Polyoxometalate-lyotropic liquid crystal hybrid material formed in room-temperature ionic liquids

Manganese(II)-substituted polyoxometalate, Na6(NH4)4[(Mn(II)(H2O)3)2(WO2)2(BiW9O33)2] x 37H2O (POM-Mn), was assembled within lyotropic hexagonal liquid crystal (LLC) formed in the room-temperature ionic liquids (RT-ILs), ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), fabricating the POM-LLC inorganic-organic hybrid materials. Polarized optical microscope images combined with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results indicate that the introduction of POM-Mn does not destroy the structure of hexagonal LLCs. The increase of d spacing demonstrates the integration of POM-Mn within the basic unit of the hexagonal LLCs. The FTIR spectra of the POM-LLC hybrid material show the characteristic absorption peaks of W-O bond. The rheological results indicate POM-LLC hybrid materials are highly viscoelastic and that the apparent viscosity is enhanced due to the introduction of the POM-Mn. The tribological properties were explored to greatly extend the applications of POM-LLC composites in RT-ILs as lubricating materials. The research of magnetic properties indicates the POM-LLC composite is ferromagnetic, therefore illuminating the potential application in the fields of magnetic materials.