Functional Particulated Ionic Liquid-Based Silica Microcapsules

A method for the preparation of functional silica microcapsules containing 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIm[PF6]) is described. This method is based on emulsification of ionic liquid in water, and interfacial polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) using the sol-gel technique. The microcapsules were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, infrared and solid state NMR. The resulted material was utilized efficiently in the Knoevenagel condensation.