Poly(ionic liquid)s as phase transporter for graphene oxide liquid crystals from aqueous to non polar organic phase via noncovalent functionalization
ABSTRACT We synthesise a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and develop a procedure that allows the phase transfer of graphene oxides (GO) from water to organic solvent, retaining graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) phase in various organic solvents, especially non polar organic solvents. PIL [PEP MIM]DBS) is exploited in this procedure as a noncovalent functional material that is capable of transporting GO from aqueous to non polar organic phase. PILs can decorate GO noncovalently and keep GO nano sheets exfoliated in solid state PILs/GO hybrids, which can well redisperse in organic solvents without any agglomeration. This expands the number of known solvents which can support GOLC phase to dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and a number of other non polar organic solvents, many of which were not known to afford GOLC phase prior to this report, such as dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane and tetrachloroethane. Graphical Abstract