Facile synthesis of supramolecular ionic polymers that combine unique rheological, ionic conductivity, and self-healing properties

Abstract

A new family of supramolecular ionic polymers is synthesized by a simple method using (di-/tri-)carboxylic acids and (di-/tri-)alkyl amines. These polymers are formed by carboxylate and ammonium molecules that are weakly bonded together by a combination of ionic and hydrogen bonds, becoming solid at room temperature. The supramolecular ionic polymers show a sharp rheological transition from a viscoelastic gel to a viscous liquid between 30 and 80 °C. This sharp viscosity decrease is responsible for an unprecedented jump in ionic conductivity of four orders of magnitude in that temperature range. As a potential application, this chemistry can be used to develop polymeric materials with self-healing properties, since it combines properties from supramolecular polymers and ionomers into the same material.