Fabrication of Poly（4-vinylpyridine） Nanofiber and Fluorescent Poly（4-vinylpyridine）/Porphyrin Nanofiber by Electrospinning

Poly（4-vinylpyridine）（P4-VP） nanofiber and fluoresent poly（4-vinylpyridine）/porphyrin（P4-VP/TPPA） nanofiber were respectively prepared by electrospinning. The effect of the concentration of P4-VP/dimethylformamide （DMF） electrospinning solutions on the morphology of P4-VP nanofiber was investigated and it was found that the average diameter of the nanofiber of P4-VP/DMF increased with the increase of the concentration of the spinning solution. After the addition of TPPA to the P4-VP/DMF spinning solution, the diameter of P4-VP/TPPA nanofiber became even due to the increase of the conductivity of the P4-VP/DMF-TPPA solution. The photoluminescent（PL） spectral analysis indicates that the emission peak position of P4-VP/TPPA nanofiber is almost the same as that of pure TPPA at about 650 nm without peak shift, and when it was stored for 20 days, the emission peak of P4-VP/TPPA nanofiber is also at 650 nm, indicating that the fluorescent property of P4-VP/TPPA nanofiber is stable. Fourier-transform iufrared（FTIR） spectrum confirms the chemical composition of the resulting P4-VP/TPPA composite nanofiber.     

Porphyrin–TiO2 nanoparticle heterostructure assembly by Langmuir–Blodgett method

Surface pressure–area (π–A) isotherm characteristics of 5,10,15-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-20-(4-hexadecyloxyphenyl) porphyrin monolayers on both the water and TiO₂ hydrosol subphases, the UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the monolayers deposited onto CaF₂ substrates are investigated. π–A isotherms find that the porphyrin ring extends to lie more flat on a TiO₂ hydrosol surface than on a water surface. The UV–vis absorption spectra of the deposited monolayers prove that the porphyrin TiO₂ nanoparticle heterostructure assembly is formed, in which the J-aggregated effect of porphyrin is weakened, comparing with that in the monolayer deposited from water subphase. The fluorescence spectra show that the fluorescent emission quenching by the photoinduced electron transfer from the excited porphyrin molecule to TiO₂ nanoparticle, occurs under excitation in the Soret band region of porphyrin.     

Substitution controlled molecular orientation and nanostructure in the Langmuir-Blodgett films of a series of amphiphilic naphthylidene-containing Schiff base derivatives

Three amphiphilic Schiff bases containing naphthylidene group, N-octadecyl-2'-hydroxy-naphthalenylideneamine (HNOA-1), N-(4'-octadecyloxy)-2'-hydroxy-naphthalenylideneaniline (HNOA-2), and N-(4'-N-octadecylbenzamide)-2'-hydroxy-naphthalenylideneaniline (HNOA-3), were designed and their interfacial assemblies were investigated. These amphiphiles have different substitution groups in the Schiff base moiety. It was observed that HNOA-1, being in lack of second aromatic ring, formed multilayer films at the air/water interface, while the other two compounds, with another aromatic ring and some hydrophilic groups, can be spread as monolayers on water surface. All of Schiff bases could coordinate with Cu(Ac)2 in situ in the spreading films. Both the spreading films from water and aqueous Cu(Ac)2 subphases were transferred onto solid substrates and their surface morphologies as well as molecular packing modes were investigated by a series of methods such as atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction. Depending on the different substitutions, these amphiphiles showed different orientations in the Langmuir-Blodgett films. Particularly, during the process of complex formation at the air/water interface, great conformational change of the alkyl chain was observed for HNOA-2 in comparison with that of other compounds. In addition, nanofiber structures were observed for the Cu(II)-complexed HNOA-1 and HNOA-2 films.     

Novel Brφnsted Acidic Ionic Liquid Based on a Cyclic Guanidinium Cation: a Green, Efficient, and Recyclable Dual Slovent-catalyst System for Fisher Esterification

A novel Brφnsted acidic ionic liquid(IL) based on the cyclic guanidinium cation has been synthesized. This IL,as a strong Brφnsted acid catalyst or solvent, shows high catalytic activity and biphsaic behavor in the esterifications of carboxylic acids and alcohols. The produced esters as a separate phase can be conveniently decanted out from the IL and the IL is recyclable without any loss of catalytic activity.     

