Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Birgul Kalkan, Rabia Bozbay, Sena Ciftbudak, Nermin Orakdogen
Summary: The optimization of polymer microspheres and gel beads synthesis is important for its efficiency and design advantages. This study examines the elasticity of the crosslinked-chitosan beads and its impact on the physico-mechanical properties of PNIPA/PAAm-CS beads. The results show that the addition of CS and the gel preparation under cryo-conditions significantly improve the mechanical properties of the beads.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sena Ciftbudak, Birgul Kalkan, Rabia Bozbay, Mertcan Er, Nermin Orakdogen
Summary: In this study, aluminosilicate mineral kaolin-loaded nanocomposite beads were successfully synthesized using a combined method of dropwise freezing into cryogenic liquid and sedimentation cryogelation. The nanocomposite gels exhibited better mechanical properties and thermal stability than neat copolymer gels. The addition of kaolin and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) had opposite effects on the mechanical properties. An overshooting effect attributed to the dynamic conformational changes of tertiary amine of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was observed during swelling at pH 3.6. The increase in network density of the nanocomposite gel with addition of kaolin led to slower molecule relaxation and the diffusion mechanism changed from Fickian to non-Fickian.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ahmet Erdem, Nigar Mammadli, Ufuk Yildiz
Summary: The synthesis of hydrophobic macroinimer-based hybrid sorbents and their application in removing organic solvents and oils from wastewater was studied. The obtained organogels showed high swelling, efficient absorption capacity, and good oil separation performance. Temperature-dependent absorption study showed no significant change in absorption capacity, indicating potential for the sorbents in organic pollutant cleanup from wastewater.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wiwat Pichayakorn, Pornsit Chaiya, Chatchai Chinpaisal, Thawatchai Phaechamud
Summary: In this study, natural rubber (NR) beads were prepared as a floating drug delivery system by dripping NR latex into a hardening solution. The beads showed instant floating and prolonged drug release in HCl buffer. Sodium bicarbonate and shellac were used to modify the properties of the NR matrix and drug release of the beads. The NR-shellac beads exhibited desirable attributes for a floating drug delivery system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Nobuyuki Harada, Yoshiro Mitsukami, Hiroshi Uyama
Summary: Water-swellable hydrogel-forming porous cellulose beads (HFPCBs) were obtained by a single-step thermal reaction and maintained a highly porous structure with a specific surface area of 36.5 m(2)/g. These HFPCBs showed a maximum centrifuge retention capacity of approximately 50 g/g in deionized water and could be used for the germination of plant seeds.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tong Li, Wenwu Yang, Dan Li, Peidong Xing, Ying Liu, Xiaoxuan Zhao, Guangsheng Cao, Xue Bi
Summary: Most onshore water-flooding oilfield reservoirs have high water cut and require plugging treatment. Adding polymer to water-swellable rubber particles can improve suspension performance, but chemical degradation may occur in alkaline conditions. For cases with small crack width, particles of different sizes may be needed for plugging.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Zhang, Yang Zang, Yanli Lu, Weisheng Lin, Shengyun Zhao, Jinping Xiong
Summary: The thermal decomposition of brominated butyl rubber under air atmosphere was studied using TG and DTG techniques at various heating rates, revealing excellent thermal stability.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Abitha Vayyaprontavida Kaliyathan, Ajay Vasudeo Rane, Stefan Jackson, Sabu Thomas
Summary: Understanding the effect of solvents on polymers is crucial for various industrial and laboratory purposes. Swelling in rubber products, caused by easy penetration of solvent molecules due to flexible rubber chains, can be reduced by adding fillers like carbon black, which decreases chain flexibility and solvent uptake. Experimental data on diffusion through rubber vulcanisates were analyzed to predict transport phenomena.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Stefano A. Mezzasalma, Michela Abrami, Gabriele Grassi, Mario Grassi
Summary: This article presents a statistical mechanics theory for rubber-like elasticity in swollen and unswollen polymer networks. The theory derives new statistical and mechanical laws and proposes a theoretical-experimental approach to identify the end-to-end length distribution in polymer networks. The study finds that different polymer networks have different end-to-end distributions, which are not Gaussian.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rodney Marcelo do Nascimento, Jean-Francois Schmitt, Udi Sarig, Joao Elias Figueiredo Soares Rodrigues, Carlos Pecharroman, Ana Paula Ramos, Pietro Ciancaglini, Fabricio Luiz Faita, Rachid Rahouadj, Antonio Carlos Hernandes, Ivan Helmuth Bechtold
Summary: This study investigates the stress-strain effect of a stretchable natural rubber-calcium phosphate composite on surface wettability, revealing two different characteristics of SW in static and dynamic experiments. The research has implications for developing cell support materials in tissue engineering and offers potential applications for the mechanically tunable SW of the system. The results also challenge the traditional wetting theory and provide a theoretical basis for accurate correlation of SW with mechanical properties of the composite.
