Professor Zhao Dawei from the Key Laboratory of Characteristic Resources Chemical Engineering and Materials (MOE), in collaboration with Professor Yu Haipeng’s team from Northeast Forestry University, published research findings in Nature Communications

How to balance high mechanical performance, thermal stability, and high ionic conductivity within the same material system has long been a bottleneck restricting the high-value application of ionogels. Traditional ionogels commonly exhibit a performance trade-off, such as “increased strength – decreased conductivity” or “enhanced conductivity – temperature limitation,” making it difficult to meet the demand for the synergistic integration of multiple performance characteristics required in devices. This performance trade-off essentially stems from structural contradictions at the molecular level. Enhancing mechanical properties requires a dense and stable network structure, which however compresses ion transport channels and weakens conductivity. Conversely, improving conductivity often relies on small molecules or salt ions to disrupt interchain forces, which can lead to a loose skeleton and reduced strength. Simultaneously, temperature changes can induce chain segment rearrangement, disturbance of the hydration layer, and phase transitions, causing material performance to degrade under high temperature, low temperature, or thermal cycling. Therefore, breaking this coupling limitation at the molecular scale and achieving synergy between structure and conduction mechanism is a core challenge for the practical application of ionogels.

Figure: Constructing High-Performance Cellulose Ionogels via Crystallization-Induced Molecular Assembly

Recently, Professor Zhao Dawei from our university, in collaboration with Professor Yu Haipeng’s team from Northeast Forestry University, proposed a “dual-ion complexation crystallization-induced molecular assembly” strategy. This strategy utilizes crystallization behavior to guide the assembly of cellulose molecular chains and the formation of a dense and ordered molecular network. Benefiting from the dual-ion coordination and the competitive mechanism of complexation coordination and hydrogen bond reconstruction among cellulose and water molecules, they successfully constructed a cellulose ionogel (Cry-gel) that simultaneously possesses high mechanical strength, wide temperature stability, and excellent ionic conductivity. On November 14, 2025, the related research findings were published in Nature Communications under the title “Balancing mechanical-thermal-electrical properties in cellulose ionogels via crystallization-induced molecular assembly.” Xiaona Li from Northeast Forestry University is the first author of the paper, while Professor Zhao Dawei and Professor Yu Haipeng are the co-corresponding authors.

Translator: Myradov Tahyr

Reviewer: Luc Thy My Le

Final approval: Wang Meng