Ionogel based on biopolymer-silica interpenetrated networks: dynamics of confined ionic liquid with lithium salt

Obtaining solid-state electrolytes with good electrochemical performances remains challenging. Ionogels, i.e. solid host networks confining an ionic liquid, are promising as they keep the macroscopic properties of the liquid. However, confinement of an ionic liquid can imply important changes in its molecular dynamics, depending on the route of synthesis and on the confining network. We studied this effect on an imidazolium based ionic liquid with its lithium salt confined in a hybrid biopolymer-silica matrix. Dynamics of bulk and confined solution was probed by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) which revealed a weakly slowed dynamics of imidazolium-based ionic liquid inside the polymer-silica host network.