Mechanically Robust and Multifunctional Ionogels Based on Cellulose and Polymerizable 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride/Acrylamide Deep Eutectic Solvent

Abstract

Ionogels have gained extensive research interest in various advanced application scenarios. However, it remains a big challenge to integrate multiple functions into one ionogel system that can be widely applied in various complex scenes. In this study, a BmimCl/AM polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) is rationally designed, and cellulose was successfully introduced into the PDES system to construct high-performance and multifunctional cellulose-based ionogels. BmimCl/AM PDES gives ionogels the ability to resist low temperatures (−20 °C). The introduction of cellulose greatly enhances the mechanical properties of ionogels. Herein, multifunctional poly(PDES)/cellulose ionogels with a combination of desirable properties, including good mechanical properties (tensile strength is 1.02 MPa, elongation is 888%), high electrical conductivity (conductivity can reach 2.44 S/m), excellent self-healing (24 h self-healing efficiency exceeds 83% at room temperature), antifreezing (maintain stable flexibility and ionic conductivity at −20 °C), adhesiveness (attached to various substrates without external forces), and strain sensitivity (GF value is 1.93–3.16), are reported. Due to these outstanding properties, the feasibility of applying poly(PDES)/cellulose ionogels in human motion sensing is demonstrated. It is expected that the prepared poly(PDES)/cellulose ionogels have the potential to be applied in the field of wearable devices.