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Highly Stretchable Conductive Covalent Coacervate Gels for Electronic Skin
Nam T Nguyen1, James Jennings2, Amir H Milani1
1Department of Materials, University of Manchester, MSS Tower, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
Biomacromolecules
|February 21, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed new conductive hydrogels using a coacervate approach. These highly stretchable and self-healing gels are suitable for electronic skin and advanced strain sensors.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Highly stretchable and electrically conductive hydrogels are crucial for advanced applications like electronic skin and bioelectronic devices.
- Existing materials often face limitations in balancing stretchability, conductivity, and mechanical robustness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel conductive hydrogel with superior stretchability and mechanical properties.
- To explore a new cross-linked complex coacervate method for hydrogel fabrication.
- To integrate graphene nanoplatelets for enhanced conductivity and sensing capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of hydrogels via a complex coacervate between carboxylated nanogels and branched poly(ethylene imine).
- Covalent cross-linking of poly(ethylene imine) using poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) with varying molecular weights.
- Incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets (Gnp) to impart electrical conductivity and sensing functions.
- Characterization of mechanical properties, including compressive strength and stretchability, and assessment of self-healing and cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- The conductive hydrogels exhibit remarkable compressive strength (25 MPa) and stretchability (up to 1500%).
- Tuning PEGDGE molecular weight allowed optimization of mechanical properties, with a 6000 g/mol cross-linker yielding enhanced toughness and strength.
- The graphene nanoplatelet-infused hydrogels demonstrated effective strain-sensing capabilities and self-healing properties.
- The developed gels are adhesive, conformal, respond rapidly to motion, and show low cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- A scalable and efficient method for preparing highly stretchable, conductive, and self-healable hydrogels was established.
- The complex coacervate approach offers a versatile platform for designing advanced materials for bioelectronic applications.
- These hydrogels represent a significant advancement for wearable electronics, implantable devices, and sensitive strain-monitoring systems.
