Stretchable, adhesive and conductive cellulose nanofiber-based hydrogel for multifunctional wearable electronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Conductive hydrogels are crucial for wearable electronics and energy harvesting.
• Developing materials with enhanced conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical strength is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel conductive hydrogel with dual ionic/electronic conductivity.
• To evaluate its performance in wearable sensors, energy harvesting, and supercapacitors.

Main Methods:

• Free radical polymerization and hydrogen bonding were used to create the CNF/PAM/PANI (CPP) hydrogel.
• Lithium ions (Li+) were incorporated to modulate network interactions and enhance properties.
• The hydrogel's performance was tested in sensors, triboelectric nanogenerators, and supercapacitors.

Main Results:

• The CPP hydrogel exhibited excellent tensile properties (1200% strain, 119 kPa strength) and enhanced conductivity.
• Wearable sensors showed high sensitivity (GF=8.95), fast response/recovery times, and a wide sensing range (400%).
• The hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerator achieved a power density of 69 mW/m², and supercapacitors demonstrated high specific capacitance (309.41 mF/cm²) with good low-temperature performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed ionic/electronic dual-conductive hydrogel offers significant potential for advanced wearable electronics.
• This material provides a promising platform for next-generation sensors, energy harvesters, and flexible energy storage devices.