Self-Healable and 4D Printable Hydrogel for Stretchable Electronics

Self-Healable and 4D Printable Hydrogel for Stretchable Electronics

2023 | Huijun Li, Chin Boon Chng, Han Zheng, Mao See Wu, Paulo Jorge Da Silva Bartolo, H. Jerry Qi, Yu Jun Tan, and Kun Zhou
A self-healable and 4D printable hydrogel combining a covalently crosslinked acrylic acid (AAC) network with Fe³⁺ ions through dynamic ionically crosslinked coordination was developed. This hydrogel exhibits high stretchability (up to 1700% fracture strain), excellent self-healing ability (88% mechanical and 97% electrical healing efficiency), and 4D printability. It also demonstrates remarkable electrical sensitivity (gauge factor of 3.93 at 1500% strain) and conductivity (~1.22 S m⁻¹). The hydrogel was used to fabricate strain sensors, touch panels, and shape-morphing structures with water-responsive behavior. It was also applied in soft robotics and demonstrated excellent shape-memory properties. The hydrogel's unique combination of stretchability, conductivity, self-healing, and 4D printability makes it a promising material for stretchable electronics. The study highlights the potential of this hydrogel in various applications, including electronic skin, soft robotics, and wearable devices. The hydrogel was synthesized through free radical polymerization and characterized using tensile tests, self-healing experiments, and electrical measurements. The results show that the hydrogel can recover its original shape after healing and maintain its conductivity. The study also demonstrates the hydrogel's ability to be 4D printed, enabling the creation of structures that change shape over time. The hydrogel's performance was compared with other self-healable materials, showing superior self-healing efficiency and conductivity. The hydrogel's potential for future applications in stretchable electronics is highlighted, as it can be used in sensors, actuators, and other electronic devices. The study provides a new approach for developing multifunctional hydrogels with high stretchability, conductivity, self-healing ability, and 4D printability.A self-healable and 4D printable hydrogel combining a covalently crosslinked acrylic acid (AAC) network with Fe³⁺ ions through dynamic ionically crosslinked coordination was developed. This hydrogel exhibits high stretchability (up to 1700% fracture strain), excellent self-healing ability (88% mechanical and 97% electrical healing efficiency), and 4D printability. It also demonstrates remarkable electrical sensitivity (gauge factor of 3.93 at 1500% strain) and conductivity (~1.22 S m⁻¹). The hydrogel was used to fabricate strain sensors, touch panels, and shape-morphing structures with water-responsive behavior. It was also applied in soft robotics and demonstrated excellent shape-memory properties. The hydrogel's unique combination of stretchability, conductivity, self-healing, and 4D printability makes it a promising material for stretchable electronics. The study highlights the potential of this hydrogel in various applications, including electronic skin, soft robotics, and wearable devices. The hydrogel was synthesized through free radical polymerization and characterized using tensile tests, self-healing experiments, and electrical measurements. The results show that the hydrogel can recover its original shape after healing and maintain its conductivity. The study also demonstrates the hydrogel's ability to be 4D printed, enabling the creation of structures that change shape over time. The hydrogel's performance was compared with other self-healable materials, showing superior self-healing efficiency and conductivity. The hydrogel's potential for future applications in stretchable electronics is highlighted, as it can be used in sensors, actuators, and other electronic devices. The study provides a new approach for developing multifunctional hydrogels with high stretchability, conductivity, self-healing ability, and 4D printability.
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