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Using chitosan nanofibers to synergistically construct a highly stretchable multi-functional liquid mental-based
Bingyan Wang1, Xueyan Wang1, Wenxia Liu1
1State Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials and Green Papermaking, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong academy of science, Jinan 250353, China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|January 6, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed highly stretchable and self-healing conductive hydrogels using liquid metal (LM) microdroplets for advanced strain sensors. These materials offer exceptional sensing capabilities and durability, even in extreme temperatures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Conductive hydrogels are crucial for strain sensors but achieving high stretchability and sensing performance simultaneously is challenging.
- Liquid metal (LM) microdroplets show promise for initiating polymerization in conductive hydrogels.
- Developing multi-functional hydrogels with superior mechanical and sensing properties is an ongoing research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel liquid metal-based conductive hydrogels with enhanced stretchability and sensing capabilities.
- To investigate the role of chitosan nanofibers and acrylic acid in hydrogel formation and performance.
- To evaluate the hydrogel's potential as a strain sensing material for monitoring human motion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized acrylic acid (AA) to distribute chitosan nanofibers (CSFs) and catalyze polymerization.
- Employed guar gum (GG)-stabilized liquid gallium (Ga) droplets and Ga3+ for in situ crosslinking.
- Characterized the hydrogel's mechanical properties (stretchability, self-healing, adhesion) and sensing performance (gauge factor, detection threshold).
Main Results:
- Achieved a highly stretchable hydrogel (3700%) with ultrafast self-healing, moldability, and adhesion.
- The GG-Ga-CSF-PAA hydrogel demonstrated a high gauge factor (38.8), low detection threshold, and durability.
- The material maintained stretchability and sensing efficacy under extreme temperatures after glycerol treatment.
Conclusions:
- The developed GG-Ga-CSF-PAA hydrogel offers a promising platform for advanced, multi-functional strain sensors.
- The synergistic combination of CSFs, PAA, and Ga3+ ionic crosslinking results in superior material properties.
- The hydrogel's robust performance across a wide range of conditions highlights its potential for wearable electronics and human motion monitoring.
