In conclusion, our investigation into a wide range of PTC-based systems has revealed distinct interaction characteristics: a strict ion-pair nature exhibited by salts, longer ion-pair interactions, and, finally, HB-assisted ion pairs (Figure ). The presence of HB donors, either weak or strong, facilitates the formation of ion pairs through one or an intricate network of HBs and also pro-vides directionality and structural stability to an interaction that, by definition, lacks such features. On the other hand, in the absence of these donors, a longer-range ion pair spanning approximately 4 Å is established. These findings emphasise the importance of hydrogen bonding in influencing the nature of ion-pair interactions and provide valuable insights for understanding the behaviour of different systems governed by them. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more specific and accurate nomenclature regarding the ion-pair nature of interactions within PTCs.