Adaptive Ion‐Gel: Stimuli‐Responsive, and Self‐Healing Ion Gels

Ion gels are an emerging class of polymer gels in which a three‐dimensional polymer network swells with an ionic liquid. Ion gels have drawn considerable attention in various fields such as energy and biotechnology owing to their excellent properties including nonvolatility, nonflammability, high ionic conductivity, and high thermal and electrochemical stability. Since the first report on ion gels (published ∼30 years ago), diverse functional ion gels exhibiting impressive physicochemical properties have been reported. In this review, recent developments in functional ion gels that can modulate their physical properties in response to environmental conditions are outlined. Stimuli‐responsive ion gels that can adaptively undergo phase transitions in response to thermal and light stimuli are initially discussed, followed by an evaluation of diverse self‐healing ion gels that can spontaneously mend mechanical damage through judiciously designed ion‐gel networks. Recent advances in functional ion gels that can adaptively change their mechanical properties upon exposure to environmental stimuli are addressed in detail. Furthermore, various fabrication strategies and mechanical characteristics of self‐healing ion gels, which leverage the reversible crosslinking between polymer chains in ILs, are reviewed.