Polymer-Engineered Ionogels for Lithium-Based Energy Storage: Interactions, Processing, and Electrode Interfaces
- 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
- 3Centre for Materials Science, School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
Abstract
By immobilizing ionic liquids (ILs) within polymer networks, ionogels offer a route to quasi-solid-state electrolytes with liquid-like ion mobility and solid-like dimensional stability. Their practical performance, however, is not determined by IL content or total ionic conductivity alone. Frequently reported limitations include low Li+ transference numbers, polymer–IL demixing, creep, insufficient electrode wetting, and unstable interphases. This review develops a mechanistically informed framework that traces how polymer chemistry and polymer–IL–lithium salt interactions shape process-induced microstructures, which in turn influence ion transport, mechanical response, and electrode interfaces. We examine electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and competitive Li+ coordination across representative polymer–IL systems, and compare fabrication routes in terms of the confinement, phase connectivity, and electrode contact they generate. The routes considered include solution casting, phase inversion and scaffold impregnation, electrospinning, thermal or photoinitiated in situ polymerization, physical self-assembly, interpenetrating-network and multiple-network formation, hybrid sol–gel processing, and thin-film patterning. The review distinguishes structural evidence from Li+-specific transport evidence and considers differences in measurement and cell conditions. Load-bearing networks and continuous ion-rich domains can mitigate the transport–mechanical trade-off, but their benefits require verification of Li+ transport and interfacial stability under relevant operating conditions. Minimum reporting criteria for meaningful comparison and scale-up are proposed.
Related
- Hierarchical sandwich composite film with engineered interfaces for concurrent high-frequency ultra-low dielectric constant and high thermal conductivity
- Systematic Investigation of Classical Molecular Dynamics Models for Ionic Liquid‐Based Electrolytes at Electrode Interfaces
- Engineering transparent-electrode surface chemistry for robust molecular interfaces in perovskite photovoltaics
- Ionogels Derived from Fluorinated Ionic Liquids to Enhance Aqueous Drug Solubility for Local Drug Administration
- Textile muscle fibres innervated by ionofibres: connecting doped conducting polymers and ionogels via a plain weave
BibTeX
@article{jung2026polymerengineered,
title = {{Polymer-Engineered Ionogels for Lithium-Based Energy Storage: Interactions, Processing, and Electrode Interfaces}},
author = {Seung-Chan Jung and Myeong-Won Kang and Byeongji Beom and Wonjun Jang and Jiyun Noh and Deepak Dubal and Jae-Hee Han},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/polym18212737},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2737},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Polymer-Engineered Ionogels for Lithium-Based Energy Storage: Interactions, Processing, and Electrode Interfaces
AU - Seung-Chan Jung
AU - Myeong-Won Kang
AU - Byeongji Beom
AU - Wonjun Jang
AU - Jiyun Noh
AU - Deepak Dubal
AU - Jae-Hee Han
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18212737
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2737
AB - By immobilizing ionic liquids (ILs) within polymer networks, ionogels offer a route to quasi-solid-state electrolytes with liquid-like ion mobility and solid-like dimensional stability. Their practical performance, however, is not determined by IL content or total ionic conductivity alone. Frequently reported limitations include low Li+ transference numbers, polymer–IL demixing, creep, insufficient electrode wetting, and unstable interphases. This review develops a mechanistically informed framework that traces how polymer chemistry and polymer–IL–lithium salt interactions shape process-induced microstructures, which in turn influence ion transport, mechanical response, and electrode interfaces. We examine electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and competitive Li+ coordination across representative polymer–IL systems, and compare fabrication routes in terms of the confinement, phase connectivity, and electrode contact they generate. The routes considered include solution casting, phase inversion and scaffold impregnation, electrospinning, thermal or photoinitiated in situ polymerization, physical self-assembly, interpenetrating-network and multiple-network formation, hybrid sol–gel processing, and thin-film patterning. The review distinguishes structural evidence from Li+-specific transport evidence and considers differences in measurement and cell conditions. Load-bearing networks and continuous ion-rich domains can mitigate the transport–mechanical trade-off, but their benefits require verification of Li+ transport and interfacial stability under relevant operating conditions. Minimum reporting criteria for meaningful comparison and scale-up are proposed.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -