Switchable ionic conductivity and viscoelasticity of ionogels containing photo- and thermo-responsive organometallic ionic liquids

Ionic liquid gels (ionogels) are useful as flexible solid electrolytes owing to their high ionic conductivity and non-volatility. Ionogels possessing photoswitchable have versatile electronic applications, although the fabrication of such materials remains a challenge. Herein, we synthesized photoresponsive ionogels by adding low-molecular-weight gelator, 12-hydroxystearic acid, photoreactive organometallic liquids. UV photoirradiation an ionogel containing [Ru(C5H5)(C6H5OC3H6CN)][N(SO2F)2] (Gel-1) decreased its while increasing viscoelastic modulus. This is photochemical formation coordination bonds between cations in gel. The reaction was reversed upon heating, hence physical properties were reversibly controlled application light heat. An [Ru(C5H5){C6H3(OC6H12CN)3}][N(SO2F)2] with three substituents (Gel-2) also prepared, which transformed into rubber-like having polymer structure photoirradiation. photoproduct exhibited much lower higher modulus compared Gel-1.