Abstract
Soft materials consisting of ionic liquids and polymers have been recognized as a new class of advanced materials and have attracted significant attention in the past decade. Compared with conventional soft materials composed of polymers and molecular solvents, ionic liquid/polymer composites exhibit very unique properties such as negligible vapor pressure, thermal stability, non–flammability and high ionic conductivity with maintaining self–standing ability. Herein, we review recent advances in composite soft materials comprised of polymers and ionic liquids as ion–conducting polymer membranes applied for soft actuators, fuel cell membranes and electrolytes of lithium batteries. For fabrication of composites, microphase–separation of block copolymers and a sulfonated polyimide in ionic liquids are utilized.
