Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiao Guo, Xinyu Dong, Guijin Zou, Huajian Gao, Wei Zhai
Summary: We have successfully fabricated a strong and tough hydrogel with architected multiscale hierarchical structures using a freeze-casting-assisted solution substitution strategy. The key factors contributing to its toughness are the microscale anisotropic honeycomb-structured fiber walls and matrix, hydrogen bond-enhanced fibers with nanocrystalline domains, and cross-linked strong polyvinyl alcohol chains with chain-connecting ionic bonds. This study provides insights into the structure-performance mechanisms of tough hierarchically structured hydrogels and offers inspiration for advanced design strategies for other promising hierarchical materials.
Article
Polymer Science
Ja-Rok Kim, Sung-Ho Woo, You-Lim Son, Jae-Ryong Kim, Rajeswari M. Kasi, Seong-Cheol Kim
Summary: A new three-step strategy has been developed to increase both the mechanical strength and swelling ratio of hydrogels. By cross-linking PAAm with PVA, obtaining a dual network through acid treatment and drying, and converting cross-linked PAAm into polyelectrolyte in the dual network, the hydrogel achieves excellent mechanical properties and remarkable swelling, allowing for anisotropic swelling through simple stretching.
Article
Polymer Science
Yuqing Wu, Yunqi Shi, Huiliang Wang
Summary: Hydrogen bonding is important for the construction and stabilization of polymeric materials. This study shows that hydrogen-bonded poly(vinyl alcohol)-urea hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties can be prepared by drying PVA-urea solutions at an elevated temperature and then swelling in water. The addition of urea enables the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds, resulting in the high strength and modulus of the hydrogels. This discovery challenges the conventional understanding of urea solely as a hydrogen bond breaker and provides new strategies for the fabrication of polymeric materials with enhanced mechanical properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chuang Dong, Jiahua Zhou, Dongjian Shi, Yufang Song, Xi Yu, Weifu Dong, Mingqing Chen, Daisaku Kaneko
Summary: A one-step mild method for preparing PVA hydrogels, inducing PVA crystallization through small molecules containing hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, has been developed to overcome shortcomings of the traditional freeze-thaw method. The obtained hydrogels exhibit high mechanical properties, atypical plasticity, short gelation time, and repeatable sol-gel transformation.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Ran Zhang, Wenhui Zhao, Fangdong Ning, Jinming Zhen, Huifen Qiang, Yujue Zhang, Fengzhen Liu, Zhengfeng Jia
Summary: This paper reports the design of a novel interpenetrating network hydrogel inspired by the microscopic architecture of natural cartilage. The hydrogel is based on a supramolecular sodium alginate nanofibril network. The incorporation of the alginate nanofibril network significantly improves the mechanical strength and toughness of the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel. The multiple hydrogen bonds between PVA chains and alginate fibers provide efficient energy dissipation, resulting in a significant increase in the mechanical strength of the PVA/SA/NaCl hydrogel. The hydrogel also exhibits superior water-lubrication and load-bearing performance compared to pure PVA hydrogels, and demonstrates bioactivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Lu, Oudong Hu, Linxi Hou, DeZhan Ye, Sen Weng, Xiancai Jiang
Summary: This study developed a hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties and high conductivity using starch and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as raw materials. The hydrogel was cross-linked by PVA's crystalline regions through freezing-thawing cycles, and enhanced interaction between substrates was achieved by immersion in saturated Na3Cit solution. The introduction of glycerol and Na3Cit improved the anti-freezing properties of the hydrogel. The experimental results demonstrated that the SPGN gel maintained high mechanical flexibility and ionic conductivity even at very low temperatures.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lei Liu, Xiaodong Xu, Menghe Zhu, Xihua Cui, Jiabing Feng, Zahra Faraji Rad, Hao Wang, Pingan Song
