Effects of Dielectric Constants of Non-Aqueous Solvents on Complex Coacervation of Oppositely Charged Polymerized Ionic Liquids
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내용
Complex coacervation is a liquid-liquid phase separation process that occurs in oppositely charged polyelectrolyte solutions. When counterions bound to the charged polymers are released into the solvent, the electrostatic attraction of oppositely charged polymers results in the phase separation of a polymer-rich coacervate and dilute phase. Despite the wide application of complex coacervation, the study of complex coacervation is generally limited to aqueous systems due to the limited polyelectrolyte solubility. In this study, we design two symmetric but oppositely charged polymerized ionic liquids (PILs). Relatively weak coordination of organic ions in PILs allows miscibility in various organic solvents with different dielectric constants. This approach helps investigate how the dielectric constant of solvents and electrostatic interaction impact the phase behavior of complex coacervation. The findings from this study will enhance our understanding of the fundamental role played by the dielectric constant in complex coacervation.