Ionogels of Sugar Surfactant in Ethylammonium Nitrate:
Phase Transition from Closely Packed Bilayers to Right-Handed Twisted
Ribbons
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Abstract
In
the simplest ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate (EAN), ionogels
with high mechanical strength were prepared from a surfactant with
a disaccharide polar head. Phase structures from closely packed bilayers
to right-handed twisted ribbons were determined via freeze-fracture
transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM) observations. The phase
transition mechanism was investigated deeply and systematically. The
temperature contributes to suitable tail chain conformations of surfactant
molecules for adapting to different self-assembled structures including
right-handed twisted ribbons and bilayers. Two different arrays were
revealed for different bilayers by the small-angle X-ray scattering
(SAXS) measurements. The rheological and tribological properties of
the ionogels were investigated. The better lubricating property and
antiwear capability of the ionogels compared to the EAN may be attributed
to the structure characteristics and the good thixotropic properties
