Bio-Inspired Multiscale Design for Strong and Tough Biological Ionogels

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced soft materials with enhanced mechanical properties is crucial for various applications.
• Creating multiscale structures in ionogels to achieve superior mechanical strength remains a significant challenge.
• Existing methods often struggle to integrate micro- and nanoscale features effectively within ionogel matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an in situ integration strategy for producing multiscale-structured ionogels (M-gels).
• To investigate the mechanical properties of the developed M-gel, particularly its performance in biomimetic designs.
• To demonstrate the generalizability of the strategy for creating robust, load-bearing biomaterials.

Main Methods:

• An in situ integration strategy involving ionothermal-stimulated silk fiber splitting and moderate molecularization within a cellulose-ions matrix.
• Fabrication of a hexactinellid-inspired biomimetic M-gel.
• Comprehensive characterization of the multiscale structure (microfibers, nanofibrils, supramolecular networks) and mechanical properties (elastic modulus, fracture strength, toughness, impact resistance).

Main Results:

• The developed M-gel exhibits a unique multiscale structure, integrating microfibers, nanofibrils, and supramolecular networks.
• The hexactinellid-inspired M-gel demonstrated exceptional mechanical properties: elastic modulus (31.5 MPa), fracture strength (6.52 MPa), toughness (1540 kJ m⁻³), and impact resistance (3.07 kJ m⁻¹).
• These properties are comparable to or exceed those of many existing polymeric gels and even hardwood.

Conclusions:

• The in situ integration strategy successfully creates ionogels with superior multiscale structures and mechanical performance.
• The developed M-gel, especially the biomimetic variant, shows significant potential for load-bearing applications requiring high strength and impact resistance.
• This versatile strategy is generalizable to other biopolymers, paving the way for advanced biological ionogels and demanding material applications.