Coexistence of liquid and solid phases of Bmim-PF6 ionic liquid on mica surfaces at room temperature

In this communication, we report the coexistence of liquid and solid phases of room temperature ionic liquid (IL) [Bmim][PF6] on mica surfaces, observed by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air. Multilayers as well as drop-on-the-layer structures of the ionic liquid are revealed. The solid layers were very stable, and their orientations were affected by the mica lattice, indicating that the ionic liquid undergoes a template-induced ordering process. These results are helpful for advancing the understanding of interfacial structures of ILs on solid surfaces, the analogous structural patterns in both of its solid and liquid phases, and its heterogeneity.     

Surface properties of ionic liquid adsorbate layer are influenced by the dipole of the underneath substrate

Ionic liquids (ILs) form nonfluidic layers at the solid-liquid interface. The properties of the IL interfacial layer play important roles in IL-based applications. Since the liquid-phase IL directly contacts and interacts with the IL interfacial layer rather than the underneath substrate, the surface properties of the interfacial layer could influence how the IL behaves on a solid surface. We used scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and force spectroscopy to investigate how chemical patterns with different dipoles reacted with ionic liquids. We find that even without direct contact on chemical patterns, the IL can form an adsorbate layer on chemical patterns via vapor-phase condensation. The dipole of the chemical pattern can direct the adsorption and assembly of the IL adsorbate. The surface properties of the IL adsorbate layer depend on the dipole of the underneath chemical patterns. Our results indicate that the interfacial IL layer may exist before the IL contacts a solid surface. The charge and dipole of the substrate can influence the structures and properties of the IL interfacial layer. Characterization and measurements of the IL interfacial properties must be conducted under the pretext that the charge/dipole of the substrate is known.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on gas-ionic liquid and water-ionic liquid interfacial stability

The effect of γ-radiation on gas-ionic liquid (IL) and water-IL interfacial stability was investigated. Three phosphonium-based ILs, which vary considerably in their viscosity, conductivity and miscibility with water, were examined. The gas phase above the IL samples (headspace gas) was analyzed using gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector while the changes in the IL and aqueous phases were followed by conductivity measurements and Raman spectroscopy. For the gas-IL systems, the headspace samples showed trace amounts of the radiolytic decomposition products of the ILs that were small and volatile enough to become airborne. The type of cover gas, air or Ar, had no effect on the gas speciation. Negligible changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of the IL phase due to irradiation indicate that γ-irradiation induces negligible chemical changes in the IL phase when it is in contact with a gas phase. For the water-IL systems, the initially immiscible layers slowly developed an interfacial emulsion layer, even in the absence of radiation. This layer started at the water-IL interface and then grew downwards, eventually converting the entire IL phase to an emulsion. Gamma-irradiation accelerated the conversion of the IL phase to an emulsion. The development of the emulsion layer was accompanied by changes in the conductivity and the Raman spectra of both the IL and water phases. Based on these results, a mechanism involving the formation of micelles at, or near, the water-IL interface has been proposed to explain the development of an emulsion layer. We also suggest that radiolytic decomposition of ILs produces surfactants that can accumulate at the interface and, even at low concentrations, accelerate the emulsification process.     

Polarization and experimental configuration analyses of sum frequency generation vibrational spectra, structure, and orientational motion of the air/water interface

