Advanced applications of ionic liquids in polymer science

Ionic liquids (ILs) are continuing as important media in which to effect various kinds of polymerizations, and it is particularly noteworthy that ionic polymerizations are being developed in IL solvents and that atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) catalysts are being attached to ILs to make them more easily recoverable in living polymerizations. In addition, the number of polymerizable ILs is steadily increasing, and ionic liquid polymers of polymerizable ionic liquid monomers have been produced as exotic polyelectrolytes. ILs are being used as plasticizers of various kinds of polymers and as key components in new classes of polymer gels. Polymers and inorganic substrates are being used to support ILs through covalent binding of the ILs, in which case the properties of the IL are modified to some extent, and polymer membranes and porous materials absorb ILs with concomitant changes in ionic conductivity and mobility. New applications of ILs include creating new classes of advanced materials, such as a new class of solvogels that are stimuli responsive and reversibly porate via pinned spinodal decomposition and the development of ILs derived from inorganic nanoparticle cores for use as new resin components for diverse materials and coatings applications.