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Fast-cure 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate based ionogels have been realised for the first time. The influence of curing temperature on the structure of ionogels and their performance as the electrolyte for electric doublelayer capacitors (EDLCs) has been investigated. Hybrid ionogels were synthesised via a non-hydrolytic sol-gel route and were fully gelled post heat-treating at 125, 150, 175 and 200 °C for 60 min with minimal shrinkage. Charge-transfer resistance (a rate-limiting parameter in cell kinetics during charge/discharge cycles) was reduced by ∼80% by increasing the heat-treatment temperature; this was partially attributed to the interlocking effect facilitated by high curing temperature. We report a maximum areal capacitance of 95 mF cm −2. Due to ∼40% increase in the penetrability coefficient of the ionic liquid, the electrode 'full' wetting time dropped from 48 to 5 h when the curing temperature was increased above 150 °C. These results were supported by SEM and Raman spectroscopy to characterise the effect of high temperature heat-treatment on the electrode-ionogel interface and the degree of electrode wetting by the ionic liquid. The fast-cure fabrication process for ionogels removes one of the major hurdles in their industrial application while the improved room temperature ion transport kinetics expands the potential application of ionic liquid-based electrochemical systems.

The inherent reactivity of Al–Cu–Mg alloys is such that their use for building structural, maritime, and airplane components with great strength/weight ratios would not be possible without good anti-corrosion systems. These systems could be considered as imitations of the protection mechanism found in the conventional hexavalent chromium-based system, but with additional limited environmental impact, and in particular without toxic or carcinogenic effects. These coatings also are intended to be eco-friendly, using less of the valuable raw materials and energy than more traditional methods. Silica-based hybrid protective coatings have been shown to exhibit excellent chemical stability combined with the ability to reduce the corrosion of metal substrates. However, research shows that sol–gel has some limitations in terms of the period of the anti-corrosive properties. Therefore, this work reports the performance of a silica-based hybrid sol–gel coating encapsulated with benzimidazole (BZI) that can be applied to light alloys to form an inherently inhibited and crack-free coating. This coating was applied on AA 2024-T3 and cured at 80 °C. The high corrosion resistance performance results from the combination of good adhesion, the hydrophobic property of the silica-based hybrid coating, and the presence of the encapsulated (BZI) film-forming volatile corrosion inhibitor, which is released at pores within the coating system, resulting in film-forming, reducing the reaction at cathodic sites. The evaluation of this mechanism is based on using electrochemical testing techniques. The anti-corrosion properties of the coatings were studied when immersed in 3.5% NaCl by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potential-dynamic polarization scanning (PDPS). The chemical confirmation was performed by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), supported by analyzing the morphology of the surface before and after the immersion testing by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The benzimidazole-silica-based hybrid coating exhibited excellent anti-corrosion properties, providing an adherent protective film on the aluminum alloy 2024-T3 samples compared to sol–gel-only and bare metals, as a cost-effective and eco-friendly system.

Silica-based coatings prepared using sol-gel polymerizing technology have been shown to exhibit excellent chemical stability combined with reducing the corrosion of metal substrates, showing promising use in aerospace and marine applications to protect light alloys. Moreover, this technology is an eco-friendly technique route for producing surface coatings, showing high potential for replacing toxic pre-treatment coatings of traditional conversation chromate coatings. This study aims to investigate the enhancement in corrosion protection of a hybrid-organic-inorganic silica-based coating cured at 80 °C by increasing the hydrophobicity to work on the aluminium 2024-T3 alloy. This approach involving a novel silica-based hybrid coating was prepared by introducing 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) into the base hybrid formula created from tetraethylorthosilicatesilane (TEOS) and triethoxymethylsilane (MTMS) precursors; this formula was enhanced by introducing a Polydimethylsiloxane polymer (PDMS). The corrosion protection properties of these coatings were examined by being immersed in 3.5% NaCl with electrochemical impedance testing (EIS) and Potentiodynamic polarization scanning (PDPS). The chemical elements confirmation was performed using infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR); all this was supported by analysing the surface morphology before and after the immersion by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of the electrochemical impedance testing analyses reveal the new open finite-length diffusion circuit element due to electrolyte media diffusion prevented by fluorinated groups. Additionally, it shows increases in corrosion protection arising from the increasing hydrophobicity of the fluorinated coating compared to other formulas cured under similar conditions and bare substrate. Additionally, the modified sol-gel exhibited improved resistance to cracking, while the increased hydrophobicity may also promote self-cleaning.