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Ionic liquids with reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation in aqueous solution
Yige Zhang1, Xiaowen Xie1, Jianliang Liu1
1Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China.
Scientific Reports
|August 23, 2023
Summary
Photo-responsive ionic liquids with azobenzimidazole were synthesized. Their conductivity reversibly increased under UV light and decreased under visible light, showing potential for smart devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Stimulus-responsive ionic liquids are gaining attention for diverse applications.
- Azobenzene-containing compounds exhibit photo-responsive behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize novel azobenzimidazole ionic liquids.
- To investigate their reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation.
- To explore the influence of chemical structure on photoresponse.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of three azobenzimidazole ionic liquids.
- Measurement of electrical conductivity changes under UV/visible light irradiation in aqueous solutions.
- Analysis of structure-property relationships.
Main Results:
- Synthesized ionic liquids showed reversible conductivity changes upon light irradiation.
- UV light exposure significantly increased conductivity (up to 75.5% for longer alkyl chains).
- Visible light irradiation restored conductivity to the initial state.
Conclusions:
- The reversible conductivity regulation is attributed to light-induced azobenzene isomerization and subsequent changes in ionic liquid aggregation.
- This study offers a molecular design strategy for photo-responsive ionic liquids.
- Potential applications include photoconductive switching and micro photocontrol devices.
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