Glowing lithium ions flow through a futuristic ionogel matrix.

Ionogels: The Future of Safer, Longer-Lasting Lithium Batteries?

Jordan Keane in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how photo-polymerized ionogels are revolutionizing lithium battery technology by enhancing safety and performance."

Lithium batteries power our modern world, from smartphones to electric vehicles. However, the safety risks associated with conventional liquid electrolytes are a growing concern. These electrolytes, often made from flammable organic solvents, can lead to overheating, leaks, and even fires. The search for safer alternatives is crucial for the future of energy storage.

Enter ionogels: a promising solution that combines the ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes with the stability of solid materials. Imagine a gel-like substance that not only conducts electricity efficiently but also eliminates the risk of fire. This is the potential of ionogels, and recent research is bringing this technology closer to reality.

A groundbreaking study has explored the use of photo-polymerized ionogels in lithium batteries, focusing on how the size of the network 'mesh' and the inclusion of ethylene oxide affect battery performance. This research paves the way for all-solid-state micro-batteries that are not only safer but also offer improved energy storage capabilities.

What are Ionogels and How Do They Enhance Battery Performance?

Glowing lithium ions flow through a futuristic ionogel matrix.

Ionogels are solid or semi-solid materials created by confining ionic liquids within a polymer network. Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts that are liquid at room temperature and possess unique properties such as high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical windows, and negligible vapor pressure. This means they can conduct electricity effectively without the risk of evaporation or flammability.

The key to this innovation lies in a process called UV curing, which allows the ionogels to be created in minutes. The UV curing process forms a polymer network that entraps N-methyl,N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and lithium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylimide salt. The researchers carefully studied the effect of varying the 'mesh' size (the size of the pores in the polymer network) and the amount of ethylene oxide in the ionogel.

Enhanced Safety: Ionogels are non-flammable, eliminating the risk of fire associated with traditional liquid electrolytes.
Improved Ionic Conductivity: The specific ionogels tested exhibited ionic conductivities comparable to liquid electrolytes, ensuring efficient battery performance.
Extended Lifespan: Prototype batteries using these ionogels retained 70% of their initial capacity after 1200 cycles, indicating excellent durability.

The study identified an optimal balance between mesh size, ethylene oxide content, and lithium content. An ionogel made from trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, confining 90% ionic liquid, demonstrated a mesh size of approximately 5 nm and enhanced the stability of the confined ionic liquid. The presence of ethylene oxide also facilitated efficient lithium-ion diffusion, contributing to superior battery performance.

The Future is Solid: Implications for Battery Technology

This research signifies a major step toward safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting lithium batteries. By replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with stable ionogels, the risk of battery fires can be significantly reduced, paving the way for safer electric vehicles, portable electronics, and energy storage systems.

The ability to create these ionogels through a rapid and cost-effective UV curing process makes them highly attractive for large-scale manufacturing. The optimized composition of the ionogel, with its tailored mesh size and ethylene oxide content, provides a blueprint for developing high-performance solid-state batteries.

While further research and development are needed to fully realize the potential of ionogel-based batteries, this study offers a glimpse into a future where energy storage is not only more powerful but also significantly safer for consumers and the environment.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1149/08614.0163ecst, Alternate LINK

Title: Photo-Polymerized Organic Host Network Of Ionogels For Lithium Batteries: Effects Of Mesh Size And Of Ethylene Oxide Content

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: ECS Transactions

Publisher: The Electrochemical Society

Authors: Djamel Aidoud, Delphine Guy-Bouyssou, Dominique Guyomard, Jean Le Bideau, Bernard Lestriez

Published: 2018-07-23

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly are ionogels, and how do they work in batteries?

Ionogels are solid or semi-solid materials that combine the ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes with the stability of solid polymers. This is achieved by confining ionic liquids within a polymer network. These ionic liquids, like N-methyl,N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, are salts that remain liquid at room temperature and possess high ionic conductivity and negligible vapor pressure, making them excellent for battery applications.

What benefits do ionogels bring to lithium battery technology?

The key advantages of using ionogels, specifically those created through UV curing, in lithium batteries include enhanced safety due to their non-flammability, improved ionic conductivity comparable to liquid electrolytes, and extended lifespan, with prototype batteries retaining 70% of their initial capacity after 1200 cycles. The UV curing process uses materials like trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate to create a stable polymer network. Adjusting the mesh size and ethylene oxide content optimizes battery performance.

What is the significance of 'mesh' size in the context of ionogels?

The 'mesh' size in ionogels refers to the size of the pores within the polymer network that entraps the ionic liquid, such as N-methyl,N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and lithium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylimide salt. The study found that a mesh size of approximately 5 nm, achieved with an ionogel made from trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate confining 90% ionic liquid, enhances the stability of the confined ionic liquid and overall battery performance. This optimal size allows for efficient lithium-ion diffusion while maintaining structural integrity.

What role does ethylene oxide play in enhancing battery performance when used in ionogels?

Ethylene oxide facilitates lithium-ion diffusion within the ionogel structure, contributing to superior battery performance. The inclusion of ethylene oxide in ionogels made from materials like trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate enhances the movement of lithium ions through the material, which is crucial for efficient charging and discharging of the lithium battery. This is particularly important when using ionic liquids like N-methyl,N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, as it helps to maintain high ionic conductivity.

Beyond improved lithium batteries, what other potential applications might ionogels have in energy storage or other fields?

While this research focuses on using photo-polymerized ionogels with ionic liquids like N-methyl,N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide to enhance the safety and lifespan of lithium batteries, further research could explore other applications. These could include using ionogels in supercapacitors or fuel cells, optimizing the specific ionic liquids and polymer combinations for different electrochemical devices, or investigating the scalability and cost-effectiveness of ionogel production for widespread commercial adoption. The concepts of mesh size and ethylene oxide content could also be explored with other types of batteries for performance gains.