Design and evaluation of nano-biphasic ionic liquid systems having highly polar and low polar domains

Abstract

We have succeeded in preparing stable nano-segregated mixtures of ionic liquids (ILs) having different polarities. Since a simple combination of immiscible ILs forms stable macroscopic phase separation, a well-designed zwitterionic-type IL was used to stabilise nano-segregation of two distinct ILs with different polarities. Nano-segregation of those mixtures was revealed by the X-ray measurements and the formation of the stable nano-domains of highly and low polar ILs was confirmed by solvatochromism of dyes that were selected to solely dissolve either in highly or low polar domains. Formation of a huge area of interface between highly and low polar ILs has been newly proposed in the present study.