Elucidating interactions and conductivity of newly synthesised low bandgap polymer with protic and aprotic ionic liquids

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 9;8(7):e68970. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068970. Print 2013.

Abstract

In this paper, we have examined the conductivity and interaction studies of ammonium and imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) with the newly synthesised low bandgap polymer (Poly(2-heptadecyl-4-vinylthieno[3,4-d]thiazole) (PHVTT)). Use of low bandgap polymers is the most suitable way to harvest a broader spectrum of solar radiations for solar cells. But, still there is lack of most efficient low bandgap polymer. In order to solve this problem, we have synthesised a new low bandgap polymer and investigated its interaction with the ILs to enhance its conductivity. ILs may undergo almost unlimited structural variations; these structural variations have attracted extensive attention in polymer studies. The aim of present work is to illustrate the state of art progress of implementing the interaction of ILs (protic and aprotic ILs) with newly synthesised low bandgap polymer. In addition to this, our UV-Vis spectroscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy results have revealed that all studied ILs (tributylmethylammonium methyl sulfate ([N1444][MeSO4] from ammonium family) and 1-methylimidazolium chloride ([Mim]Cl, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl from imidazolium family) have potential to interact with polymer. Our semi empirical calculation with help of Hyperchem 7 shows that protic IL ([Mim]Cl) interacts strongly with the low bandgap polymer through the H-bonding. Further, protic ILs shows enhanced conductivity than aprotic ILs in association with low bandgap polymer. This study provides the combined effect of low bandgap polymer and ILs that may generate many theoretical and experimental opportunities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Ionic Liquids / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Imidazoles
  • Ionic Liquids
  • Polymers
  • imidazole

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge SRC program of National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Korean Government (MEST) (No. 20100029418). This work was supported by the New & Renewable Energy of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Economy (No. 96002011003) and by Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE), Korea as a project, “Full color 360 degree 3D holographic video making technology” and in part by Kwangwoon University research fund 2012. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of manuscript.