IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-40004-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Liquid-in-liquid printing of 3D and mechanically tunable conductive hydrogels

Author

Listed:
  • Xinjian Xie

    (Sichuan University)

  • Zhonggang Xu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Xin Yu

    (Sichuan University)

  • Hong Jiang

    (Sichuan University)

  • Hongjiao Li

    (Sichuan University)

  • Wenqian Feng

    (Sichuan University
    Sichuan University)

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels require tunable mechanical properties, high conductivity and complicated 3D structures for advanced functionality in (bio)applications. Here, we report a straightforward strategy to construct 3D conductive hydrogels by programable printing of aqueous inks rich in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) inside of oil. In this liquid-in-liquid printing method, assemblies of PEDOT:PSS colloidal particles originating from the aqueous phase and polydimethylsiloxane surfactants from the other form an elastic film at the liquid-liquid interface, allowing trapping of the hydrogel precursor inks in the designed 3D nonequilibrium shapes for subsequent gelation and/or chemical cross-linking. Conductivities up to 301 S m−1 are achieved for a low PEDOT:PSS content of 9 mg mL−1 in two interpenetrating hydrogel networks. The effortless printability enables us to tune the hydrogels’ components and mechanical properties, thus facilitating the use of these conductive hydrogels as electromicrofluidic devices and to customize near-field communication (NFC) implantable biochips in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinjian Xie & Zhonggang Xu & Xin Yu & Hong Jiang & Hongjiao Li & Wenqian Feng, 2023. "Liquid-in-liquid printing of 3D and mechanically tunable conductive hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40004-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40004-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40004-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-40004-7?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ujwal Chaudhary & Ioannis Vlachos & Jonas B. Zimmermann & Arnau Espinosa & Alessandro Tonin & Andres Jaramillo-Gonzalez & Majid Khalili-Ardali & Helge Topka & Jens Lehmberg & Gerhard M. Friehs & Alain, 2022. "Spelling interface using intracortical signals in a completely locked-in patient enabled via auditory neurofeedback training," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Vivian R. Feig & Helen Tran & Minah Lee & Zhenan Bao, 2018. "Mechanically tunable conductive interpenetrating network hydrogels that mimic the elastic moduli of biological tissue," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Hyunwoo Yuk & Baoyang Lu & Shen Lin & Kai Qu & Jingkun Xu & Jianhong Luo & Xuanhe Zhao, 2020. "3D printing of conducting polymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Jinxing Li & Yuxin Liu & Lei Yuan & Baibing Zhang & Estelle Spear Bishop & Kecheng Wang & Jing Tang & Yu-Qing Zheng & Wenhui Xu & Simiao Niu & Levent Beker & Thomas L. Li & Gan Chen & Modupeola Diyaol, 2022. "A tissue-like neurotransmitter sensor for the brain and gut," Nature, Nature, vol. 606(7912), pages 94-101, June.
    5. Vivian R. Feig & Helen Tran & Minah Lee & Zhenan Bao, 2018. "Author Correction: Mechanically tunable conductive interpenetrating network hydrogels that mimic the elastic moduli of biological tissue," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-1, December.
    6. Baoyang Lu & Hyunwoo Yuk & Shaoting Lin & Nannan Jian & Kai Qu & Jingkun Xu & Xuanhe Zhao, 2019. "Pure PEDOT:PSS hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Han Ouyang & Zhuo Liu & Ning Li & Bojing Shi & Yang Zou & Feng Xie & Ye Ma & Zhe Li & Hu Li & Qiang Zheng & Xuecheng Qu & Yubo Fan & Zhong Lin Wang & Hao Zhang & Zhou Li, 2019. "Symbiotic cardiac pacemaker," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huimin He & Hao Li & Aoyang Pu & Wenxiu Li & Kiwon Ban & Lizhi Xu, 2023. "Hybrid assembly of polymeric nanofiber network for robust and electronically conductive hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Yang Li & Nan Li & Wei Liu & Aleksander Prominski & Seounghun Kang & Yahao Dai & Youdi Liu & Huawei Hu & Shinya Wai & Shilei Dai & Zhe Cheng & Qi Su & Ping Cheng & Chen Wei & Lihua Jin & Jeffrey A. Hu, 2023. "Achieving tissue-level softness on stretchable electronics through a generalizable soft interlayer design," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Zhouheng Wang & Nanlin Shi & Yingchao Zhang & Ning Zheng & Haicheng Li & Yang Jiao & Jiahui Cheng & Yutong Wang & Xiaoqing Zhang & Ying Chen & Yihao Chen & Heling Wang & Tao Xie & Yijun Wang & Yinji M, 2023. "Conformal in-ear bioelectronics for visual and auditory brain-computer interfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Xiao Liu & Jingping Wu & Keke Qiao & Guohan