Improving Photopolymerization Rates and Conversion of Common Monomers through Formation of Coordinated Ionic Liquids

Coordinated ionic liquid monomers were synthesized via dissolution of lithium bistriflimide (a bulky salt) in small, polar organic monomers including: acrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylate, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate and HEMA.  The coordinated ionic liquids were photopolymerized and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to dynamically monitor monomer conversion and photopolymerization kinetics.  It was found that certain stoiochiometries of monomer:salt (e.g. 3:1) greatly improved conversion and kinetics in comparison to the neat monomer.  This presentation will discuss our methods, results and potential applications for polymers produced from coordinated ionic liquid monomers.