Here we report a detailed study on spectroscopy, structure, and orientational distribution, as well as orientational motion, of water molecules at the air/water interface, investigated with sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS). Quantitative polarization and experimental configuration analyses of the SFG data in different polarizations with four sets of experimental configurations can shed new light on our present understanding of the air/water interface. Firstly, we concluded that the orientational motion of the interfacial water molecules can only be in a limited angular range, instead of rapidly varying over a broad angular range in the vibrational relaxation time as suggested previously. Secondly, because different vibrational modes of different molecular species at the interface has different symmetry properties, polarization and symmetry analyses of the SFG-VS spectral features can help the assignment of the SFG-VS spectra peaks to different interfacial species. These analyses concluded that the narrow 3693 cm(-1) and broad 3550 cm(-1) peaks belong to C(infinityv) symmetry, while the broad 3250 and 3450 cm(-1) peaks belong to the symmetric stretching modes with C2v symmetry. Thus, the 3693 cm(-1) peak is assigned to the free OH, the 3550 cm(-1) peak is assigned to the singly hydrogen-bonded OH stretching mode, and the 3250 and 3450 cm(-1) peaks are assigned to interfacial water molecules as two hydrogen donors for hydrogen bonding (with C2v symmetry), respectively. Thirdly, analysis of the SFG-VS spectra concluded that the singly hydrogen-bonded water molecules at the air/water interface have their dipole vector directed almost parallel to the interface and is with a very narrow orientational distribution. The doubly hydrogen-bonded donor water molecules have their dipole vector pointing away from the liquid phase.     

Femtosecond solvation dynamics in a neat ionic liquid and ionic liquid microemulsion: excitation wavelength dependence

Solvation dynamics in a neat ionic liquid, 1-pentyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetra-flouroborate ([pmim][BF4]) and its microemulsion in Triton X-100 (TX-100)/benzene is studied using femtosecond up-conversion. In both the neat ionic liquid and the microemulsion, the solvation dynamics is found to depend on excitation wavelength (lambda(ex)). The lambda(ex) dependence is attributed to structural heterogeneity in neat ionic liquid (IL) and in IL microemulsion. In neat IL, the heterogeneity arises from clustering of the pentyl groups which are surrounded by a network of cation and anions. Such a nanostructural organization is predicted in many recent simulations and observed recently in an X-ray diffraction study. In an IL microemulsion, the surfactant (TX-100) molecules aggregate in form of a nonpolar peripheral shell around the polar pool of IL. The micro-environment in such an assembly varies drastically over a short distance. The dynamic solvent shift (and average solvation time) in neat IL as well as in IL microemulsions decreases markedly as lambda(ex) increases from 375 to 435 nm. In a [pmim][BF4]/water/TX-100/benzene quaternary microemulsion, the solvation dynamics is slower than that in a microemulsion without water. This is ascribed to the smaller size of the water containing microemulsion. The anisotropy decay in an IL microemulsion is found to be faster than that in neat IL.     

Interfacial behavior of tetrapyridylporphyrin monolayer arrays

The behavior of monolayer films of free base 5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphinato (TPyP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphinato zinc(II) (ZnTPyP) on pure water, 0.1 M CdCl2, and 0.1 M CuCl2 subphases was investigated by surface pressure-area isotherms, specular X-ray reflectometry, and polarized total reflection X-ray absorption spectroscopy (PTRXAS). Surface pressure-area isotherms showed significant differences in the area per molecule on pure water compared to that on salt subphases, with a marked increase in the area observed on the salt solutions. This behavior was noted for both forms of the porphyrin and both salts investigated. Modeling of specular X-ray reflectometry data indicated that thinner and more electron dense layers on salt subphases best fit the observed profiles. These data suggest that the porphyrin macrocycle is oriented parallel to the interface on salt subphases and takes on a tilted conformation on pure water. In the case of ZnTPyP, PTRXAS was used to determine the orientation of the porphyrin moiety relative to the surface and to probe the coordination of the central Zn ion. In agreement with the pressure-area isotherms and reflectometry, the PTRXAS data indicate a change in orientation on the salt subphases.     

Solid Contact Nitrate Ion‐Selective Electrode Based on Ionic Liquid with Stable and Reproducible Potential

A simple, fast and cheap method of preparation of solid contact nitrate ion‐selective electrode is proposed. The electrode membrane phase consist of only three components: PVC, plasticizer and ionic liquid (IL).The ionic liquid trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride is used in triple function as ionophore, as lipophilic ionic component in order to reduce membrane resistance, and as transducer media in order to stabilize the potential of internal Ag/AgCl electrode. The electrical properties of the membrane were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and the influence of the interfacial water film was evaluated by potentiometric water layer test.     

