The present invention relates to a material containing ionic groups, in particular, to the ionic materials that form an ionic pair with a free radical catalyst. Various applications of such materials are also described. Ionic materials can include magnetic particles. Examples of free radical catalysts that can be used include 2,2'-azobis(2 -methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, and 2,2'-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane]dihydrochloride.