Liu & Zhengjin Wang & Tongqing Lu & Zhigang Suo & Jian Hu, 2022. "Topoarchitected polymer networks expand the space of material properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Jooyeun Chong & Changhoon Sung & Kum Seok Nam & Taewon Kang & Hyunjun Kim & Haeseung Lee & Hyunchang Park & Seongjun Park & Jiheong Kang, 2023. "Highly conductive tissue-like hydrogel interface through template-directed assembly," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Pengfei Xu & Shaojia Wang & Angela Lin & Hyun-Kee Min & Zhanfeng Zhou & Wenkun Dou & Yu Sun & Xi Huang & Helen Tran & Xinyu Liu, 2023. "Conductive and elastic bottlebrush elastomers for ultrasoft electronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Tong Li & Zhidong Wei & Fei Jin & Yongjiu Yuan & Weiying Zheng & Lili Qian & Hongbo Wang & Lisha Hua & Juan Ma & Huanhuan Zhang & Huaduo Gu & Michael G. Irwin & Ting Wang & Steven Wang & Zuankai Wang , 2023. "Soft ferroelectret ultrasound receiver for targeted peripheral neuromodulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Won Bae Han & Gwan-Jin Ko & Kang-Gon Lee & Donghak Kim & Joong Hoon Lee & Seung Min Yang & Dong-Je Kim & Jeong-Woong Shin & Tae-Min Jang & Sungkeun Han & Honglei Zhou & Heeseok Kang & Jun Hyeon Lim & , 2023. "Ultra-stretchable and biodegradable elastomers for soft, transient electronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Martin Hjort & Abdelrazek H. Mousa & David Bliman & Muhammad Anwar Shameem & Karin Hellman & Amit Singh Yadav & Peter Ekström & Fredrik Ek & Roger Olsson, 2023. "In situ assembly of bioresorbable organic bioelectronics in the brain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    10. Zhuo Liu & Yiran Hu & Xuecheng Qu & Ying Liu & Sijing Cheng & Zhengmin Zhang & Yizhu Shan & Ruizeng Luo & Sixian Weng & Hui Li & Hongxia Niu & Min Gu & Yan Yao & Bojing Shi & Ningning Wang & Wei Hua &, 2024. "A self-powered intracardiac pacemaker in swine model," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Shanzhi Lyu & Yonglin He & Xinglei Tao & Yuge Yao & Xiangyi Huang & Yingchao Ma & Zhimin Peng & Yanjun Ding & Yapei Wang, 2022. "Subcutaneous power supply by NIR-II light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Xuesong Yang & Linfeng Lan & Xiuhong Pan & Qi Di & Xiaokong Liu & Liang Li & Panče Naumov & Hongyu Zhang, 2023. "Bioinspired soft robots based on organic polymer-crystal hybrid materials with response to temperature and humidity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    13. Sizhe Huang & Xinyue Liu & Shaoting Lin & Christopher Glynn & Kayla Felix & Atharva Sahasrabudhe & Collin Maley & Jingyi Xu & Weixuan Chen & Eunji Hong & Alfred J. Crosby & Qianbin Wang & Siyuan Rao, 2024. "Control of polymers’ amorphous-crystalline transition enables miniaturization and multifunctional integration for hydrogel bioelectronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    14. Gun-Hee Lee & Ye Rim Lee & Hanul Kim & Do A Kwon & Hyeonji Kim & Congqi Yang & Siyoung Q. Choi & Seongjun Park & Jae-Woong Jeong & Steve Park, 2022. "Rapid meniscus-guided printing of stable semi-solid-state liquid metal microgranular-particle for soft electronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    15. Chaojie Yu & Mingyue Shi & Shaoshuai He & Mengmeng Yao & Hong Sun & Zhiwei Yue & Yuwei Qiu & Baijun Liu & Lei Liang & Zhongming Zhao & Fanglian Yao & Hong Zhang & Junjie Li, 2023. "Chronological adhesive cardiac patch for synchronous mechanophysiological monitoring and electrocoupling therapy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Sajjad Rahmani Dabbagh & Misagh Rezapour Sarabi & Mehmet Tugrul Birtek & Siamak Seyfi & Metin Sitti & Savas Tasoglu, 2022. "3D-printed microrobots from design to translation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    17. Dong-Hu Kim & Zico Alaia Akbar & Yoga Trianzar Malik & Ju-Won Jeon & Sung-Yeon Jang, 2023. "Self-healable polymer complex with a giant ionic thermoelectric effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. Yuan Yang & Ruizeng Luo & Shengyu Chao & Jiangtao Xue & Dongjie Jiang & Yun Hao Feng & Xin Dong Guo & Dan Luo & Jiaping Zhang & Zhou Li & Zhong Lin Wang, 2022. "Improved pharmacodynamics of epidermal growth factor via microneedles-based self-powered transcutaneous electrical stimulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Caixia Li & Yongsheng Zhu & Fengxin Sun & Changjun Jia & Tianming Zhao & Yupeng Mao & Haidong Yang, 2022. "Research Progress on Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Sports Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.
    20. Songlin Zhang & Mengjuan Zhou & Mingyang Liu & Zi Hao Guo & Hao Qu & Wenshuai Chen & Swee Ching Tan, 2023. "Ambient-conditions spinning of functional soft fibers via engineering molecular chain networks and phase separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40004-7. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.