Poly (vinyl alcohol)/carboxylated cellulose nanofibers composite hydrogel flexible strain sensors

Liu X. Wu Z. Alomar T.S. AlMasoud N. Liu X. Han X. Guo N. Weng L. Gao J. Algadi H. Koibasova L. Ydyrys A. Ren J. Guo Z.
May 2025 Elsevier B.V.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
2025 #309

This study introduces a method for constructing a dual cross-linked hydrogel network via combined chemical and physical processes. Carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CNF-C) and tannic acid (TA) were integrated into a borax-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, followed by the incorporation of metal cations (Al³⁺) to fabricate PVA/CNF-C composite hydrogels. The PVA-TA@CNF-C-Borax-Al³⁺ hydrogel forms a multi-crosslinked 3D network through dynamic borate ester bonds between PVA and borax, coordination bonds between TA and Al³⁺, and hydrogen bonds from CNF, endowing the hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties. The PTCB(PVA-TA@CNF-Borax) hydrogel, with a TA to CNF-C mass ratio of 1:4, exhibits superior mechanical strength(1.6 MPa), robust conductivity(1.7 × 10⁻² S/cm), and stable thermal properties(95 % at 60 °C). Furthermore, the influence of different valence ions on the hydrogels properties was systematically investigated through the introduction of Na⁺, Zn²⁺, and Al³⁺ cations. It was found that Al³⁺ can effectively enhance the tension and elasticity of the crosslinked network, improving the mechanical adaptability and sensitivity of the hydrogel. Additionally, this hydrogel system exhibits excellent strain-sensing capabilities. When employed as a self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator sensor, it can generate a stable open-circuit voltage of 2 V.

Carboxylated cellulose nanofibers , Flexible strain sensor , Hydrogel

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School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, 150040, China
Key Laboratory of Engineering Dielectric and Its Application Technology of Ministry of Education, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, 150040, China
Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group Co.,Ltd, Liyang, 213300, China
State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xian Jiaotong University, Xian, 710049, China
Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, Najran university, Najran, 11001, Saudi Arabia
Laboratory of Physiology of the Lymphatic System, Institute of Genetics and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Biomedical Research Centre, Al-Farabi Kazakh National Unviversity, Al-Farabi Avenue 71a, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
Key Laboratory of Engineering Dielectric and Its Application Technology of Ministry of Education
Mechanical and Construction Engineering
Department of Chemistry
Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group Co.
State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment
Department of Electrical Engineering
Laboratory of Physiology of the Lymphatic System
Biomedical Research Centre
College of Materials Science and Engineering

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