3D Printable Polymer Electrolytes for Ionic Conduction based on Protic Ionic Liquids

Journal article, 2025

A range of protic ionic liquids (PILs) based on tri-n-alkylammonium cations and mesylate/triflate anions were incorporated into a polymer matrix to form ionogels (IGs). These systems were investigated for their thermal and electrochemical behaviour, as well as under the aspect of ion motion via PFG-NMR. The ionic conductivities of the ILs/IGs are in the range of 10−4–10−3 S/cm−1 at elevated temperatures and the diffusion coefficients are around 10−11 m2 s−1. Successful 3D printing of an IG with 70 wt % of IL is possible via stereolithography approaches, opening up applications in, e. g., structured ion-conductive membranes.