Inorganic hydrogels: synthetic strategies, properties and applications

Hydrogels are widely used in various areas of human life. The vast majority of hydrogel materials used are polymer-based. Despite a number of advantages compared to polymer-based materials, studies on inorganic hydrogels are very limited and scattered. They are rarely offered as a basis for development of new functional materials. This review is an attempt to draw attention of researches to inorganic hydrogels. It describes currently existing methods for the synthesis of such hydrogels, their properties, and shows possible applications of the hydrogel materials.

Automated summary

Hydrogels, widely used in various aspects of human life, are mostly based on polymer materials. However, research on inorganic hydrogels is limited and scattered, and they are rarely considered for the development of new functional materials. This review aims to raise awareness and provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis methods, properties, and potential applications of inorganic hydrogel materials.