Preparation of poly(ionic liquid) composite particles and function modification with anion exchange

Abstract

Seeded dispersion polymerization of an ionic liquid monomer ([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) ([MTMA][TFSA]) was carried out in the presence of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), and poly(t-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) as seed particles in a methanol/water mixture. For PMMA and PEMA seed particles, composite particles with poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) were obtained. In contrast, for PtBMA seed particles, secondary nucleated PIL particles were formed and no PtBMA/PIL composite particles were obtained. These results were also predicted by theoretical consideration based on the spreading coefficients calculated from the interfacial tensions. Moreover, we showed that anion exchange of the PIL-core in the PIL/cross-liked PMMA core–shell composite particles from TFSA to Br and FeCl₄ anions can be used to modify the properties of only the core component of the composite particles.