Preface to ‘Ionic liquids and the future of soft materials’

Abstract This article introduces a special issue of the transactions arising from a Royal Society Discussion Meeting on using ionic liquids for the design and synthesis of soft materials. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together the leading and emerging voices from across the globe to share perspectives on how ionic liquids, versatile solvents with tunable properties, can be used in all aspects of soft material production. This allowed for a rich discussion ranging from fundamental insights into solvent behaviour through to the showcasing of a variety of applications. This article provides the context for and outlines this special issue, which in turn acts as a companion to the meeting, providing critical insights on the use of ionic liquids for the development of advanced materials with applications from sustainability through to healthcare. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue ‘Ionic liquids and the future of soft materials’.