Summary: Inspired by the hydrogen-bond cross-linking structure of spider silk, strong and tough PVA composites with beta-cyclodextrin as a cross-linker are developed, showing high tensile strength, elastic modulus, and toughness. The addition of beta-cyclodextrin also improves the biodegradability of the PVA composite. Furthermore, the PVA/beta-cyclodextrin composite combined with MXene has great potential as a sensor material for humidity and strain detection.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingkun Wang, Shuofei Sun, Gening Dong, Feifei Long, Jonathan T. Butcher
Summary: We have successfully replicated the properties of load-bearing soft tissues using a thermomechanical approach. Our gelatin methacryloyl fiber hydrogel exhibits soft tissue-like mechanical properties, biochemical and architectural similarity to native extracellular matrix, and supports cell remodeling. This combination of mechanical properties and bioactivity is highly desirable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xiaodong Xu, Lujuan Li, Seyed Mohsen Seraji, Lei Liu, Zhen Jiang, Zhiguang Xu, Xin Li, Sheng Zhao, Hao Wang, Pingan Song
Summary: The addition of inositol molecules as cross-linkers can increase the strength and toughness of nanostructured PVA composites, with a correlation between H-bond cross-linking density and mechanical properties. Dynamic physical cross-linking and crystalline grain refinement contribute to the enhanced performance of the materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chuchu Chen, Yiren Wang, Tong Zhou, Zhangmin Wan, Quanling Yang, Zhaoyang Xu, Dagang Li, Yongcan Jin
Summary: This research aims to develop strong and tough wood-based hydrogels by improving the interfacial interaction between wood cell wall and polymer through UV grafting. The resulting hydrogels, with PAM-grafted cellulose nanofiber architectures, showed significantly higher tensile properties and potential for sensor applications. The UV grafting strategy may open up new possibilities for the development of wood-based composites.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuhang Tang, Shunyu Chen, Xiufeng Xiao
Summary: With the rapid development of soft electronics, the demand for hydrogel materials as conductive materials with high flexibility, adjustable mechanical strength, and wide range of applications has grown rapidly. However, conventional hydrogels are not very tough and mechanically strong, and do not adapt well to the environment. In this study, an ion-conductive double-network hydrogel was designed and synthesized, with excellent flexibility, good conductivity, and stable responsiveness under various strain and cycling tests. It shows great potential as a strain sensor and writing recognition material in complex scenarios.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matteo Hirsch, Alvaro Charlet, Esther Amstad
Summary: Many soft natural tissues possess unique mechanical properties achieved through complex interactions between structure and composition. To address the lack of control in soft synthetic materials, a novel 3D printing approach called double network granular hydrogels (DNGHs) has been introduced. These DNGHs are stiff enough to support high tensile loads and significantly tougher than pure polymeric networks. This ink allows for the printing of strong and tough objects with high shape fidelity, opening up new possibilities for soft robotic applications.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yongqi Yan, Longya Xiao, Qin Teng, Yuanyuan Jiang, Qin Deng, Xuefeng Li, Yiwan Huang
Summary: Researchers have successfully fabricated composite hydrogels with high strength, toughness, and adhesion by a simple composite strategy. The composite gels are reinforced by a fiber fabric matrix, providing high load-bearing capability and good crack resistance. Additionally, the gel matrix exhibits good adhesion due to its soft and sticky nature. The effect of fiber fabric content on the mechanical and adhesion properties of the composite gels has been systematically studied, resulting in an optimized composite gel with significantly improved properties compared to the gel matrix.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rita G. Fonseca, Aline Kuster, Pedro P. Fernandes, Mahmoud Tavakoli, Patricia Pereira, Jose R. Fernandes, Francesco De Bon, Armenio C. Serra, Ana C. Fonseca, Jorge F. J. Coelho
