A UV-induced self-reinforced hydrogel based on in situ hydrophobic aggregation of strained 1,2-dithiolane rings
Yu Jiang1, Huiqing Zhong1, Qinwen Tan1
1Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Energy Materials Chemistry of Ministry of Education & Hubei Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science, Hubei R&D Center of Hyperbranched Polymers Synthesis and Applications, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China. yu.jiang@scuec.edu.cn.
Abstract:
A novel responsive hydrogel exhibiting self-reinforcement and self-healing capacity was developed based on the hydrophobic aggregation of strained 1,2-dithiolane rings. Oligomerization of 1,2-dithiolane within hydrophobic domains under UV irradiation not only reinforced the hydrogel but also maintained its dynamic cross-linked nature by converting the intraring dynamic S-S bond to an outer one.
