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Spider-silk-inspired strong and tough hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing and water retention properties

Author

Listed:
  • Shaoji Wu

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Zhao Liu

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Caihong Gong

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Wanjiang Li

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Sijia Xu

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Rui Wen

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Wen Feng

    (Guangdong Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Medical Textile Products)

  • Zhiming Qiu

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Yurong Yan

    (South China University of Technology
    Key Lab of Guangdong High Property & Functional Polymer Materials)

Abstract

Ideal hydrogel fibers with high toughness and environmental tolerance are indispensable for their long-term application in flexible electronics as actuating and sensing elements. However, current hydrogel fibers exhibit poor mechanical properties and environmental instability due to their intrinsically weak molecular (chain) interactions. Inspired by the multilevel adjustment of spider silk network structure by ions, bionic hydrogel fibers with elaborated ionic crosslinking and crystalline domains are constructed. Bionic hydrogel fibers show a toughness of 162.25 ± 21.99 megajoules per cubic meter, comparable to that of spider silks. The demonstrated bionic structural engineering strategy can be generalized to other polymers and inorganic salts for fabricating hydrogel fibers with broadly tunable mechanical properties. In addition, the introduction of inorganic salt/glycerol/water ternary solvent during constructing bionic structures endows hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing, water retention, and self-regeneration properties. This work provides ideas to fabricate hydrogel fibers with high mechanical properties and stability for flexible electronics.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaoji Wu & Zhao Liu & Caihong Gong & Wanjiang Li & Sijia Xu & Rui Wen & Wen Feng & Zhiming Qiu & Yurong Yan, 2024. "Spider-silk-inspired strong and tough hydrogel fibers with anti-freezing and water retention properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48745-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48745-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hainan Gao & Ziguang Zhao & Yudong Cai & Jiajia Zhou & Wenda Hua & Lie Chen & Li Wang & Jianqi Zhang & Dong Han & Mingjie Liu & Lei Jiang, 2017. "Adaptive and freeze-tolerant heteronetwork organohydrogels with enhanced mechanical stability over a wide temperature range," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-8, August.
    4. Mutian Hua & Shuwang Wu & Yanfei Ma & Yusen Zhao & Zilin Chen & Imri Frenkel & Joseph Strzalka & Hua Zhou & Xinyuan Zhu & Ximin He, 2021. "Strong tough hydrogels via the synergy of freeze-casting and salting out," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7847), pages 594-599, February.
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