Summary: Recently, a simple method has been reported to prepare highly stretchable and tough hydrogels that are photodegradable on-demand. These hydrogels exhibit remarkable mechanical properties due to the combination of ionic and covalent crosslinking, as well as the reduction of the PEG backbone length. The authors successfully used these hydrogels as skin-worn sensors for monitoring human respiration and physical activities, showing great potential for applications in bioelectronics, biosensors, wearable computing, and stretchable electronics.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Wanglong Zhang, Yiwei Zhang, Yu Dai, Fan Xia, Xiaojin Zhang
Summary: The study demonstrates a method for enhancing the adhesion of hydrogels to skin by utilizing a gradient adhesive-tough effect, resulting in significantly increased elongation at break. Furthermore, the hydrogels show potential applications as wearable strain sensors.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanfu Tian, Yehua Yang, Jinqiang Tan, Dachuan Ding, Zhiyuan Song, Qian Tao, Xuan Zheng, Tao Hu, Xinghou Gong, Chonggang Wu
Summary: An optimally compatibilized composite of chain-extended and -carboxylated PET ionomer and HBA-HNA was successfully prepared to enhance the compatibility of PET/LCP composite and mechanically strengthen the PET matrix. The synergistic effects of ionization and HBA-HNA inclusion significantly improved the mechanical properties of the composite, with a substantial increase in Young's modulus and tensile strength compared to PET. This one-pot method of synergistic ionization/LCP inclusion shows promise for the commercial production of PET engineering resins.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hongyu Cen, Chonggang Wu, Zhenyu Chen
Summary: This study synthesized N, S co-doped carbon coated MnS/MnO/Mn nanoparticles and investigated their inhibition performance on carbon steel corrosion in a CO2-saturated 3 wt% NaCl solution. The results showed that the nano-inhibitors effectively inhibited corrosion with an efficiency of over 90% at 200 mg/L, and the mechanisms involved Mn accumulation as anode material and dense corrosion product, as well as the formation of a hydrophobic film with special micro-nano structures.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Haifeng Zhang, Cheng Cai, Tao Hu, Zhijie Zhang, Lina Dai, Huafeng Fei, Hongli Bai, Chonggang Wu, Xinghou Gong, Xuan Zheng
Summary: In this study, a core-shell structured support for Pt catalyst with a magnetic Fe3O4 core and a porous silica shell bearing amino groups was reported, showing high Pt loading and fraction of active Pt-0 species for a model hydrosilylation reaction. XPS analysis indicated that amino ligands played a dominant role in Pt loading and Fe2+ facilitated the formation of low valence Pt-0. The catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability due to the magnetic nature of the support and proper support-metal interactions.
APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhiyuan Song, Jie Wang, Qian Tao, Yang Yu, Hui Zhang, Chuanqun Hu, Hongyu Cen, Xuan Zheng, Tao Hu, Chonggang Wu
Summary: Zn-salt poly(styrene-ran-cinnamic acid) (SCA-Zn) ionomers were successfully synthesized with different mass fractions of ZnO via the melt neutralization of poly(styrene-ran-cinnamic acid) (SCA). The SCA-Zn ionomers showed significantly improved mechanical properties, heat resistance, and impact toughness compared to both SCA and commercial PS. This method efficiently enhances the toughness and heat resistance of PS, offering a promising way to broaden the market application of styrenic resins.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Xun Li, Min Xia, Xin Dong, Ren Long, Yuanhao Liu, Yiwan Huang, Shijun Long, Chuanqun Hu, Xuefeng Li
Summary: The structure, morphology, fracture toughness, and flaw sensitivity length scale of chain-extended poly(butylene succinate) were investigated. The results show that chain extension can significantly improve the toughness of the polymer and reduce the notch sensitivity. This principle can be applied to other high toughness material systems.
