Synthesis and application of a metal ion coordinating ionic liquid monomer: Towards size and dispersity control of nanoparticles formed within a structured polyelectrolyte

The design, synthesis, and characterization of an amphiphilic ionic liquid (IL) monomer possessing a transition metal coordinating acrylamide moiety is described. Incorporation of the acrylamide moiety is achieved by converting L-histidine into an imidazolium, followed by allcylation to introduce a decyl chain, and acrylation of the alpha-amino group. The acrylamide containing IL monomer and a co-monomer, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA M-n 575), self-assembles into a weakly ordered 2D hexagonal lyotropic mesophase in water (34 +/- 2 (w/w)%). Upon photo-irradiation of the mesophase a nanostructured polyelectrolyte retaining the 2D hexagonal structure is produced. Doping the mesophase with Au3+ ions prior to photo-irradiation produces plasmonic Au NP copolymer composites only at a threshold mole ratio of IL monomer to gold ions (i.e., onset at 1740:1 mole ratio). At higher monomer to Au3+ mole ratios plasmonic NPs are not formed. Evaluation of the in-situ synthesized plasmonic Au NPs by SAXS and optical spectroscopy indicate they are smaller, more uniform spherical particles that resist aggregation upon swelling and de-swelling in ethanol when compared to previously reported composites employing an IL monomer that lacks a metal ion coordination site (e.g., 3-decyl-1-vinylimidazolium IL).