Cationic Poly(ionic liquid) with Tunable Lower Critical Solution Temperature-Type Phase Transition

Abstract

A cationic polyelectrolyte based on the styrenic ionic liquid tributyl-4-vinylbenzylphosphonium pentanesulfonate was found to undergo a lower critical solution temperature (LCST)-type phase transition in aqueous solutions. This phase transition occurs in a wide temperature range in terms of polymer concentration as well as type and concentration of externally added salts. Anion exchange and salting out effects are responsible for the flexible phase transition temperature.