Multifunctional bio-based wearable ionogel with hierarchical dynamic covalent crosslinked double networks enabled by surface active xylan.

Abstract

Ionogels have emerged as promising candidates for flexible electronics due to their unique properties. However, the development of bio-based ionogels that simultaneously satisfy the requirements of facile fabrication, multifunctionality, and recyclability remains a significant challenge. Herein, the design and preparation of a high-performance ionogel based on lipoic acid and alkenyl xylan (LA-XEA ionogel) is reported. The bio-based ionogel featuring hierarchical dynamic covalent cross-linked double networks (HBD-CAN) via melt processing. Xylan simultaneously inhibits the closed-loop depolymerization of polymeric LA chains while functioning as a cross-linking agent in the ionogel network, resulting in improved mechanical strength. The resulting LA-XEA ionogel demonstrates remarkable properties, including exceptional stretchability (1500 %), strong skin adhesion (33 kPa), high conductivity (6.20 mS/m), excellent optical transparency (>85 %), rapid self-healing capability, and full recyclability. Significantly, LA-XEA ionogel exhibits multi-response mode to both tensile and temperature stimuli, rendering it an ideal candidate for the development of highly sensitive strain and temperature sensors. Meanwhile, LA-XEA ionogel is suitable for wearable sensors to achieve high-quality electrophysiological signal acquisition. This work provides a promising strategy for designing xylan-based ionogels.