Emerging applications of tough ionogels

• Published in: NPG Asia materials Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 66 - 9
• Main Authors: Wang, Meixiang, Hu, Jian, Dickey, Michael D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 15.12.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/166/898; 639/301/923/1027; Adhesives; Biomaterials; Chemical bonds; Chemical sensors; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conductivity; Energy storage; Energy Systems; Hydrogels; Ion currents; Ionic liquids; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Optical and Electronic Materials; Perspective; Sensors; Solvents; Stability; Structural Materials; Surface and Interface Science; Thin Films; Three dimensional printing
• ISSN: 1884-4057; 1884-4049; 1884-4057
• DOI: 10.1038/s41427-023-00514-8

Ionogels are crosslinked networks—typically polymeric networks—swollen with ionic liquids. The unique properties of ionogels, such as nonvolatility, ionic conductivity, nonflammability, and high thermal and electrochemical stability, make them promising for a variety of applications. Examples include sensors, adhesives, energy storage devices, and ionotronics. While many ionogels require complex syntheses and suffer from poor mechanical properties, simpler strategies are emerging to produce tough ionogels, thereby improving the durability, enabling 3D printing, and broadening the application space of ionogels. This perspective highlights promising applications and future opportunities of ionogels. This perspective highlights recent applications of ionogels that take advantage of their ionic conductivity, nonvolatility, and high thermal and electrochemical stability. Examples include sensors, batteries, electronics, 3D printing, and adhesives. Improving the mechanical properties of ionogels broadens the application space; thus, simple strategies to achieve tough ionogels are introduced. Finally, the potential applications and future opportunities of ionogels are discussed.