Abstract
A new ionic liquid crystal (ILC) containing cholesterol and bearing a terminal imidazolium moiety was synthesised and its mesophase behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The ILC displayed an intercalated lamellar mesophase having a wide phase range. Cyclic voltammetry studies of the synthesised ILC revealed electrochemical stability with a good electrochemical window. Further, the electrochemical performance of the ILC was evaluated as an electrolyte (0.5% in ethanol) for supercapacitor applications using a three electrode system consisting of a graphene oxide-manganese dioxide (100 m) coated carbon fiber electrode, silver-silver chloride (Ag-AgCl) reference and platinum foil counter electrodes. Among three different ratios of graphene oxide-manganese dioxide (1:1, 1:0.5, and 0.5:1) investigated, the electrode containing 0.5:1 wt% graphene oxide-manganese dioxide over carbon fiber showed good capacitive behaviour with a specific capacitance of 157.5 F g(-1) at a constant current density of 0.5 A g(-1) along with a good cyclic stability. In addition, the ILC was also studied as an electrode material in combination with carbon paste for investigating electron transfer reactions.