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Tseng YH, Liao CW, Lin YL, Fan YC, Chang CW, Chang CT, Chen JT. Solvent-Tailored Reversible Self-Assembly: Unveiling Ionic Transport Nanochannels in Block Copolymer Composite Electrolytes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:2716-2725. [PMID: 38085978 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c14669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Block copolymer composite electrolytes have gained extensive attention for their promising performance in ionic conductivity and mechanical properties, making them valuable for future technologies. The control of the ionic conductivity through the self-assembly of block copolymers, however, remains a great challenge, especially in confined environments. In this study, we prepare block copolymer composite electrolytes using polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO, SEO) as the polymer matrix and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates as the ceramic skeleton. The self-assembly of SEO creates nanoscale ion transport pathways in the PEO regions through ionic interactions with lithium salts. The nanopores of the AAO templates provide a confined environment for complex phase separation of SEO controlled by selective solvent vapor annealing. Our findings demonstrate that transforming self-assembled SEO structures allows for precise control of ion transport pathways with cylindrical structures exhibiting 20 times higher ionic conductivities than those of helical structures. For AAO templates with pore diameters of 20 nm (SEO-LiTFSI@AAO-20), the ionic conductivities are approximately 410 times higher than those with pore diameters of 200 nm (SEO-LiTFSI@AAO-200), owing to the larger specific surface areas within the smaller nanopores. Utilizing the self-assembly of SEO not only enables the construction of vertically aligned ion transport channels on various scales but also offers a fascinating approach to tailor the conductive capabilities of composite electrolytes, enhancing the ion transport efficiency and allowing for the flexible design of block copolymer composite electrolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsuan Tseng
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Chih-Wei Liao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Yu-Liang Lin
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Yi-Chun Fan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Chia-Wei Chang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Chun-Ting Chang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
| | - Jiun-Tai Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
- Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300093
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Chen YF, Hsieh CL, Lin PY, Liu YC, Lee MJ, Lee LR, Zheng S, Lin YL, Huang YL, Chen JT. Guard Cell-Inspired Ion Channels: Harnessing the Photomechanical Effect via Supramolecular Assembly of Cross-Linked Azobenzene/Polymers. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305317. [PMID: 37670223 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive ion nanochannels have attracted considerable attention in various fields because of their remote controllability of ionic transportation. For photoresponsive ion nanochannels, however, achieving precise regulation of ion conductivity is still challenging, primarily due to the difficulty of programmable structural changes in confined environments. Moreover, the relationship between noncontact photo-stimulation in nanoscale and light-induced ion conductivity has not been well understood. In this work, a versatile design for fabricating guard cell-inspired photoswitchable ion channels is presented by infiltrating azobenzene-cross-linked polymer (AAZO-PDAC) into nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The azobenzene-cross-linked polymer is formed by azobenzene chromophore (AAZO)-cross-linked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) with electrostatic interactions. Under UV irradiation, the trans-AAZO isomerizes to the cis-AAZO, causing the volume compression of the polymer network, whereas, in darkness, the cis-AAZO reverts to the trans-AAZO, leading to the recovery of the structure. Consequently, the resultant nanopore sizes can be manipulated by the photomechanical effect of the AAZO-PDAC polymers. By adding ionic liquids, the ion conductivity of the light-driven ion nanochannels can be controlled with good repeatability and fast responses (within seconds) in multiple cycles. The ion channels have promising potential in the applications of biomimetic materials, sensors, and biomedical sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Hsieh
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jie Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Lin-Ruei Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Sheng Zheng
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Liang Lin
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Lin Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Tai Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
- Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
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Lin YL, Zheng S, Chang CW, Lee MJ, Chen YF, Chen JT. Photoresponsive Single-Ion Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Competition of Host–Guest Interactions. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Liang Lin
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Sheng Zheng
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Chang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jie Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fan Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Tai Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
- Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan
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