Ionic gels with high mechanical strength enabled by supramolecular interactions between small molecular solvents and polymer chains

Abstract The limited mechanical properties of hydrogels significantly impede their practical applications. In this research, we have synthesized supramolecular ionic gels using betaine, citric acid, and acrylamide as the main components. These specimens exhibit exceptional tensile properties (exceeding 1000% elongation at break) and toughness (approximately 3 MJ/m 3 ), as well as recovery capabilities under substantial compressive strains. Furthermore, these transparent and conductive ionic gels have been employed in the fabrication of alternating current electroluminescent devices with single-electrode configurations. The outcomes of this study indicate that the high-strength ionic gel preparation method outlined herein shows great potential for expanding the application spectrum of ionic gels.