Article
Polymer Science
Kunakorn Chumnum, Ekwipoo Kalkornsurapranee, Jobish Johns, Karnda Sengloyluan, Yeampon Nakaramontri
Summary: The self-healing composites prepared from BIIR and NR blends filled with CNT and CB showed improved cure and tensile properties after modification with IL and IM. The composites exhibited superior mechanical and electrical properties, making them suitable for inner liner and tire tread applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Tianxiao Zhu, Ruizhi Tian, Liang Wu, Dingyi Zhang, Leying Chen, Xianmei Zhang, Xiangyang Hao, Ping Hu
Summary: In this study, brominated butyl rubber microfiber membranes were prepared by electrospinning and the factors influencing the morphology of the membranes were investigated. The optimized membranes showed ideal microfiber morphology, antibacterial properties, and good mechanical performance.
Article
Polymer Science
Sena Ciftbudak, Nermin Orakdogen
Summary: By investigating the relationship between swelling and deformation properties, the study aimed to establish a correlation between microstructure and charge density in anionic polyacrylamide/itaconic acid (PAAm/ITA) hydrogels. The effective charge density of the network played a dominant role in determining the microstructure of the hydrogels. Various factors such as effective charge density, crosslink density, pH, and surfactant type were explored to understand their effects on swelling and elasticity.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jingyi Yang, Jiangliu Song, Song Miao, Yanxiang Gao, Like Mao
Summary: This study developed novel gel beads with bigel structures based on alginate hydrogel and glycerol monostearate oleogel. The beads were able to encapsulate lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactives simultaneously. The increase in oleogel content led to larger bead size, higher oil filling level, and lower mechanical strength. The swelling of beads was inhibited by the increase in oleogel content. The gel structures provided good protection for curcumin, and about 70% of the original curcumin was retained after a 40-day storage test. The study provided valuable information for the development of functional food materials.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oktay E. Tureyen, Atilla Yilmaz, Sevil D. Yakan, Berkant Yetiskin, Oguz Okay, Oya S. Okay
Summary: In this study, two macroporous butyl rubber (BR)-based sorbents with different porosities were synthesized by cryogelation technique and their performances as passive samplers for PAHs were compared. The results showed that the BR sampler prepared in benzene generally exhibited the highest absorption rates and capacities for all PAHs, suggesting its potential as an effective passive sampler for both short- and long-term monitoring in aquatic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Sevgi Secer, Deniz Ceylan Tuncaboylu
Summary: Mechanically enhanced poloxamer (F127)-based injectable hydrogels in the presence of hyaluronic acid (HA) and three types of cyclodextrin (CD) molecules were prepared in this study. The addition of HA and CD molecules improved the performance of the gels, making them more mucoadhesive.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ozge Akca, Oguz Okay
Summary: This study presents a simple strategy for fabricating shape-memory materials using commercial rubbers. The rubbers are dissolved in a monomer called n-octadecyl acrylate (C18A) and then polymerized using UV light to form interconnected interpenetrating polymer networks (c-IPNs) with crystalline domains. The resulting materials exhibit tunable melting and crystallization temperatures, as well as adjustable mechanical properties. The coexistence of chemical cross-links and crystalline domains allows the c-IPNs to efficiently demonstrate shape-memory functionality.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Esra Su, Gozde Bayazit, Semra Ide, Oguz Okay
Summary: In this study, a self-healing and shape-memory interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) was synthesized by UV polymerization. It was found that the physical properties of IPNs, including melting temperature, crystallinity, Young's modulus, toughness, and stretchability, could be tuned by varying the amount of isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR). The crystalline structure acted as sacrificial bonds to dissipate energy under strain, leading to improved toughness. Furthermore, the IPNs exhibited temperature induced healing behavior and effective shape-memory function.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ezgi B. Ceper, Esra Su, Oguz Okay, Orhan Guney
Summary: In this work, graphene oxide (GO) and vinyl modified GO (V-GO)-based nanocomposite hydrogels with improved mechanical property and self-healing ability have been synthesized and characterized. The effects of GO and V-GO content on the gelation process, viscoelastic characteristics, pH-responsive action, swelling behavior, and mechanical performance of the hydrogels were studied.
POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Husna Kilic, Deniz Ceylan Tuncaboylu, Aslihan Argun, Dilek Ozturk Civelek
Summary: In this study, biocompatible SM-x networks with self-healing and shape memory properties were prepared. The mechanical properties of the gels can be controlled by the amount of SM introduced. The viability of human skin fibroblast cells on SM-x hydrogels was correlated to the water contact angle of the structures. The wide range of properties of SM-x gel samples may have significant potential in biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Berkant Yetiskin, Burak Tavsanli, Oguz Okay
Summary: In this study, soft hydrogels with an interconnected protein and glycosaminoglycan network, inspired by the extracellular matrix (ECM), were fabricated. These hydrogels exhibit compressible and stretchable properties, as well as highly frequency-dependent viscoelasticity above a certain frequency. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels can be easily adjusted by changing the degree of methacrylation of the glycosaminoglycan, as well as the concentration and type of the monomer. This study suggests that the prepared hydrogels have potential applications in tissue engineering.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Berkant Yetiskin, Oguz Okay
Summary: In contrast to synthetic gels, biological hydrogels containing both hydrophilic and lyophilic phases, known as organohydrogels (OHGs), have the potential to mimic biological systems and find various applications. This study presents a simple strategy to obtain adaptive OHGs with tunable mechanics and viscoelasticity. By utilizing a hydrophilic cryogel scaffold and reaction loci within the scaffold, mechanically robust OHGs consisting of a silk fibroin (SF) scaffold and organogel microinclusions were successfully prepared. The OHGs exhibited switchable mechanics and viscoelasticity as well as shape-memory function.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Burak Tavsanli, Cigdem Bilici, Pelin Sungur, Semra Ide, Oguz Okay
Summary: A simple strategy for preparing interconnected interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on butyl rubber (IIR) and poly(n-octadecyl acrylate) (PC18A) has been developed recently. The use of IIR grafted with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and 10-undecenoic acid instead of unmodified IIR improves the mechanical properties of IPNs. The type of grafted monomers significantly affects the mechanical performance of IPNs, and the amount of grafted rubbers in IPN can be increased by incorporating toluene into the reaction system, resulting in IPNs with a wide range of tunable thermal and mechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gozde Bayazit Sekitmen, Esra Su, Sinem Diken Gur, Semra Ide, Oguz Okay
Summary: This study emphasizes the importance of hydrogel-based therapy in repairing cartilage tissue and discusses the nanoscopic requirements for the physical sterilization of hydrogels. The nanostructured and shape memory hydrogel composites previously designed and synthesized by the researchers were used in the study. The study evaluates physical sterilization methods and biofilm formations in the hydrogel materials and investigates their potential as artificial cartilage or cartilage tissue scaffolds. The study determines the most suitable hydrogel sample, physical sterilization methods, and ability to resist biofilm formation for further in vivo studies.
REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Turdimuhammad Abdullah, Oguz Okay
Summary: This study developed 4D-printed hydrogels based on poly(acrylic acid) that can possess shape-memory and self-healing properties. These hydrogels can be magically actuated near the body temperature by adjusting the molar ratio of the monomers and exhibit high mechanical properties. Overall, these 4D printable hydrogels have great potential for biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yahya Bas, Oguz Okay
Summary: This study demonstrates the preparation of mechanically strong and shape-memory organohydrogels (OHGs) by incorporating organo-microgels into the pores of silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds. The stiffness of OHGs can be controlled by adjusting the SF concentration and pore size.
MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Busra Sekizkardes, Esra Su, Oguz Okay
Summary: Polymers based on AMPS have high water absorption capacity when swollen in water. PAMPS hydrogels, synthesized via free-radical cross-linking copolymerization, have poor mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate that terpolymerization of AMPS, MAAc, and DMAA without a chemical cross-linker produces mechanically strong hydrogen-bonded hydrogels. The water content during gelation affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of the hydrogels.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Cigdem Buse Oral, Berkant Yetiskin, Canan Cil, Fatma Nese Kok, Oguz Okay
Summary: Inspired by nature, we designed organohydrogels (OHGs) consisting of a silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel as the continuous phase and the hydrophobic microinclusions based on semicrystalline poly(n-octadecyl acrylate) (PC18A) as the dispersed phase. SF acts as a self-emulsifier to obtain oil-in-water emulsions, and ethanol is added to induce gelation in the continuous SF phase. In the second step, in situ polymerization of C18A droplets in the emulsion system was conducted under UV light in the presence of a photoinitiator to obtain high-strength OHGs with shape-memory function and good cytocompatibility.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gamze Doser, Esra Su, Oguz Okay
Summary: We discussed the properties of seven different synthetic and biopolymer cryogels prepared under the same conditions, and how the cryogenic conditions and chemistry affect their properties. The monomers used included acrylamide, N, N-dimethylacrylamide, sodium acrylate, sodium methacrylate, and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid sodium salt. Silk fibroin and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid were selected as the biopolymers for cryogel preparation. Nonionic cryogels produced with acrylamide and N, N-dimethylacrylamide had the largest pore volumes and average pore diameters, while ionic cryogels exhibited smaller pore volumes due to pore collapse during drying. The SF cryogel had the most mechanically stable porous structure.
REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Cigdem Buse Oral, Berkant Yetiskin, Canan Cil, Fatma Nese Kok, Oguz Okay
Summary: Inspired by nature, the researchers designed organohydrogels (OHGs) using silk fibroin (SF) as the continuous phase and semicrystalline poly(n-octadecyl acrylate) (PC18A) as the dispersed phase. SF acted as a self-emulsifier, making it a versatile and green alternative to chemical emulsifiers. By inducing gelation in the SF phase and polymerization of PC18A droplets, the researchers obtained high-strength OHGs with shape-memory function and good cytocompatibility. The incorporation of hydrophilic and noncrystallizable hydrophobic units further improved the mechanical and shape-memory properties of the OHGs.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Mustafa Kalay, Abidin Esidir, Mahmut Ruzi, N. Burak Kiremitler, Mustafa Serdar Onses
Summary: This study proposes stable and addressable polymer PUFs, utilizing a cross-linkable polymer system, which demonstrates high stochastic characteristics and low-cost production. The performance of the polymer features is evaluated through various analyses, and direct image authentication is achieved using feature matching algorithms.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Jingyu Jin, Guoqiang Lu, Jun Nie, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: Photopolymerization technology is limited in the fields of food packaging and biomedicine due to the high migration of small molecules from photoinitiators. In this study, a polymerizable 2-vinyl thioxanthone (ETX) was synthesized to improve the migration stability of photoinitiators. Macromolecular photoinitiators (PPI1, PPI2) were also prepared to further reduce migration. The results showed that the ETX/TEOA system had higher initiation performance and PPI2 displayed favorable initiation ability. Additionally, the migration of ETX, PPI1, and PPI2 in photocured film was significantly reduced. These low-migration photoinitiators have potential applications in the fields of food packaging and biological materials.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Weijie Li, Jun Nie, Yingying Zhao, Xiaoqun Zhu
Summary: This study focuses on the development of high-performance, low-migration photoinitiators. A polymerizable photoinitiator (VBP) was synthesized by introducing an ethylene group into benzophenone, and three different molecular weight single-component photoinitiators (PVBN1-3) were synthesized based on VBP. The results show that these new photoinitiators have stronger absorption ability compared to benzophenone and significantly reduce the migration of initiators and co-initiators, addressing the safety concerns caused by migration.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Seira Morimune-Moriya, Yuki Iwahashi, Mitsuru Nakamura, Daisuke Ogawa, Keiji Nakamura
Summary: This study investigates the effect of plasma treatment on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the structure/properties of polyimide (PI) nanocomposites with ultra-low content of CNTs. The results show that plasma treatment introduces isocyanate groups on the surface of CNTs and enhances the interfacial interaction between PI and treated CNTs. This leads to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites, with even a small addition of treated CNTs showing a substantial increase in Young's modulus, tensile strength and toughness.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuanlong Li, Chaojie Chen, Guoqing Cui, Li Liu, Chao Zhou, Guangfeng Wu