Porphyrin/Ionic‐Liquid Co‐assembly Polymorphism Controlled by Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation

Understanding and controlling multicomponent co‐assembly is of primary importance in different fields, such as materials fabrication, pharmaceutical polymorphism, and supramolecular polymerization, but these aspects have been a long‐standing challenge. Herein, we discover that liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) into ion‐cluster‐rich and ion‐cluster‐poor liquid phases is the first step prior to co‐assembly nucleation based on a model system of water‐soluble porphyrin and ionic liquids. The LLPS‐formed droplets serve as the nucleation precursors, which determine the resulting structures and properties of co‐assemblies. Co‐assembly polymorphism and tunable supramolecular phase transition behaviors can be achieved by regulating the intermolecular interactions at the LLPS stage. These findings elucidate the key role of LLPS in multicomponent co‐assembly evolution and enable it to be an effective strategy to control co‐assembly polymorphism as well as supramolecular phase transitions.     

Fabrication of Fluorescent Porphyrin/Polystyrene Composite Nanospheres by Electrospinning

Fluorescent polystyrene(PS)/porphyrin(TPPA) composite nanospheres were successfully fabricated by electrospinning. The SEM images clearly show that owing to adding TPPA in PS, the averaged diameter of the composite nanospheres became smaller, from 1500 to 580 nm. Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR) spectra determined the chemical composition of the resulting PS/TPPA composite nanospheres. The photoluminescent(PL) spectral analysis indicates that the peak position of the composite nanospheres in either solid st...     

Electron transfer across the polarized interface between water and a hydrophobic redox-active ionic liquid

Here we report the synthesis of a new redox-active ionic liquid (IL), (ferrocenylmethyl)dodecyldimethylammonium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate that can be used to form the polarizable water│IL interface at an elevated temperature (43 °C). Experimental approach is based on the cyclic voltammetry of the charge transfer processes occurring at the IL membrane supported on a thin microporous filter. Evidence is provided of the interfacial electron transfer between the ferrocenated cation of IL and an electron acceptor, IrCl₆^2?, in the adjacent aqueous phase.     

Comparative study of electron transfer reactions at the ionic liquid/water and organic/water interfaces

The rates of electron transfer (ET) reactions at the water/ionic liquid (IL) interface have been measured for the first time using scanning electrochemical microscopy. The standard bimolecular rate constant of the interfacial ET between ferrocene dissolved in 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and aqueous ferricyanide (0.4 M-1 cm s-1) was found to be approximately 30 times higher than the corresponding rate constant measured at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. The driving force dependence of the ET rate was investigated over a wide range of the interfacial potential drop values (>200 mV). The observed Butler-Volmer-type dependence is discussed in terms of the interfacial model. The ET was also probed at the interface between aqueous solution and the mixture of the IL and 1,2-dichloroethane. The mole fractions in this mixture were varied systematically to investigate the transition from the water/organic to the water/IL interface. The observed decrease in the rate constant with increasing mole fraction of 1,2-dichloroethane is in contrast with the previously reported direct correlation between the electrochemical rate constant and the diffusion coefficient of redox species in solution.     

Molecular Iodine in Ionic Liquid: A Green Catalytic System for Esterification and Transesterification

Esterification of carboxylic acids and transesterification of β-ketoesters with alcohols have been developed using a catalytic amount of iodine in polyethylene glycol (PEG) ionic liquid (IL 1000) to afford the corresponding esters in good yields. By simple separation of the ionic-liquid phase containing the iodine, the system of I₂/IL 1000 can be reused several times.     

