Issue 6, 2021

Balancing the mechanical, electronic, and self-healing properties in conductive self-healing hydrogel for wearable sensor applications

Abstract

Conductive self-healing hydrogels (CSHs) that match the mechanical properties of biological tissues are highly desired for emerging wearable electronics. However, it is still a fundamental challenge to balance the trade-offs among the mechanical, electronic, and self-healing properties in CSHs. In this study, we presented supramolecular double-network (DN) CSHs by pre-infiltrating conductive polyaniline (PANI) precursor into the self-healable hydrophobic association poly(acrylic acid) (HAPAA) hydrogel matrix. The dynamic interfacial interactions between the HAPAA and PANI networks efficiently enhanced the mechanical performances of the HAPAA/PANI (PAAN) hydrogel and could compensate for the negative effect of the enhanced mechanical strength on self-healing. In addition, the interconnected PANI network endowed the PAAN hydrogel with high conductivity and excellent sensory performances. As such, the mechanical and electronic properties of the PAAN hydrogel were simultaneously enhanced significantly without compromising the self-healing performance of the HAPAA matrix, achieving balanced mechanical, electronic, and self-healing properties in the PAAN hydrogel. Lastly, proof-of-concept applications like human physiological monitoring electronics, flexible touch screens, and artificial electronic skin are successfully demonstrated using the PAAN hydrogel with the capability of restoring their electronic performances after the healing process. It is anticipated that such hydrogel network design can be extended into next-generation hydrogel electronics for human–machine-interfaces and soft robotics.

Graphical abstract: Balancing the mechanical, electronic, and self-healing properties in conductive self-healing hydrogel for wearable sensor applications

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
15 1月 2021
Accepted
01 4月 2021
First published
01 4月 2021

Mater. Horiz., 2021,8, 1795-1804

Balancing the mechanical, electronic, and self-healing properties in conductive self-healing hydrogel for wearable sensor applications

G. Su, S. Yin, Y. Guo, F. Zhao, Q. Guo, X. Zhang, T. Zhou and G. Yu, Mater. Horiz., 2021, 8, 1795 DOI: 10.1039/D1MH00085C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements