao, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: Despite the poor reversibility and electrochemical stability of typical aqueous Zn-ion rechargeable batteries, hydrated eutectic electrolytes (HEEs) have been gaining attention for their high designability and superior performances. This study reveals the distinct evolution path of Zn-ion species from aqueous to HEEs enriched with H-bonds, which influences the microstructure and enhances cation diffusion mechanisms and interfacial reaction kinetics. Overall, this highlights the importance of ion species microstructural evolution in the rational design of superior aqueous electrolytes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fengjin Xie, Fei Lu, Ye Tian, Xiao Zhang, Yuanqi Wang, Liqiang Zheng, Xinpei Gao
Summary: This study presents a unique bimodal sensor that achieves thermochromic-based strain-insensitive temperature sensing while also displaying synchronous strain sensing without signal interference. By adjusting the LCST/UCST network ratio, polymer concentration, and hydrophilicity of the LCST network, these sensors demonstrate a broad range of operating temperatures, ultra-high temperature detection sensitivity, and a favorable gauge factor within the low strain region. Moreover, the microscopic mechanistic investigation of the bimodal sensor using SAXS and 2Dcos IR analysis reveals the strain-insensitive change in transmittance is due to the transition between the ellipsoidal and core-shell phase domains in the double-network (DN) hydrogel.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xu Dong, Zhen Chen, Xinpei Gao, Alexander Mayer, Hai-Peng Liang, Stefano Passerini, Dominic Bresser
Summary: Single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes (SIPEs) with high ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability are promising for high-energy and safe lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). In this study, three new SIPEs with different backbone chemistry and ionic group concentrations were designed and synthesized. The results show that the trifluoromethyl group in the backbone and the concentration of the ionic function have a significant impact on the charge transport and stability of the SIPEs.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Shan Fang, Fanglin Wu, Maider Zarrabeitia, Matthias Kuenzel, Daniel Roscher, Xinpei Gao, Jae-Kwang Kim, Guk-Tae Kim, Stefano Passerini
Summary: A dual-anion electrolyte based on a poorly flammable room-temperature ionic liquid has been found to exhibit stable performance in lithium-ion cells, suppressing electrode material degradation and electrolyte decomposition. This electrolyte shows significantly improved cycling stability and high energy density, demonstrating the potential for safe and high-energy lithium-ion batteries.
BATTERIES & SUPERCAPS
(2022)
