Polyelectrolyte-Grafted Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquids for Enhanced Ion Transport

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains grafted on magnetite nanoparticles are copolymerized to form two types of copolymers with different ionic natures. A copolymer with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), and a copolymer with poly(ionic liquid) of 1-hexyl-3-vinylimidazolium bis(triflouromethylsulfonyl)imide (HVImTFSI) are synthesized by RAFT polymerization. The interactions between ionic liquid (HMIM-TFSI) and copolymer electrolytes are investigated by electron microscopy, SAXS and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Ionic groups in the polyelectrolyte domains promote ion dissociation differently as well as the ionic conductivity that is governed by the underlying particle assemblies and chain conformations. We will compare these differences and morphologies formed of the two copolymer-grafted systems and will present the electrochemical properties of the particle electrolytes.