Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Self-healing carrageenan-driven Polyacrylamide hydrogels for strain sensing

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Conductive hydrogels have attached considerable attention due to their good stretchability, excellent conductivity when they are applied in soft electronics. However, to fabricate a flexible hydrogel sensor with excellent toughness and good self-healing properties remains a challenge. In this work, we assembled a dual physical-crosslinking (DPC) ionic conductive polyacrylamide/carrageenan double-network (DN) hydrogel. This hydrogel has excellent fracture tensile stress and toughness, and demonstrates rapid self-recovery and self-healing ability due to the unique dual physical-crosslinking structures. Besides, the hydrogel is highly conductive by adding some conductive ions. As a result, the hydrogel-based sensor can stably detect human motions and physiological signals. The work provides novel ideas for the development of flexible sensing devices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hua Q, Sun J, Liu H, et al. Skin-inspired highly stretchable and conformable matrix networks for multifunctional sensing. Nat Commun, 2018, 9: 244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang X, Liu Z, Zhang T. Flexible sensing electronics for wearable/attachable health monitoring. Small, 2017, 13: 1602790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Shao J Y, Chen X L, Li X M, et al. Nanoimprint lithography for the manufacturing of flexible electronics. Sci China Tech Sci, 2019, 62: 175–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang Q, Liu X, Duan L, et al. Ultra-stretchable wearable strain sensors based on skin-inspired adhesive, tough and conductive hydrogels. Chem Eng J, 2019, 365: 10–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Han L, Yan L, Wang M, et al. Transparent, adhesive, and conductive hydrogel for soft bioelectronics based on light-transmitting polydopamine-doped polypyrrole nanofibrils. Chem Mater, 2018, 30: 5561–5572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Yang T, Xie D, Li Z, et al. Recent advances in wearable tactile sensors: Materials, sensing mechanisms, and device performance. Mater Sci Eng-R-Rep, 2017, 115: 1–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Han Y, Wu X, Zhang X, et al. Self-healing, highly sensitive electronic sensors enabled by metal-ligand coordination and hierarchical structure design. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2017, 9: 20106–20114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Guo R, Wang X L, Yu W Z, et al. A highly conductive and stretchable wearable liquid metal electronic skin for long-term conformable health monitoring. Sci China Tech Sci, 2018, 61: 1031–1037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cho S, Kang S, Pandya A, et al. Large-area cross-aligned silver nanowire electrodes for flexible, transparent, and force-sensitive mechanochromic touch screens. ACS Nano, 2017, 11: 4346–4357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Khan U, Kim T H, Ryu H, et al. Graphene tribotronics for electronic skin and touch screen applications. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1603544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Pu X, Liu M, Chen X, et al. Ultrastretchable, transparent triboelectric nanogenerator as electronic skin for biomechanical energy harvesting and tactile sensing. Sci Adv, 2017, 3: e1700015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lei Z, Wang Q, Sun S, et al. A bioinspired mineral hydrogel as a self-healable, mechanically adaptable ionic skin for highly sensitive pressure sensing. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1700321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Han L B, Ding J N, Wang S, et al. Multi-functional stretchable and flexible sensor array to determine the location, shape, and pressure: Application in a smart robot. Sci China Tech Sci, 2018, 61: 1137–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Ge G, Cai Y, Dong Q, et al. A flexible pressure sensor based on rGO/polyaniline wrapped sponge with tunable sensitivity for human motion detection. Nanoscale, 2018, 10: 10033–10040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gong S, Lai D T H, Wang Y, et al. Tattoolike polyaniline microparticle-doped gold nanowire patches as highly durable wearable sensors. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2015, 7: 19700–19708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Niu H, Zhou H, Wang H, et al. Polypyrrole-coated pdms fibrous membrane: Flexible strain sensor with distinctive resistance responses at different strain ranges. Macromol Mater Eng, 2016, 301: 707–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Xiao X, Yuan L, Zhong J, et al. High-strain sensors based on ZnO nanowire/polystyrene hybridized flexible films. Adv Mater, 2011, 23: 5440–5444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee S, Shin S, Lee S, et al. Ag nanowire reinforced highly stretchable conductive fibers for wearable electronics. Adv Funct Mater, 2015, 25: 3114–3121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang Y, Wang L, Yang T, et al. Wearable and highly sensitive graphene strain sensors for human motion monitoring. Adv Funct Mater, 2014, 24: 4666–4670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Roh E, Hwang B U, Kim D, et al. Stretchable, transparent, ultrasensitive, and patchable strain sensor for human-machine interfaces comprising a nanohybrid of carbon nanotubes and conductive elastomers. ACS Nano, 2015, 9: 6252–6261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Qiao Y, Wang Y, Tian H, et al. Multilayer graphene epidermal electronic skin. ACS Nano, 2018, 12: 8839–8846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Han L, Liu K, Wang M, et al. Mussel-inspired adhesive and conductive hydrogel with long-lasting moisture and extreme temperature tolerance. Adv Funct Mater, 2018, 28: 1704195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Ge G, Zhang Y, Shao J, et al. Stretchable, transparent, and self-patterned hydrogel-based pressure sensor for human motions detection. Adv Funct Mater, 2018, 28: 1802576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Guan L, Yan S, Liu X, et al. Wearable strain sensors based on casein-driven tough, adhesive and anti-freezing hydrogels for monitoring human-motion. J Mater Chem B, 2019, 7: 5230–5236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang Z, Chen J, Wang L, et al. Flexible and wearable strain sensors based on tough and self-adhesive ion conducting hydrogels. J Mater Chem B, 2019, 7: 24–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Jing X, Li H, Mi H Y, et al. Highly transparent, stretchable, and rapid self-healing polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanofibril hydrogel sensors for sensitive pressure sensing and human motion detection. Sens Actuat B-Chem, 2019, 295: 159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Cai G, Wang J, Qian K, et al. Extremely stretchable strain sensors based on conductive self-healing dynamic cross-links hydrogels for human-motion detection. Adv Sci, 2017, 4: 1600190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Cao S, Tong X, Dai K, et al. A super-stretchable and tough functionalized boron nitride/PEDOT:PSS/poly(N-sopropylacrylamide) hydrogel with self-healing, adhesion, conductive and photothermal activity. J Mater Chem A, 2019, 7: 8204–8209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Xu J, Wang G, Wu Y, et al. Ultrastretchable wearable strain and pressure sensors based on adhesive, tough, and self-healing hydrogels for human motion monitoring. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2019, 11: 25613–25623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Qiao H, Qi P, Zhang X, et al. Multiple weak h-bonds lead to highly sensitive, stretchable, self-adhesive, and self-healing ionic sensors. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2019, 11: 7755–7763

