Tough double network hydrogels with rapid self-reinforcement and low hysteresis based on highly entangled networks

Ruixin Zhu, Dandan Zhu, Zhen Zheng and Xinling Wang ()
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Ruixin Zhu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dandan Zhu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Zhen Zheng: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Xinling Wang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Most tough hydrogels are reinforced by introducing energy dissipation mechanisms, but simultaneously realizing a high toughness and low hysteresis is challenging because the energy dissipation structure cannot recover rapidly. In this work, high mechanical performance highly entangled double network hydrogels without energy dissipation structure are fabricated, in which physical entanglements act as the primary effective crosslinking in the first network. This sliding entanglement structure allows the hydrogel network to form a highly uniform oriented structure during stretching, resulting in a high tensile strength of ~3 MPa, a fracture energy of 8340 J m−2 and a strain-stiffening capability of 47.5 in 90% water content. Moreover, almost 100% reversibility is obtained in this hydrogel via energy storage based on entropy loss. The highly entangled double network structure not only overcomes the typical trade-off between the high toughness and low hysteresis of hydrogels, but more importantly, it provides an insight into the application of entanglement structures in high-performance hydrogels.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45485-8

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