Skin-inspired polysaccharide-based hydrogels with tailored properties for information transmission application

Conductive hydrogels have attracted significant research interest in flexible electronics owing to their intrinsic flexibility and biocompatibility. However, the rapid and sustainable fabrication of green conductive hydrogels with excellent mechanical and conductive properties remains a significant challenge. Inspired by the structure of human skin, modified polysaccharide-reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) ionic conductive hydrogels with tailored properties were developed through Zn²⁺ coordination and Hofmeister effect. The results demonstrated that precisely tunable mechanical properties (σ = 0.39-1.93 MPa, ε = 501-1010 %) and conductivity (IC = 0.26-1.10 S/m) were achieved through the regulation of ionic concentrations at relatively low levels. The enhancement in both mechanical and conductive properties arose from multiscale interactions, including the formation of dense nanofibril networks and crystalline domains, alongside multiple metal coordination and hydrogen bonding interactions. Meanwhile, the conductive hydrogel exhibits a low strain detection limit (2 %), highlighting its promising applications in human health monitoring. Crucially, a wireless information transmission system was developed based on this ionic conductive hydrogel, aimed at facilitating information transmission for deaf-mute individuals. This work presents an eco-friendly and biomimetic strategy for fabricating ionic conductive hydrogels with tailored properties, expanding their advanced applications in flexible sensing.