Ionogel Fiber Mats: Functional Materials via Electrospinning of PMMA and the Ionic Liquid Bis(1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium) Tetrachloridocuprate(II), [Bmim]2[CuCl4]

Abstract

Ionogel fiber mats were made by electrospinning poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and the ionic liquid (IL) bis(1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium) tetrachloridocuprate(II), [Bmim]2[CuCl4], from acetone. The morphology of the electrospun ionogels strongly depends on the spinning parameters. Dense and uniform fiber mats were only obtained at concentrations of 60 to 70 g L-1 of polymer and IL mass combined. Lower concentrations led to a low number of poorly defined fibers. High voltages of 20 to 25 kV led to well-defined and uniform fibers; voltages between 15 and 20 kV again led to less uniform and less dense fibers. At 10 kV and lower, no spinning could be induced. Finally, PMMA fibers electrospun without IL show a less well-defined morphology combining fibers and oblong droplets indicating that the IL has a beneficial effect on the electrospinning process. The resulting materials are prototypes for new functional materials, for example in sterile filtration.