Synthesis and characterization of anhydrous conducting polyimide/ionic liquid complex membranes via a new route for high‐temperature fuel cells

The paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of a new series of anhydrous conducting acid‐doped complex membranes based on polyimide (PI) and ionic liquid (IL) for high‐temperature fuel cells via a new route. For this purpose, three imidazolium‐based ILs (RIm⁺BF₄^?) with different alkyl chain lengths (R=methyl, ethyl, and butyl) are added into polyamic acid (PAA) intermediate prepared from the reaction of benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and diaminodiphenylsulfone in different –COOH/imidazolium molar ratios (n = 0.5, 1, and 2). Then, the thermally imidized complex membrane was doped with H₂SO₄. The conductivities of acid‐doped PI/IL complex membranes prepared by taking n of 1 are found to be in the range of 10^?4?10^?5 S cm^?1 at 180°C, whereas the acid‐free PI/IL complex membranes show the conductivity at around 10^?9?10^?10 S cm^?1. Thermogravimetric analysis results reveal that the acid‐doped PI/IL complex membranes are thermally stable up to 250°C. Dynamic mechanical analysis results of the acid‐doped ionically interacted complex membrane show that the mechanical strengths of the PI/IL complex membranes including 1‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (MeIm‐BF₄) and 1‐ethyl 3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EtIm‐BF₄) are comparable with those of pristine PI until 200°C. Furthermore, it can be clearly emphasized that the ionic interaction between carboxylic acid groups of PAA's and IL's cations offers a positive role in long‐term conductivity stability by preventing the IL migration at high temperatures. On the other hand, preliminary methanol permeability tests of the acid‐doped membranes show that they can also be considered as an alternative for direct methanol fuel cells. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Liquid/liquid interface polymerized porphyrin membranes displaying size-selective molecular and ionic permeability

Thin polymeric membranes have been formed by liquid/liquid interfacial copolymerization of a sterically demanding tetraphenylporphyrin derivative having reactive phenol substituents and a second porphyrin having reactive acid chloride groups. The out-of-plane steric demand is created by 3,5-hexoxyphenyl groups positioned at two of the four meso carbons of the porphyrin ring. The bulky substituents were designed to create local pockets and extended pores within the resulting ester-linked copolymer. Quantitative measures of molecular and ionic transport were obtained by placing membranes over microelectrodes and recording voltammetric responses from redox-active probes. The membranes were found to be permeable to small molecules and ions, but blocking toward larger ones, displaying a sharp size cutoff at a probe diameter of ca. 3.5 A. Molecular transport can be modulated by axially ligating pore-blocking moieties to available porphyrin metal centers.     

Electrical,optical and photoelectrochemical studies on a solid PEO-polymer electrolyte doped with low viscosity ionic liquid

Solid polymer electrolyte (PEO:KI:I₂) membranes doped with low viscosity (34 cP at 25 °C) ionic liquid EMImTFSI (1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) showing plasticizing effect as well as improved dye sensitized solar cell efficiency have been reported first time. Apart from ionic conductivity enhancement due to large number of free charge carriers provided by ionic liquid (IL) it assist in reducing cystallinity of polymer electrolyte matrix which was confirmed by polarized optical microscopy (POM). Cyclic voltammetry was carried out to study the reactions of iodide, iodine and IL in polymer electrolyte matrix.     

以谷氨酸二乙酯为头基的Bola型两亲分子在气液界面的组装:手性相互作用与膜结构

研究了双头基两亲分子(Bolaamphiphile)N,N′-1,14-十四烷二酸酰-L-谷氨酸二乙酯(L-HDGE)和它的对映异构体D-HDGE在气液界面的组装;考察了HDGE分子的界面组装结构以及头部基团的手性,膜压和离子液体亚相对组装结构的影响.采用原子力显微镜(AFM)和傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱对组装体的微观结构和组装机理进行了研究.结果表明,HDGE(L-HDGE或D-HDGE)在水亚相上可以组装得到平行排列,宽为50-120nm,高为1-5nm的纳米线.而将L-HDGE与D-HDGE混合组装时,只会得到疏松的薄膜结构.红外光谱表明HDGE分子的异手性相互作用强于同手性作用.在表面压继续上升时,纳米线可以发生一定聚集生成纳米带.亚相为一定浓度的离子液体时,会促进分子的聚集,在膜压的共同影响下,纳米带可以卷曲形成螺旋结构,螺旋的方向取决于头基的分子手性.