A cholesterol based imidazolium ionic liquid crystal: synthesis, characterisation and its dual application as an electrolyte and electrode material?

New Journal of Chemistry Pub Date: 2018-11-29 DOI: 10.1039/C8NJ04988B

Abstract

A new ionic liquid crystal (ILC) containing cholesterol and bearing a terminal imidazolium moiety was synthesised and its mesophase behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The ILC displayed an intercalated lamellar mesophase having a wide phase range. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the synthesised ILC revealed electrochemical stability with a good electrochemical window. Further, the electrochemical performance of the ILC was evaluated as an electrolyte (0.5% in ethanol) for supercapacitor applications using a three electrode system consisting of a graphene oxide–manganese dioxide (100 μm) coated carbon fiber electrode, silver–silver chloride (Ag–AgCl) reference and platinum foil counter electrodes. Among three different ratios of graphene oxide–manganese dioxide (1?:?1, 1?:?0.5, and 0.5?:?1) investigated, the electrode containing 0.5?:?1 wt% graphene oxide–manganese dioxide over carbon fiber showed good capacitive behaviour with a specific capacitance of 157.5 F g?1 at a constant current density of 0.5 A g?1 along with a good cyclic stability. In addition, the ILC was also studied as an electrode material in combination with carbon paste for investigating electron transfer reactions.

Graphical abstract: A cholesterol based imidazolium ionic liquid crystal: synthesis, characterisation and its dual application as an electrolyte and electrode material
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