Anne-Caroline Genix

The reimpregnation, i.e., replacement of the soft-templating ionic liquid (IL, BMIM-TFSI) that forms the porosity during the synthesis of disordered mesoporous silica-based (ionosilica) materials, has been studied by an original combination of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), thermogravimetric analysis, and nitrogen sorption. The architecture of the mesoporous scaffold was identified by SAXS after IL extraction using ethanol. Subsequently, the same ionic liquid, or IL-ethanol mixtures, were reintroduced into the ionosilica after a vacuum treatment, allowing controlled IL filling up to total reimpregnation of the mesopores. By confronting SAXS, where the intensity is a direct function of the degree of filling, with BET giving access to filling-dependent mesopore surface areas, a striking convergence of results shows that macroscopic and microscopic techniques target the same physical characteristics. In particular, the mesopores are shown to fill in a controlled way, one after the other, up to high degrees of filling.

WAXS, TMDSC, and BDS are used to study ionic liquid confinement in mesoporous ionosilica. Phase behavior, ionic conductivity and structural dynamics are shown to be tunable via the degree of confinement.

Understanding the molecular structure of mesoporous solid ionic systems is essential for optimizing their macroscopic properties, such as enhanced ionic transport for energy applications and improved mechanical flexibility. These systems can be synthesized efficiently using "one-pot" conditions, where mesopores form via the microphase separation of a templating ionic liquid. Furthermore, incorporating poly(ionic liquid)s can improve structural connectivity and tailor the mechanical strength of the material. We report on the structural analysis of ionic liquid and poly(ionic liquid) embedded in ionosilica matrices, employing a combination of small-angle scattering of neutrons and X-rays, isotopic substitution, and physicochemical solvent-based extraction methods. Data analysis is based on an original, quantitative comparison of scattering curves obtained under different contrast conditions. It is shown that these mesoporous systems have an unexpected molecular structure, with the ionic liquid counterions penetrating the ionosilica matrix surrounding the mesopores, their presence being confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. The poly(ionic liquid) forms patches decorating the pore walls, with tunable conformation sensitive to solvent conditions. This behavior is anticipated to be generic in self-assembled ionosilica systems, due to the separation of the ionic liquid from the matrix, while the polymer chains have affinities for both matrix and ionic liquid.

Mesoporous systems are ubiquitous in membrane science and applications due to their high internal surface area and tunable pore size. A new synthesis pathway of hydrolytic ionosilica films with mesopores formed by ionic liquid (IL) templating is proposed and compared to the traditional non-hydrolytic strategy. For both pathways, the multi-scale formation of pores has been studied as a function of IL content, combining results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen sorption, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The combination of TGA and nitrogen sorption provides access to ionosilica and pore volume fractions, with contributions of meso- and macropores. We then elaborate an original and quantitative geometrical model to analyze the SAXS data based on small spheres (Rs = 1 -- 2 nm) and cylinders (Lcyl = 10 -- 20 nm) with radial polydispersity provided by the nitrogen sorption isotherms. As a main result, we found that for a given incorporation of templating IL, both synthesis pathways produce very similar pore geometries, but the better incorporation efficacy of the new hydrolytic films provides a higher mesoporosity. Our combined study provides a coherent view of mesopore geometry, and thereby an optimization pathway of porous ionic membranes in terms of accessible mesoporosity contributing to the specific surface. Possible applications include electrolyte membranes of improved ionic properties, e.g., in fuel cells and batteries, as well as molecular storage.

Mesoporous systems are ubiquitous in membrane science and applications due to their high internal surface area and tunable pore size. A new synthesis pathway of hydrolytic ionosilica films with mesopores formed by ionic liquid (IL) templating is proposed and compared to the traditional non-hydrolytic strategy. For both pathways, the multi-scale formation of pores has been studied as a function of IL content, combining results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen sorption, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The combination of TGA and nitrogen sorption provides access to ionosilica and pore volume fractions, with contributions of meso- and macropores. We then elaborate an original and quantitative geometrical model to analyze the SAXS data based on small spheres (R_s = 1 – 2 nm) and cylinders (L_cyl = 10 – 20 nm) with radial polydispersity provided by the nitrogen sorption isotherms. As a main result, we found that for a given incorporation of templating IL, both synthesis pathways produce very similar pore geometries, but the better incorporation efficacy of the new hydrolytic films provides a higher mesoporosity. Our combined study provides a coherent view of mesopore geometry, and thereby an optimization pathway of porous ionic membranes in terms of accessible mesoporosity contributing to the specific surface. Possible applications include electrolyte membranes of improved ionic properties, e.g., in fuel cells and batteries, as well as molecular storage.

