Ionic liquid-based antioxidant materials: a bird’s eye view on the most recent literature

The unwanted effects of radicals formed in some oxidation processes have propelled the obtainment of protecting antioxidant materials for packaging or coatings. A recent development in this regard is constituted by ionic liquid (IL)-based antioxidant materials. This brief perspective surveys the literature and discusses works that appeared in the last decade on such topics. The discussion is divided into two sections: polymer composites and gel-based materials. The latter section also includes gels made by polymerized ILs. Throughout this perspective, the performance of the materials and the role exerted by ILs are discussed. This is one of the few perspectives on this topic, aiming also to discuss the trends of the research currently being conducted and possible suggestions for future research. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Ionic liquids and the future of soft materials'.