Processable, Ion-Conducting Hydrogel for Flexible Electronic Devices with Self-Healing Capability

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02060
• Publication Date: 2020-12-09T19:35:56Z
• Authors: Sujoy Das; Patrick Martin; Gleb Vasilyev; Ramesh Nandi; Nadav Amdursky; Eyal Zussman
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Conductive, self-healing, and adhesive hydrogels are of great significance in wearable electronic devices. The most important properties conductive self-healing the efficient recovery both electrical mechanical at room temperature prolonged durability. In this work, we developed a novel double-network hydrogel consisting poly(4-styrene sulfonate-co-methyl-uracil-imidazolium) chloride (PSS-MUI), gelatin, ferric ions (Fe3+). Here, MUI serves as supramolecular crosslinker, while act ionic crosslinkers between gelatin PSS functional groups. demonstrated excellent stretchability outstanding conductivity. reversible nature dynamic hydrogen bonding metal coordination interactions rendered ability, strong adhesion, rapid performance recovery. Variation Fe3+ concentration proved to influence time window processability allowed tuning ion-conducting properties. optimal ion for use processable, was found be 2 wt %. During repeated stretching, showed only small changes its resistance. An electric circuit successfully assembled onto flexible polyurethane (PU) substrate where power supply, light-emitting diode, resistor were connected with hydrogel, serving wire. Upon breakage wire, simple extrusion precursor into gap yielded instant repair circuit. Thus, suitability