Synthesis and Studies of PAM-Ag-g/WS2/Ti3C2Tx Hydrogel and Its Possible Applications


Arinova A. Boukhvalov D.W. Umirzakov A. Bondar E. Shongalova A. Mustafa L. Kemelbekova A. Dmitriyeva E.
October 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Polymers
2025#17Issue 19

In this study, a new hybrid hydrogel based on PAM (polyacrylamide)-Ag-g/WS2/Ti3C2Tx was synthesized by radical polymerization using a conductive heterostructural nanocomposite WS2/Ti3C2Tx. The synergy between the polymer matrix and the interface between two-dimensional nanomaterials ensured the production of a hydrogel with high extensibility and conductivity, as well as sensory characteristics. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent strain-sensing capabilities, with gauge factors of 1.4 at low strain and 2.8 at higher strain levels. In addition, the material showed a fast response time of 2.17 s and a short recovery time of 0.46 s under cyclic stretching, which confirms its high reliability and reproducibility. The integration of Ti3C2Tx and WS2 promoted the formation of a conductive network in the hydrogel structure, which simultaneously increased its mechanical strength and signal stability under variable loads. Measurements confirm some potential of the PAM-Ag-g/WS2/Ti3C2Tx composite hydrogel as a flexible wearable strain sensor. Based on measured numbers, we discussed the impact of the WS2/Ti3C2Tx interface on the Gauge factor and conductivity of the composite. Theoretical modeling demonstrates significant changes in the electronic structure of the WS2/Ti3C2Tx interface, and especially the WS2 surface, induced by substrate strain. Possible applications of the peculiar properties of PAM-Ag-g/WS2/Ti3C2Tx composite were proposed.

DFT , dichalcogenides , flexible sensor , hydrogel , interfaces , MXene , strain sensor , WS2

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Laboratory of Photovoltaic Phenomena and Devices, Institute of Physics and Technology, Satbayev University, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
Department of Materials, National Center of Space Research and Technology JSC, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan

Laboratory of Photovoltaic Phenomena and Devices
Department of Chemistry
Department of Materials

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