Research Highlights 02
Extending the Lifespan of Next-Generation Rechargeable Batteries with Polymer Gels
2025.01.22
Lightweight and highly flexible, polymer gels are often described as having properties that bridge the gap between liquids and solids. By controlling the interactions between their two key components—polymers and solvents—Ryota Tamate has developed a range of polymer gels with unique properties. He is now actively exploring their potential applications.
Ryota Tamate
Independent Researcher
Designing interactions between polymers and solvents
A polymer gel is a three-dimensional network of crosslinked polymer chains that swell by absorbing solvent. Focusing on the interactions between polymers and solvents, Tamate has developed polymer gel electrolytes with diverse functionalities by utilizing ion-conductive solvents.
One example is the self-healing ion gel he introduced in 2022, which combines high mechanical strength with self-repairing capabilities. When damaged, the gel restored itself as the surrounding polymer chains reestablish their entangled state (Fig. 1). The gel also exhibits unique properties: it can withstand up to one ton of pressure, be reshaped, and is fully recyclable (Fig. 2).
Tamate discovered that this gel, made of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polymers (i.e., polymers with molecular weights exceeding one million), can be easily synthesized by polymerizing monomers in an ionic liquid solvent.
When compressed to 10% of its original volume under one ton of pressure, the gel regained its shape without collapsing. The gel is recyclable due to the absence of chemical crosslinking in its polymer components and the use of a non-volatile ionic liquid as the solvent.
“I have adopted various strategies to enhance the functionality of polymer gels, such as utilizing chemical bonds in addition to the physical entanglement of polymer chains,” Tamate explained. “Currently, my primary focus is on extending the lifespan of lithium metal batteries.”
