Co-organisation of ionic liquids with amphiphilic diethanolamines: construction of 3D continuous ionic nanochannels through the induction of liquid–crystalline bicontinuous cubic phases

Three-dimensionally continuous ionic nanochannels have been developed by imidazolium-based ionic liquids and amphiphilic molecules having a diethanolamine moiety. Co-organisation of these two components into liquid–crystalline bicontinuous cubic phases leads to the formation of the 3D nanochannels. The induction of bicontinuous cubic phases is observed for the combination of an ionic liquid, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide, and a diethanolamine derivative, N-{3-[N′, N′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) aminopropyl]}-3,4-didodecyloxy benzoylamide. Compatibility enhanced by intermolecular interactions between the imidazoliums and the diethanolamine moiety plays an important role for the co-organisation of the two components. The three-dimensionally continuous ionic nanochannels function as efficient transportation pathways for ions. The material design using bicontinuous cubic liquid–crystalline structures will offer an opportunity for the development in the field of nanochannel material science.