Start Publications A smart surface with switchable wettability by an ionic liquid
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A smart surface with switchable wettability by an ionic liquid

Year: 2017

Journal: Nanoscale, Volume 9, MAY 14, page 5822–5827

Authors: Chang, Li; Liu, Hongliang; Ding, Yi; Zhang, Jiajing; Li, Li; Zhang, Xiqi; Liu, Mingzhu; Jiang, Lei

Smart control of surface wettability by ionic liquids (ILs) is significant for designing IL-related intelligent materials and devices. Herein, we present mixed molecular brushes comprised of poly(phenylethyl methacrylate) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PPhEtMA-co-PFDMS) grafted surfaces that are capable of dynamically regulating 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIm][NTf2]) wettability. H-1 NMR and quartz crystal microbalance characterization demonstrate that the wettability changes result from a temperature-dominated cation-p interaction between [EMIm][NTf2] and PPhEtMA-co-PFDMS brushes.