Article
Polymer Science
Xuefeng Li, Hanyu Chen, Xueyin Peng, Dapeng Li, Wei Wang, Mengfan Chen, Dezheng Hu, Shijun Long, Yiwan Huang
Summary: A method of fabricating a gel with high and adjustable interfacial adhesion has been developed by combining different interactions. The adhesion between gel-gel and gel-glass can be easily adjusted. This method also enables the creation of high-strength composites with good moldability and self-healing capability.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanfu Tian, Hongyu Cen, Xuan Zheng, Zheng Zeng, Wen Xu, Tao Hu, Xinghou Gong, Chuanqun Hu, Chonggang Wu
Summary: In this study, it was found that the ionized polyamide-66 (PA-66) with 2.6 mol% of ZnCl2 (PA-66-Zn) could effectively nucleate poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) more than CaCl2-ionized PA-66 and non-ionized PA-66. This is attributed to the stronger ion-dipole interactions (IDIs) between PET esters and the ionized-PA-66 ZnCl2-coordinating amides, which enhances the interfacial compatibility between PET and PA-66-Zn. The PET/PA-66-Zn also exhibited significantly improved crystallinity and heat resistance compared to PET/PA-66 and PET.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yang Yu, Zheng Zeng, Xuesong Gao, Chunyong Xiong, Huamei Zhu, Hongyu Cen, Xuan Zheng, Qingting Liu, Tao Hu, Chonggang Wu
Summary: To enhance proton conductivity, sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) was covalently grafted with segments containing multiple propanesulfonic acid groups (MS-SPEEK-102). The resulting MS-SPEEK-102 exhibited higher proton conductivity and power density compared to SPEEK, attributed to the increased number of sulfonic acid groups and construction of uninterrupted proton-conducting channels through the movement of flexible side-chain segments. This study presents a potential approach for obtaining a proton exchange membrane with improved proton conductivity based on SPEEK.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xuefeng Li, Yuxin Zhao, Danni Xu, Dapeng Li, Wei Wang, Dezheng Hu, Yiwan Huang, Shijun Long
Summary: This study developed a thermoresponsive hydrogel-based actuator with a bilayer structure consisting of a thermoresponsive double network hydrogel and a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer. The shape deformations of the bilayer actuator were controllable by adjusting the thickness ratio of the hydrogel and elastomer layers and introducing metal ions.
Article
Materials Science, Characterization & Testing
Mengfan Chen, Xuefeng Li, Dapeng Li, Jiaqi Shen, Shijun Long, Yiwan Huang
Summary: In this study, an anti-swelling polyampholyte (PA) hydrogel was developed by introducing multi-hydrogen bonding functional VDT moieties into a DAC/NaSS coexisting and cation/anion ratio tunable PA network. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel could be controlled by solvent displacement and Hofmeister effect, exhibiting high tensile strength, Young's modulus, and wet adhesion toughness. This PA hydrogel shows great potential in underwater sensing, sewage treatment, and biomedical applications.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Zhiyuan Song, Yang Yu, Zheng Zeng, Hongyu Cen, Xuan Zheng, Tao Hu, Xinghou Gong, Chonggang Wu
Summary: Polyamide-66 (PA-66) ionized by CaCl2 is used as nucleating agents, along with cholesterol nonanoate (CN) as plasticizers, to co-modify poly(bisphenol-A carbonate) (PC) and improve its crystallinity. The appropriate degree of ionization of CaCl2-PA-66 enhances the crystallinity of PC by creating finer crystals, but excessive ionization reduces dispersibility and nucleation efficiency.
MATERIALS RESEARCH EXPRESS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shunlan Chen, Dapeng Li, Ying Wen, Gege Peng, Kexin Ye, Yiwan Huang, Shijun Long, Xuefeng Li
Summary: This study reports a biohydrogel made from two oppositely charged polysaccharides, which exhibits excellent elasticity, tensile strength, and swelling resistance. Addition of iron nanoclusters to the hydrogel results in favorable antibacterial activity and promotion of wound healing and skin regeneration.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hanyu Chen, Qiang Wu, Liqing Ai, Dapeng Li, Shijun Long, Yiwan Huang, Xuefeng Li
Summary: This article reports a surface engineering strategy using PVA/OSA double network hydrogel coating to improve the performance of PTFE hollow fiber membranes, which exhibited high efficiency in oil-water separation and antifouling performance.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Xuan Zheng, Xin Miao, Yufei Xiao, Lei Guo, Yalin Wang, Tao Hu, Xinghou Gong, Chonggang Wu, Chuanxi Xiong
Summary: In this study, two-dimensional tungsten diselenide (WSe2) nanoflakes were obtained through liquid-phase exfoliation and investigated for their application in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The results showed that the nanoflakes can effectively enhance hole transport and improve photovoltaic characteristics.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xuefeng Li, Yonglin Wang, Dapeng Li, Mengmeng Shu, Lingli Shang, Min Xia, Yiwan Huang
Summary: This study presents a method for fabricating strong and thermosensitive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based hydrogels, where a double network construction strategy resulted in hydrogels with excellent mechanical properties and desirable biocompatibility. The incorporation of NIPAM as an adjustor led to temperature-dependent swellabilities and antibacterial functionality against E. coli, demonstrating potential for biomedical applications.
