Mechanically robust polyacrylamide/gelatin ionic hydrogels reinforced by sodium alginate for wearable device applications
Cui D. Sun Y. Li T. Hu Z. Zhao Y. Wang X. Chen S. Toktarbay Z. Wei H.
June 2025Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
2025#8Issue 3
Herein, an ionic hydrogel using sodium alginate (SA) toughened polyacrylamide (PAM)/gelatin semi-interpenetrating network with both high strength and high ductility for stress sensing is constructed. In the designed PGS-Ca2+/LiCl (short for PAM/Gelatin/SA-Ca2+/LiCl) hydrogel network, PAM acts as a flexible hydrophilic skeleton, and gelatin acts as a flexible secondary network. The addition of SA inhibits the phase separation of gelatin and improves the transparency of hydrogel. Meanwhile, the macromolecule SA complexes with metal ions of Ca2+, leading to the formation of a distinct complex structure which remarkably enhances the mechanical robustness of the hydrogel. Moreover, the incorporation of inorganic salt LiCl confers high electrical conductivity, concomitantly reducing the freezing point, mitigating water loss, and enhancing the environmental stability of the hydrogel, thereby endowing the hydrogel with improved adaptability to diverse operating conditions. PGS-Ca2+/LiCl has excellent mechanical properties and ultra-high ductility (with a tensile strength up to 110 kPa at break, a strain up to 1500% at break), as well as high stress sensing properties (with an excellent GF of 1.07, a pressure sensitivity of 0.0107). In addition, a handwriting sensor, a Morse code sensor, and an 8 × 8 sensor have been designed to recognize different signals and show the movement of objects and different pressures, which shows that PGS-Ca2+/LiCl ionic hydrogels have great potential in electronic skin, wearable and flexible devices.
Ionic hydrogel , Multi-functions , Semi-interpenetrating network , Stress-sensing , Wearable electronics
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State Key Laboratory of Bio-based Fiber Materials, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
College of Light Industry Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco-Utilization, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Multiplexed Identification for Port Hazardous Chemicals, College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
Department of Сhemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Dostyk Ave. 13, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Engineering Profile, Satbayev University, Satbayev St. 22a, Almaty, 050013, Kazakhstan
State Key Laboratory of Bio-based Fiber Materials
College of Light Industry Science and Engineering
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brine Chemical Engineering and Resource Eco-Utilization
Department of Сhemistry
Laboratory of Engineering Profile
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