Polymers and Ionic Liquids

Abstract

The nanometer-scale polymeric material's design and functionalities have attracted extra attention from polymer scientists, and they have put a lot of effort into the introduction of inorganic-rich nano-objects, block copolymers, or ionomers. Over the last decade, ionic liquids (ILs) have evolved from a relatively new material to being known by most chemists as a new component of polymer materials, and are indeed exhibiting a continuous trend at present. Their nonvolatility (green) and a special set of physicochemical properties emanating from their structure make them suitable for a wider range of applications. They can be used as plasticizers, polymeric materials additive/structuration agents, processing acids, novel electrolytes in batteries, and surfactants in functional polymeric preparations. This chapter aimed to provide a complete overview of the preparation methods, the physicochemical properties, and the technological applications of ILs (fire retardancy, mechanical strengthening, and gas-barrier behavior), including the new class of polyelectrolytes, namely polymeric ILs.