Reprocessing and Recycling of Highly Cross-Linked Ion-Conducting Networks through Transalkylation Exchanges of C-N Bonds

Exploiting exchangeable covalent bonds as dynamo cross-links recently afforded a new class of polymer materials coined as vitrimers. These permanent networks are insoluble and infusible, but the network topology can be, reshuffled at high ternperatures, thus enabling glasslike :plastic, deformation and reprocessing without depolymerization. We disclose herein the development of funaional and high-value ion-conducting vitrimers that take inspiration from poly(ionic liquid)s. Tunable networks with high ionic content are obtained, 17 the solvent and catalyst-free polyaddition of an alpha-azide-omega-alkyne monomer and simultaneous alkylation of the resulting poly(1,2,3-triazole)s with a series' of difunctional cross-linking agents. Temperature-nduced transalkylation exchanges of C-N bonds between 1,2,3-triazolium cross links and halide-functionalized dangling chains enable, recycling and reprocessing of these highly, cross linked permanent net-Works. They can also be recycled by depolymerization with specific solvents able to displace the transalkylation equilibrium, and they display a,great potential for applications that require solid electrolytes with excellent mechanical performances and facile processing such as supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells:, and separation membranes.