Bio-based ionic liquid crystalline quaternary ammonium salts: properties and applications.

In the present work, we describe the preparation, properties, and applications of novel ionic liquid crystalline quaternary ammonium salts (QSs) of 3-pentadecylphenol, a bio-based low-cost material derived from cashew nut shell liquid. Amphotropic liquid crystalline phase formation in QSs was characterized using a combination of techniques, such as DSC, PLM, XRD, SEM, and rheology, which revealed the formation of one, two, and three dimensionally ordered mesophases in different length scales. On the basis of these results, a plausible mechanism for the formation of specific modes of packing in various mesophases was proposed. Observation of anisotropic ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability suggests their application as a solid electrolyte.