Solvent impregnated resin prepared using task-specific ionic liquids for rare earth separation

A novel bifunctional task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL), i.e. [trialkylmethylammonium][sec-nonylphenoxy acetate] ([A336] [CA-100]) was impregnated on intermediate polarized XAD-7 resin, and the prepared solvent impreganated resin (SIR) was studied for rare earth (RE) separation. Adsorption ability of the SIR was indicated to be obviously higher than that prepared by [A336][NO3] because of the functional anion of [A336][CA-100]. Adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, separation and desorption of the SIR were also studied.

Removal of Cr(III, VI) by quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium ionic liquids functionalized silica materials

A series of silica-based organic–inorganic hybrid materials were prepared by the sol–gel process for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) adsorption. These silica materials generally had high surface areas, good physical–chemical stability and high thermal stability. Trialkylmethylammonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate ([A336][C272]) and trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis 2,4,4-trimethylpentylphosphinate (Cyphos IL 104) were explored as porogens to prepare porous silica and as extractants to extract chromium ions. Cyphos IL 104 and [A336][C272] functionalized silica sorbents (SG-2, SG-5) can be effectively used for the removal of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by adjusting pH values, whereas trialkylmethylammonium chloride (Aliquat 336) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) functionalized silica sorbents (SG-3, SG-4) can only be used for the removal of the single chromium species, Cr(VI) or Cr(III).

Ionic liquids used in and analyzed by capillary and microchip electrophoresis

This review, covering reports published from 2001 to December 2008, shows how ionic liquids (ILs) have made significant contributions in the improvement of capillary and microchip electrophoresis (CE and mu CE) for the separation and detection of analytes such as phenols and aromatic acids, metal ions, medicines, enantiomers. biological materials, etc. Furthermore, CE methods applied in the sensitive and accurate determination of physico-chemical properties of ILs have been summarized. Accordingly, research vacancies and future development trends in these areas are discussed.

N-Methyl-N-Allylpyrrolidinium Based Ionic Liquids for Solvent-Free Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We prepared four new ionic liquids consisting of N-methyl-N-allylpyrrolidinium cation in conjunction with anions including iodide, nitrate, thiocyanate, and dicyanamide, respectively, and measured their physical properties of density, viscosity, and conductivity. Owing to the relatively lower melting point of electroactive N-methyl-N-allylpyrrolidinium iodide, in combination with three other nonelectroactive ionic liquids, we could construct solvent-free electrolytes possessing high iodide concentrations for dye-sensitized solar cells. We correlated temperature-dependent electrolyte viscosity with molar conductivity and triiodide mobility through applying an empirical Walden's rule and a modified Stokes-Einstein equation, respectively. We have further found that these anions (nitrate, thiocyanate, and dicyanamide) have different influences on surface states and electron transport in the mesoporous titania film, resulting in different photovoltages and photocurrents of dye-sensitized solar cells.

Ionic liquids as selectors for the enhanced detection of proteins

Herein, we report an approach for protein detection enhanced by ionic liquid (IL) selectors in capillary electrophoresis (CE), with avidin as a model protein. Hydrophilic ILs were added into the running buffer of CE and acted as selectors for sample injection, enriching the positive target and excluding the negative from the capillary. When using 3% (v/v) IL selector, the detection sensitivity of avidin was improved by over one order of magnitude, while the interference from protein adsorption was effectively avoided, even in an uncoated capillary. The electrochemiluminescence method was initially used for IL-based CE with low noise that was independent of the IL concentration, making ILs almost transparent as additives in the electrophoresis buffer.

Self-assembly of ionic liquids-stabilized Pt nanoparticles into two-dimensional patterned nanostructures at the air-water interface

In this paper, we demonstrate the self-assembly of ionic liquids (ILs)-stabilized Pt nanoparticles into two-dimensional (2D) patterned nanostructures at the air-water interface under ambient conditions. Here, ILs are not used as solvents but as mediators by virtue of their pronounced self-organization ability in synthesis of self-assembled, highly organized hybrid Pt nanostructures. It is also found that the morphologies of the 2D patterned nanostructures are directly connected with the quantities of ILs. Due to the special structures of ILs-stabilized Pt nanoparticles, 2D patterned Pt nanostructures can be formed through the pi-pi stack interactions and hydrogen bonds. The resulting 2D patterned Pt nanostructures exhibit good electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction.

The preparation of sol-gel materials doped with ionic liquids and trialkyl phosphine oxides for Yttrium(III) uptake

A new material (IL923SGs) composed of ionic liquids and trialkyl phosphine oxides (Cyanex 923) for Y(III) uptake was prepared via a sol-gel method. The hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (C(8)mim(+)PF(6)-) was used as solvent medium and pore templating material. The extraction of Y(III) by IL923SGs was mainly due to the complexation of metal ions with Cyanex 923 doped in the solid silica. Ionic liquid was stably doped into the silica gel matrix providing a diffusion medium for Cyanex 923, and this will result in higher removal efficiencies and excellent stability for metal ions separation. IL923SGs were also easily regenerated and reused in the subsequent removal of Y(III) in four cycles.

Electrochemical and bioelectrochemistry properties of room-temperature ionic liquids and carbon composite materials

Room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are liquids at room temperature and represent a new class of nonaqueous but polar solvents with high ionic conductivity. The conductivity property of carbon nanotubes/RTILs and carbon microbeads/RTILs composite materials has been studied using ac impedance technology. Enzyme coated by RTILs-modified gold and glassy carbon electrodes allow efficient electron transfer between the electrode and the protein and also catalyze the reduction Of O-2 and H2O2,

Electrochemical deposition of silver in room-temperature ionic liquids and its surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect

The use of room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as media for electrochemical application is very attractive. In this work, the electrochemical deposition of silver was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode in hydrophobic 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6) and hydrophilic 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4) RTILs and in KNO3 aqueous solution by cyclic voltammetric and potentiostatic transient techniques. The voltammograms showed the presence of reduction and oxidation peaks associated with the deposition and dissolution of silver from AgBF4 in both BMIMPF6 and BMIMBF4, resembling the redox behavior of AgNO3 in KNO3 aqueous solution. A crossover loop was observed in all the cyclic voltammograms of these electrochemical systems, indicating a nucleation process. From the analysis of the experimental current transients, it was shown that the electrochemical deposition process of silver in these media was characteristic of 3D nucleation with diffusion-controlled hemispherical growth, and the silver nucleation closely followed the response predicted for progressive nucleation in BMIMPF6 and instantaneous nucleation in KNO3 aqueous solution, respectively.

Highly efficient pure-white-light-emitting diodes from a single polymer: Polyfluorene with naphthalimide moieties

Light-emitting diodes exhibiting efficient pure-white-light electroluminescence have been successfully developed by using a single polymer: polyfluorene derivatives with 1,8-naphthalimide chromophores chemically doped onto the polyfluorene backbones. By adjusting the emission wavelength of the 1,8-naphthalimide components and optimizing the relative content of 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives in the resulting polymers, white-light electroluminescence from a single polymer, as opposed to a polymer blend, has been obtained in a device with a configuration of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethyleiledioxythiophene)(50 nm)/polymer(80 nm)/Ca(10 nm)/Al(100 nm). The device exhibits Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage coordinates of (0.32,0.36), a maximum brightness of 11900 cd m(-2), a current efficiency of 3.8 cd A(-1), a power efficiency of 2.0 lm W-1. an external quantum efficiency of 1.50 %, and quite stable color coordinates at different driving voltages, even at high luminances of over 5000 cd m(-2).

Bronsted guanidine acid-base ionic liquids: Novel reaction media for the palladium-catalyzed Heck reaction

Bronsted acid-base ionic liquids (GILs) based on guanidine and acetic acid are efficient reaction media for palladium-catalyzed Heck reactions. They offer the advantages of high activity and reusability. GIL2 plays multiple roles in the reaction: it could act as solvent, as a strong base to facilitate beta-hydride elimination, and as a ligand to stabilize activated Pd species.

Chitin and chitosan dissolved in ionic liquids as reversible sorbents of CO2

A novel dissolving process for chitin and chitosan has been developed by using the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) as a solvent, and a novel application of chitin and chitosan as substitutes for amino-functionalized synthetic polymers for capturing and releasing CO2 has also been exploited based on this processing strategy.

Tunable photonic crystals by mixed liquids

Tunable photonic crystals were prepared by infiltrating mixed liquids into the voids of silica opals. The stop bands of the tunable photonic crystals were continuously tuned by changing the relative refraction index contrast n(mix)/ns(pheres) of the spheres and the mixed liquids by varying the volume fraction of the component of the mixed liquids. The peak wavelengths of the stop band have a red shift as the refractive index of the mixed liquids increases. The transmittance at the stop band decreases with the increase of the refractive index contrast n(mix)/n(spheres). The larger the diameter of silica opals is, the wider the tunable range of the stop band is. The position and transmittance of the peak wavelength obtained by the photonic band calculations agreed very well with the experimental data.

Application of ionic liquids in organic reactions

Room-temperature ionic liquids are good solvents for a wide of organic, inorganic and organometallic compounds. Typically consisting of nitrogen-containing organic cations and inorganic anions, they are easy to recycle, nonflammable, and have no detectable vapor pressure. More recently, ionic liquids have been found to be excellent solvents for a number of chemical reactions, e. g. hydrogenation, alkylation, epoxidation, Heck-vinylation, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions and enzyme catalyzed organic reactions. This paper focuses on the recent development of using ionic liquids as solvents for transition metal and enzyme catalyzed reactions.