Abstract
Smart flexible electronics with underwater motion detection have become a promising research aspect in intelligent perception. Inspired by the strong adaptability of marine creatures to complex underwater environments, conventional biocompatible hydrogels are worth developing into organogels with preferred underwater adhesive properties, hydrophobic and antiswelling performance, and motion perception ability. Herein, a highly sensitive organogel sensor exhibiting good hydrophobicity, electromechanical properties, and adhesion properties was prepared for underwater utilization by regulating the chemical components and internal interactions. The synergistic effect of massive reversible non-covalent bonds ensures the organogel’s excellent underwater adhesion to multifarious substrates. Meanwhile, the interactions of hydrophobic conductive fillers and the dynamic hydrophobic associations in the organogel endow it with satisfactory hydrophobic performance (contact angle of 111.8°) and antiswelling property (equilibrium swelling ratio of −31% after 15-day immersion). The fabricated flexible organogel strain sensor exhibits high sensitivity (gauge factor of 1.96), ultrafast response rate (79.1 ms), low limit of detection (0.45 Pa), and excellent cyclic stability (1044 tensile cycles followed by 3981 compressive cycles). Results demonstrate the proposed organogel’s precise perception of sophisticated human motions in air and underwater, which expands its application scenarios.
摘要
柔性电子设备, 特别是在潮湿环境中仍具备机械力感知功能的 传感设备, 是目前智能传感领域的新前沿. 受海洋生物在水下环境适应性强特点的启发, 我们制备了一种具有强水下粘附性、 良好疏水性、 抗溶胀性和水下力学检测的高灵敏有机凝胶传感器. 凝胶内部大量可逆非共价键的协同作用确保了其在水下对多种基底均具有粘附能力; 同时, 通过调节化学组分和内部相互作用, 使得该凝胶具备疏水性(接触角111.8°)与抗溶胀性(15天平衡溶胀率为−31%), 制备的柔性应变传感器灵敏度高(GF因子为1.96)、 响应迅速(响应时间79.1 ms)、 检测限低(0.45 Pa)、 循环稳定性优异(可承受不少于1044个拉伸循环以及3981个压缩循环加载), 其在空气中和水中均可实现对复杂人体运动的精确感知, 在海洋勘探领域具有广阔的应用前景.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20190688), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (21KJB430039), and Taishan Scholar Construction Special Fund of Shandong Province.
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Author contributions Wang Q and Zhao W designed and conducted the experiments. Gan D, Qu X, Liu J, and Liu Y supervised the theoretical and experimental work. Zhao W wrote and revised the manuscript with support from Dong X, Sun C, and Wang W. All authors contributed to the data analysis, discussed the results, and commented on the manuscript.
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Wen Zhao received her BSc and Master’s degrees in optoelectronics information science and engineering from Nanjing Tech University and is currently a PhD candidate at the City University of Hong Kong. Her research mainly focuses on flexible hydrogel electronics and biomechanical devices for health monitoring.
Chencheng Sun is currently working as an assistant professor at Changshu Institute of Technology. He obtained his PhD degree from Nanjing Tech University in 2016. His research mainly focuses on the design and fabrication of energy storage materials and devices, such as nanocarbon materials, flexible supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries.
Qian Wang received her PhD degree from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2015. Then, she continued postdoctoral research at Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences for three years. Her current research interest focuses on the design and preparation of nanomaterials for flexible electronics.
Xiaochen Dong earned his PhD degree from Zhejiang University in 2007. Then he did postdoctoral research at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. In 2012, he joined Nanjing Tech University as a full professor. He was supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars in 2015. His research interests are nanomaterials for bio-optoelectronics, energy conversion and storage.
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Zhao, W., Gan, D., Qu, X. et al. Bioinspired wet-resistant organogel for highly sensitive mechanical perception. Sci. China Mater. 65, 2262–2273 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-2004-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-2004-6