Porous Membranes Built Up from Hydrophilic Poly(ionic liquid)s

Abstract

Porous polymer membranes made via electrostatic complexation are fabricated from a water-soluble poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) for the first time. The porous structure is formed as a consequence of simultaneous phase separation of the PIL and ionic complexation with an acid, which occurred in a basic solution of a nonsolvent for the PIL. These membranes have a stimuli-responsive porosity, with open and closed pores in isopropanol and in water, respectively. This property is quantitatively demonstrated in filtration experiments, where water is passing much slower through the membranes than isopropanol.

Keywords: crosslinking; phase separation; poly(ionic liquid); porous membranes; responsive materials.