Ionic gels are semi-solid compounds that maintain an electrical charge through the inclusion of an ionic liquid in a polymer during a drying step. They have unique properties in materials science and are used in energy storage mechanisms, building nanoscale electronic components, and more. The production process involves a refinement of the sol gel production process. Ionic gel compounds have diverse applications, including solar luminescent concentrators, dielectric materials for low-voltage and high-performance transistors, and advanced energy storage applications. Airgel ion gel types are being researched as energy absorbers, sensors, and strong catalytic compounds.
An ionic gel is a type of semi-solid compound that maintains an electrical charge through the inclusion of an ionic liquid in a polymer during a drying step. It is a form of sol gels or xero gels which are partly liquid and partly solid arrays of compounds with unique properties in materials science. These materials are seen as potential energy storage mechanisms for fuel cells, for building nanoscale electronic components such as billionths of a meter wide transistors and more. Such materials offer the unique advantage at the microscopic scale of having a porous surface area that is much larger than their total mass, making them ideal candidates with which to bind volatile or electrically charged elements.
The production of an ionic gel occurs through a refinement of the sol gel production process. A block copolymer, which is a combination of several plastic monomer compounds with unique physical and chemical characteristics, is subjected to a hydrolysis-condensation process with an ionic conducting liquid. The colloidal particles in the mix prevent it from completely solidifying, instead taking the form of a gel. This makes accessing the charge of the ions or other embedded compounds more convenient, and the material can act as an electrolyte in the absence of water. The elastic properties of a solid in the form of a block copolymer plastic and the properties of an electrically conductive ionic liquid are fused into one compound.
The materials science uses of an ion gel polymer matrix are diverse. The material is capable of being remodeled, reloaded, but is nevertheless stable under various conditions of physical or chemical stress. An ion gel can operate at temperatures up to 482° Fahrenheit (250° Celsius) and remain stable at temperatures up to 662° Fahrenheit (350° Celsius) without degrading. Such gels can also be produced from a variety of precursor polymer-like compounds, although silane compounds commonly used in the production of gel sols such as alkoxysilane and halo silane are usually used. Ionic liquid can also be based on water referred to as aquagel, alcohol such as alcogel, or other chemicals such as carboxylic acid.
Aerodynamic gels are another branch of research in the study of ionic gel compounds. They are also based on the sol gel manufacturing process and have an end product that includes an encapsulated ionic gas such as hydrogen used for fuel cells. Common forms of aero gel familiar to consumers and industry include foams such as Styrofoam and urethane foam padding in furniture.
Among the applications of ion gel compounds as of 2011 in their various forms of liquid, gaseous, and semi-solid components are solar luminescent concentrators; as dielectric materials for low-voltage and high-performance transistors; and in a variety of advanced energy storage applications. Airgel ion gel types have the advantage of being about 95% gas and yet taking a solid form, earning it the label of lightest solid in the world. They are being researched as energy absorbers, sensors, and strong catalytic compounds.
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