The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

As research in space and polar regions continues to expand, the demand for stable power supply under extreme environmental conditions has become increasingly critical. However, a significant decrease in conductivity is observed in ionogel-based electrolytes at low temperatures due to the reduced mobility of polymer chains, limited ion–ion dissociation, and low polymer flexibility. Here, we demonstrate a design strategy for ionogel electrolytes that maintain ionic conductivity at low temperatures through controlled molecular interactions. Two synergistic design strategies were employed: increasing polymer flexibility to enhance ion mobility, and improving the ionicity of the ionic liquid through interactions with fluorinated side chains. This ionogel overcomes the low-temperature limitations of existing materials and shows potential for practical applications in thermally demanding environments.