Spider-silk-inspired strong and tough hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing and water retention properties

Shaoji Wu, Zhao Liu, Caihong Gong, Wanjiang Li, Sijia Xu, Rui Wen, Wen Feng (), Zhiming Qiu and Yurong Yan ()
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Shaoji Wu: South China University of Technology
Zhao Liu: South China University of Technology
Caihong Gong: South China University of Technology
Wanjiang Li: South China University of Technology
Sijia Xu: South China University of Technology
Rui Wen: South China University of Technology
Wen Feng: Guangdong Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Medical Textile Products
Zhiming Qiu: South China University of Technology
Yurong Yan: South China University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Ideal hydrogel fibers with high toughness and environmental tolerance are indispensable for their long-term application in flexible electronics as actuating and sensing elements. However, current hydrogel fibers exhibit poor mechanical properties and environmental instability due to their intrinsically weak molecular (chain) interactions. Inspired by the multilevel adjustment of spider silk network structure by ions, bionic hydrogel fibers with elaborated ionic crosslinking and crystalline domains are constructed. Bionic hydrogel fibers show a toughness of 162.25 ± 21.99 megajoules per cubic meter, comparable to that of spider silks. The demonstrated bionic structural engineering strategy can be generalized to other polymers and inorganic salts for fabricating hydrogel fibers with broadly tunable mechanical properties. In addition, the introduction of inorganic salt/glycerol/water ternary solvent during constructing bionic structures endows hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing, water retention, and self-regeneration properties. This work provides ideas to fabricate hydrogel fibers with high mechanical properties and stability for flexible electronics.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48745-9

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