Project funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) under the “PRELUDIUM 21” competition
Project number: 2022/45/N/ST5/03634
Project value: 139,690.00 PLN
Funding amount: 139,690.00 PLN
Project duration: 02/02/2023 – 01/02/2025
Project manager: Maria Zdończyk, PhD
Thermochromic materials (from the Greek thermos, meaning temperature, and chromos, meaning color) exhibit changes in their optical properties—such as color—depending on the applied temperature. These materials can respond to both low and high temperatures and are typically categorized into three groups: organic, inorganic, and hybrid.
The materials investigated in the project “Study of Ionogels Doped with Organic Dyes as New Potential Thermochromic Markers” are modern organic–inorganic hybrids characterized by irreversible color change. In this study, the ionogels are based on a silica matrix impregnated with an ionic liquid and an organic dye. The silica matrix determines the material’s physical form, enabling it to be applied to a microscope slide; the ionic liquid defines the temperature range at which color change occurs; and the organic dye determines the final color of the marker.
Ionogels have already found use in various fields, such as lithium-ion batteries and insulators, and they hold potential for future applications in “smart windows”—glass that changes color or darkens under heat from sunlight.
This project aims to synthesize a hybrid material that combines the advantages of its components to create an irreversible thermochromic indicator, potentially applicable in overheating sensors. It is hypothesized that the final material properties will depend on the type and concentration of the ionic liquid used. So far, no studies have investigated the relationship between the structure of the ionic liquid and the properties of silica-based ionogels.
Another intriguing aspect concerns the color change of the organic dye in response to temperature variations. The project will also explore structural relationships within the hybrid materials before and after annealing, using spectroscopic techniques. Preliminary research has shown that even a slight modification in the ionic liquid structure can lead to significant differences in material behavior at various temperatures.