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Liao M, Wan P, Wen J, et al. Wearable, healable, and adhesive epidermal sensors assembled from mussel-inspired conductive hybrid hydrogel framework. Adv Funct Mater, 2017, 27: 1703852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Xia S, Song S, Li Y, et al. Highly sensitive and wearable gel-based sensors with a dynamic physically cross-linked structure for strainstimulus detection over a wide temperature range. J Mater Chem C, 2019, 7: 11303–11314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tong X, Du L, Xu Q. Tough, adhesive and self-healing conductive 3D network hydrogel of physically linked functionalized-boron nitride/clay/poly(N-sopropylacrylamide). J Mater Chem A, 2018, 6: 30913099

    Google Scholar 

  34. Liu S, Zheng R, Chen S, et al. A compliant, self-adhesive and self-healing wearable hydrogel as epidermal strain sensor. J Mater Chem C, 2018, 6: 4183–4190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Han L, Lu X, Wang M, et al. A mussel-inspired conductive, self-adhesive, and self-healable tough hydrogel as cell stimulators and implantable bioelectronics. Small, 2017, 13: 1601916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang J, Wan L, Gao Y, et al. Highly stretchable and self-healable mxene/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel electrode for wearable capacitive electronic skin. Adv Electron Mater, 2019, 5: 1900285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Ye F, Li M, Ke D, et al. Ultrafast self-healing and injectable conductive hydrogel for strain and pressure sensors. Adv Mater Technol, 2019, 4: 1900346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Tang Z, Chen Q, Chen F, et al. General principle for fabricating natural globular protein-based double-network hydrogels with integrated highly mechanical properties and surface adhesion on solid surfaces. Chem Mater, 2018, 31: 179–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Liu Y J, Cao W T, Ma M G, et al. Ultrasensitive wearable soft strain sensors of conductive, self-healing, and elastic hydrogels with synergistic “soft and hard” hybrid networks. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2017, 9: 25559–25570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhou Y, Wan C, Yang Y, et al. Highly stretchable, elastic, and ionic conductive hydrogel for artificial soft electronics. Adv Funct Mater, 2018, 29: 1806220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wang X H, Song F, Qian D, et al. Strong and tough fully physically crosslinked double network hydrogels with tunable mechanics and high self-healing performance. Chem Eng J, 2018, 349: 588–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Liu S, Li K, Hussain I, et al. A conductive self-healing double network hydrogel with toughness and force sensitivity. Chem Eur J, 2018, 24: 6632–6638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Liu S, Oderinde O, Hussain I, et al. Dual ionic cross-linked double network hydrogel with self-healing, conductive, and force sensitive properties. Polymer, 2018, 144: 111–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Darabi M A, Khosrozadeh A, Mbeleck R, et al. Skin-inspired multifunctional autonomic-intrinsic conductive self-healing hydrogels with pressure sensitivity, stretchability, and 3d printability. Adv Mater, 2017, 29: 1700533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Liu S, Li L. Recoverable and self-healing double network hydrogel based on κ-carrageenan. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2016, 8: 29749–29758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Jiang P, Yan C, Guo Y, et al. Direct ink writing with high-strength and swelling-resistant biocompatible physically crosslinked hydrogels. Biomater Sci, 2019, 7: 1805–1814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Salgueiro A M, Daniel-da-Silva A L, Fateixa S, et al. Κ-carrageenan hydrogel nanocomposites with release behavior mediated by morphological distinct au nanofillers. Carbohydrate Polyms, 2013, 91: 100–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Shahzad A, Khan A, Afzal Z, et al. Formulation development and characterization of cefazolin nanoparticles-loaded cross-linked films of sodium alginate and pectin as wound dressings. Int J Biol Macromolecules, 2019, 124: 255–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Singh D, Singh A, Singh R. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone/carrageenan blend hydrogels with nanosilver prepared by gamma radiation for use as an antimicrobial wound dressing. J BioMater Sci Polym Ed, 2015, 26: 1269–1285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Deng Y, Huang M, Sun D, et al. Dual physically cross-linked κ-carrageenan-based double network hydrogels with superior self-healing performance for biomedical application. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2018, 10: 37544–37554

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymeric and Soft Materials Laboratory, School of Chemistry and Life Science and Advanced Institute of Materials Science, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun, 130012, China

    ZiWen Fan, LiJie Duan & GuangHui Gao

Authors
  1. ZiWen Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. LiJie Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. GuangHui Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to LiJie Duan or GuangHui Gao.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 51703012 and 51873024).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fan, Z., Duan, L. & Gao, G. Self-healing carrageenan-driven Polyacrylamide hydrogels for strain sensing. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 63, 2677–2686 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-020-1682-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-020-1682-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation