DyeIonogels: Proton‐Responsive Ionogels Based on a Dye‐Ionic Liquid Exhibiting Reversible Color Change. (23rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Zai‐Lai; Huang, Xing; Taubert, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 24:Number 19(2014)
• Page Start: 2837
• Page End: 2843
• Publication Date: 2014-01-23
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201303016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Transparent, ion‐conducting, and flexible ionogels based on the room temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide [Bmim][N(Tf)₂], the dye‐IL (DIL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methyl orange [Bmim][MO], and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) are prepared. Upon IL incorporation the thermal stability of the PMMA matrix significantly increases from 220 to 280 °C. The ionogels have a relatively high ionic conductivity of 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 373 K. Most importantly, the ionogels exhibit a strong and reversible color change when exposed to aqueous or organic solutions containing protons or hydroxide ions. The resulting material is thus a prototype of soft multifunctional matter featuring ionic conductivity, easy processability, response to changes in the environment, and a strong readout signal, the color change, that could be used in optical data storage or environmental sensing.</p> </abstract>