Autonomous underwater adhesion driven by water-induced interfacial rearrangement

Le Yao, Chengjiang Lin, Xiaozheng Duan (), Xiaoqing Ming, Zhixuan Chen, He Zhu, Shiping Zhu and Qi Zhang ()
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Le Yao: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Chengjiang Lin: Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaozheng Duan: Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaoqing Ming: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Zhixuan Chen: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
He Zhu: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Shiping Zhu: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Qi Zhang: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Underwater adhesives receive extensive attention due to their wide applications in marine explorations and various related industries. However, current adhesives still suffer from excessive water absorption and lack of spontaneity. Herein, we report an autonomous underwater adhesive based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-benzyl methacrylate) amphiphilic polymeric matrix swollen by hydrophobic imidazolium ionic liquid. The as-prepared adhesive is tough and flexible, showing little to none instantaneous underwater adhesion onto the PET substrate, whereas its adhesion energy on the substrate can grow more than 5 times to 458 J·m−2 after 24 hours. More importantly, this process is entirely spontaneous, without any external pressing force. Our comprehensive studies based on experimental characterizations and molecular dynamic simulations confirm that such autonomous adhesion process is driven by water-induced rearrangement of the functional groups. It is believed that such material can provide insights into the development of next-generation smart adhesives.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42209-2

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