(553d) Self-Assembly of Poly(ethylene oxide) Amphiphiles In Ionic Liquids and Their Mixtures with Molecular Solvents

In the context of developing self-assembly methodologies for the synthesis and manufacturing of complex formulations and materials, our group has a long-standing interest on the utilization of solvents for the modulation of the organization of amphiphiles such as surfactants and block copolymers. Ionic liquids have emerged as solvents with unique chemical diversity and novel properties, including low vapor pressure and high thermal stability. We are exploring the self-assembly of amphiphiles in ionic liquids, as affected by the ionic liquid chemical composition and intermolecular interactions, and as reflected in the stability, structure, and characteristic length-scales of ordered (lyotropic liquid crystalline) phases formed by the amphiphile. We discuss here the structuring of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic) amphiphilic block copolymers in the ionic liquids ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF4), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF6), and their mixtures with water or polar organic solvents.