High-performance PVA-based hydrogels for ultra-sensitive and durable flexible sensors

IF 23.2 2区材料科学 Q1 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Pub Date : 2025-01-25 DOI:10.1007/s42114-024-01137-5

Yuhang Han, Yuanyuan Liu, Yande Liu, Dawei Jiang, Zijian Wu, Bo Jiang, Hui Yan, Zhexenbek Toktarbay

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Constructing highly stretchable and sensitive flexible strain sensors is significant for applications in human–computer interaction, wearable devices, and electronic skins. However, integrating high stretchability and sensitivity into a single system is challenging. In this study, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was interpenetrated into an acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AAc), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel matrix to form a three-dimensional structure. Through simple coordination with polyaniline (PANI) and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), a high-performance hydrogel, PANI/PVA/CMC-Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (P(AM-co-AA))-Zn²⁺ hydrogel, was prepared as the base material. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus of the base hydrogel were 421 kPa, 246%, and 80 kPa, respectively, when the amount of AAc was introduced at 6 mL. To further improve its antifreeze and moisture-preserving properties, the base hydrogel was immersed in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and water, resulting in the optimized PANI/PVA/CMC-P(AM-co-AA)-Zn²⁺/EG hydrogel. The optimized hydrogel exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical properties, including a fracture tensile strength of 838 kPa, a strain of 330%, and an elastic modulus of 302 kPa, when the volume ratio of EG to water reached 1:3. The formation of numerous hydrogen bonds between EG and water molecules prevented ice crystal formation and hindered water evaporation. As a result, the hydrogel exhibited excellent freezing tolerance (-41.6 ℃) and long-lasting moisture (83.7% weight retention after 7 days), maintaining stable mechanical flexibility over a wide temperature range. Due to the presence of conductive polymers and ions, the optimized hydrogel demonstrated high sensitivity (GF = 2.94 for a tensile strain range of 0%-200%) and was able to monitor body movements such as elbow, finger, wrist, and leg bending. These features, combined with its responsiveness to changes in temperature, sweat, and pH, make the optimized hydrogel a promising material for multifunctional sensor applications.

Graphical Abstract

PVA-based hydrogels offer high performance in flexible sensors.

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来源期刊

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Multiple-

CiteScore

26.00

自引率

21.40%

发文量

185

期刊介绍： Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials is a leading international journal that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration among materials scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, and physicists working on composites, including nanocomposites. Our aim is to facilitate rapid scientific communication in this field. The journal publishes high-quality research on various aspects of composite materials, including materials design, surface and interface science/engineering, manufacturing, structure control, property design, device fabrication, and other applications. We also welcome simulation and modeling studies that are relevant to composites. Additionally, papers focusing on the relationship between fillers and the matrix are of particular interest. Our scope includes polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices, with a special emphasis on reviews and meta-analyses related to materials selection. We cover a wide range of topics, including transport properties, strategies for controlling interfaces and composition distribution, bottom-up assembly of nanocomposites, highly porous and high-density composites, electronic structure design, materials synergisms, and thermoelectric materials. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials follows a rigorous single-blind peer-review process to ensure the quality and integrity of the published work.