Construction of strain responsive Ti-containing carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel with transitional coordination...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Conductive hydrogels are vital for intelligent skin and wearable electronics due to their sensitivity and flexibility.
• Hydrogel degradation limits their long-term performance and reliability in electronic applications.
• Developing robust and self-healing hydrogels is crucial for advancing wearable technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an environmentally friendly, self-healing conductive hydrogel with enhanced properties for strain sensing.
• To investigate the role of titanium ions in improving hydrogel conductivity and performance.
• To demonstrate the hydrogel's potential in detecting human motion and sound for wearable devices.

Main Methods:

• A two-step synthesis involving coordination and amidation reactions using a transitional metal ion precursor.
• Incorporation of titanium (Ti4+) ions to enhance electrical conductivity.
• Characterization of mechanical properties, self-healing efficiency, conductivity, and response time.

Main Results:

• The synthesized hydrogel exhibited excellent self-healing (93.66% in 3h), tensile (136.46 kPa), and compression (1.122 MPa) properties.
• Titanium incorporation significantly boosted electrical conductivity (25.64 mS·cm⁻¹) and sensor response (TS = 24.78 s⁻¹).
• The hydrogel demonstrated fast response (153 ms recovery time), stable conductivity, and precise detection of human movements and speech.

Conclusions:

• The Ti-containing conductive hydrogel offers a promising solution for durable and high-performance strain sensors.
• Its self-healing and self-adhesion capabilities, even underwater, enhance its applicability in challenging environments.
• The material shows significant potential for next-generation intelligent skin and wearable electronic devices.