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Superstrong, superstiff, and conductive alginate hydrogels

Author

Listed:
  • Donghwan Ji

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Jae Min Park

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Myeong Seon Oh

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Thanh Loc Nguyen

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Hyunsu Shin

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Jae Seong Kim

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Dukjoon Kim

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Ho Seok Park

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

  • Jaeyun Kim

    (Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
    Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
    Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
    Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU))

Abstract

For the practical use of synthetic hydrogels as artificial biological tissues, flexible electronics, and conductive membranes, achieving requirements for specific mechanical properties is one of the most prominent issues. Here, we demonstrate superstrong, superstiff, and conductive alginate hydrogels with densely interconnecting networks implemented via simple reconstructing processes, consisting of anisotropic densification of pre-gel and a subsequent ionic crosslinking with rehydration. The reconstructed hydrogel exhibits broad ranges of exceptional tensile strengths (8–57 MPa) and elastic moduli (94–1,290 MPa) depending on crosslinking ions. This hydrogel can hold sufficient cations (e.g., Li+) within its gel matrix without compromising the mechanical performance and exhibits high ionic conductivity enough to be utilized as a gel electrolyte membrane. Further, this strategy can be applied to prepare mechanically outstanding, ionic-/electrical-conductive hydrogels by incorporating conducting polymer within the hydrogel matrix. Such hydrogels are easily laminated with strong interfacial adhesion by superficial de- and re-crosslinking processes, and the resulting layered hydrogel can act as a stable gel electrolyte membrane for an aqueous supercapacitor.

Suggested Citation

  • Donghwan Ji & Jae Min Park & Myeong Seon Oh & Thanh Loc Nguyen & Hyunsu Shin & Jae Seong Kim & Dukjoon Kim & Ho Seok Park & Jaeyun Kim, 2022. "Superstrong, superstiff, and conductive alginate hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30691-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30691-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Feifei Wang & Jipeng Zhang & Haotian Lu & Hanbing Zhu & Zihui Chen & Lu Wang & Jinyang Yu & Conghui You & Wenhao Li & Jianwei Song & Zhe Weng & Chunpeng Yang & Quan-Hong Yang, 2023. "Production of gas-releasing electrolyte-replenishing Ah-scale zinc metal pouch cells with aqueous gel electrolyte," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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