A Recyclable Ionogel with High Mechanical Robustness Based on Covalent Adaptable Networks
Xiaotong Fan1, Yifei Luo2, Ke Li2
1Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Republic of Singapore.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|September 14, 2024
Summary
This study introduces advanced ionogels with dynamic covalent adaptable networks (CANs) for sustainable flexible electronics. These recyclable ionogels offer superior mechanical strength and conductivity, overcoming limitations of previous designs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Ionogels are promising soft materials for flexible electronics due to their ionic conductivity and stretchability.
- Current recyclable ionogels using non-covalent bonds lack mechanical robustness and chemical stability.
- There is a need for ionogels that balance mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and recyclability for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop highly robust, stretchable, and recyclable ionogels for advanced flexible electronics.
- To address the trade-off between mechanical enhancement and ionic conductivity in ionogel materials.
- To create sustainable ionogels with improved durability and reconfigurability for bioelectronic applications.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of covalent adaptable networks (CANs) with dynamic covalent crosslinks into ionogel structures.
- Utilizing physical crosslinks between conducting ions and polymer networks to enhance material properties.
- Testing mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation, elasticity, durability) and ionic conductivity.
Main Results:
- The developed ionogels exhibit high tensile strength (11.3 MPa), exceptional elongation at break (2396%), and excellent elasticity.
- The CAN-based ionogels demonstrate remarkable durability (5000 cycles at 150% strain) and closed-loop recyclability up to ten times.
- The material successfully breaks the dilemma between mechanical enhancement and electrical conductivity, showing robust strain sensing performance.
Conclusions:
- Covalent adaptable networks significantly improve the mechanical robustness, stretchability, and durability of ionogels.
- The synergistic effect of dynamic covalent and physical crosslinks enhances both mechanical and electrical properties.
- These recyclable, high-performance ionogels offer a promising pathway for functionally reliable and environmentally sustainable bioelectronics.
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