A highly stretchable, ultra-tough, remarkably tolerant, and robust self-healing glycerol-hydrogel for a dual-responsive soft actuator. Issue 45 (4th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Meiling; Wu, Yuanpeng; Xue, Shishan; Xia, Yuanmeng; Yang, Xi; Dzenis, Yuris; Li, Zhenyu; Lei, Weiwei; Smith, Andrew T.; Sun, Luyi
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 7:Issue 45(2019)
• Page Start: 25969
• Page End: 25977
• Publication Date: 2019-11-04
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c9ta10183g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A novel strategy to synthesize a glycerol-hydrogel with high stretchability, ultra-toughness, remarkable tolerance, and outstanding self-healing capability has been developed. A soft actuator has been fabricated based on the glycerol-hydrogel. Abstract : Stimuli-responsive devices based on stretchable, tough, tolerant, and self-healing hydrogels are critical to fabricate soft actuators but it remains a formidable challenge to develop them. Herein, a novel strategy is demonstrated to meet this challenge by incorporating functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (nano-reinforcing domains) into poly(acrylamide- co -maleic anhydride) (soft elastin matrix) hydrogel followed by glycerol–water post-treatment. The resultant glycerol-hydrogel exhibited high stretchability (strain at break up to 2700%), outstanding tensile strength and toughness (up to 2.8 MPa and 19.3 MJ m −3, respectively), long-term dehydration resistance to high temperature (60 °C), and excellent anti-freezing properties at low temperature (−45 °C). Furthermore, excellent self-healing capability was demonstrated by the healing of the hydrogel after three months of storage at temperatures as low as −45 °C. By taking advantage of the outstanding dehydration resistance of the glycerol-hydrogel, dual responsive actuating devices were designed based on bilayer hydrogels to grip, release, and drive a ball under different stimuli. Thus, this work not only inspires the design and fabrication of high-performance hydrogels but also broadens their applications in soft robotics, bioactuators, and other areas.