A novel polymer gel electrolyte: Direct polymerization
of ionic liquid from surface of silica nanoparticles
Heyi Hu, Wen Yuan*, Hui Zhao, and Gregory L. Baker
Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA, 48824.
Tel: 1-517-355-9715; E-mail: yuanwen@ msu.edu or yaji861112@gmail.com
1. Calculation of initiator content on the surface of silica nanoparticle
The content of initiator on the surface of silica nanoparticle can be roughly calculated
according to TGA data. As shown in Figure 3, the surface initiator have a 4 % more
weight loss compared to the bare silica nanoparticle. By ignoring the displacement
reaction of initiator to CTAB salts on the surface of nanoparticle, and assuming the
initiator has a complete decomposition and 0% weight retention at 850 °C, the
initiator content can be calculated as follows: assuming the content of initiator on the
surface is X %, then the content of silica nanopaticle is ( 100-X ) %. The total weight
of initiator anchored silica nanoparticle is 1 g. Silica nanoparticles loses 14 % of
weight at 850 °C. Free initiator loses 100% of weight at 850 °C, and surface initiator
loses 18% of weight at 850 °C.
1 g  (100  14)%  (100  X )%  (1 g )  0%  ( X )%  1 g  (100  18)%
X  4.7
The initiator content on the surface of silica nanoparticle is 4.7% of the total weight of
surface initiator.
2. TEM image of polymer/silica nanocomposites
Figure S1. TEM images of polyVBBIT/silica nanocomposites