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Z. Naturforsch. 2013, 68b, 1163 – 1171
doi:10.5560/ZNB.2013-3195
Ionogel Fiber Mats: Functional Materials via Electrospinning of PMMA and the Ionic Liquid Bis(1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium) Tetrachloridocuprate(II), [Bmim]2[CuCl4]
Christian Bagdahn and Andreas Taubert
Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24–25, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany
Reprint requests to A. Taubert. Tel. 0049 (0)331 977 5773. E-mail: ataubert@uni-potsdam.de. Web: www.taubert-lab.net
Received July 19, 2013 / published online October 4, 2013
Ionogel fiber mats were made by electrospinning poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and the ionic liquid (IL) bis(1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium) tetrachloridocuprate(II), [Bmim]2[CuCl4], from acetone. The morphology of the electrospun ionogels strongly depends on the spinning parameters. Dense and uniform fiber mats were only obtained at concentrations of 60 to 70 g L−1 of polymer and IL mass combined. Lower concentrations led to a low number of poorly defined fibers. High voltages of 20 to 25 kV led to well-defined and uniform fibers; voltages between 15 and 20 kV again led to less uniform and less dense fibers. At 10 kV and lower, no spinning could be induced. Finally, PMMA fibers electrospun without IL show a less well-defined morphology combining fibers and oblong droplets indicating that the IL has a beneficial effect on the electrospinning process. The resulting materials are prototypes for new functional materials, for example in sterile filtration.
Key words: Ionic Liquid, Ionogel, Electrospinning, Fiber, Hydrogen Production, Filtration
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