Raman analysis (Renishaw inVia confocal Raman microscope) was performed on the bulk exchanged gels. The analysis was performed with a 532 nm Ar laser and 1800/mm grating through a 20× objective lens. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA, TA Instruments) on the Raman-studied gels was performed from 30-550 o C at 5 o K min -1 under air flow. Analysis was performed in an aluminum pan. N2 adsorption testing was performed using a Micromeritics ASAP 2020 instrument. To characterize the silica network in the ionogel, we modified a procedure reported previously. In the current case, the gels were immersed in ethanol to replace the trapped liquid. Then, the ethanol is removed by supercritical drying using liquid CO2 in a Tousimis Samdri Dryer. In this way, the alcohol is removed without generating the capillary forces that would collapse the SiO2 network. Samples were outgassed overnight at 110 °C before testing. Testing was conducted at 77° K. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas were calculated at 0.2 P/Po and the pore distribution was calculated using Micromeritics Tarazona DFT adsorption model from the isotherm data. Conductivity data was collected from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements made using a BioLogic SP300 potentiostat on the gels and liquids that were sandwiched between stainless steel rods at temperatures between -40 to 100 o C. The frequency range for the EIS was from 1 MHz to 1 Hz with a 10mV amplitude.