Ion-containing polymers and electrolyte/polymer blends have proved to be spectacularly successful in a number of applications, including synthetic membranes, imaging systems, magnetic recording media and tough (high impact resistant) materials.An understanding of the properties of these materials depends on a molecular level knowledge of the types of ionic structures present. Ionic conductivity, for example, depends on both the number of charge carriers and their mobility, which in turn depends on complex relationships between the types of ionic groups present (e.g., single or “free” ions, triplets. etc.), how they are coordinated to polymer functional groups and how ion motion is coupled to chain dynamics. Infrared spectroscopy is very sensitive to the state of ion aggregation in well chosen systems. For example, bands due to free ions, ion pairs and aggregated ions can be identified in the spectra of materials containing the triflate group, [CF3SO3]–. In recent work we have studied blends of polyethylene glycol with various triflate containing electrolytes, including simple salts and ionic liquids. In collaboration with Professor Jim Runt at Penn State, who is making measurements using dielectric spectroscopy, we are examining the relationship between the fraction of free ions, ion mobility and chain segment mobility.

Studies of Ionic Interactions and States of Aggregation in Polymer/Electrolyte Blends

Paul C. Painter, Pennsylvania State Univ University Park, DMR 0901180

Infrared spectra of triflate containing polymer/electrolyte mixtures showing bands due to free ions and ion pairs.

Broader Impacts – New Technology and Education Initiatives

Paul C. Painter, Pennsylvania State Univ University Park, DMR 0901180

There have been a number of broader impacts of this research. In the last year these have included:

•The development of a new technology to separate oil from sand.•The involvement of undergraduates in the research and the training of students across a broad range of techniques and disciplines. •The development of an on-line polymer textbook

A serendipitous result of our studies of interactions between polymers, minerals and ionic liquids has been the development of a process to separate oil, tar or bitumen from sand. The separation occurs at room temperature and does not result in the generation of waste process water, unlike currently used processes which are energy intensive. A patent has been applied for as a result of this research. Undergraduate students were heavily involved in the work, which required an immersion in the unusual properties of a relatively new class of solvents – ionic liquids.Other broad impacts includes a new effort to use the educational materials (animations, etc.) authored with previous NSF support. These are being used to construct an on-line textbook using open-source software (Drupal). Textbooks are becoming very expensive and the goal of this effort is to make available learning material that can be viewed on-line using tablet computers and similar devices.

The separation of bitumen from tar sands using an ionic liquid. Three phases are formed and separate readily under the action of gravity. The hydrocarbon layer at the top is free of ionic liquid and residual ionic liquid can be washed from the sand with small amounts of water, then recycled through a closed system. A patent application has been filed.