Nanoparticles connected through an ionic liquid-like network

Silica nanoparticles linked through ionic liquid-like molecules are synthesized by two routes. The first approach utilized a bis(trialkoxysilyl)-substituted imidazolium iodide to link the silica nanoparticles. In the second approach, the silica nanoparticles were first modified by 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane and N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)imidazole and then coupled through nucleophilic substitution. A comparison of both approaches shows that the second approach results in a more efficient interfacing of nanoparticles.