A transparent, flexible, ion conductive, and luminescent PMMA ionogel based on a Pt/Eu bimetallic complex and the ionic liquid [Bmim][N(Tf)2]

Abstract

Transparent, ion-conducting, luminescent, and flexible ionogels based on the room temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide [Bmim][N(Tf)₂], a PtEu₂ chromophore, and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) have been prepared. The thermal stability of the PMMA significantly increases with IL incorporation. In particular, the onset weight loss observed at ca. 229 °C for pure PMMA increases to 305 °C with IL addition. The ionogel has a high ionic conductivity of 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 373 K and exhibits a strong emission in the red with a long average luminescence decay time of τ = 890 μs. The resulting material is a new type of soft hybrid material featuring useful thermal, optical, and ion transport properties.