Rapidly damping hydrogels engineered through molecular friction

Zhengyu Xu, Jiajun Lu, Di Lu, Yiran Li, Hai Lei, Bin Chen, Wenfei Li, Bin Xue (), Yi Cao () and Wei Wang ()
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Zhengyu Xu: Nanjing University
Jiajun Lu: Nanjing University
Di Lu: Zhejiang University
Yiran Li: Nanjing University
Hai Lei: Zhejiang University
Bin Chen: Zhejiang University
Wenfei Li: Nanjing University
Bin Xue: Nanjing University
Yi Cao: Nanjing University
Wei Wang: Nanjing University

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

Abstract: Abstract Hydrogels capable of swift mechanical energy dissipation hold promise for a range of applications including impact protection, shock absorption, and enhanced damage resistance. Traditional energy absorption in such materials typically relies on viscoelastic mechanisms, involving sacrificial bond breakage, yet often suffers from prolonged recovery times. Here, we introduce a hydrogel designed for friction-based damping. This hydrogel features an internal structure that facilitates the motion of a chain walker within its network, effectively dissipating mechanical stress. The hydrogel network architecture allows for rapid restoration of its damping capacity, often within seconds, ensuring swift material recovery post-deformation. We further demonstrate that this hydrogel can significantly shield encapsulated cells from mechanical trauma under repetitive compression, owing to its proficient energy damping and rapid rebound characteristics. Therefore, this hydrogel has potential for dynamic load applications like artificial muscles and synthetic cartilage, expanding the use of hydrogel dampers in biomechanics and related areas.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49239-4

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