Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, is a thermoresponsive polymer widely known for its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phenomenon at 32 °C in aqueous solutions. Precise tuning of the LCST of PNIPAM to a broader temperature range offers a larger window of applications especially in the field of biotechnology and nanotechnology. A series of free radical random copolymerizations between N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and various imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) were conducted. IL structures were varied in terms of their alkyl chain length at the N-3 (or N-1) position of the imidazolium ring and counter anion. The LCST behavior of the aqueous solutions of the copolymers was investigated through UV-VIS transmission measurements. The results confirm that introduction of IL into the PNIPAM offers a wide range of LCST behaviors with a synergism between the hydrophobic part of the ionic liquid and the basic strength of the counter anion, probably by varying the hydrogen bonding abilities of the copolymer.

Herein, we have demonstrated a highly efficient, flexible, and low-cost (Pt-free and TCO-free) counter electrode made of a highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/exfoliated graphite (EFG) composite in solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing polymer electrolytes. Electropolymerized one-dimensional PEDOT nanofibers were firmly attached to a flexible EFG sheet affording high catalytic activity and electron conductivity. PEDOT/EFG counter electrode-based DSSCs showed an energy conversion efficiency of 5.7% with a solid polymer electrolyte, which is significantly higher than conventional Pt electrodes (4.4%) under similar device architecture conditions.

A bis-imino-acenaphthenequinone (BIAN)–fluorene copolymer (π conjugated polymer bearing BIAN and fluorene units) binder was designed, synthesised and used for the fabrication of a graphite electrode in lithium-ion batteries. Unlike the PVDF binder, the electrode with the BIAN–fluorene binder exhibited significantly improved electrochemical performance in terms of its rate capability, cycling behaviour and specific capacity. At a rate of 1C, the electrode with the BIAN–fluorene binder exhibited more than 250 mA h g⁻¹ capacity after 100 cycles while the electrode made with the PVDF binder delivered only 165 mA h g⁻¹. The significant improvement of cycling performance is due to the improvement in the adherence of the electrode laminate to the current collector and improved interface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies showed the formation of an improved interface with the BIAN–fluorene based binder.

In this study, an ionic liquid incorporated modified MOF was synthesized to serve as an efficient electrolyte system for Li-ion batteries. Further, the MOF (IL) was doped with a lithium salt, lithium bis(triflouromethylsulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) by a modified procedure. Samples with varying amount of MOF (IL) in ionic liquid were prepared, characterized and evaluated for their electrochemical behavior. A high conductivity in order of 10⁻²–10⁻³ Scm⁻¹ at 51°C and a low activation energy of ion transport was observed in all samples. The systems showed high electrochemical stability to be employed as gel electrolyte in Li ion secondary batteries. These systems showed highly reversible capacity of over 3000 mAhg⁻¹ in the charge-discharge studies carried out after fabricating anodic half-cell composed of Si/electrolyte/Li. These results illustrate the feasibility of the prepared modified MOF (IL) as potential solid state electrolytes for Li ion secondary batteries.