Fundamental understanding of macroscopic properties of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) remains difficult due to the complex interplay of microscopic dynamics and structure, namely interfacial layer relaxations and three-dimensional nanoparticle arrangements. The effect of surface modification by alkyl methoxysilanes at different grafting densities has been studied in PNCs made of poly(2-vinylpyridine) and spherical 20 nm silica nanoparticles (NPs). The segmental dynamics has been probed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy, and the filler structure by small-angle X-ray scattering and reverse Monte Carlo simulations. By combining the particle configurations with the interfacial layer properties, it is shown how surface modification tunes the attractive polymer-particle interactions: bare NPs slow down the polymer interfacial layer dynamics over a thickness of ca. 5 nm, while grafting screens these interactions. Our analysis of interparticle spacing and segmental dynamics provides unprecedented insight into the effect of surface modification on the main characteristics of PNCs: particle interactions and polymer interfacial layers.

Both the dispersion state of nanoparticles (NPs) within polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) and the dynamical state of the polymer altered by the presence of the NP/polymer interfaces have a strong impact on the macroscopic properties of PNCs. In particular, mechanical properties are strongly affected by percolation of hard phases, which may be NP networks, dynamically modified polymer regions, or combinations of both. In this article, the impact on dispersion and dynamics of surface modification of the NPs by short monomethoxysilanes with eight carbons in the alkyl part (C8) is studied. As a function of grafting density and particle content, polymer dynamics is followed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and analyzed by an interfacial layer model, whereas the particle dispersion is investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and analyzed by reverse Monte Carlo simulations. NP dispersions are found to be destabilized only at the highest grafting. The interfacial layer formalism allows the clear identification of the volume fraction of interfacial polymer, with its characteristic time. The strongest dynamical slow-down in the polymer is found for unmodified NPs, while grafting weakens this effect progressively. The combination of all three techniques enables a unique measurement of the true thickness of the interfacial layer, which is ca. 5 nm. Finally, the comparison between longer (C18) and shorter (C8) grafts provides unprecedented insight into the efficacy and tunability of surface modification. It is shown that C8-grafting allows for a more progressive tuning, which goes beyond a pure mass effect.

Liquid/liquid (L/L) interfaces play a key, yet poorly understood, role in a range of complex chemical phenomena where time-evolving interfacial structures and transient supramolecular assemblies act as gatekeepers to function. Here, we employ surface-specific vibrational sum frequency generation combined with neutron and X-ray scattering methods to track the transport of dioctyl phosphoric acid (DOP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (DEHPA) ligands used in solvent extraction at buried oil/aqueous interfaces away from equilibrium. Our results show evidence for a dynamic interfacial restructuring at low ligand concentrations in contrast to expectation. These time-varying interfaces arise from the transport of sparingly soluble interfacial ligands into the neighboring aqueous phase. These results support a proposed "antagonistic" role of ligand complexation in the aqueous phase that could serve as a holdback mechanism in kinetic liquid extractions. These findings provide new insights into interfacially controlled chemical transport at L/L interfaces and how these interfaces vary chemically, structurally, and temporally in a concentration-dependent manner and present potential avenues to design selective kinetic separations.

Both the dispersion state of nanoparticles (NPs) within polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) and the dynamical state of the polymer altered by the presence of the NP/polymer interfaces have a strong impact on the macroscopic properties of PNCs. In particular, mechanical properties are strongly affected by percolation of hard phases, which may be NP networks, dynamically modified polymer regions, or combinations of both. In this article, the impact on dispersion and dynamics of surface modification of the NPs by short monomethoxysilanes with eight carbons in the alkyl part (C₈) is studied. As a function of grafting density and particle content, polymer dynamics is followed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and analyzed by an interfacial layer model, whereas the particle dispersion is investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and analyzed by reverse Monte Carlo simulations. NP dispersions are found to be destabilized only at the highest grafting. The interfacial layer formalism allows the clear identification of the volume fraction of interfacial polymer, with its characteristic time. The strongest dynamical slow-down in the polymer is found for unmodified NPs, while grafting weakens this effect progressively. The combination of all three techniques enables a unique measurement of the true thickness of the interfacial layer, which is ca. 5 nm. Finally, the comparison between longer (C₁₈) and shorter (C₈) grafts provides unprecedented insight into the efficacy and tunability of surface modification. It is shown that C₈-grafting allows for a more progressive tuning, which goes beyond a pure mass effect.