Issue 36, 2021

Polypyrrole-doped conductive self-healing multifunctional composite hydrogels with a dual crosslinked network

Abstract

Soft hydrogel materials can be applied for use in biosensors, wearable electronics, artificial skin, soft robots, and so on. Practical applications require the materials to have various properties such as high conductivity, toughness, self-healing, stretchability, and so on. However, achieving all these features in a single material remains challenging at present. Herein, the fabrication of novel composite carboxymethylcellulose/poly(acrylic acid)/polypyrrole/Al(III) (CMC/PAA/PPy/Al(III)) multifunctional hydrogels using a simple method is described. The mechanical and electrical self-healing properties are attained by multiple dynamic coordinations between Al3+ ions and carboxyl groups from CMC and PAA together with the hydrogen bonding between PPy and the –OH of CMC and/or the −COOH of PAA. The electrical conductivity is achieved by the conductive polymer PPy, free ions, and the synergistic effect between the PPy particles and the free ions. Moreover, desirable mechanical properties, such as stretchability (1344%), toughness, and mouldability are realized by establishing a balance between the chemical and physical crosslinking networks, and the nanostructure of PPy. Thus, the resultant hydrogels have potential applications in electronic skin, biomedical implants, and wearable electronic devices in the future.

Graphical abstract: Polypyrrole-doped conductive self-healing multifunctional composite hydrogels with a dual crosslinked network

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 May 2021
Accepted
13 Aug 2021
First published
17 Aug 2021

Soft Matter, 2021,17, 8363-8372

Polypyrrole-doped conductive self-healing multifunctional composite hydrogels with a dual crosslinked network

X. Wang, X. Li, L. Zhao, M. Li, Y. Li, W. Yang and J. Ren, Soft Matter, 2021, 17, 8363 DOI: 10.1039/D1SM00682G

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