A recyclable disulfide bond chemically cross-linking, high toughness, high conductivity ion gel based on re-shaping and restructuring in the gel state

Abstract

In this communication, we report the recyclability of a disulfide bond cross-linking ion gel with high toughness and ionic conductivity based on re-shaping and restructuring under heat and pressure in the gel state. The restructuring was realized by disulfide metathesis catalyzed by both an ionic liquid (IL) and the residual copper salt from the click reaction. The ion gels could undergo the breaking–restructuring cycles at least six times with little performance loss (less than 10%), exhibiting good recyclability.