Summary: In this study, a novel ion-conducting hydrogel was fabricated using a straightforward approach. The hydrogel showed excellent tensile properties and high toughness due to physical interactions and covalent binding. Additionally, the introduction of hydroxyethyl cellulose and lithium chloride improved the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, and frost resistance of the hydrogel, demonstrating its potential for cold climate applications.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Dengwei Yan, Jinxian Yang, Xuejun Pan, Xiaozheng Duan, Lianwei Li, Mo Zhu
Summary: The influence of backbone length on grafting efficiency during the graft-onto reaction process was investigated. It was found that the polydispersity effect of backbone length does not affect the final grafting efficiency, indicating that the local dynamics of chain segments dominate the graft-onto process.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Zhaoyi Luo, Xianjie Pan, Fanqi Liu, Quanxi Yi, Yanning Zeng, Yunhua Chen, Chaoyang Wang
Summary: This study provides a method to prepare high-performance epoxy materials with good malleability and thermal stability. The materials have self-healing and welding capabilities, thanks to the addition of specific chemical bonds and network structures. They exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial epoxy resins and show great potential for sustainable industrial development.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Chaoji Xiong, Hao Wang, Lihua Deng, Kun Liang, Chunhua Wu, Wei Wu, Qian Chen
Summary: In this study, four polyamides were synthesized and their adsorption performances for Hg2+ in aqueous systems were investigated. The polyamides exhibited high adsorption capacities and excellent reusability, with the involvement of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen in the chemical adsorption process of Hg2+.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Siim Laanesoo, Olivier Bonjour, Rauno Sedrik, Iris Tamsalu, Patric Jannasch, Lauri Vares
Summary: The insertion of rigid aliphatic or aromatic building blocks in polymer structures is an effective way to synthesize high -Tg polymer materials. In this study, a series of isosorbide-2-aryl carboxylate-5-methacrylate monomers (ArIMAs) were synthesized by functionalizing isosorbide 5-methacrylate with various aromatic lignin-inspired esters. These monomers were polymerized to obtain high molecular-weight poly(aryl carboxylate isosorbide methacrylates) (PArIMAs). The resulting polymers showed high glass transition temperatures and thermal stability, making them suitable for use as high-performance plastics and coatings.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuqian Wu, Weijie Xu, Jianliang Li, Zhangfeng Zhong, Liqing Huang, Shengke Li, Huaping Tan
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of degradation and drug release characteristics of dynamic Schiff base-mediated natural polysaccharide hydrogels using tannic acid (TA), leading to enhanced stability and functionality.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Xi Zhang, Xiangli Kong, Xin Zhou, Yiyan Gao, Yibo Sun, Guanghui Gao, Wei Liu, Kai Shi
Summary: Conductive hydrogels have great development prospects in flexible strain sensors, but long-term direct contact with human skin can cause bacterial infection. A hydrogel with antibacterial, biocompatibility, and toughness was designed and manufactured using a freeze-thaw method. The hydrogel maintains tensile properties and fatigue resistance at low temperatures and is resistant to bacteria. Therefore, hydrogel sensors can be used to monitor human movements.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Wei Zhang, Jiangang Yu, Mingyang Wu, Rui Li, Anqiang Zhang, Yaling Lin
Summary: In this study, polyacrylamide containing quaternary ammonium salts (PAM-X) were synthesized and found to effectively inhibit soil-borne pathogenic fungi while maintaining the balance of microbial population in soil. PAM-X also showed low toxicity to earthworms and fish, providing a new method for the prevention and control of soil-borne fungal diseases.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Jiawen He, Haojie Yu, Li Wang, Jian Yang, Yanhui Zhang, Wenbing Huang, Chenguang Ouyang
Summary: This review discusses the use of polymeric hydrogels for atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), including the mechanism of water sorption, fabrication methods, and strategies for optimizing the structure of hydrogels. The extended applications of hygroscopic photothermal hydrogels, such as agricultural irrigation and dehumidification, are also explored. The challenges and prospects of using polymeric hydrogels for AWH are summarized.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
Article
Polymer Science
Ying Du, Shuaishuai Lu, Yuanna Sun, Qingshan Li, Xinhai He
Summary: This study introduces a method to improve the performance of hydrogels by incorporating proline, resulting in hydrogels with excellent stretchability, high conductivity, and long-term stability. The hydrogel remains flexible and conductive even at ultra-low temperatures.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2024)
