NOVELTY - Salt (A) comprising an anionic component (I) and a cationic component (II) are new.    USE - (A) is useful in lubricants, additives, gas separation, liquid separation, membranes, fuel cells, sensors, batteries, coatings, heat storage, liquid crystals, biocompatible fluids, solvents, and electronic materials.    ADVANTAGE - (A) exhibits the ability to swell in water to retain a fraction of water within the structure without dissolving. (A) exhibits physical properties such as water content, soft, adhesivity, and rubbery consistency.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Salt (A) comprising an anionic component (I) and a cationic component (II) are new, where anionic component (I) is of formula (Y1) or (X-(Y1)m) and the cationic component (II) is of formula (W1-(Z)n).    n, m = 1-100;    X = alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatics, monocyclic or polycyclic heteroaromatics, polysilanes, polyethylene glycols, poly(propylene glycol), polyalkylene oxides, polysiloxanes, polyacrylates, polyacetals, acrylics, cellulosics, polyethers, halogenated polyethers, halocarbons, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes and/or polyurethanes;    Y1 = carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, tetrafluoroborates, hexafluorophosphates, bis-trifluoromethane-sulfonimides, borates, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, triflates, antimonates, phosphoniums, carboranes, poly-oxo metallates or metalloboranes;    W1 = absent, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, monocyclic or polycyclic aromatics, monocyclic or polycyclic heteroaromatics, linear or branched polysilanes, polyethylene glycols, poly(propylene glycol), polyalkylene oxides, polysiloxanes, polyacrylates, polyacetals, acrylics, cellulosics, polyethers, halogenated polyethers, halocarbons, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes and/or polyurethanes;    Z = H, halo, azide, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroaralkyl, heteroaryloxy, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, nitro, sulfhydryl, imino, amido, phosphonate, phosphinate, phosphonium, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, alkylthio, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, ketone, aldehyde, ester, heterocyclyl, trifluoromethyl, CN, R-N+(R2)-R, R-P+(R2)-R or 26 heterocyclic compounds of formula e.g. pyridine compound of formula (a), pyrimidine compound of formula (b), pyrazine compound of formula (c), imidazole compound of formula (d) or thiazole compound of formula (e); and    R = H, halo, azide, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, OH, alkoxy, aryloxy, (hetero)aryl, heteroaralkyl, heteroaryloxy, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, nitro, sulfhydryl, imino, amido, phosphonate, phosphinate, phosphonium, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, alkylthio, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, ketone, aldehyde, ester, heterocyclyl, trifluoromethyl or CN.    Provided that Z is R-N+(R2)-R, R-P+(R2)-R or 26 heterocyclic compounds e.g. of formulae (a)-(e). Provided that one R is a bond to W1; and any two adjacent R may form a 5-7-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring (optionally saturated).