Functional Ion Gels: Versatile Electrolyte Platforms for Electrochemical Applications

Ion gels consisting of room-temperature ionic liquids and polymer gelators are considered attractive solid-state electrolyte platforms for functional electrochemical applications due to their tunable electrochemical/mechanical properties, nonvolatility even in a vacuum, and compatibility with various solution processes. Accordingly, a number of studies have been reported on improving the functionality of ion gels and their use in diverse applications. In this Perspective, we highlight recent representative advances in the development of functional gels based on judiciously designed copolymer gelators or prepared by incorporating redox species. In addition, we introduce versatile applicability of ion gels in a variety of applications including electrochemical displays, smart sensory systems, and energy generation/storage systems.