Abstract The design, synthesis, and characterization of an amphiphilic ionic liquid (IL) monomer possessing a transition metal coordinating acrylamide moiety is described. Incorporation of the acrylamide moiety is achieved by… Click to show full abstract
Abstract The design, synthesis, and characterization of an amphiphilic ionic liquid (IL) monomer possessing a transition metal coordinating acrylamide moiety is described. Incorporation of the acrylamide moiety is achieved by converting l -histidine into an imidazolium, followed by alkylation to introduce a decyl chain, and acrylation of the α-amino group. The acrylamide containing IL monomer and a co-monomer, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA Mn 575), self-assembles into a weakly ordered 2D hexagonal lyotropic mesophase in water (34 ± 2 (w/w)%). Upon photo-irradiation of the mesophase a nanostructured polyelectrolyte retaining the 2D hexagonal structure is produced. Doping the mesophase with Au3+ ions prior to photo-irradiation produces plasmonic Au NP copolymer composites only at a threshold mole ratio of IL monomer to gold ions (i.e., onset at 1740:1 mole ratio). At higher monomer to Au3+ mole ratios plasmonic NPs are not formed. Evaluation of the in-situ synthesized plasmonic Au NPs by SAXS and optical spectroscopy indicate they are smaller, more uniform spherical particles that resist aggregation upon swelling and de-swelling in ethanol when compared to previously reported composites employing an IL monomer that lacks a metal ion coordination site (e.g., 3-decyl-1-vinylimidazolium IL).
               
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