Super-Stretchable, Freezing-Resistant and Self-Powered Organohydrogel for Extreme Environment-Adaptable High Performance Strain Sensors

Abstract

The rapid development of wearable sensors has indeed driven the demand for multifunctional conductive soft materials to new heights. However, conventional flexible strain sensors are difficult to adapt to complex environments due to poor mechanical properties, susceptibility to freezing deactivation at low temperatures and insufficient long-term stability. In this study, acrylamide (AAm), [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (DMAPS), and octadecyl acrylate (SA) were copolymerized in a glycerol/water system by one-step photopolymerization and PEDOT: PSS was introduced to construct a super stretching antifreeze amphiphilic ion hydrogel (HADP). Its synergistic network, comprising hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and high entanglement, endows it with exceptional properties: a tensile strength of 230 kPa, a strain at break of 5295%, a fracture toughness of 64 MJ m-3, and the ability to retain 3344.5% strain and 194.73 kPa strength even after 7 days of storage at -20°C. Based on high sensitivity (GF=4.55), wide detection range (5-500% strain) and fast response of 0.19 s, the HADP can accurately monitor movements such as joint bending and swallowing and realize encrypted information transmission via Morse code. This study provides a paradigm of high-performance materials and multifunctional integrated design for wearable electronics in complex environments.