Strong and Tough PAm/SA Hydrogel with Highly Strain Sensitivity

• Published in: Journal of renewable materials Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 415 - 430
• Main Author: Zhang, Lingqin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Henderson Tech Science Press 2022
• Subjects: Adhesion; Affinity; Alginic acid; Biocompatibility; Electric contacts; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Graphene; Hydrogels; Interpenetrating networks; Mechanical properties; Polyacrylamide; Remote monitoring; Sodium alginate; Strain
• ISSN: 2164-6341; 2164-6325; 2164-6341
• DOI: 10.32604/jrm.2022.016650

The hydrogel is a preferred material for flexible wearable sensors. In practical application, it should have high-efficiency mechanical toughness and self-healing performance. Besides, hydrogel requires good affinity and adhesion because of its contact with the skin. In this experiment, we made an ultra-tough hydrogel with excellent cell affinity and adhesion. We used sodium alginate (SA) and polyacrylamide (PAm) mixture as a flexible base fluid. Polydopamine reduce graphene oxide (prGO) was used as conductive nanofiller, and then PAm-prGO-SA semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel was formed through Am radical polymerization. The presence of prGO endows the hydrogels with excellent electrical conductivity. Simultaneously, some non-reduced GO forms non-covalent cross-links with PAm, SA, and Polydopamine (PDA) in the hydrogel network. The stress of PAm-prGO-SA hydrogel can reach 750 KPa, and the strain is 900%. The hydrogel, combined with its excellent electrical, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, is expected to be applied in portable, remote, and real-time health monitoring systems.