In iontronic applications based on ECs, the intercalation mechanism, ion sieving, and batterytype mechanisms each play a significant role with key differences in their reaction rates. Intercalation refers to a process where ions (e.g., Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) are inserted into the lattice of a host material without significantly disrupting its structure. The intercalation can be classified to bulk and surface intercalations. The surface intercalation mechanism is relatively fast, as it allows ions to move quickly in and out of the host material surface, making it suitable for applications requiring rapid ion transport, such as iontronic devices. The reaction rate in surface intercalation is driven by the mobility of ions within the solid structure often enhanced by materials with open frameworks or layered structures, such as tungsten oxide (WO3) or other transition metal oxides. In contrast, ion sieving involves selectively allowing certain ions to pass through a membrane or material based on their size or charge. While this method is efficient for filtration or separation purposes, the reaction rate can be slower compared to intercalation, as it is governed by diffusion and the need for ions to navigate through pores or channels. Ion sieving is typically used in cases where selectivity is more critical than speed and its application in iontronics may be limited to processes where controlled ion flux is essential. Finally, battery-type mechanisms involve bulk intercalation and faradic reactions where ions are involved in redox processes at electrodes. While batteries can store large amounts of energy, their reaction rates are slower than those of surface intercalation mechanisms because ion transport is often coupled with electrochemical reactions which can introduce kinetic limitations. This makes battery-type with a bulk intercalation systems less ideal for real-time iontronic applications where fast switching and response times are required.