Tailoring Ionogel Transport Properties Through Precise Control of Sol-Gel Reaction Time

Abstract

Confining ionic liquids (ILs) within porous materials offers various opportunities in terms of applications (energy storage, filtration etc), yet precise control of the interaction between the ionic liquid and the matrix remains challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of precursor reaction time during the synthesis of an ionogel coating formed through hybrid sol-gel chemistry, for further use as an electrochemical interface for energy storage applications. Our study reveals significant dependencies of ionic transport properties evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy on reaction time. By using kinetic monitoring by NMR and SAXS of the precursor during their transformation, we show that the emergence of size controlled nanodomains within the sol can be linked to an enhancement of the interface transport properties. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of ionogel-based systems for advanced applications in energy storage and membrane technology.