Dr. Takeshi Ueki, Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Soft Matter, Hokkaido University (NIMS Senior Researcher), Mr. Yuji Kamiyama (3rd-year doctoral student at Hokkaido University, JSPS Research Fellow), Dr. Ryota Tamate (NIMS Independent Researcher, JST PRESTO Researcher), Dr. Sadaki Samitsu (NIMS Senior Chief Researcher), Dr. Takashi Hiroi (NIMS ICYS Researcher), and Professor Kenta Fujii (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Yamaguchi University) have succeeded in developing a facile method for synthesizing an ultra-high molecular weight polymer with a molecular weight exceeding 1 million, comparable to giant proteins and natural rubber, and ionic liquids. They have succeeded in developing self-healing gel materials composed of the ultra-high molecular weight polymers and ionic liquids.