Efficient construction of superior poly(ionic liquid) hydrogels for promising application in HPLC analysis.

To address the growing demand for enhanced chromatographic resolution of diverse analytes, the development of novel stationary phases exhibiting superior selectivity and broader applicability is imperative. Poly(ionic liquid)s and polymer hydrogels, recognize as versatile functional materials, can be combined into novel poly(ionic liquid) hydrogels to enhance the performance of silica-based stationary phase through tailored functionalization and multi-mode interactions, demonstrating advantageous potential for advanced chromatographic separations. Herein, employing 3-hexadecyl-1-vinylimidazolium bromide ([HDVIM]Br) and acrylic acid (AA) as monomers, a novel poly([HDVIM]Br-co-AA) hydrogel-modified stationary phase (Sil-PHA) was synthesized via thiol-ene click polymerization, and its applicability in chromatographic separation was systematically evaluated. Benefitting from the synergistic effect of poly(ionic liquid)s and hydrogels, the Sil-PHA effectively produces multiple interactions with the analytes and achieves a hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance, resulting in excellent separation ability for various compounds. The Sil-PHA column demonstrates effective separation capabilities for hydrophilic nucleosides and diverse hydrophobic aromatic compounds (alkylphenols, alkylbenzenes, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bisphenols and aromatic ketones). This study establishes poly(ionic liquid) hydrogels as a transformative class of separation materials with demonstrated core functionality in chromatographic science. This not only delivers a new material platform for achieving high-performance separation of diverse samples but also pioneers an innovative approach for constructing multifunctional separation system.